7 Tips for Acing the Physician Job Interview
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As part of your physician job search, the initial interview is an opportunitey to make a valuable first impression. Preparing in advance is essential, because when you assume you can just “wing it,” you risk going off-topic or inadvertently not answering questions at all.
It’s a fact of the interview process that your interviewers and other people you encounter will talk about you after you leave. Think about what you want them to say about you. You want them to remember you, of course, but for the right reasons. You’ll probably answer many of the same questions as other interviewees, so how can you make your answers stand out? Here are seven tips for acing your upcoming physician job interview.
1. Research the Facility Beforehand
You have internet access, so there’s really no excuse for not researching the practice or facility where your interview will take place. You should be able to get an overview of its history, how long it’s been in operation and how it has changed over the years. If the website has a page for press releases or headlines related to the organization, check it out. This could give you valuable intelligence you can use during conversations with interviewers or on a walk-through of the facility. Most practices and hospitals will also mail information to you if you ask, and if you happen to know someone who works there already, ask them questions in advance. Insiders will likely know things you won’t find online or in promotional materials.
2. Put Your Best Self Forward
Show up well-rested, groomed and wearing clean, pressed clothing that radiates professionalism. Leave home in plenty of time to arrive, particularly if you’re not certain of your route or where to park. Don’t go overboard with cologne, and carry a briefcase or folder with extra copies of your CV, should anyone need one. Act as if they interview has alread started as soon as you arrive by greeting the people you meet warmly. You would be amazed what a kind mention from the receptionist or long-time custodian can do after an otherwise-ordinary interview. If you have a few minutes to kill, look around at honors, plaques or newspaper clippings that are posted. They can be useful for when you are asked whether you have any questions.
3. Be Prepared to Ask Questions
However well you’ve researched the facility, asking smart questions shows that you’re enthusiastic and interested. The questions you ask can help set you apart from other interviewees, so be sure to give this some thought beforehand. Think about what you would want to know in order to make a decision, should you be offered a job. Don’t just ask questions about the facility — this is a great opporunity to get to know your interviewer better as well, such as by asking them what they enjoy most about working at this hospital or clinic. f If this opportunity would require relocation, ask about the neighborhood, city and employment opportunities for your spouse, if you have one. If you have children, you may want to ask about the local school system, as well.
4. Keep Electronic Gear Quiet
Before you even walk in the building, silence all your personal electronics. If you’re waiting on a text or call from the interviewer, you can leave your phone on vibrate, but otherwise you want to make it clear to everyone that you are fully present for the interview and that your aim is to get to know more about the facility and its people — not to get updates on a baseball score or your cousin’s latest Snapchat. It’s probably best if you strictly limit the electronic gear you carry to what you’re likely to need (like your phone) and leave the rest of it in your hotel safe, locked in your car or turned off and in your briefcase.
5. Ensure You Meet All Key Personnel
The more people you meet, the better an assessment you can make about whether this is the type of work environment in which you will thrive.
Ideally you should meet not only your prospective supervisor, but others with whom you will come into contact, including other clinical staff and administrative workers. Take note if you are introduced to any “legendary” employees, like the cafeteria cook who has been there for 40 years. Until you’ve been working somewhere for a while, it’s hard to know exactly which players in the organization are essential to your having a flourishing career there.
6. Be Positive When Discussing Prior Employers
However bad your previous employer was, be tactful when talking about them. Trash-talking former employers can make you come across as a problem employee, which will hinder your chances of acing the interview. Tell the truth, but do so diplomatically.
In fact, if you’re leaving a bad employment situation, mentally rehearse ways to answer questions with both truthfulness and tact. Even if your new potential employer knows about problems with a facility where you once worked (such as regulatory or criminal violations that were covered by the media), you will make a much better impression if you discuss your situation with due sensitivity.
7. End on a Positive Note and Follow Up Afterward
Thank your interviewer and anyone who accompanies you on your way out. If you can obtain his or her business card, do so; it will make it easier for you to send a more formal thank-you by mail. Not every interviewee follows up with a thank-you afterward. If you’re the only one who does so, you will stand out in a positive way. If other interviewees do and you don’t, however, you may stand out for the wrong reason or be more easily forgotten.
The physician job search is in many ways like any other professional job search. There’s a lot at stake, and you want to make it clear that you would be an asset to any practice or hospital with which you interview. Preparation is the key, and if you have multiple interviews with different facilities coming up (particularly if they are competitors), make sure you’re clear on the differences between them to avoid gaffes and awkwardness.
