1. Explain me why did you choose your field of specialty?
There are various specialties in the medical profession and potential employers are generally interested in understanding why you gravitated toward your particular field of specialty. It pays to be sincere but keep in mind that the element of caring for and preserving a patient's life must be the very core of your response. You should also highlight your scientific curiosity about the field and what you wish to contribute to it through your medical practice and research.
2. Explain me how do you handle emergencies?
This question is among those that apply specifically to physicians and you should anticipate that a few of these will be asked by the hiring panel during the job interview process. Unlike other interview questions, this one is more objective so you must respond to this question correctly by leaning on your knowledge. Your response should always indicate that the priority during emergency situations is to save the patient's life. You must also stress that you will fulfill all your duties and make all the necessary arrangements if specialists are needed to tend to the patient. If the police are involved, it will also be your responsibility to inform them of developments regarding the patient while taking particular care not to breach any doctor patient confidentiality agreements.
Being flexible with the schedule you are willing to work is always a plus. However, many people work more than one job or have a one parent home which requires them to have a flexible schedule. Others simply prefer to work one shift rather than another. Being upfront with the interviewer about what schedule suits your preference could help prevent conflict later on. It is easier to plan a schedule you can agree on than it is to fix problems that arise due to fear of being rejected. Be honest and direct.
4. Tell me what is your routine on a daily basis?
You should tell the interviewer about your daily work routine. The number of hours that you spend at your clinic or any private hospital where you are appointed. The number of patients that you check on a regular basis. In case you are a surgeon, then number of patients that you operate on a daily basis. If you visit your patients at home, then the number of visits that you make on a daily basis.
5. Explain me do you as a doctor have any preferences?
Any hospital while hiring a doctor would like to ensure that the doctor they are hiring is best suited to their hospital. In such a case the hospital will ask for any reference that you have so that they can get the required inquiry done. By doing this they will be satisfied about the facts you have told them.
6. Tell us what are the unique and different skills you have, as a doctor?
Every doctor has their own special way of treating the patients. You should be able to satisfy the interviewer with the special skills that you have. Say, as a doctor when there is a sick person who visits you, then you after diagnosing the patient give the list of prescribed tests and only then you give the required medicines. You shall explain the interviewers that prescribing medicines without any test is not your way of treating the patients.
7. Tell us what characteristics do you think are important for healthcare professionals to possess?
There is more than one reason for asking this question. First, the interviewer wants to know what qualities you think are important to perform this job. Second, and most importantly, your answer will tell the interviewer if you hold yourself to the same standard as you do others. If you want to see certain characteristics in your peers, you should be able to tell the interviewer with confidence that you possess those traits, as well. This question is one that interviewers often use to distinguish sincerity on the part of the candidate.
8. Tell us what do you know about our hospital?
This is a typical hospital interview question that is asked by interviewers to gauge how much you have researched about the job you're applying for and the hospital you want to work in. In order to answer this question, you have to study the hospital's history including its current rules and regulations. You should also be familiar with its policies and highlight some of its remarkable achievements.
9. Tell us why any hospital should hire you in their institution?
For any hospital hiring a good team of doctors is very important. Every hospital wants to render good services to its patients so that they feel safe and secure. You should ensure that you will best support the policies of the hospital and will take care of the patients to your best capability. Your main motive will be to save the patient and at the same time take care of the goodwill of the hospital.
10. Can you explain why this hospital or medical department interests you?
As a doctor it is your duty to do the best for your patients. You should explain them this hospital is the best in its field and just like you, there aim is also to serve the people. Also, this hospital is equipped with latest medical equipments. The team of doctors in their hospital is one of the best in the city.
11. Explain me where do you see yourself five to ten years?
Once again, your best foot forward is honesty. It is fair for you and the employer to be both informed of your plans with your career in the future. It is even acceptable to answer that you're still not too sure of where you will be a decade from now if you really don't know yet.
12. Please explain what are your strengths and weaknesses as a doctor?
There is no such thing as a perfect employee in any line of work. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses and if you're asked about them, you should never lie. Mention your work ethic and your amiable traits, but also disclose a few tasks that may be a bit difficult for you. The point is to stress that even you have weaknesses, but your strengths and your determination to rise above your limitations outweigh them.
13. General Advice & Referrals Based Company Physician Job Interview Questions:
☛ Can you suggest some ways a person could obtain the experience necessary to enter this field?
☛ What is the best way to obtain a position that will get me started in this occupation?
☛ What do you wish you'd known before you entered this field?
☛ Do you know of other people whom I might talk to who have similar jobs?
☛ Which professional journals and publications should I be reading to learn about this career?
☛ Are there any other written materials (such as company brochures) that you suggest I read?
☛ What kinds of experience, paid or unpaid, would you encourage for anybody pursuing a career in this field?
☛ Which professional organizations associated with this career should I join?
☛ What other kinds of organizations hire people to perform the functions you do here?
☛ What special advice do you have for a student seeking to qualify for this position?
☛ Do you have any special world of warning or encouragement as a result of your experience?
