When you get your foot in the door with an organized CV- curriculum vitae and impressive cover letter, plus a solid network, what will you do to manage the interview process? This is an exciting, nerve-wracking, albeit serious appointment for which you must be fully prepared.
During your physician job search you likely received guidance from a mentor. It’s wise to, again, seek counsel on the proper conduct, adequate preparation, and how to follow up post-interview.
When going over the process with a trusted colleague, you’ll find a greater sense of confidence when it’s time for a real meeting.
What specific steps will you go over to be fully prepared for the hiring team’s questions and pose sufficient questions to the team to ensure the facility is the right fit? Let’s review.
How Can You Adequately Prepare for a Physician Job Interview
The ideal way to get ready to meet with healthcare leaders to interview for a physician position is to practice with an esteemed colleague who has gone through the process. The mentor will guide you on proper conduct, the best way to prepare, and the ideal follow-up.
Getting in the door can be tough, but once you make it that far, ramping up your efforts is important. These teams see countless profiles that all look comparable on paper; each has a network of people standing behind them, and the decision comes down to how you present yourself.
Research the facility
You must develop an in-depth knowledge of the facility where you intend to work. If this is a place where you want to practice medicine, you must have a reason why, and that involves understanding its inner workings.
Learn as much as possible so that you can tell them instead of them before they tell you about the place. That will make an immediate impression and make you stand out. You can research most hospitals or medical practices online, and many will send you a packet with their details.
When you understand the structure and how it functions, you can better explain what you have to offer the organization. You’ll be able to explain how your expertise aligns with their existing platform but also how some of your skills will add a layer to their program that’s missing currently.
Objectives and interests shouldn’t be an overview of the CV
When the team asks you to discuss interests and objectives, they’re not asking for a list of credentials. They have these in their CV. This would be a good opportunity, however, to discuss a career highlight or a specific achievement, a project on which you worked with exceptional staff.
Often, those performing the interview hope to find out who you are, what kind of person, interests, and things you care about most. Sometimes, these interviewers may be coworkers interested in what working with you will be like.
When getting into topics outside the scope of work, it’s essential to steer clear of politics and religion to avoid offending anyone. Passions like your extracurricular activities or hobbies, working with the underserved, things you care about are the sort of things they’re looking for.
Selling yourself is your priority
You don’t want to be overly confident, but you do want to sell your strengths and contribute to the facility. Any questions that crop up relating to the CV should be readily answered. Especially if there are gaps in the job history or education and training, possibly regarding your medical school.
The answers you offer could be presented as red flags for the interview team. Typically, prospects have reasonable explanations.
The objective is to sell yourself without being obnoxious; it’s a thin line you don’t want to cross. Many interviewers are department heads or practice owners looking for a physician who will positively represent their team.
Most will look at you with a mindset of whether they would want you treating their closest friends or family members. Go here for tips on finding a job after residency.
Final Thought
As a physician entering a new career, you’ll want the practice or hospital to be a good fit for you in the same way the facility wants you to be a good fit for them.
This means you’ll want to have your own questions. This comprehensive list is key for a good interview, not only for you, but it shows the interviewers your enthusiasm.
Before the interview with your mentor, consider what you need to know for the decision-making process, including salary. While this might seem taboo, it’s a logical inquiry. Still, you touch on it briefly and then move on.
With each interview you attend, act like the position is the right one for you because it could turn out to be.