Career Planning
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Preparing for Your Interview
Do Your Homework
It is imperative that you do research on the potential place you may be working and the people who will be interviewing you during your site visit.
Never show up for an onsite interview without doing a significant amount of homework and online research in preparation for your visit.
It is imperative that you do research on the potential place you may be working and the people who will be interviewing you during your site visit.
Never show up for an onsite interview without doing a significant amount of homework and online research in preparation for your visit.
Never show up for an onsite interview without doing a significant amount of homework and online research in preparation for your visit.
Your due diligence will serve you in two ways:
- you want to make sure this practice and hospital is a good fit
- you want to make the best impression possible
Check In With Your Own Network
Be sure to check if anyone in your network can offer any insight into the group, hospital, or individual physicians.
It is always helpful to get honest and direct information and feedback on the practice, if you can find it. Maybe someone you know practiced or trained with one of the physicians in the group or worked with them in a professional organization.
Check your social media connections (Linked In, Doximity, etc.) to see if any of the physicians at the practice are 2nd place connections with you.
If so, reach out to those people in your network who have a direct connection with them.
Complete A Thorough Online Search
Use the internet to do background research and find out as many details about the hospital, NICU, practice, clinical leaders, and prospective colleagues as possible.
Definitely review their website, social media profiles and posts, and any press releases you can find.
You would be surprised at what information is available from a simple web search.
The goal is to be able to answer questions in a uniquely tailored response, demonstrate you have appropriately prepared for your interview and completed a thorough analysis of how you could be a good fit.
Be Prepared to Answer Questions Specific to Their Practice
Expect some of the interview questions to be specific to the practice or institution. They are trying to assess your overall fit within the group and general interest in this job opportunity.
Carefully considering these questions beforehand and preparing thoughtful answers will demonstrate interest. Savvy partners and medical directors quickly recognize who has and has not done their homework.
You want to have polished answers, but don’t seem rehearsed. Your interviewer should feel like your response was crafted just for them, not the same thing you’ve stated to every other program you’ve looked at.
- What interests you about this position/our practice/this hospital?
- Why would you like to join our practice?
- Why do you think you would make a great fit here?
- What do you feel you can bring to the group?
Know Who Will Be Interviewing You
Ask for the names of all the people you will be meeting with and review their profiles on LinkedIn and the practice website prior to your arrival.
Make sure you have an idea of how long they have been with the hospital or practice, their level of experience, any clinical or practice specialization, and specific practice experience.
Consider their previous positions, professional interests and what other practice settings or locations they have worked and build this knowledge into your interview responses.
Identify Common Connections With People
In our relatively small field, it is quite frequent that you can find a common connection such as growing up in the same state, training at the same program, attending the same (or a rival) undergrad college, fly fishing, running marathons, etc.
Utilize this knowledge in your conversations to make memorable connections with your interviewer. Depending on how many candidates they interview, responses and people can blend together.
You want to stand out (in a positive way) in their recollection.
Learn About the Region, City, and Geography
Make sure you also consider the location of the practice and where you might be living if you work there. Learn about the city, culture, geography, recreational activities, weather, and other aspects of the region.
Showing your enthusiasm for things other than the job will serve you well in the interview process and demonstrate your engagement and seriousness for the position.
It will show you have thoroughly taken the time to assess if the practice and location will be a good fit.
Be Confident in Your Potential to Contribute to Their Needs
If you truly believe this position will be a good fit, you will want to be confident in the findings within your assessment.
Your due diligence will support or strengthen your position and allow you display confidence, poise, and certainty in your interview answers.
It will allow you to show enthusiasm and engagement in their practice as well as where and how you can benefit the group as a new member.
Know the difference between confidence and arrogance. It is surprising how many people do not.
Know Where to Compromise
Have your list of priorities and needs, top five deal makers and deal breakers, and know exactly where you are willing to compromise.
You will not get everything you want. Your IDEAL JOB likely does not exist. You need to aim for the closest match between your vision and the job.
Knowing your needs and priorities allows you to pinpoint the specifics and how to assess which of the practices will get you closest to your goal.
As you engage in the interviews, if you start to identify items that don’t line up with your wish list, know which ones are the deal breakers and which are compromises you are willing to make.
