Why Networking Is Key for Finding Side Gig Opportunities & Nonclinical Roles (and How to Start)
Updated: 49 minutes ago
One of the most common questions we see in our physician communities is some version of “how do I actually find a side gig or nonclinical job?” People often expect a list of job boards or a single place to apply. Those exist, and we’re glad to help bring attention to good opportunities through opportunities we present on the communities, through our side gigs matching databases, and through our weekly newsletter. But the truth is that if you want to be intentional about this journey and match with something sooner rather than later, your best bet is to put yourself out there and network. While some physicians who have made successful transitions into this space have done so by serendipitously coming across an opportunity, it's much more often that opportunities have come from intentional networking. Below, we’ll cover how to do that more effectively.
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The best physician side gig or job opportunities rarely come from waiting. They come from people.
Platforms like ours first and foremost help you learn what’s out there, what to know about those positions, and give you insights based on real world experiences that you probably won’t find in published materials online. We also try to make great opportunities available to our members, but remember that there are literally over 140,000 physicians on the platform who also want a well paying side gig. You can increase your chances of matching with them by signing up for the related databases (verified members only) and subscribing to our weekly newsletter, but we’ll be the first to tell you that you shouldn’t solely rely on us to find your dream side gig.
Consider how many nonclinical opportunities work. A digital health startup needs a physician advisor to assess a product or service and see if it’s attractive or useful. A consulting firm needs a clinician for a short project. A pharma company needs a speaker. Often the people hiring don’t post a formal listing. They ask someone they know, or they ask a trusted physician, “do you know anyone who could do this?”
Your goal is to be the person that they think of when they hear that question. If somebody knows you’re looking for these opportunities and knows your skillsets, you’ll be top of mind when an opportunity that you’re a good fit for comes up. Otherwise, somebody else will, and you’ll never know the opportunity existed.
It's true that networking takes time, so don’t put all your eggs in that basket only. Our members who move fastest combine it with keeping their eyes open for posted opportunities - essentially, one can support the other. In fact, you may see an opportunity online or in our communities, but the thing that takes it over the finish line may be reaching out to a contact you have at the hiring company (or a mutual friend or colleauge) and asking them to put in a good word with the hiring team. This will give you a huge leg up over the sea of competition.
POV: Networking also helps you figure out exactly what you’re looking for
There's a big additional benefit to networking over job boards: networking helps you figure out what you actually want. We often see posts submitted on our communities where physicians are incredibly vague, saying things like, “I want a nonclinical role” or “I want a side gig” and asking for introductions. We decline those posts and give feedback to be more specific.
This isn’t meant to be unhelpful - it’s actually meant to tell you to research different side gig options so that you can get more concrete advice. Networking is the same thing. When you have conversations with people in specific roles, you’ll learn what you’re interested in - and what you’re not interested in. You also may learn about roles you never knew existed, because once you're able to clearly articulate your goals, they'll hear what you’re looking for and may proactively make a suggestion based on something that they know about.
Where should I network for the side gig or non-clinical role I want?
With so many options available for networking, we wanted to give you a guide to where you might want to start (and how to start meaningful conversations) for some of the major categories we see physicians seeking side gigs or nonclinical jobs in.
If you’re interested in... | Where people in that space gather | A good question to ask |
Health tech and digital health | Health Tech Conferences or meetups, startup events, LinkedIn | “How did you land your first advisory or product role?” |
Pharma, biotech, medical affairs | Industry meetings, specialty society events, LinkedIn | “What background does your team look for when hiring physicians?” |
Consulting and advisory work | Expert networks, conferences, referrals from colleagues | “How do you find and price projects, and how do you pitch yourself?” |
Health system leadership (CMO, quality, informatics) | Your own hospital, professional societies, leadership programs or meetings | “What did you do beforehand that made you a candidate?” |
Medical writing, education, content | Writing communities, society publications, LinkedIn | “How did you land your first writing gig or build your portfolio?” |
Expert witness, chart review, utilization review | Physician communities, legal and insurance industry events | “What credentials or niche do the most qualified reviewers have?” |
How do I get the most out of an event or conference?
This answer can be broken down into three stages - before the event, during the event, and after the event.
What to do before the event
The key is really to do a little bit of leg work before showing up. While not all events publish guest lists, see if you can figure out who’s going. You can do this by looking at who’s on the invite or email list if it’s there, looking at speaker and attendee lists, or asking around. Pick at least a few people that you want to meet because knowing them would be synergistic with your goals. If you’re going by yourself or if it’s your first time, it’s also just really helpful to know some people beforehand so you don’t feel overwhelmed when walking into a room of unknown people, particularly if you’re not a natural extrovert.
Also, prepare an ‘elevator pitch’ or intro for yourself, so that you can quickly tell people what you do or what you’re hoping to get out of the event. Include who you are, what you’ve done, and what you’re curious about. Here’s an example: For example: “I’m an emergency physician with 10 years in practice, and I’m exploring advisory work with companies building tools for ED workflows.” Then add a little bit of context. This is harder than it sounds to do concisely, so practice it! Everyone’s going to be looking to network, so these events can feel a little like speed dating. Your goal isn’t a 1 hour conversation at that moment, but enough of a connection that it facilitates dedicated time at the meeting or afterwards with a phone call, email, or meeting follow up.
Have a way for them to easily get your contact information, whether that’s a business card (or these days, a virtual business card), a polished LinkedIn account, or otherwise.
While you’re there
Get out there. This is not time to be shy, to be a wallflower, or to passively nod along while others are speaking. Ask people what problems they’re trying to solve. Tell them (or show them) how you can help. Physicians are valuable to these companies largely because they know the problems firsthand.
