Ideally, a comprehensive career assessment should be completed 24-18 months prior to completion of training. It is important to note that the timeline described is the “optimal” timeline. If you are in your last year of training and have not yet begun your search, all is not lost.
The search elements described will help you regardless of when you begin your search, but the earlier you start the better. As you define the professional, financial, family, social, recreational, and geographic characteristics associated with your ideal position, you begin to focus your search on positions that may be a good fit for you. For instance, if you identify four or five cities or areas where you would like to live, you have reduced the number of opportunities you will proactively pursue. Once you have narrowed your search geographically, you will to identify and research which opportunities might best meet your professional, financial, family, social, recreational, and geographic needs.