Beat Medical Blog

Job Interview skills for Doctors

Posted by Beat Medical

Have you been baffled by a negative result after a job interview you thought you aced?

Before you blame yourself, consider the anatomy of the modern job application process. In healthcare, it is fairly standard - there is an advertisement, you write a letter laying out your interest and claim for the position, you are called for an interview - and if you are on the short list, they speak with your referees. You get the job, or you don’t. Simple as that. There is rarely a second place.

What happens in between those points often remains a mystery to job candidates. If you are unsuccessful, your may get a phone call, or a letter. This call or letter generally says how much they appreciated your application, how high the calibre of applicants was, and how close the selection process was. Very rarely will you receive a letter that says: “You sucked! No, really”, or “The interview panel really wanted to get to lunch, so they didn’t really listen to what you had to say”.

There are so many factors involved in an interview that it is nearly impossible to predict what the outcome will be, despite your ‘gut feeling’ after the interview. Sometimes, the outcome will not be related to your performance in the interview whatsoever. Some of the factors realistically influencing the final decision could be:

• how the interviewers are feeling that day
• whether the interview process is genuine (or is there already a person slated for the job?)
• the time of day, weather, and comfort of the room
• whether the position needs to be filled urgently or not
• prejudices of the interviewers
• how the person before or after you performed

And the list goes on....

The first step to a successful interview is realising that there are factors you cannot readily control. If that is the case, is there any use even trying? Of course there is!

At Beat Medical, we train our candidates to use a three step process to answer interview questions, and to ensure they get the message across in the interview that they intend to.

Before we discuss those, let’s cover some basic tips:

• gather as much information as possible about the employer, job, and interviewers before the interview
• wear a suit (and tie for men)
• arrive at the location 30 minutes early, and register at reception 10 minutes before the interview
• shake hands with each interviewer (even if they don’t get up, extend your hand)
• employ active listening techniques
• be mindful of nerves (don’t try to fight them), and do some relaxation (e.g. deep breathing) exercises whilst you are waiting for the interview

The three step process

We call this the interview three-step, because like a dance, a good interview show flow seamlessly from one point to the next. Our focus is on bringing the ownership of the interview to you.

The three steps are:

1. Situation

2. Action

3. Outcome

Let’s start with an example. Say the interview question is: “Bill, tell us about a time you had to break bad news to a patient or their family”. Bill could take this question at face value, and provide a one-dimensional answer:

“There was a time when I had to let a patient know that they needed a difficult surgical procedure.” Usually, the interviewer will ask a follow up (probing) question to clarify what Bill did, and what happened next.

Using the three step approach, we seize every single question as an opportunity to showcase our talents, skills, experience, and ability. An alternative way of answering the question is:

1. Situation

“In my current job, I am faced with situations where I need to break bad news to their patients and families every day. I realise what I perceive as minor may have a different level of importance for patients and their families....”

2. Action

“In these situations, I try to understand the perspective of the patient, and focus on what will help them the most in the given situation, even if it is breaking bad news. Recently, I had a patient present with an acute abdomen, which highlighted a more sinister condition which required surgery. I ensured I understood the condition, and the procedure before discussing it with the patient and their family. I knew that the family was very distressed, and organised some further social support for them...”

3. Outcome

“In this case, I felt that I handled the situation well. I received feedback from the family that they felt well informed during their mother’s procedure, and her recovery. The patient gave similar feedback. I recently completed a course on breaking bad news, and feel that I will develop my skills in this area over time.

One obvious point of note is how much longer the three-step response is compared to the original answer. In the second response, we have highlighted far more than the question asked, whilst still respecting the intent of the question.

One common question we are asked is how to answer the dreaded interview favourite: “What would you say are your weaknesses?”.

This is a tricky one, and with one foot wrong you can blow it. However, the three step process applies equally to this question as any other. The key is to take a weakness you had previously, and changed for the better. Here is an example:

1. Situation

“When I first started in my current job, I was uncomfortable with delegation. I soon understood that I needed to delegate in order to get everything done...”

2. Action

“I spoke with my mentor during one of our regular meetings, and let her know about the situation. I came to realise that I did not understand how to delegate effectively, and got some tips on how to do it - such as holding a quick daily meeting, giving people ownership for key tasks, and following up to make sure they are completed...”

3. Outcome

“Having been in the position for 11 months now, I am far more effective at delegation. I feel that I have a high-performing team, with the motivation and ownership to get things done.”

No matter how tempting, avoid the usual cliches of “I work too hard”, or “I am a perfectionist”. Be honest, and show that you are a fallible human being. The interviewers are looking for insight, and an ability to change.

Of course, you cannot answer every single question with a three-step answer, but it can apply to most situations. It is critical that you practice the technique before your interview, so you are comfortable, and start to develop an interview script before the big day.

One of the best ways to practice is to try to work out what types of questions you would ask in the interview. There are clues in the job description, or ask previous applicants for the questions they were asked.

After you have developed some mock questions, either practice with your partner or a friend, or even record yourself on a webcam (or both) and play it back to yourself. A medical locum/recruitment agency can help you with the process too. Beat Medical provides one-on-one, or group training to our candidates free of charge for interview preparation.

Remember to be energetic, enthusiastic, and thorough in your answers. There is no magic formula to conquering interviews, but with the Interview 3-step you will have a strategy at your disposal to be the best on the day.