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The healthcare profession is full of high-demand job openings, but physicians still have to go through the interview process to get hired. This step benefits you and the employer as you get to know each other’s expectations and requirements.
After you have your first interview, the waiting begins. Will they want to hire you? If so, will they be able to offer you the salary and benefits you want?
The questions you still have after your initial meeting can be asked when you come in for the second interview round. This is the time when both parties know they’re interested in the same outcome, but they have to come to mutual terms.
When you have been called in for the next step, there are different rules and procedures in play. Before you go to your appointment, be sure to brush up on what you can expect to see in a physician’s second interview.
1. You’ll Meet New People
In the first round of interviews, you likely only met the human resources manager or a supervisor. This time, the people you’ll work directly under or alongside may sit in on the meeting.
The obvious reason for this is that people who will be working with you want to make sure you’re compatible and the right fit for the job. However, it’s also a chance for them to ask you about your values and goals to see how they align with the company’s brand. Spend a little time before the second meeting to read up on where you might be working so you can respond with educated information.
2. You’ll Go Behind the Scenes
The first time you showed up for your interview, you were probably ushered in a straight path to the meeting room. You might have seen a bit of what goes on behind the main waiting area and hallways, but not too much.
In healthcare, privacy is a huge concern since the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. Since they’d never met you before, you were only cleared to visit certain areas. Now, though, you passed some of the hurdles, like a background screening, and you may get to go further behind the scenes.
Whoever is tasked with your interview and introductions may take you to meet other personnel and show you some of the main employee areas. Your interview, as well, might be in a different room.
3. You’ll Get to Ask Questions
Now that you’ve had time to think over how the first interview went, it’s possible that you have some questions you didn’t think to ask then. This is your time to cover them all and get your answers.
Get to know more about the company and the expectations that will be placed on you by asking questions like:
- How many other physicians is the ultimate goal for this business?
- Are there any restrictions on doing work on the side?
- What are the hours? Will you be on call at all? What is the on-call pay?
- What administrative staff is available for your assistance?
- Are physicians expected to attend staff meetings?
- What type of system is used for scheduling, billing, and medical records? What is the physician expected to document?
The questions you ask should clarify the position further for you. If you’ve been offered another job somewhere else, the details here can help you decide which job you are going to take.
4. You Might See a Contract
If you pinned down salary and benefit discussions during the first interview, a contract might already have been printed for you. This most likely isn’t a final draft. The human resources manager knows that you’ll want to review the terms and request changes.
While they won’t expect you to sign a contract without reading it over, you might be asked to sign a letter of intent. This is a normal step in the negotiations process that shows good faith that you’ll accept the job offer as long as you can come to agreements on the terms.
However, a letter of intent can be just as binding as a contract. Review this Physicians Thrive article that covers the cautions of what you might be getting into before you sign yours.
5. There May Be More Interviews Ahead
Making it to the second round of questions and answers is a good sign. You may not be the only one who got that far, though. Don’t be surprised if you leave without a job offer and are asked to come back again for another interview.
Filling the role of a physician is an important job that can’t be taken lightly. If the supervisors doing the hiring want to be extra cautious, you should take that as a good sign. You know that if you’re hired, you’ll be working with detail-oriented people who care about what’s best for the company and its patients.
If there are more interviews ahead, each one should get easier as you negotiate terms and meet new staff members. By the time you’re hired, you might feel like you already know the routine!
Conclusion
Applying for jobs in the healthcare field can be monotonous, with lots of paperwork and repetition. But once you get your foot in the door for that interview, the momentum picks up speed.
By the second interview, you’ll know for sure if you’re really interested in working for the company or not. These tips will guide you on what to expect and how to make the most of the next round of questioning!
