Are you looking for the ideal physician position or your next level promotion in a specialist field? Physician interviews can be challenging, and for a good reason. Clinical teams need the best person for the job, and they also look for candidates who will blend into their teams and organizational culture well. However, it is just as crucial for the candidate to be sure they are working in an environment that suits them. There are shortages in physician roles and a range of good offers out there right now. How do you know that the role is the right fit for you? We look at the best ways to prepare for the job search and interview.
#1: Prepare For Your Next Position
Your first steps start with preparation for the next chapter in your career. Think about where you want to go from your current role to the next and how to get there. Do you want more research opportunities, or are you considering sub-specialization? How far are you looking to travel or relocate? As you start thinking about those next steps, you should also think about projects and innovations you are involved with, so you can update your CV and stand out from others. Are there opportunities for advancements or quality improvement that you could do to make your CV shine?
#2: Where to Look for Positions
Some of the best jobs are not yet advertised. If there’s a hospital or clinical team you aspire to work for, do some research using a physician job search and find out if they have any openings. It also gives you insights into the organization. Many hospitals and clinics have job postings on their websites. Other places to look for open positions include professional journals, job posting sites, and physician recruitment agencies. Physician-focused job boards include:
If you are working with a physician recruitment organization and looking for a placement, be clear on your position in a post. Physician recruitment agencies can help with many things, especially interim positions. However, they are commissioned to fill positions. Do not be shoehorned into something not quite right for you. Be clear from the start about what you are looking for and the skills you have, and any fees the agency charges. The other advantage of a physician recruitment agency is they may have jobs that you were unaware of but appeal to you.
#3: How to Prepare for Your Interview
If your CV is a hit with the recruiting organization, you will be asked to attend an interview. You will need to do some preparation work to respond to questions. More importantly, demonstrate that you have done some research on the organization to show your level of interest.
- Finding out who works in the team and their specialties is a good place to start. You can typically find this information by doing a LinkedIn search on the company. This may help establish a common ground you have with the interviewers and help you pinpoint the focus area of the interview.
- Research the company online, either through their website or GlassDoor to gain insight into other providers’ experiences. Is the clinic doing anything innovative or working specifically, such as integrated teamwork? How will you contribute to the existing team? If the organization offers a community visit, take the opportunity to visit and meet staff informally to get an idea of how the organization works and the culture.
- Research the local population. For example, if you are applying for a position in Connecticut and Dermatology is your specialty, what do local data show about access to healthcare and skin cancer outcomes? How could you help improve it? Always have examples of projects you have managed and, in particular, any change that you implemented in clinical practice. Interviewers are looking for insight into behavior. If you have examples of what you learned from a challenging experience or from implementing change, have this information at hand. Prepare questions to ask the interview panel at the end of the process.
#4: What to Consider before Accepting a Position
Congratulations! You have been offered the position, what is next? First of all, check the contract terms and what your job entails. Read through the sections carefully. Check for things like on-call rotations and the frequency, any bonuses during the first year, and standard benefits such as health insurance. If you are relocating, are moving costs included? Next, speak to your family about the implications of the offer. If it doesn’t feel right, don’t be afraid to say no or go back to the negotiation table.
#5: How Do You Know When an Organization is a Right Fit?
The organization you work at is as essential as the job. After applying, visiting the facility, and interviewing, observe if this is somewhere you would really like to work. How responsive is the team to your questions and applications? How does the staff seem as they go about their work? What is the turnover of staff like? Are there an induction process or staff development programs for new and existing clinicians, and how responsive is the organization to change? Do you have a feel for the culture in the organization or department, such as a blame culture, or is it one of transformation and teamwork? All these issues are vital to consider.
If you are interested in a position at Physicians Alliance of Connecticut, reach out and see what we offer as a career opportunity below. If you are a physician and want to share in the PACT vision of delivering patient-centered and innovative healthcare, apply to one of our open positions below.
