The physician interview is very different from other professions.

The interviewer is tasked with

finding not only someone that fits all the technical skill requirements, but who is a cultural fit to
a facility; someone who meshes well within the community, can connect with patients and have
appropriate bedside manner - especially when dealing with life and death situations. We asked
some of our clients who have extensive experience interviewing for physician positions what
their ideal answers would be to some of the most frequently asked interview questions. Below
are our findings:

1. “Tell me about yourself”. – This is a question that you as a physician will very likely
encounter. We found that healthcare facilities want to hear about your training experience, your
background (Is it from well recognized/highly accredited firms?), your dreams (hopefully they
are in line with the position that you are interviewing for) and any ties to the facility or the
location in which you are trying to apply. Try to convey your message in a few brief

sentences.

2. “Why did you go into medicine?” - Resoundingly our clients expressed their distaste with
physicians saying that they went into medicine for the pay. No employer wants to hire a money-
hungry physician. Be honest about why you went into medicine.

Possible answer: “I want to help people and provide the best medical care that I can.”

3. “What would you bring to the practice?” – The interviewer isn’t going to be impressed with
false promises. Highlight what you are good at without sounding overly boastful.

Possible answer: “I would bring a solid work ethic to the practice, a desire to be part of the
team and the ability to provide quality care.”

4. “Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?” – This question is subjective. If you are a
locum tenens physician, your answer is going to be different than other physicians. . We
recommend that you answer honestly. If you plan on entering retirement in the next five to ten
years, tell the interviewer. It is the most fair to both parties. In some cases, it is even okay to say
that you don’t know.

5. “How do you react under pressure?” – This is a very important question to answer. Most
physician specialties require brilliance in the heat of the moment. Highlight your ability to rise to
the occasion when it is necessary.

6. “Describe your experience and skills.” – Most employers are going to be impressed by
institutions with names that they recognize. However, if you did not get your training from a
highly recognized school or facility, highlight the accolades that it has as well as why you chose
to pursue that institution.
7. “What are your goals and objectives?” – Think of this question in terms of what the
interviewer wants to hear. Try to phrase your goals and objectives to be in alignment with the
position for which you are interviewing.

Possible answer: “I want to build a solid practice, provide consistent quality care for my
patients and be part of the team.”

8. “What kind of salary are you looking for?” – At CompHealth we try to coach our candidates
to steer away from talking about salary in an interview. If you say a number that is too high for
the hospital, you might be taking yourself out of the race. If you give them a number that is low,
you are either leaving money on the table or you are giving the interviewer the impression that
you are worth less than the next candidate.

Possible answer: “I am looking for at least a competitive salary; I definitely want to receive
compensation equal to the effort put forth.”

9. “Why are you interested in this position?” – This is likely one of the first questions a
candidate might be asked. Most candidates see success when they highlight the facility and the
surrounding area. Talk about why you want to be in that city (Is it the size of the city? Cost of
living? The people? Quality schools for your kids? No income tax?) and what is unique about the
facility (Size? Well renowned doctors? The facility culture?). This is a subjective question but
try to answer succinctly and get to the point quickly.

10. “What are your strengths?” – This is another subjective question but try to highlight your
abilities that the interviewer will see as strengths. Things like work ethic, honesty, compassion,
solid training and the ability to work well with others are all things that will make you shine in
the interview process.

11. What are your weaknesses? – Similar to the question above, try and answer this in a way that
they may be weaknesses to you, but to an employer, they may not be so bad. If you appear to be
a workaholic or an overachiever, that may not be a big red flag to the interviewer.

12. Why should I hire you? – This is one of the last questions that you might hear in the interview.
It is one that if you do hear it, you are probably doing well. It is important to not over qualify
yourself with your answer to this question. Try to highlight why you would be the only candidate
that would fit the position.

13. What other practices are you investigating? - Be honest with your answer to this question.
BUT highlight that the facility you are interviewing with as the most important.

Possible answer: “None that compare to this clinic because it is ________ and _________.”
 Interview Questions for a Doctor
1. Why did you choose this career? Why did you choose this specialty?
2. Your professional experience: Tell us about your background as a doctor: education and
experience. What are your specialties/ expertise?
3. What unique skills do you possess?
4. Why are you interested in this hospital/department?
5. What are you career goals? Is this hospital a proper fit?
6. How do you handle workload stress and emergency situations?
7. Describe your day to day activities, priorities and tasks.
8. What are your weaknesses and strengths?
9. Describe your most successful accomplishments.
10. What are the key challenges of this (field of medicine)? What are your personal
challenges?
11. Why should we hire you? What benefits will you bring to us?
12. Do you have references? How would your employers describe you? How would your
patients describe you?

