Interviewing Part I: Preparation

After you submit you cover letter and CV to a specific employer, you need to begin interview preparation. The interview can be broken down into two parts. First is the traditional part of the interview where you are asked questions and have the opportunity to ask your own questions. An equally important part of the interview process is the follow up inspection and financial analysis, which will be addressed in the next blog.

The most important thing a resident can do before an interview is to prepare. Chapter 6 of Dr. Shaw’s book provides numerous examples of interview questions. Not only do you need to be prepared for the questions that you will be asked, but you should have questions for your interviewer prepared and written down. This shows potential employers that you know what you are looking for and take the interview process seriously. Most of your questions will be objective, but a subjective question such as, “what do you like best about working here?” can also be revealing. Another general rule is that questions regarding compensation should come toward the end of the interview.You should end part I of the interview by offering positive feedback. You might mention that you are impressed by the environment and know that you would enjoy working with the people you met. If you are interested in further suggestions, Medical Economics Magazine also offers advice about the interview process from start to finish.

Beginning the Search for Specific Employers

Residents who are ready to target specific employers have two options: (1) do the work themselves or (2) hire a recruiter. This blog will highlight the options, benefits, and drawbacks of each choice.

Dr. Shaw mentions several ways to locate leads on your own. The staff physicians whom you work with are some of the most obvious information sources. These physicians may have valuable contacts. Another option is talking to residents who graduated ahead of you. They will have a good sense of the job market’s current state and an intimate knowledge of the entire job search process; a brief conversation could give you insight into a certain employer. Finally, pharmaceutical reps can be a good source of information because they interact with many physicians and have an idea of how efficient each practice is. The general drawback of locating leads on your own is that it can be time-consuming.
If you feel that you do not have time to find potential employers on your own, then you should consider using a recruiter. Some residents use more than one recruiter because each one might have access to different opportunities. A resident should never sign an exclusive agreement with one recruiter. There are lists of physician recruiters online, but recruiters also might contact you. Dr. Shaw opines that the recruiter you choose should have at least five years of experience; experience with your specialty; and should charge your future employer—not you. If you use a recruiter, be sure that you still do some homework on your own before signing a contract.