Hiring preferences of diagnostic radiology groups: results of a 1994 survey

We surveyed diagnostic radiology group preferences and considerations in hiring radiologists and compared these findings with those of a survey performed in 1990. We sought to identify changes in hiring practices that might have occurred because of socioeconomic changes. We also sought to identify features of job candidates that make them more attractive to hiring groups.

One hundred surveys were mailed to a stratified random sample of diagnostic radiology groups identified by the American College of Radiology. We solicited information on the importance of various attributes and the level of experience of a candidate, the fellowship training considered most desirable, and the effect of changes in the health care socioeconomic environment. The responses were weighted by group size and geographic location to estimate what results might have been obtained if we had surveyed all groups in the United States.

Seventy-five groups returned the survey. The two most important factors in choosing a candidate were motivation and radiologic knowledge. The fellowships that groups that were hiring considered to be the most desirable were body imaging, neuroradiology, and angiography/interventional radiology. Groups overwhelmingly preferred recent training over long experience.

Fellowship training increases a candidate's marketability, but the two factors that hiring groups consider the most important are motivation and radiologic knowledge.