Doctor interview questions and answers

1-How do you feel now at this stage, when you are having many years practicing experience
with you? – I feel good that I did my best to treat my patients well. There have been some ups
and downs in the career where I faced some tough patients in regards to their poor health and
financial conditions. I have always tried to ease my patient’s pain with the best medical services
available in the health care world. For me the patients are first then my family.

2- There have been several new developments in the medical science world, so what more
now you expect from the medical world to do? – As a doctor, I feel that what we are giving to
the patients should be available easily at the required location. Although, with the development
of the technology the job have been eases a lot now and I hope there will be more in our basket
to treat our patients with suitability.

3-What do you think, why healthy eating is important? – When combined with exercise, a
healthy diet can help you lose weight, lower the cholesterol level and improve the way your body
functions on a daily basis. Eating is the major part of your daily activity hence it should not be
taken lightly.

4- How emotions can affect the health? – Body responds to the way one thinks, feels and acts.
It is often called as the mind & body connection. When one is stressed, anxious or upset, body
tries to tell that something isn’t right. E.g., high blood pressure or a stomach ulcer might develop
after a particularly stressful event, such as the death of a loved one or losing the job. Poor
emotional health can weaken the body’s immune system, making more likely to get colds and
other infections during emotionally difficult times. Also, when one is feeling stressed, anxious or
upset then he/she may not take care of her health very well.

5- Why one should keep first aid kit? – Cuts, stings, burns, allergic reactions – all of these are
common accidents that can happen in any home or on any outing. That’s when a first aid kit
comes in use. When you have a well-stocked first aid kit, you have the supplies you need to be
ready for most minor emergencies. Having a kit together is as simple as placing some basic items
in a small container. Making sure it’s out of young children’s reach.

6- What is your favorite kind of patient to work with? Is there any specific thing you’d like
to see more patients do, or things that would help ensure a productive visit for your patient
and you? – I would love to work with patients who are willing to work with all aspects of their
health. I can only recommend things as I can’t make a patient engage in a healthier lifestyle. So
if a patient is willing to work on their diet, exercise and sleep patterns then I find this one to be
very important for the patients. It will be much more rewarding to work with them.

7- Finally, as a doctor, if you have to give advice for patients, what would it be? – Get well
informed by your doctor. The more you know, the more you can make sure you are getting the
best treatment for yourself and finally take care of yourself.

Physician Interview Tips

If you received a call from your dream employer, would you be prepared for the interview?
While most physicians are qualified for the job in which they apply, they struggle with the
interview process. Based on years of recruiting experience, we have identified some practical
tips to guide you through the physician interviewing process.

The first thing to realize is that an interview is a two-way street. While the employer has the
upper hand in many respects, you are both trying to make a positive impression on each other in
the hopes of finding a good match. Therefore, you shouldn’t go into an interview feeling as
though you are being put under a microscope.

It is important that you understand proper interview etiquette. Remember the more prepared you
are, the easier it will be for you to stand out against the competition.
Preparation is key to a successful interview. Here are some interview preparation tips to ensure
you have a smooth interview process to land your next physician job.

Interview Preparation Tips

 Do your homework. Research the hospital/clinic you are interviewing with and know how you
will be an asset to that facility. Not only will this allow you to ask well-educated questions
throughout the interview process, knowing the general facts about the position will allow the
interviewer to cover more specific areas of interest.
 Practice makes perfect. Practice interviewing with a friend, colleague, or associate if possible.
Record and listen to yourself before interviewing to eliminate the “um’s and oh’s”. The
confidence and communication skills you gain in the process are worth the momentary feeling
of silliness.
 Be Professional. You do not have a second chance to make a first impression. We recommend
that you wear a conservative suit, and have a neat and well-groomed appearance. Make sure
that your clothing is clean, pressed, and presentable. Try to develop a rapport and relate with
the interviewer. Always maintain eye contact and positive body language. Do not interrupt the
interviewer and listen to them very closely. Always address whomever is interviewing you as
Dr./Mr./Mrs. unless they tell you otherwise.
 Be Punctual. It is never appropriate to be late for an interview. Before you visit the location,
make sure that you can be there on time (drive to it in advance and locate the room that you
will be interviewing beforehand). You should be no more than 5-10 minutes early for the
interview.
 Bring a clear copy of your Curriculum Vitae, along with names, addresses and phone numbers of
your references. Have your CV nearby as a reference; chances are your interviewer has it in
front of them and will be asking questions about it. In addition, jot down a list of your strengths
and weaknesses; employers love to ask these slightly predictable questions. Use that to your
advantage and be ready with solid answers.
 Don’t discuss salary. It’s important to remember that you should never ask about salary during
your first interview. If asked what kind of offer you are looking for, your response should be, “I
will consider your strongest offer.” This will prevent you from giving a figure that is too high or
too low, which could take you out of the running because they can’t afford you – or generate an
offer less than desired. If and when they offer you the position, you can negotiate the offer and
discuss your salary.
 Close the deal. Your goal in any interview is to get an offer. If you like what you see, don’t leave
the interview without letting the interviewer know you are really interested in the position.
 Write a thank you note. After the interview, take the time to send a handwritten note. It should
be brief and tell them you enjoyed your meeting. Express interest in the position and in hearing
from them soon.