☛ Do you have any written job descriptions of positions in this field/company?
☛ If I wanted to obtain a job here, who would the best person to contact?
☛ If I wanted to apply for a job here, what would be the best way to learn about job vacancies?
☛ If you were conducting a job search today, how would you go about it?
☛ Would you be willing to answer more questions, by phone or in person, if I need additional advice in the future?
14. Company's Needs & Future Growth Based Company Physician Job Interview Questions:
☛ In what areas do you perceive there to be gaps in personnel in this company? If the company had unlimited resources for creating new positions, in what areas should those positions be created?
☛ In what areas do you see the company expanding? Do you foresee the opening of new markets? Do you new products and/or services being developed?
☛ What areas of the company would be most interested in hiring people with my background?
☛ How can employees prepare for any planned changes at the company?
☛ What obstacles do you see getting in the way of the company's profitability or growth?
☛ If you needed someone to assist you in your job, what tasks would you assign to your assistant?
15. Plotting a Career Path Based Company Physician Job Interview Questions:
☛ Does your work relate to any experiences or studies you had in college?
☛ How well did your college experience prepare you for this job?
☛ What courses proved to be the most valuable for your work?
☛ What courses do you wish you had taken that might have prepared you for the career?
☛ What do you feel is the best educational preparation for this career?
☛ How did you prepare for this work?
☛ If you were entering this career today, would you change your preparation in any way to facilitate entry?
☛ In what way did this type of work interest you and how did you get started?
☛ What was your major in college?
☛ How did you get your job?
☛ Did you enter this position through a formal training program?
☛ What jobs and experiences have led you to your present position?
☛ What kinds of things did you do before you entered this occupation?
☛ Which aspects of your background have been most helpful?
☛ What other jobs can you get with the same background?
☛ What were the keys to your career advancement?
☛ How did you get to where you are and what are your long-range goals?
☛ If your job progresses as you like, what would be the next step in your career?
☛ Where do you see yourself in five years?
☛ If your work was suddenly eliminated, what kinds of work do you feel prepared to do?
☛ How does a person progress in your field?
☛ What is the highest-level job one can hold in this career?
☛ What is a typical career path in this field or organization?
☛ What are the advancement opportunities?
☛ How rapidly do people move to the next level in this career?
☛ What incentives are there for staying in the same job?
☛ Would someone in this field need to relocate to advance in his/her career?
☛ If I performed well at this company, where could I expect to be in five years?
16. Personal Opinions Based Company Physician Job Interview Questions:
☛ What are your interests and in what way does this job satisfy those?
☛ What do you like and not like about working in this job?
☛ Do you find your job exciting? Are there aspects of your job that are repetitious?
☛ If you could change anything about your job, what would it be?
☛ What interests you least about the job or creates the most stress?
☛ If you ever left the job, what would most likely drive you away?
☛ If you could do things all over again, would you choose the same path for yourself? Why? What would you change?
☛ How optimistic are you about the company's future and your future with the company?
☛ What's the best thing about the company?
17. Work-Life Balance Based Company Physician Job Interview Questions:
☛ Aside from monetary compensation, what kinds of mental dividends (such as job satisfaction does this career yield?
☛ What sacrifices have you had to make to succeed in this field, and do you feel the sacrifices were worth it?
☛ What kind of hours do you normally work?
☛ Do you have to put in any overtime or work on weekends?
☛ Are the time demands of your job specific to this company, or would anyone in your position be expected to work these hours?
☛ Do you ever take work home with you?
☛ What obligations does your employer place on you outside of the regular work week?
☛ What social obligations go along with a job in your field?
☛ Are there organizations you are expected to join?
☛ Are there other things you are expected to do outside of work hours?
☛ How has this job affected your lifestyle?
☛ To what extent does this job present a challenge in terms of juggling work and family life?
☛ Is there flexibility in work hours, vacation schedule, place of residence, etc.?
18. Field Based as Company Physician Job Interview Questions:
☛ What are the various jobs available in this field?
☛ How can I write a resume that will appeal to employers in this field?
☛ What types of training does this company offer those who enter this field?
☛ In what ways is this occupation changing?
☛ How is the economy affecting this industry?
☛ What is the employment outlook like in your career field? How much demand is there for people in this career?
☛ How quickly is this field growing?
☛ What are some areas of growth in this field?
☛ Can you estimate future job openings?
☛ What parts of this industry offer the best opportunities in this particular field?
☛ What are the opportunities in this career like in [geographical area you're interested in]?
☛ Is this industry heavily regulated?
☛ What do you find unique about your career field?
☛ From everything you've observed, what problems can you cite regarding working in this career?
☛ When people leave this career, what are the usual reasons?
☛ What are the most significant characteristics of this industry?
☛ If I am unable to obtain a position in this field, what other fields would you recommend I consider?
☛ Do you have any advice for someone interested in this field/job?
☛ What should I do to prepare myself for emerging trends and changes in this field?
☛ How would you assess the experience I've had so far in terms of entering this field?
☛ Would you mind taking a look at my resume to see if you have any suggestions?
