Preparing for a Medical Job Interview

Perhaps the most nerve-wracking step before being able to land a job is the interview process. This is true regardless of your industry, but perhaps, the interview process is the most daunting in the medical field.

Nevertheless, all your fears and doubts will subside if you exert the extra effort to prepare for it. There is a great chance that you are more confident to get through with the interview if you feel that you are ready for it. 

To help you, here are some tips on how you can prepare for an interview, especially if you are in the medical field.

Research

There are a couple of things that you need to research before showing up for your medical job interview. One of these is to explore information about the company or medical institution you are applying to.

Knowing how long they have been in the industry, as well as their notable accomplishments would give you an understanding of what type of people they employ. Also, research about the person who will handle the interview because you will be able to face him or her with confidence if you have a certain background on how they talk with people.

In the same manner, research about the position you are applying for and have a good assessment of your qualities that are fit and suitable for the position. For instance, if you are applying as a locum doctor, make sure that you have the charm to put patients at ease, even when their much-loved doctor is not available for their emergency. This entails the need for you to be well-versed on how to treat patients, providing them with knowledgeable advice or treatment.

On the other hand, you may be applying as a resident doctor, and this may entail the need for you to work additional hours, even on the weekends as necessary. The important thing to note is that you have a good background on what the position you are applying for requires from you before you undergo the interview. This will increase your chances of getting hired.

Plan

Another important thing that you can do to prepare for a medical job interview is to plan. It is a good practice to confirm the time and location of the interview a couple of days before your actual meeting and if possible, get to the location to make sure that you know how to get there on the actual interview day.

Planning includes getting a good idea of the route you need to take to be able to get to your interview destination. This guarantees that you show up on time for the interview.

Part of planning is also thinking about the clothes that you will wear for the interview. As much as possible, dress appropriately and professionally, but this often varies depending on the position that you are vying for.

Nevertheless, coming in decent wear in neutral or conservative colors never fails. Check the clothes you are going to wear beforehand and make sure that there are no missing buttons or repairs needed are made before you wear them.

Sell Yourself

Strengths

In an interview process, you must be able to sell yourself in a manner that the interviewer will find it suitable to hire you for the job. In doing so, it is a good idea to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses.

Come up with a list of examples where you were able to showcase your skills and make sure that these are relevant to the position you are applying for. For example, if you are applying as a medical technician, look back into instances wherein you were able to practice having a keen eye for detail.

Weaknesses

Aside from evaluating your strengths, you also need to identify your weaknesses and how you will be able to work around it. Cite examples of how the position you are applying for will be able to hone your skills that will improve your weak areas. If you are applying as a nurse, but you are often shy, you can use your position to develop your social skills as you help patients become more at ease under your care.

References

You must also have a list of available references with you before you show up for an interview. Before putting any name on your list, make sure that you call or meet up with your references to let them know that you are applying for a job and you would very much appreciate it if they would be able to vouch for your work ethics. However, it is often acceptable to request for your references to be contacted only after you receive an offer.

Questions

Finally, it is a good practice to anticipate the questions that an interviewer may ask you to be able to rehearse on possible answers. This will be an effective way for you to sell yourself as you confidently provide a good answer to the questions of the interviewer.

Some of the most commonly asked questions revolve around what value you can add to the organization, as well as how you work with others or get along as part of a team. You may also be asked about the qualities that may set you apart from other candidates for the job, as well as your motivation for pursuing the position you are currently applying for.   

To wrap things up, an interview may seem like a daunting process, but if you are properly prepared for it, you will have the confidence to pass it with flying colors. To do so, you need to ensure that you research your potential employer and you have ample knowledge of the hiring process for the position you want.

Also, have a list of solid references readily available with you and anticipate the questions that they may ask, and rehearse how you will answer them. To be on time for the interview, plan your route on how you are going to get there, and in parallel, plan your attire too. All these tips regarding preparedness are geared to increase your confidence in facing the interviewer.