While working as a senior medical officer in a busy emergency department, I met an impressive young Indian man, Dr L. He had just completed his medical degree in the Middle East and was undertaking a clinical attachment (also known as observership) at the hospital.
Within 4 weeks, Dr L. left a remarkable impression on me. He was assiduous, conscientious, and hardworking. He was always on time and would even work overtime. He never complained, even though he was not getting paid. He was attentive and engaged during my ward rounds and he was keen to serve.
Unbeknownst to me, Dr L had been looking for a job for quite a while, and he was already getting frustrated. Yet he did not show this. I was not aware of his situation – I just assumed he was on an exchange program.
On the final day of his rotation, he asked me to fill and sign his evaluation form. Of course, I scored him excellently. For the first time, I asked him about his plans. That was when he explained his situation. He had been in the country for a while, looking for a job. Rather than working in another field, he decided to do an observership to gain much-needed experience.
During our conversation, I discovered that he had also applied for a job (as a psychiatry intern) in a hospital I had previously worked. I was amazed! Immediately, I asked him who the contact person was, and I made a call.
Guess what? It was the Acting Head of Department. He told me the department had received over 100 applications for only 2 positions. More than 10 of the applicants were PhD holders! There and then, I knew there was a challenge.
My reply was simple: “Although Dr L does not have a PhD or years of experience, he has a bloody good attitude. He is apt to learn and would be a great addition to your team.” That was it!
A few weeks later, I received a phone call from Dr L. He got the job – despite being so unqualified! The following year, he brought his parents (who were visiting from India) to me. At his mum’s request, he drove for almost 4 hours (300 km) to meet me, just to say, "thank you". His parents prayed for me and that day I felt so much joy. Interestingly, my mum was also there!
There are so many lessons to learn here…
1. Opportunities never come to those who sit still. They come to those who put in the work. Dr L’s breakthrough came while he was serving. Although he was in an unpaid position, he was diligent and impressive.
2. Good references are powerful. It is not enough to be competent; you should also build good connections. Always endeavour to make a good impression and learn to build good relationships. Whatever your hands find to do, do it well. Do not be keen to discard old friends and colleagues. Don’t burn bridges. You may never know when you will need help.
A simple phone call may just make the difference. Ask Dr L!