PHYSICIAN INTERVIEW TACTICS & TIPS Presented by Randy Munson, MS The Wisconsin Office of Rural Health University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health

Overview Introduction 2. Pre-interview preparation 3. The interview itself 4. Post-interview

Introduction

2. Pre-interview preparation

3. The interview itself

4. Post-interview

Introduction You’ve all heard the old saying, “You never get a 2 nd chance to make a 1 st impression”. This is especially true with regard to job interviews. Having a good idea of what to ask, what you will be asked, and how to present yourself, in addition to what the position and place are all about is what can set you apart from other candidates. And this includes proper follow-up after the interview as well. Remember too that you are also doing the interviewing, trying to determine if this position, these people, and this place is where you wish to work and live.

You’ve all heard the old saying, “You never get a 2 nd chance to make a 1 st impression”. This is especially true with regard to job interviews. Having a good idea of what to ask, what you will be asked, and how to present yourself, in addition to what the position and place are all about is what can set you apart from other candidates. And this includes proper follow-up after the interview as well. Remember too that you are also doing the interviewing, trying to determine if this position, these people, and this place is where you wish to work and live.

PRE-INTERVIEW PREPARATION

DETERMINE YOUR CRITERIA Know what is important to you in a medical position. Know what is important to you in a community

Know what is important to you in a medical position.

Know what is important to you in a community

A GOOD RESUME HELPS One-two pages in length, unless applying for academic or research positions. NO GAPS! Be chronologically consistent. List accomplishments; be proud of yourself! Explain what you can do, and what you wish to do. Have three references listed…..and ready to be contacted! Preferable these are from three separate areas (not all residency faculty)

One-two pages in length, unless applying for academic or research positions.

NO GAPS!

Be chronologically consistent.

List accomplishments; be proud of yourself!

Explain what you can do, and what you wish to do.

Have three references listed…..and ready to be contacted! Preferable these are from three separate areas (not all residency faculty)

DO YOUR HOMEWORK Know the position specifics Know the community Prepare a list of questions

Know the position specifics

Know the community

Prepare a list of questions

DRESS/LOOK TO IMPRESS Remember that saying about first impressions. Wear clean, pressed shirts, pants or skirt. A suit is never a bad way to go! Bring a change of clothes if staying overnight (add a more casual look for dinner). Grooming is a good thing.

Remember that saying about first impressions.

Wear clean, pressed shirts, pants or skirt.

A suit is never a bad way to go!

Bring a change of clothes if staying overnight (add a more casual look for dinner).

Grooming is a good thing.

THE POSITION INTERVIEW ITSELF

WHAT CAN I EXPECT?

What you may be asked 1. Why did you become a (blank) physician? 2. What are your long-term goals as a (blank) physician? 3. Why do you feel this position is right for you? 4. How will your training allow you to succeed in this position? 5. What are the most important things to you in a medical position? 6. What are your greatest strengths/weaknesses? 7. How would others describe you? 8. What are you compensation expectations? 9. What are your interests outside of medicine? 10. What qualities do you desire in a colleague? 11. Did you bring extra copies of your CV?

1. Why did you become a (blank) physician?

2. What are your long-term goals as a (blank) physician?

3. Why do you feel this position is right for you?

4. How will your training allow you to succeed in this position?

5. What are the most important things to you in a medical position?

6. What are your greatest strengths/weaknesses?

7. How would others describe you?

8. What are you compensation expectations?

9. What are your interests outside of medicine?

10. What qualities do you desire in a colleague?

11. Did you bring extra copies of your CV?

What you may want to ask How will my practice be marketed? What procedures will I be able to do? Ask about the physical office structure and support staff. Ask about equipment you may need/desire. Ask how the compensation structure works & what is included in benefits package. Ask about call responsibilities and exactly how this will work. Inquire about referrals to specialists(who and where?). Ask about other physicians/clinics in the community. Who’s the competition. Get information about the hospital and what your duties there may be If offered, ask about partnership/ownership terms and costs.

How will my practice be marketed?

What procedures will I be able to do?

Ask about the physical office structure and support staff.

Ask about equipment you may need/desire.

Ask how the compensation structure works & what is included in benefits package.

Ask about call responsibilities and exactly how this will work.

Inquire about referrals to specialists(who and where?).

Ask about other physicians/clinics in the community. Who’s the competition.

Get information about the hospital and what your duties there may be

If offered, ask about partnership/ownership terms and costs.

VISIT ITINERARIES Expenses typically paid by employer include airfare, rental car, hotel, meals, cab fare, mileage reimbursement. Breakfast usually on your own You will usually be picked up at hotel, unless you’ve driven directly to clinic. You can expect to meet clinic CEO & possibly one or more VPs , hospital CEO, clinic physicians, HR person or Physician Recruiter. Lunch is always provided with clinic physicians, hospital or clinic CEO, or Physician Recruiter. You can expect a realtor or someone from the clinic/hospital to give you a tour of the community. You may meet with the school principal, a leader of the business community, or perhaps the mayor of the community (all depending on time constraints). If more than a one-day visit, you should request a few hours free-time to “explore” the community on your own and “digest” all you have heard and seen. Dinner in the evening is usually attended by the clinic physicians & spouses; possibly the clinic CEO or Physician Recruiter (who will drive you to and from)

Expenses typically paid by employer include airfare, rental car, hotel, meals, cab fare, mileage reimbursement.

Breakfast usually on your own

You will usually be picked up at hotel, unless you’ve driven directly to clinic.

You can expect to meet clinic CEO & possibly one or more VPs , hospital CEO, clinic physicians, HR person or Physician Recruiter.

