It is no secret that new graduates may not be fully equipped with the necessary skills for their first job. Even among new pathologists, on-the-job training is necessary to fulfill both the technical and the "soft" skills needed in actual practice. According to a study published in the February issue of the Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, it is these nonpathology-based soft skills—such as flexibility, leadership, and relationship-building skills—that have emerged as important areas of emphasis for prospective employers. "Regardless of practice setting, employers place a great deal of importance on interpersonal and communication skills and professionalism, two core residency training competencies that both applicants and residency training programs may prioritize less than those related to medical knowledge and patient care," write the authors led by Miriam Post, M.D., from the University of Colorado, Denver. Members of the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Graduate Medical Education Committee conducted a survey of CAP fellows who had been in U.S. practice for five or more years and were responsible for hiring a new-in-practice pathologist (NIP; defined as in the workforce for three years or less). The survey addressed 18 skills and attributes employers consider when hiring. The skills and attributes were […]