Ace that interview: It's all in the details

Preparation is key. Make sure you know all about the practice or organization -- and about yourself and your needs.

By John McCormack, AMNews correspondent. Nov. 12, 2007.

Ever been on an interview where you get asked one of those questions that make you squirm in your chair -- "If you were a tree, what kind would you be?"

You know that you need to do more than roll your eyes and shrug it off. The problem? You can't come up with a quick answer.

If you don't prepare for a job interview, you could miss out on opportunities, receive less than the optimal compensation package and, perhaps worst of all, get stuck in a position that simply is not a good fit, says Jack Valancy, a health care consultant based in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

Doctors need to learn to sell themselves in job interviews -- and that means lots of preparation, says Beth Ross, PhD, a New York-based executive coach.

Valancy suggests that you zero in on the following areas and come up with a list of must-haves or must-have-nots:

• Patient cases. Will you be taking care of the types of patients that you want to take care of? Will you be getting the types of cases that you want?
• Organizational culture. Do you want to work in a fast-paced environment, a work culture that places an emphasis on research or in an entrepreneurial atmosphere?
• Location/lifestyle. Do you favor a small rural community or big-city life? If you have a family, how are the schools? Are there recreational opportunities nearby?
• Compensation. Will the salary provide you with the means to maintain or improve your lifestyle? Will the benefits meet your needs? Do you think the compensation is competitive?