Lunch is always provided with clinic physicians, hospital or clinic CEO, or Physician Recruiter.

You can expect a realtor or someone from the clinic/hospital to give you a tour of the community.

You may meet with the school principal, a leader of the business community, or perhaps the mayor of the community (all depending on time constraints).

If more than a one-day visit, you should request a few hours free-time to “explore” the community on your own and “digest” all you have heard and seen.

Dinner in the evening is usually attended by the clinic physicians & spouses; possibly the clinic CEO or Physician Recruiter (who will drive you to and from)

POST INTERVIEW PROCESS

Evaluation? 1. Depending on size of clinic staff, end thank-you letter to all those you met or to clinic/hospital CEO alone. 2. Try to put on paper as much as you can about what you liked and what you had concerns about. 3. Compare to other positions/places you have interviewed at. 4. Determine which places you would like to make a second visit to, provided you will be asked to. 5. Try to make the position the priority, and not the community(72% of physicians who put geography ahead of practice are looking again within 2 years). 6. Keep in mind that you have probably seen the clinic, hospital and the people you’ve met at their best. Things will not be like this every day. Everybody can put on a “smiley-face” for a few hours or a day. Be realistic with yourself about what you’ve seen. 7. Put emphasis on the personalities of your potential colleagues. The #1 reason physicians leave their positions is personality conflicts within their clinic. 8. Don’t be pressured into making a decision before you are ready to! Do ALL your evaluation work first.

1. Depending on size of clinic staff, end thank-you letter to all those you met or to clinic/hospital CEO alone.

2. Try to put on paper as much as you can about what you liked and what you had concerns about.

3. Compare to other positions/places you have interviewed at.

4. Determine which places you would like to make a second visit to, provided you will be asked to.

5. Try to make the position the priority, and not the community(72% of physicians who put geography ahead of practice are looking again within 2 years).

6. Keep in mind that you have probably seen the clinic, hospital and the people you’ve met at their best. Things will not be like this every day. Everybody can put on a “smiley-face” for a few hours or a day. Be realistic with yourself about what you’ve seen.

7. Put emphasis on the personalities of your potential colleagues. The #1 reason physicians leave their positions is personality conflicts within their clinic.

8. Don’t be pressured into making a decision before you are ready to! Do ALL your evaluation work first.

WHAT’S NEXT?

I Think I May Want to Work Here! If you are considered a serious candidate, you will usually be asked back for a second interview. Second interviews are to meet individuals you missed the first time, to see more of the community, and to discuss compensation and benefits in more depth. It is also the time to make known your needs from a compensation perspective (signing bonus, medical school debt help, relocation cost assistance, etc.) From an employers perspective, the second interview can be a chance to further evaluate a candidate who they had a few concerns about, but liked for the most part. The second interview is also the time to discuss further such things as a starting date(if you want to take some time off first), how soon you might expect a contract offer, and how soon you would need to make a decision.

If you are considered a serious candidate, you will usually be asked back for a second interview.

Second interviews are to meet individuals you missed the first time, to see more of the community, and to discuss compensation and benefits in more depth. It is also the time to make known your needs from a compensation perspective (signing bonus, medical school debt help, relocation cost assistance, etc.)

From an employers perspective, the second interview can be a chance to further evaluate a candidate who they had a few concerns about, but liked for the most part.

The second interview is also the time to discuss further such things as a starting date(if you want to take some time off first), how soon you might expect a contract offer, and how soon you would need to make a decision.

A Few More Things to Remember If you are offered a contract, have a contract-review attorney look it over. Have this person in place beforehand, don’t waste days/weeks trying to locate a good one AFTER you have an offer. Keep in mind that attorneys potentially won’t make any more $ unless they find something to change. Scrutinize their suggestions but don’t take them carte blanche. Ask them to clarify. If something was said to you that’s not in the contract offer, ask for it in writing. Please remember and don’t forget: do not start negotiating points on a contract until you are prepared to accept an offer! Try to let the employer know ALL the things on your “wish list” up front. Do not keep coming back and back again with additional demands. Remember also that negotiation means you may have to give up something to get something. You want your potential employer feel as though they are getting a “fair deal”, just as you hopefully are. Then both sides are winners! Once you have accepted an offer, let other clinics/hospitals you have interviewed at know of your decision in a friendly, clear way. Continuing to interview after you have accepted an offer is VERY unethical.

If you are offered a contract, have a contract-review attorney look it over. Have this person in place beforehand, don’t waste days/weeks trying to locate a good one AFTER you have an offer.

Keep in mind that attorneys potentially won’t make any more $ unless they find something to change. Scrutinize their suggestions but don’t take them carte blanche. Ask them to clarify.

If something was said to you that’s not in the contract offer, ask for it in writing.

Please remember and don’t forget: do not start negotiating points on a contract until you are prepared to accept an offer!

Try to let the employer know ALL the things on your “wish list” up front. Do not keep coming back and back again with additional demands.

Remember also that negotiation means you may have to give up something to get something. You want your potential employer feel as though they are getting a “fair deal”, just as you hopefully are. Then both sides are winners!

Once you have accepted an offer, let other clinics/hospitals you have interviewed at know of your decision in a friendly, clear way. Continuing to interview after you have accepted an offer is VERY unethical.

That’s All Folks! Try to enjoy your job search! It can be a fun time if you know what you are doing and are prepared. And remember once again, you are interviewing the employer as much as they are interviewing you!

Try to enjoy your job search! It can be a fun time if you know what you are doing and are prepared. And remember once again, you are interviewing the employer as much as they are interviewing you!