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Physician Job Interview Tips

by Amy Dodds •

“Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.”
—Aristotle

No matter how many years of experience you may have under your belt, making the decision to change your employment situation is rarely easy. Searching for a new job can be challenging at best and downright stressful at worst. If you are considering a transition to a new practice, hospital or university, these tips and tricks can help the process run more smoothly and be more enjoyable.

Before You Begin

Prior to applying for a new position, otolaryngologists should take several factors into consideration. While there are many points to consider, including why the position is available, access to ancillary revenue and the type of equipment the facility uses, “the most important criterion should be: Is there a defined need for ENT services in the area?” said Jim Stone, president of The Medicus Firm, a physician staffing firm based in Dallas, and president-elect of the National Association of Physician Recruiters. He advises applicants to ask prospective employers about the number of referring primary care physicians, new otolaryngology patient volume, existing patient volume, wait times on new patient appointments, the size of the draw area and the current number of otolaryngologists in the area. “They should be able to provide specific data to support the need for an ENT,” he said.

Tommy Bohannon, divisional vice president at Merritt Hawkins & Associates, a physician search and consulting firm based in Irving, Texas, said that otolaryngology practices are becoming increasingly subspecialized. “Practices are consequently looking for a doctor to focus on one aspect of otolaryngology,” he said. “It’s very important for you to ascertain how much time you will spend in that particular area and determine whether that’s acceptable to you.” These and other considerations can be verified in a preliminary phone conversation or through a recruiter.

The Job Search in Academia

When seeking out a job in academia, remember that different criteria are involved. The hiring decision at an academic institution may involve a bit more bureaucracy—especially in larger universities or institutions—so the process may take a bit longer. Also, in addition to learning about your clinical practice capabilities, decision-makers for an academic practice opportunity will want to learn more about your prior research, publications and future research interests, as well as your potential teaching abilities.—AD

The Interview

In recent years, the dynamic of looking for a job and the applicant-employer interactions involved have changed pretty drastically, said Bohannon. “Prospective employers have done a certain amount of due diligence. If they’re working with a recruiter, they have a dossier and a good idea of what you are all about.” Your qualifications have already been verified and your references already spoken to, he said, because today’s technology has made it much easier to confirm the basic facts of your CV.