Attend sessions in your target area, then talk to the person next to you or the speaker afterward. A specific comment about their talk is a better opener than a business card.
Go to the after hours events if you’re invited. Even if your feet hurt, this can be the time where the deepest connections are made.
If you have meaningful interactions with people, make a quick note on your phone or wherever else you take notes with the person’s name and a few things that will give you context about both the convo you had as well as the things you’d said you wanted to follow up on. You may think you won’t forget, but meet enough people, and you will.
After the event
Within a week, follow up with everyone you met. Reference something specific from your conversation to jog their memory. Don’t wait too long - some people in these scenes go to events every other day, and you want to contact them while you’re still relatively fresh in their mind.
Schedule meetings to double click on the things you didn’t have time to discuss in detail. Have a specific request, so that they understand the purpose of the meeting (also a gut check for yourself to ask yourself if there is a purpose in you spending your time fostering that request).
Connect on LinkedIn with a note, not just the default request.
Several members that have come to HLTH or ViVE with us through our partnership with the Physicians @ HLTH program put together this guide to attending a health tech conference with more tips for first time attendees.
How else can I create more opportunities through more effective networking in communities like Physician Side Gigs and other specialty communities?
Give just as much as you take. Be an active part of the communities you’re a part of. Answer questions in your area of expertise. People remember the physician who helped them. They’ll repay the favor when they have the opportunity.
Ask for introductions. When someone mentions a role you want, comment or message them thoughtfully.
Ask specific questions rather than vague ones. “Has anyone moved from clinical practice into medical affairs? What would you do differently?” gets much better answers than “any nonclinical ideas?”
Search before you post. Use keywords like “medical director,” “advisory,” or “utilization review” to find previous threads on your topic. Be informed so that you can ask higher level questions that are more likely to lead to warm leads. People get tired of answering the same generic questions over and over again, and are more likely to help people who seem like they've done their research and really want to go down a particular pathway.
How do I use LinkedIn strategically?
First, follow us on LinkedIn! We often feature members and networking opportunities here.
Again, engaging actively is >>> than engaging passively.
Rewrite your headline. Instead of “Hospitalist at XYZ Medical Center,” try “Hospitalist | Interested in clinical advisory and health tech | Quality improvement and workflow design.” It tells people what you want to be found for.
Build out the experience portion of your profile. If you led a committee, built a protocol, or worked on an EHR project, say so. Those are the skills nonclinical employers look for.
Follow your targets. Follow the companies, executives, and physicians in your desired space. Reading their posts shows you the language and priorities of the field, and will give you insights that will come up in future conversations in the space. It may also alert you to common people that you know or commonalities that you share, so that if you do have the opportunity to connect to them, it will be easier to break the ice.
Engage thoughtfully. A comment that adds your perspective as a physician is much more likely to get noticed than a generic “great post!” The algorithms will also place those comments higher in the feed.
Post occasionally. A short post on a problem you’ve seen or a topic where you're an expert will showcase your expertise or your interests, and help others know what matters to you and what they should reach out about.
Personalize connection requests. One or two sentences about why you’re reaching out go a long way in getting people not only to accept your connection request, but also to start a conversation if there's mutual ground.
Don’t assume people won’t respond to you. You won’t know until you try. Worst case, you're no worse off than when you started. Best case, you'll form a meaningful connection or gain an advocate. People are on LinkedIn to connect, and good networkers know that every connection is a potential opportunity, even if it's not obvious at the outset. Butterfly effects are real.
How do I reach out to physicians who’ve done what I want to do?
This is the highest-return step - and also unfortunately the one people tend to do the least. Physicians who’ve made a transition remember how confusing it was, and many are glad to share what they learned.
Here's an example of a message format that tends to work:
“Hi Dr. [Name], I’m a [specialty] physician exploring a move into [field]. I noticed your path from [clinical role] to [current role] and found it really inspiring. Would you be open to a 15-minute call to share what you’d do differently? I’d appreciate any advice, and I’m happy to work around your schedule.” If you have mutual connections or backgrounds, mentioning something brief about that may also make it more likely that they’ll reply.
Then be intentional and come prepared with a few questions - nobody wants to feel like they wasted their time. Some examples of good places to start the conversation to get actionable feedback:
How did you get your first role in this space?
What skills or experience mattered most to employers?
What surprised you about the transition, in pay, hours, or culture?
Who else should I talk to?
That last question is so important. Each conversation should lead to one more connection.
Keep these in mind:
Ask for advice, not a job.
Keep it brief and respect their time.
Send a thank-you, and let them know later what you decided to do. People like to hear their advice helped.
Pay it forward when someone follows or reaches out to you.
Okay, so where should I start?
Don't over do it - that's a great way to burn out and never make progress. Consistency and intentionality will help you to make steady connections. Here’s a simple 90-day framework in case it helps:
Month 1: Get clear and visible. Pick one or two target areas. Update your LinkedIn profile. Spend a few minutes a day searching and reading in our communities or LinkedIn.
Month 2: Start conversations. Reach out to three to five physicians in your target field. Aim to have at least two calls.
Month 3: Show up. Register for an event or conference, or attend a webinar or local meetup. Follow up with every new contact, and ask each conversation partner for another introduction.
After 90 days, you’ll know more about the field, have a handful of real contacts, and likely have a better sense of whether it’s the right move.
Conclusion
The fact is, while physician side gigs and nonclinical jobs sometimes fall into your lap, it's not guaranteed. If you're intent on these things, use communities and job boards like ours to help you discover what’s possible and find opportunities. But don't stop there. The physicians who move fastest are the ones who go out and meet people, ask good questions, and follow up. Networking takes effort and a little courage, but it’s often what actually opens the door or makes it easier to take the next step.
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