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          Audrey Becker 
          2341 Seven Pines Suite 5
          St. Louis, MO 63146

Phone: 314.878.6888
Toll-free: 877.583.3255
Fax: 314.878.1827
Audrey@ObOnly.com

An interview is like a well-researched first date. You learn about an opportunity from a recruiter, a colleague or an ad. You go on-line to learn all you can about the practice, the hospital, and the area. You submit your CV and references. You speak with an administrator, physician, and/or practice manager. You are invited to visit, and you accept. Now what?

You will probably go on numerous interviews in your search for the “ideal practice.” These can be agonizing or exciting experiences. Fortunately, there are things you can do to tip the scales in your favor, and you can take comfort in knowing that each interview prepares you for the next.

Present Yourself Appropriately

Dress for the occasion. You are a professional, and this is business. If you don’t have a suit in your closet, invest in one. Take along several shirts/blouses to vary your look. Keep ties/jewelry toned down. Wear comfortable shoes, and be sure they are polished. Go easy on the perfume/cologne/after-shave.

Most interviewers will not notice that you wear the same suit for two days, with varied accessories, but they will remember if you wear something inappropriate. Knowing that you look your best will give you confidence. Study your itinerary to see if there is a need for anything special; a backyard barbecue requires informal wear.

(Bad memories: A young physician who walked off the plane in cut-off Levis and old sneakers, not realizing that the hospital administrator was waiting at the gate. A nursing mother who wore a tube top, explaining that it was “convenient”; convenient perhaps, but it raised eyebrows.)

Bring extra copies of your C.V., in case you meet a physician who has not received one. Create a list of questions that you wish to ask, questions that assess every aspect of the practice. Have a pen and notebook handy. Carry everything in a brief case or nice folder. Leave the backpack at home.

Arrive early. If there is an unavoidable delay, phone your interviewer with an explanation. Greet the interviewer with a handshake. Introduce your spouse or partner if you are accompanied.

Express appreciation for the opportunity to interview; the employer has spent time and money to make this happen. Conduct yourself professionally with everyone you meet. Nurses and secretaries will be asked for their assessments after you leave. Try to use the names of the persons with whom you speak. If the names escape you, use “Sir” or “Ma’am.”

A Typical Site Visit

Every interview is different, of course, but some elements are common:

• a formal interview with the leadership of the group

• a tour of the Ob/Gyn offices

• a tour of the hospital

• meetings with physicians in your specialty

• meetings with anesthesiologists, nurse managers, and referring physicians

• informal visits with physicians and spouses

• brunches, lunches, dinners

• a tour of the community, with attention paid to real estate, schools, churches, and recreational or cultural venues

• a wrap-up session with someone in authority

Their Questions

It is impossible to predict where an interview may lead, but you can be prepared for some standard queries:

• Why did you want to become a physician?

• Why did you choose this specialty?

• Why did you choose your residency program?

• What were your best/worst experiences during residency?

• What was your most difficult case and how did you handle it?

• What would our fellow residents say about you?

• What are your strengths/weaknesses?

• How much experience have you had in (specific procedure)?

• Why have you applied for a position with this practice?

• What attracts you to this city/state/region?

• What skills/attributes/experiences could you bring to this position?

• What are your career goals?

• What are your salary requirements?

Whatever the question, maintain your focus. Try to make your points concisely and coherently, but do not give “yes” or “no” answers. Elaborate, but do not digress. Do not say anything unflattering about anyone, ever.

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