Job interviews can be anxiety-inducing for just about anyone—and physicians are no exception. After spending the last several years in medical school and residency, some new doctors may have more confidence in their clinical skills than their interview skills.
By the time a facility brings you in for an interview, they already know you’re qualified for a role, and they’re looking for reasons to give you an offer—or to remove you from the candidate pool. Sharpening your interview skills can make the difference between landing your dream job and settling for a less-satisfying position.
In this article, we’ll cover some helpful tips that can benefit any physician’s job search—including how to prepare for an interview, common interview questions you’ll encounter, and some tips to make a positive first impression.
Understanding the interview process for physicians
Hiring and interview processes vary between facilities, but usually include some combination of the following:
Phone interviews
This is usually a conversation with a recruiter to discuss preliminary details about the position and the facility. Assuming the call goes well, you should be prepared to schedule a video interview or in-person visit as a next step.
Video or virtual interviews
Some employers use video interviews as a replacement for phone interviews, or as an interim step between the initial screening and an in-person visit. Video calls may be a one-on-one conversation or include multiple interviewers.
In some cases, video interviews are self-paced, meaning you’ll receive prompts and then record your responses into a webcam (you’ll most likely have some time to consider your response, and a few takes to capture a good recording.)
In-person interviews
If you schedule an in-person interview with a facility, it means you’re on the short list of candidates. You’re likely to meet with administrators, department heads, and other physicians within the practice, and receive a tour of the facility. It’s also normal at this stage to go out for a meal with your potential colleagues to get to know one another a bit.
Depending on the market for your specialty, many employers cover expenses related to in-person visits. If they don’t volunteer this information upfront, be sure to ask about their reimbursement policy.
Preparing for interviews
Do your research on the employer
Become familiar with an employer’s mission, values, history, and culture. What are their noteworthy accomplishments or newsworthy updates? Spend some time on their website, check out any social media accounts, and read a few press releases. Doing your homework scores points with a hiring committee.
Review your CV and application materials
Take another look at your CV and cover letter. Reflect on any accomplishments you’d like to highlight, and on specific experiences from your training or residency that illustrate your professionalism, clinical skills, and critical-thinking abilities.
Revisit the job description
The job description can show you exactly what an employer wants from their ideal candidate. Dig into the qualifications and responsibilities for the position, and identify any opportunities to showcase strengths that make you a great match.
Common interview questions for physicians
Every interview is its own experience, though there are a few types of questions you can expect to encounter. Spend some time practicing your answers to these questions, and you’ll speak more confidently off the cuff when it’s time for the real thing.
Personality and background questions
These questions help employers get a better feel for who you are and what’s important to you. They’re an opportunity to describe what makes you unique, and to show how your values align with the organization’s.
- Tell me about yourself and your experience.
- Why did you decide to get into medicine?
- What made you interested in this position?
- What are some of your strengths? What about weaknesses?
While it’s good to highlight your training and accomplishments, don’t just recap your CV—be specific and add context whenever you can. When describing strengths and weaknesses, be authentic and honest, but avoid boasting, oversharing, or cliche answers like “I’m a perfectionist.” Describe the steps you’re taking to improve any admitted shortcomings.
Behavioral questions
Behavioral questions help a hiring committee understand what it’ll be like to work with you, what your bedside manner is like, and how you handle yourself in challenging scenarios.
- How do you respond under pressure?
- Tell me about a time you made a mistake, and how you rectified the situation.
- What are your usual strategies for managing stress?
- Tell me about a time you’ve resolved a conflict with a colleague or patient.
These types of questions are best answered with specific stories about how you’ve handled yourself in similar situations. Employers want to know that you can cooperate with the rest of the team, cope with stress, and remain professional when difficulties arise.
To keep your responses focused and easy to follow, many hiring experts recommend the STAR method for storytelling-based interview responses:
Situation – Set the stage for your story, and provide the most critical details.
Task – What was the objective at hand, and what was your responsibility?
