Career and Life Planning Guidebook for Medical Residents

F I E L D N O T E S R E A D : Preparing for the Onsite Interview Earlier,we discussed the goal of the onsite interviewwhich is to receive a job offer. Another important goal of the interview is to collect 100% of the facts. You cannot collect all the facts unless you are prepared for the interview. Logistics In preparation for onsite interviews, be aware that there are many details that must be planned of ahead of time (e.g., travel, schedule, the agenda.) If you work with a recruiter, their job is to serve as liaison between you and the hiring organization and to coordinate logistics. This saves you a lot of time and potential headaches due to unforeseen changes and situations that may come up (e.g., cancellations, date changes.) Itinerary Because the selection process usually involves more than one decision maker, it is customary to meet with several interviewers. This should be viewed as a benefit. It gives you the opportunity to meet with people of various levels within the organization, as well as different personality types, therefore allowing you to evaluate your fit in the group, culture, and environment. Preparing to Answer Common Employer Questions Interviewers will ask a lot of questions, so being prepared is essential. Well-thought-out responses should be given quickly, but not by rote. The more questions you can anticipate and answer, the better the interviewwill flow. Preparing for potential questions also enables you to identify the type of position and organization you desire. The interviewwill likelyflowalong the followingoutline, although your individual experience could vary. Getting acquainted questions, small talk General questions (e.g., CV, schooling) Specific questions (e.g., experience, situational) Your questions (tied to your core values, life purpose, priorities) Facility tour (if needed) Wrap-up and discussion of next steps Recently, I interviewed a candidate who kept noting he didn’t think he could get into medical school because his grades weren’t good enough. After he mentioned it several times during the interview and lacked confidence, all three interviewers were concerned about his ability. It’s possible that he’s amazing, but just a bit too transparent. When interviewing, be confident, yet humble, and share your story why you choose to become a physician... – Mary Ferguson, Chief Executive Officer Desert Sage Health Centers On the flip side, one or both parties may determine it's not the best match overall. The Interview 255 WWW.PHYSICIANCAREERPLANNING.COM