You made it and were invited to an interview. Congratulations!
But you can’t sit back and relax just yet: the job interview also needs to be thoroughly prepared.
Table of Contents
The outfit
As far as clothing is concerned, you can use the oral exam as a guide for the interview: you should be formal and smart, gentlemen in suits and ties, women in suits or pants suits. Things should fit well and be comfortable even when sitting. A skirt should not be shorter than knee length, a décolleté should not be lower than the axillary line.
Preparation
In the run-up to the interview, you should do some thorough research about the clinic in question.
Take a look at the department and its employees on the homepage and note the names of the chief physician, senior physician and the people who invited you to the interview. If photos are online, note the faces. This way people don’t look like strangers to you and hopefully you won’t get mixed up during the interview. The best tactic is to consider medicine interview tutors for having a little help in preparation.
It is also worth researching where the focus or specialties of the department lie. What are the main research areas? Is teaching done? Is there a certification as a center? All of this shows that you are committed to the position.
For the handbag or briefcase
It is always good to have your own CV with you at the interview. So you have something in hand and can follow the boss if he has a question about your CV. If there are additional references that you didn’t have when you applied, such as the freshly printed exam certificate, every boss would be happy if you brought a copy of it with you. You should also have something to write with you so that you can write down the answers to your questions.
The first minute
Take a deep breath and… Smile! An open facial expression can be the first icebreaker in an interview. Thank them for taking the time to talk to you today and don’t sit down until you’ve been offered a seat. Always accept offered drinks, even if you are not thirsty!
The self-presentation
“Introduce yourself briefly and tell us why you have applied to us”. This sentence is a popular introduction to interviews and gives you the first chance to make a good impression. You have to practice the self-presentation beforehand! It should give a brief overview of your career (2-3 minutes), so it should basically reflect what is on your CV.
The point is not to recite the entire CV by heart, but to tell the boss what he needs to know and what he wants to hear. When did you take your exams? What is the topic of your dissertation? Is she ready yet? What experience do you bring to the department? What was the reason you chose this house? You can add all of that here. Practice this little monologue a few times at home so that it comes off your lips fluently.
Ask questions and show interest
Next, at the interview, those present will tell you about their department and company and do a little self-promotion. It is important to be careful here! Maybe some of your questions will be answered here or new ones will arise. You can attach these immediately afterwards when it comes to your questions.
Thorough preparation is worthwhile for this moment. “No, I don’t have any questions” is not an acceptable answer at this point. But if you demonstrate that you have familiarized yourself with the position and the house before the interview, you can score points. Since some questions will probably already be answered when you are told about the house, it is worth thinking about it beforehand and having a few more questions up your sleeve.
Possible questions are: Is it possible to sit in to get to know the department better? How is the induction structured? Is there a reference person or a mentor who instructs you? How is the rotation planned? When are services usually taken over? What does the shift system look like? Are you released for training? Is it possible to get involved in research or teaching?
Questions you will be asked in the interview
“Why exactly are you applying to us?”
There must be a few good reasons for this question, which go beyond the fact that the clinic has good transport connections! The size of the house, the familiarity of the staff through PJ or clerkship, specializations that are interesting for you, the proximity to research and teaching at a university clinic are possibilities.
“Where else did you apply?”
Warning, trick question! Here they want to test whether you are being indiscreet. In fact, it’s nobody’s business where you’ve applied everywhere. Vaguely answer that you have applied for similar positions in the city or county, but never give names or houses!
“Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”
In preparation for the upcoming specialist examination. Point. If you apply to a university, you can add teaching or publications here. Sabbatical is not a good answer!
“How about your family planning?”
Here it is apt to answer that now that you have completed your studies, further training is the priority for you. Nobody expects you to categorically exclude children here. However, including the boss directly in your concrete junior planning is a no-go.
“Are you pregnant?”
The shock question in the job interview. Legally, you don’t have to answer truthfully. A lie at this point is not a reason for termination if you are actually pregnant.
And then?
Rarely will you be offered the job on the spot, more often you will be dismissed with the statement that you will be contacted. This should be done within 14 days of the interview. After this time, it is legitimate to ask politely by phone what the status of the application is.
If the dilemma happens to you that a house has promised you, but your favorite house is still a long way off, you can play it openly by calling your dream job after a reasonable period of time and describing your situation. This gives the house the indication that you could possibly be off the market quickly and can react quickly if your application was interesting.
We wish you every success in the interview!
