It can be challenging to figure out what non-clinical option is a good fit for you.

During medical training, you experienced a variety of clinical roles directly, allowing you to make an educated guess about the best-fit clinical job.

In the non-clinical world, many of the options are unfamiliar. Even if you read a job description, you might still be left not knowing what the job is or if you’ll enjoy it.

Enter the mini career experiment

When you think of an experiment, what comes to mind? Curiosity, trial and error, results, and analysis?

The mini part of the experiment means low risk and low investment.

The mini career experiment means you explore a non-clinical role you’re curious about in a low stakes way and pay attention to how you feel during and after.

Examples of mini career experiments:

• It can be as simple as talking to another physician who’s in a role you’re interested in. Ask them about their day, what skills they’re using, and if they enjoy their job.
• You could take a free or inexpensive course. There are medical writing courses, clinical trial courses, utilization management courses, or basic coaching courses.
• Shadow someone who’s doing what you’re curious about. This is especially valuable when you’re considering non-traditional clinical practice such as functional medicine or direct primary/specialty care practices.
• Volunteer on a Board (like an Institutional Review Board), sign up for disability or insurance chart reviews, or perform physical exams on healthy volunteers at a clinical trial site.

Results

During and after the experiment, take note of the results and analyze them.

How do you feel during the experiment?

Do you feel excited to learn more, energized, and physically open?

Or do you feel bored, disinterested, or physically contracted?

You may need to repeat the experiments and change the variables if the results are equivocal. For example, if you feel “meh” after taking a course- neither excited nor turned off, try another experiment in the same field to get more data.

A personal application

When I was at my career crossroads, I wanted to retire from clinical medicine but didn’t know what path would be right for me.

My first mini career experiment was a medical writing course. I enjoyed writing, had authored peer- reviewed publications, and wanted to work remotely. During the course, it became clear I would spend a lot of time in front of a computer, and would not have the 1:1 personal connections I loved. Medical writing was not for me.

My last career experiment was a three day introductory coaching course. I knew at the end of the three days coaching was for me! Now I combine my love of personal connection and the joy of writing in my coaching business.

Clarity comes from taking action.

What mini-career experiment can help you become clear?