☛ How would you react if you received a resume like mine for a position with this company?
19. Professional Company Physician Job Interview Questions:
☛ Can you tell me a little about yourself?
☛ Why did you choose to become a physician?
☛ Why did you choose to specialize in (YOUR SPECIALTY)?
☛ What do you like most about being a (YOUR SPECIALTY)?
☛ What do you like least about being a (YOUR SPECIALTY)?
☛ What was the best or worst experience in your residency training?
☛ What would you consider your most difficult case, and how did you handle it?
☛ How much time do you spend with each patient?
☛ What type of rapport do you establish with your patients?
☛ What do you think your peers would say about you?
☛ What do you think the nursing and ancillary support staff would say about you?
☛ What attracts you to this opportunity?
☛ What special skills/experiences do you bring to the job that others might not offer?
☛ What would you consider to be your main strengths?
☛ What are the areas that you need to improve upon?
☛ What salary do you need or expect?
☛ Where do you see yourself in 3 to 5 years?
☛ What are your personal interests outside of medicine?
☛ How does your spouse/significant other feel about living in our community?
☛ Why should we hire you?
20. Organizational Structure Based Company Physician Job Interview Questions:
☛ What is the job title of your department head or supervisor for this job?
☛ Where do you and your supervisor fit into the organizational structure?
☛ How many people do you supervise?
☛ What is the job above your current job?
☛ Do people in your department function fairly autonomously, or do they require a lot of supervision and direction?
☛ Is the company's management style top-down, or do front-line employees share in decision making?
21. Collaboration & Teamwork Based Company Physician Job Interview Questions:
☛ To what extent do you interact with customers/clients?
☛ Which other departments, functional units, or levels of the hierarchy do you regularly interact with?
☛ Is your work primarily individual, or do you work in groups or teams?
☛ How are work teams or groups organized?
22. Entry-Level Positions Based Company Physician Job Interview Questions:
☛ What are the typical entry-level job titles and functions?
☛ What entry-level jobs offer the best opportunities for learning?
☛ What trends in the field would be most likely to affect someone just entering this career now?
☛ What kinds of people experience the greatest success in this field?
☛ What is the most important thing someone entering this career field should know?
23. Educational Requirements Based Company Physician Job Interview Questions:
☛ What are the educational requirements for this job?
☛ What types of credentials or licenses are required?
☛ Is graduate school recommended? An MBA? Some other graduate degree or certification?
☛ How important are grades/GPA for obtaining a job in this field?
☛ How do you think the reputation of [name of your college] is viewed when it comes to hiring?
☛ What courses should I be taking?
24. Job Title Based as Company Physician Job Interview Questions:
☛ What is your exact title?
☛ Do other people in the company with the same job title have the same responsibilities?
☛ What was your title when you first started working here?
☛ Can you give an overview of the duties, functions and responsibilities of your job?
☛ What is a typical day like?
☛ What percentage of your time is spent doing each function?
☛ Is your job what you thought it would be when you started?
☛ How much job security do you have in this position?
☛ What kind of decisions do you make?
☛ How does your time use vary? Are there busy and slow times or is it fairly constant?
☛ How much flexibility do you have in determining how you perform your job?
☛ What projects have you worked on that have been particularly interesting?
☛ Is there a great deal of turnover in this job?
☛ How would you assess your prestige or level of status in this job? In the company?
☛ How does the company evaluate your job performance?
☛ What are the major qualifications for success in this occupation?
☛ What qualifications would you be looking for if you were hiring for a position such as yours?
☛ What qualifications would you be looking for if you were hiring for a position subordinate to yours in the office?
25. Company Culture Based Company Physician Job Interview Questions:
☛ Why did you decide to work for this company?
☛ What do you like most about this company?
☛ How does your company differ from its competitors?
☛ Why do customers choose this company?
☛ What is the company's relationship with its customers?
☛ Has the company made any recent changes to improve its business practices and profitability?
☛ What does the company do to contribute to its employees' professional development?
☛ What systems are in place to enable employees to give management feedback and suggestions?
☛ How does the company make use of technology for internal communication and outside marketing?
☛ What other technologies are integral to the company's operation?
☛ What are the people like with whom you work?
☛ Do you participate in many social activities with your coworkers?
☛ Is there a basic philosophy of the company or organization and, if so, what is it?
☛ What is the company's mission statement?
☛ What can you tell me about the corporate culture?
☛ What's the dress code here? Is it conservative or casual? Does the company have specified dress-down days?
☛ Can men wear beards or long hair here?
☛ What work-related values are highly esteemed in this company (security, high income, variety, independence)?
☛ What kind of training program does the company offer? Is it highly structured or more informal?
☛ How does the company recognize outstanding accomplishments of its employees?
☛ Are there people within or outside the organization that the company holds up as heroes?
☛ Does the company observe any rituals, traditions, or ceremonies?
☛ What is the typical job-interview process at the company? How many interviews do candidates generally go through before being offered a position?
☛ What does the company do to foster innovation and creativity?
