Industry Outlook for Pediatricians

These are physicians that specialize in the care of infants and children. Not only must they be able to develop a good rapport with babies and small children but with parents and caregivers as well. Due to the fact that the primary patient usually may not be able to communicate their health problems to the physician, they must be able to ask appropriate questions to parents and caregivers in order to extract valuable information in order to make a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan.

Much of a pediatrician’s schedule involves what are known as ‘wellness’ checkups in order to insure that infants and children are progressing as they should at the right milestones for their chronological age.

Pediatric physicians are on site when babies are delivered to make an examination and insure that the baby is in good health from the beginning. The care of that child will normally continue to be provided by a pediatrician at least until they reach their early teen years at which time they may begin to see another primary health care physician for routine health care and checkups.

In addition to working well with patients and caregivers, they commonly interact with other health care workers such as specialists and nurses. This occupation requires a significant amount of attention to detail and a dedication to constantly be aware of a patient’s care and changes in the patient which could indicate serious health issues. They commonly work well over 40 hours per week and are usually on call; meaning they may be frequently called in to work at odd times such as nights, weekends and holidays.

Employment Prospects for Pediatricians

Pediatricians are employed by hospitals and may also work in emergency rooms. In some cases, they may work in a large private practice or own their own private practice. Other employment prospects for them include teaching at medical schools and performing research.

Job Search for Pediatricians

While certain standards are required in order for a physician to be hired, such as licensing, many employers take the matter a step further and insist upon good references from residency faculty. Networking can prove to be particularly beneficial when looking for work within this field.

Resumes for Pediatricians

Due to the fact that this occupation is considered to be highly professional and academic, no less than a curriculum vitae resume is normally required when applying for employment. The curriculum vitae resume format allows candidates to focus more on extensive amounts of education and experience as well as specialty areas, such as publication and research, more than other resume formats.

Cover Letters for Pediatricians

Medical employers frequently require impressive letters of reference in order to consider a candidate for employment, so it is best if a candidate can mention up front in the cover letter that they were referred by someone held in high esteem within the medical community. Beyond this, the cover letter should focus on the candidate’s people skills and experience.

Training & Qualifications for Pediatricians

A significant amount of education and training is required in order to enter this occupation. A candidate must graduate from an accredited university with a Bachelor’s degree, be accepted at a medical school and complete four years of medical studies. 

Entry into medical school tends to be quite competitive, with only those students with the highest grades and academic achievements receiving coveted admission letters. Volunteer experience can go a long way towards helping a candidate gain an edge on the competition for medical school acceptance.

The first two years of medical school is normally comprised of classroom studies and laboratory work, while the last two years take place in clinics and hospitals working under the supervision of physicians in order to gain hands on experience. This is known as the internship phase. Upon completion of medical school, the candidate will receive a Doctor of Medicine degree, or M.D. Following the internship, pediatricians must pass a state licensing exam and then complete a three year residency program in pediatrics.

This occupation commonly requires continuing education in order to remain updated on critical health issues and changing health care practices in order to provide the best medical care possible to patients. Each state has their requirements for licensing and in most cases a physician may be required to obtain separate licensing if they wish to practice in a state different than the state where they were originally licensed.