From the applicant’s perspective it’s to determine if they like the opportunity, community, and culture of the practice.

The main purpose of a job interview is from an employer’s perspective to get an insight into a candidate’s personality, competencies, capabilities, and achievements.

In today’s world of physician shortages, it is easy for applicants to forget that they are being judged too.  Candidates who are attentive to how they are being perceived strengthen their position if they decide that the opportunity worth pursuing.  And benefit more professionally by being remembered fondly as paths cross down the road.

The purpose to the job interview for the applicant is to get an offer, in writing, so they can make the most informed and intelligent decision available to them.  Until an applicant has it in writting they really don’t have a decision to make or all the information required to make the best decision.

If you make the decision during the course of your interview that you’re interested in the opportunity your best course of action is to make a declarative statement.  “I’m very interested in this opportunity and I’d like to move forward.  Do you have any questions or concerns that I can address for you?  What’s the next step and when should it occur?”  Notice that you have not accepted the unacceptable or left yourself without recourse for the standard questions that arise during the course of the contract process.  What you have done is express your legitimate interest and human nature being what it is if you like them, they will like you all the more in return.  You want to make sure that before you leave the interview you know what their plan is so you’re not left waiting around wondering if they are going to get back to you or not!

We recently had a physician who replied to an opportunity in their ideal location.  It looked like a perfect fit.  When we followed up with the group about why they weren’t interested they said the head of the group was introduced to her by the program director the previous year.  A meeting was set, and she never showed up or followed up to apologize for missing the meeting.  Well, she did say she was sorry a year latter when he texted her after receiving the CV from us asking why she didn’t show up.  Make sure to never be too busy for basic professional acumen, in the small world of medical professionals as it’s taken as a sign of how you treat others i.e. patients and staff!