We spoke to eight seasoned healthcare directors about the most asked interview questions when conducting a job interview for doctors. Tips (and red flags) included.
You’ve done medical school and internships, built your CV along with a polished cover letter, and examined some of the best medical institutions you wish to contribute your medical skills with. It’s time to apply and get prepared for the interview process!
You should know this beforehand: a job interview has a huge role for hiring managers in deciding whether to hire you. So there will be tricky follow-up questions and observations from their side to make sure that the person they interview is capable based on the candidate’s resume and has the whole package of good personalities for the position they require in the job posting.
We’ve collected some exclusive insights from a number of seasoned HR managers and hospital directors, especially on things you must avoid saying at all costs.
What you’ll get in this article:
- What are some most common interview questions for a physician job, along with their most unappealing answers?
- What are the red flags you’ve seen from the job candidates during the interview?
- But why are those traits red flags?
- So, what is the most important soft skill to demonstrate in a physician job interview?
- What percentage are you typically willing to negotiate from your originally quoted offer?
What are some most common interview questions for a physician job, along with their most unappealing answers?
From the mandatory to the most tricky questions, there will always be answers you should hope never slip out of your head before it’s too late.
“Why do you want to join this institution?”
The worst answer is: To help the organisation.
While you should be honest and genuine in your answers surrounding questions like this, a naive answer will not get you to a better place. Instead, you can answer with more in-depth observations about the institution’s vision, mission, and job description, then align them with a well-versed explanation about your career goals and how you can contribute when you have the position.
“Are you willing to sacrifice your personal life for patients?”
The worst answer is: Boasting about your achievements in previous hospitals due to your long-hour dedication.
When you get this question, know that you should show humility and an altruistic point of view of a healthcare industry dynamic rather than displaying your ego. Don’t mistake this question for an inquiry of how many working hours you can endure in a week. The interviewer actually expects to hear your sense of humanity and act of service.
“Why did you become a doctor?”
The worst answer is: To earn a name and fame.
The road is long to becoming an aspiring physician. Why waste it for the wrong intention? Before it’s too late, you better review your intention to see if you have a greater purpose for the long run to become the best version of the healthcare professional you can be. Here are some keywords: save lives, empower patients, and contribute to a critical role in society.
“Why do you want to change the job if your previous company is so good?”
The worst answer is: Because of clinic politics.
A job interview is never the right place to badmouth your former employer: it’s unprofessional, emotionally immature, brings a negative vibe, and might indicate some unresolved issues that would appear again in your new position. Instead, you should take this opportunity to explain your desire to grow and get bigger responsibilities from this new company based on the job details.
“What’s your area of interest and your expertise in this field?”
The worst answer is: No area of interest or not inclined towards any particular field.
Healthcare is a highly competitive field full of professionals with a mission and idealism. Clinging to a comfort zone and a status quo would not benefit your long-term career path. Be an optimist and show your positive energy towards this new job. No productive institution would hire an apathetic candidate.
“What’s your purpose? Where would you like to see yourself in the next three years?”
The worst answer is: I work hard.
Nope. Working hard is not enough. You should show a clear direction of where you want to head in your career path. The employer wants to see whether your goals align with their mission; therefore, they will have an indicator of your growth in their institution for the long run.
“What is your current routine at work?”
A good doctor performs a good habit and discipline. Explain them in your answer when facing this question, and highlight some growth mentality and the extra miles you’re willing to walk to provide the best care for patients during your daily duties.
“Tell me about yourself.”
The worst answer is: Boasting.
Your accomplishments have been well documented in your applicant’s resume; repeating them in the interview will not give your interviewer a good impression. They want to know better about the candidate’s background and the story behind the glossy CV. So take this opportunity to give some positive nuance about your life value, motivations, and things that make you who you are as a healthcare professional.
What are the red flags you’ve seen from the job candidates during interviews?
Most of the time, an employer would opt for a candidate with average skill and a good attitude rather than a snobbish though skilful doctor. Skills can always be trained, but attitude is how you find the right people for the institution. A dedicated, patient-oriented physician will always be a more favourable choice.
Here are some red flags often found in a physician job interview that you should think of a better answer when the question pops up:
- No clear answer on why the candidate is pursuing medicine
- Seems not to care and has no particular view or direction on the future
- Shows a boastful and money-oriented attitude in the interview answers
But why are those traits red flags?
Doctors’ personalities represent a hospital brand in the eyes of the patients. The hospital business, if done well, can result in lifelong patients who will trust their money as an investment in their health for 60-80 years. A patient will not come back to a hospital with bad doctors who don’t care about the patient’s well-being or seem to not be proactive in their work with patients.
So, what is the most important soft skill to demonstrate in a physician job interview?
Presenting a good quality of soft skills makes you a well-rounded healthcare professional. Certain positive attitudes and good habits will help you better serve the patients and build a good relationship with them, therefore providing good branding for the sustainability of your company business. Take notes on these traits and make sure you wear them in your next job interview:
- Common sense and listening
- Salesmanship
- Polite patient-dealing and good patience level
- Articulate answers and a clear mind of what they want
- Communication skill
- Earnest behaviour
- Empathy
- Positive attitude
What percentage are you typically willing to negotiate from your originally quoted offer?
Then it comes to the closing of the conversation: hopefully, an offer to seal the deal. When a future employer sees your potential, they are more than willing to accept your counteroffer as long as it’s within their expected budget. Your counteroffer is also significant for them to compare candidates when there is more than one that suits the position.
Here’s a ballpark of how much you should negotiate for your salary as a counteroffer:
- 10% – 20% most likely to be accepted
- 21% – 30% maybe yes, maybe lower
- >30% only if you’re very confident with your chance
Communicating your intention well in an interview will require a bit of practice, just like how you’ve trained hard and long to gain your medical skills. Make sure you avoid the red flags and try to write the answers for these common questions so you’ll come better prepared for the next recruitment process!
Are you a General Practitioner, Aesthetic Physician, or ER Doctor looking for the next position in the healthcare industry? Here at Doctor Jobs Today, we provide the most reliable and well-curated job listing from the best medical institutions in Malaysia. You can also access various recommendations and guidelines to help you stay on track. Get your job application ready and find your future career in Doctor Jobs Today, now!
About Doctor Jobs Today
Doctor Jobs Today is the first job-seeking platform in Southeast Asia dedicated to serving the job searching needs of healthcare professionals. We have created a space to connect employers and medical job seekers seamlessly. As part of the healthcare community, we aim to cater to medical doctors for their vacancy inquiries better than traditional job portals. So here, you will only get job options that are relevant to you, sourced from the prestigious healthcare institutions in the country, because we are just as picky as you are!
Doctor Jobs Today has all the right vacancies you’re dreamed about: a higher salary, a better-equipped hospital for your specialisation, or even a career shift from patient care.
About Docquity
If you feel like your educational and professional experience has not been sufficient to make your CV pop, expanding the network to other healthcare professionals to practise peer-to-peer learning might be the answer. One of the ways to do it is by joining a social platform for healthcare professionals, such as Docquity.
Docquity is an AI-based state-of-the-art private & secure continual learning network of verified doctors, bringing you real-time knowledge from thousands of doctors worldwide. Today, Docquity has over 300,000 doctors spread across six countries in Asia.
Meet experts and trusted peers across Asia where you can safely discuss clinical cases, get up-to-date insights from webinars and research journals, and earn CME/CPD credits through certified courses. All with the ease of a mobile app available on Android & iOS platforms!
