The Successful Interview: Are You Asking the Right Questions?

By Michael P. Broxterman, COO, Pinnacle Health Group
Edited by Terry Lane

Let’s face it. A two-hour interview is a very short period of time to spend gathering information that will lead to one of the most important decisions in your life. Even if you attend several interviews, can you really gather all of the information you need to make the right decision? After all, if you say “yes” to the opportunity, you may be uprooting your family, selling and buying a house, taking your children out of schools they know, or moving away from family.

The key is to get the right kind of information, so that when you say “yes”, you can do so with confidence and feel exhilarated about the changes to come-not worried!

First, discuss the position thoroughly with your recruiter. He or she has should have visited the community and the opportunity. This way they can give a much more accurate representation to you, the prospect. They can tell you if the opportunity is a good match for what you are looking for. Find out as much as you can before the interview with the employer. You should have answers to these basic questions before an interview is scheduled:

The Basic Questions

1. 1. Do you have special requirements for schools for your children?
   2. Do you need land for horses?
   3. Do you have specific religious needs?
   4. Does your spouse’s career affect your decision?
   5. Are athletic and/or arts programs essential to your family?
   6. Are there specific health concerns that require you to live near a metropolitan area, in always-warm climates, etc.?
2. What is the practice situation (solo, multi-specialty, etc.)?
3. What is the compensation?
4. What is the patient base/type?
5. What is the community like? Your basic questions about community should fit the needs and interests of you and your family. For example:

Once your basic questions have been answered, and you are satisfied that the opportunity is a good match for you, you are ready to interview. At the interview, it is important to ask some essential questions.

Essential Questions

1. 1. Can you prove to me that you need a physician? The employer should be able to prove to you that there is an established need for a physician. They may offer you a two-year guarantee, whether 1 or 100 patients come to see you. But eventually, that guarantee will run out and you will be on your own. You need to make sure that patients are going to continue to come to you. You may want to ask the employer: “Why do you need a physician?” If the answer is: “I’ve been doing 1 and 2 call for years, I’m tired of it, I need a better schedule,” that’s not the answer you want to hear. But if the answer is: “I’ve got a six-week waiting list for new patients, and the population of the draw area is growing,” that’s the right answer. You may want to find out what the physician-to-population ratio is, how the area is currently being serviced, and how referrals are handled.

1. 1. What is the position going to entail?

1. 1. How established is the referral pattern?

1. 1. What is the call coverage?

1. 1. Where will I be working? Where is the office location? What equipment, staff, and support are provided? How much travel is required? What is the distance between the office and the hospital? What is my hospital affiliation?

1. 1. What about malpractice insurance and tail coverage?

1. What is the relationship with the hospital? You’ll want to meet with the administrator and understand their vision for the community. Is it a well-thought out plan? Are the physicians friendly? Is the hospital administrator supportive of the physicians?

Miscellaneous Questions

1. Vacation Pay, Sick Time
2. Cost of Moving
3. Pay for Public Speaking, Publishing, Conferences
4. Bonuses, College Loan Payment

When you go on your interview, your decision should already be leaning very heavily toward “yes”. The interview really isn’t intended as the meeting that will give you your deciding vote. By the time you get to the interview, you should be fairly certain that the opportunity and community is right for you and your family. At the interview, you will see if you have chemistry with the interviewer, gauge your level of comfort with the personnel, and nail down answers to your essential questions above. Your recruiter can help you to get the information you need and can act as a liaison between you and the employer to resolve any concerns you may have. In short, by asking the right kinds of questions up front, you will avoid dissatisfaction later.