You might be at the point in your job search where you are preparing for physician interviews. Or you may be at the point in your physician job search where you are ready to work with in-house recruiters and schedule interviews.
No matter the exact step in your process, you’ll want to be prepared to meet with organizations and put your best foot forward.
The first step: Decide what you want
Before you even accept physician interviews, know what you want – or don’t want – in a role. Phillip Eskew, D.O., suggests being upfront with yourself and your potential employers so you can make certain the opportunity is right for you and that you’re the right fit for the organization.
He says “residents starting the job search process need to have their own list of things they want to see in a role and state them clearly up front otherwise they’re going to exhaust themselves having these sorts of long repeated conversations where they think things are looking good only to find out there’s a major obstruction at the end. So, if you state those things up front, have the nice conversations in the middle and follow it up with some sort of written contract that actually lines all that up, you’re less likely to be job hunting again in a few years.”
Step two: Narrow down your job’s must-haves
Make a list of exactly what you are looking for in an opportunity, so as you interview, you can ask the right questions. Pay close attention to the answers you get to ensure this is the position you’re looking for.
You need to find all the qualities you want in a role the same way the organization is looking for specific qualities in a potential hire. Letting your recruiter know those desires upfront will allow you to align throughout the process and hopefully remove any surprises in the contract.
Usiwoma Abugo, M.D., started her job search early, which she says was helpful “in addition to having a must-have list.” This included a spreadsheet that had the practices she wanted to go to or was interested in at the top and had her must-haves on the side.
She shares “after I would have my interview, I would basically go through and just check off the items on my must-have list, so then at the end of my interview cycle, the practice that had all of my must-haves was the practice I ended up choosing.”
Putting your must-have list in writing will help you stick to your values and know what is nonnegotiable and what may not be offered by any potential employers.
As you check off those desires after each interview, you can see how the role fits within your guidelines and what you want out of your new practice opportunity. Some organizations may check all the boxes, and some may check hardly any, so it’s important to know your must-haves and allow that list to frame your interview questions.
Step three: Get a read on culture
It’s great to know what’s important to you, but you can also ask prospective employers what’s important to them to know if you have priorities in common.
As you prepare for your interviews, you can contact the employers or recruiters and ask this question so you know how they feel and what it might be like to work there before your interview is scheduled.
Kavita Jain, M.D., advises “not be afraid to ask organizations what’s important to them. To find a company that has a similar vision and similar goals that you have and what you’re looking for is important.”
In the current market as a physician, you have the position to find roles that suit you and will allow you to be happy in your practice.
What to remember
Preparing for physician interviews is an integral part of your job search journey. By knowing what you want, narrowing down your job’s must-haves and getting a read on the organization’s culture, you can approach interviews with clarity and confidence. Remember to stay true to your values and use your interviews as an opportunity to assess how well each opportunity aligns with your goals. With effective preparation and a strategic approach, you’ll increase your chances of finding the perfect physician job that fulfills your professional aspirations.
For more advice on how to prepare for your interviews and interview tips, watch this video or visit Magazine.PracticeLink.com.
August 3, 2023
