Whether you’re anxious or excited about an upcoming interview, it’s essential to be prepared when the day arrives. After all, first impressions are everything. From prepping beforehand to how you conduct yourself during the meeting, here’s how to ace your next interview.
Conduct Research Ahead of Time
One crucial key to success: doing your homework. Prior to your interview, hop on the internet to do a bit of sleuthing. The goal is to soak up as much information as possible about the hospital or healthcare facility you’re interviewing with.
Invest time in reading through the employer’s website, browsing their social feeds, sifting through any current or noteworthy news stories and connecting with any individuals you may know that work or have worked for the facility. By diving into these details, you’ll acquire a good picture of the practice’s culture and values as well as its mission and goals.
From a hospital or health system’s affiliations to the nurse-physician ratio on staff, being equipped with as much intel as possible will allow you to illustrate how your expertise and skills align with the organization’s needs. You can effectively separate your candidacy from the competition when you speak to the specific value you can bring to their current program and initiatives.
Have a Firm Understanding of Your Goals
Recruiters and hiring managers are keen on understanding who you are both personally and professionally. What are your interests? What are you passionate about? Your CV already provides your interviewer(s) with a comprehensive look at your credentials. There’s no need to reiterate information that’s already on paper. Instead, you’ll want to take your experience and showcase it in a manner that highlights crucial soft skills, such as time management, problem-solving and communication skills.
Be Prepared to Ask Questions
Asking questions is not only a bonus for you, as it’ll provide crucial insight into the position, but it’ll show you’re truly invested in the role. Examples of questions you may want to pose include:
- On an average day, what type of workload can I expect? How many patients will I typically see?
- Why is the hospital (or facility) seeking another physician?
- Will my time be divided between locations? Will I be expected to accommodate virtual appointments as well?
- What qualities are you looking for in an ideal candidate?
- What do the physicians currently on staff like the most about practicing here?
- What would a typical day look like in this role?
Follow Up Strong With a ‘Thank You’ Note
In an era replete with emails and text messages, a handwritten note can be incredibly powerful. It demonstrates a level of authenticity and care that simply cannot be replicated using email. When crafting your message, make sure to keep it succinct and personalized (pro tip: don’t misspell the interviewer’s name unless you don’t want the job). In your sign-off, reiterate that you’re happy to answer any additional questions they may have and look forward to hearing from them.
Whether you’re just starting out or you’re a veteran to the field, every new job interview requires preparation. You never want to discount a certain opportunity when you haven’t even taken the time to fully explore it. And when you’re in the hot seat, remember to always tailor your responses in a manner that paints a clear picture of what the position would look like with you in it.
If you’re currently on the hunt for a new and rewarding career, contact our team today to learn more about how we can help you find opportunities that align with your goals and needs.