The Next Step in Your Career: Getting the Right Opportunity and the Right Contract

A new job is always a difficult step to take in one’s career. Negotiating the optimal contract is paramount. The contract should be a reasonable agreement that satisfies both parties: the enterprise and the prospective candidate. Some contract clauses are usually non-negotiable because these items are required for the job. Examples include board certification, insurance for liabilities, faculty standing for a specific position, and so forth. Other clauses are negotiable and should be negotiated, including salary, resources to perform the job, work hours, and so on. This article details what to expect in a contract, how to think about it, and how to act on it. Possible careers for an oncologist are reviewed and include academia, private practice, and industry at the largest sense. Recommendations are to be certain that the choice of career feels comfortable, to read and fully understand the contract, to obtain a few contracts from different job offers to draw comparisons, to ask questions until all items are clarified, and to not be shy in asking what is not reflected in the contract but would assuage the unknown of assuming the duties and deliverables of a new job.