Action – What steps did you take, and why?
Result – What was the outcome?
Clinical questions
Most of the time, interviews are about assessing culture and personality fit rather than grilling you on hypothetical cases. Still, you’re likely to be asked some specific medical questions throughout your interviews, facility tours, and informal chats with your potential colleagues. These aren’t intended to try and trip you up, but to get a preview of how you communicate about medical cases.
Asking your own questions
As an attending physician, your skills are in high demand, so it’s important to remember that you’re interviewing a potential employer just as much as they’re interviewing you. Asking thoughtful questions helps you learn more about the role and the company culture, and demonstrates your interest in the position.
You can ask specific questions about the role or facility, like:
- What’s the expected daily volume of patients?
- What procedures and equipment are available?
- How and when do you conduct performance reviews?
- What EHR system do you use, and do I get scheduled admin time?
- What is the call schedule, and what am I expected to cover?
You should also ask about the workplace culture and growth opportunities within the organization.
- Tell me what to expect from the workplace culture.
- What support resources are available for physicians?
- What’s the turnover rate among physicians? What about nurses and clerical staff?
- Are any continuing education resources available?
- Is there an established path to partnership?
As a general rule, save questions related to salary or benefits until after you’ve received an offer—there will always be room to negotiate later. (For more on that topic, check out our contract negotiation tips for new physicians.)
Essential interview tips for new doctors
Be on time. Tardiness makes a terrible first impression. Don’t forget to account for traffic or bad weather.
Always be respectful. From recruiters to clerical staff to your fellow physicians, anyone you talk to might weigh in on how you treated them.
Keep responses concise. Aim for a maximum of one to two minutes per answer. Any longer and you may lose your audience’s attention.
Practice active listening. Always wait for the interviewer to finish their question before providing a thoughtful response.
Bring extra copies of your CV. You never know when somebody will stop in to meet you mid-conversation.
Body language matters. An upright posture and confident eye contact make you feel better, look better, and sound better.
Take notes. Write down the names and titles of people you meet, and take notes on key details during interviews or facility tours.
Dress appropriately. Business casual is always a safe choice—jeans are too casual for most clinics. (This applies to virtual interviews, too.)
Send a follow-up. It reinforces your interest in the position and shows professionalism. Keep it brief—express gratitude for the opportunity, and offer to answer any additional questions.
Tips for virtual interviews
Look like a professional. Dress the same as you would for an in-person interview. Your head and shoulders should be in frame, with your camera as close to eye level as possible.
Consider what’s in view. A clean, organized background says you’ll approach your work the same way.
Test-drive the technology. Your interview start time is a bad time to find out your WiFi is down, or that you need to install a required update.
Talk to the camera like you would a person. It helps to put your own thumbnail as close as possible to your webcam so you’re not tempted to look at yourself (it happens to everyone.)
Interview pitfalls to avoid
Avoid overly rehearsed responses. It’s wise to practice answers to common questions, but responses should feel like a natural conversation, not prepared statements.
Don’t show up unprepared. It implies you’re unprofessional and won’t take the job seriously.
Don’t stretch the truth. Embellishment can easily lead to embarrassment and a poor professional reputation.
Don’t gossip or be negative. Even if you were in the right in the situation you’re describing, it still paints you in a bad light.
Approach your physician interviews with confidence
While your interviews for medical school and residency might have felt more like a series of interrogations, you’re in a much different situation now. You’re no longer begging for a spot, you’re evaluating the best place to build your career.
By practicing your interview skills, preparing in advance, and asking the right questions, you’ll be in an excellent position to land a job that matches your priorities and ambitions.
Explore more resources for your medical career
Beyond Residency offers useful resources to help you launch your career, and to understand your options in an evolving healthcare landscape. From blogs and downloads to webinars and in-person events, we’re here to help you make the transition smoothly and successfully.
Explore more complimentary career resources for physicians, or stay up to date on our upcoming events.
