By Dr. Rob Anderson, Guest Writer

As an anesthesiologist and clinical leader, I have your typical mix of responsibilities, including clinical loan, scheduling, and hospital committee work. I am also the lead recruiter of our group, which has given me a firsthand look at how physicians approach their first job offers—and how awkward and uncomfortable salary discussions can be in medicine.

I still recall a negotiating experience from a few years ago with an anesthesiology resident. Unlike most others who are excited to land their first big paycheck job out of residency, he came in fully prepared to negotiate. He first tried negotiating his base and bonus, but an adjustment like that would mean changing comp across our entire group. So, he moved on to his signing bonus and then to relocation expenses. He tried to negotiate his package wherever possible, and ultimately, he got much more than what