When it comes to interviews, practice makes perfect. You may be a smart, hardworking
candidate, but you are competing against equally intelligent, motivated candidates. Relying
solely on your credentials is not sufficient. By understanding the interviewing process and
practicing the tips in this guide, you will have a better chance for success in your quest for your
ideal physician job.
Keep in mind that interviewers are as eager to find a good match as you are. Before you sit down
to an interview, take a deep breath and focus your attention on all of those things that make you a
good candidate. When you are feeling confident internally, you will portray yourself as someone
worth getting to know. Good luck!

Frequently Asked Interview Questions

General

 Tell me about yourself.

 Why did you choose to go into medicine?
 Why did you choose the medical school you attended?
 Why are you changing jobs, or why are you interested in this job?
 Why did you choose our practice location?
 What are your long-term goals?
 Why do you want to work with us?
 Why should we hire you?
 What do you feel you can bring to the group?

Strengths and Weaknesses

 Describe your strong points.

 Describe your weaknesses.
 Describe your abilities as a team player.
 How do you describe your clinical judgment?
 What are your strongest clinical areas? What makes you say that?
 Describe one of your most recent clinical triumphs.
 Describe a clinical scenario that did not go well. Quality of Service and Patient Relationships
 How did you resolve a major conflict with a patient?
 What do your patients like best about you?
 What do your patients like least about you?

Personal Attributes

 Describe your personality (initiative, enthusiasm, stability and consistency).

 Describe your work habits (difficulty reaching, timely reports, patient interaction, etc.).
 How well do you communicate by phone when describing patient situations?
 With what volume of work are you comfortable?
Contributions
 What do you feel are the most important contributions you have made to your practice,
community, and hospital?

Risk Factors
  Have you ever come before any committee of a hospital or peer review group for review or had
privileges revoked or suspended?
 Have you ever had any disciplinary actions or problems of professional competence?
 Are you aware of any claims or investigations against you (past or present)?
 Have you had any malpractice suits?

Conclusion

 After what you have seen and heard are you interested in the position?
 What level of compensation do you require?

Practice Interview Questions

Preparing for your interview requires practice!! This is a sample of questions that you can use to
start your preparation for your medical school interview. Go over them, practice writing out and
saying your answers out loud. Start practicing long before your interview, some of them may
stump you now but you may have a flash of genius while washing the dishes or before going to
sleep. It often helps to try to connect your answer to a question with an example from your real
life, so dig deep and answer honestly.

Imagine you are working as a resident in a hospital. What role do you see yourself fulfilling as a part of
this kind of team?

What is the biggest challenge facing health care in your province today? What do you think can be done
to help solve it?

What personal quality do you think you will have to work the hardest to improve during your med
school experience?

What would make you decide to stop studying medicine?

What does quality of life mean?

Tell me about a problem that you wish you had handled differently.
How do you respond when a group member isn't pulling their weight?

A recent survey of senior doctors suggests that they believe the younger generation of physicians is not
as hard working (i.e. wanting to leave right at 5pm, not giving 60-70 hour weeks) - how do you feel
about that?

Are you thick skinned?

In what situations would you be judgmental?

Do you feel there is too much emphasis on prevention in medicine?

Why do you want to become a doctor?

What would you do if medicine (as a career) was a complete impossibility?

What would be your biggest fear in practicing medicine ?

What makes a good doctor, a dangerous one?

An 80 year old terminally ill man calls you up to tell you that he is going to take a lethal dose of
painkillers. He has called you to tell you that you have been a great doctor and many thanks. How do
you handle the situation?

Tell me something to make me laugh.

Why haven’t you contributed your service towards your undergrad school instead of other volunteer
work?

Discuss a health care issue which has been in the news in the past month.

Do you think doctors make too much money?

What kind of problems would you encounter if you were practicing up North with a Native population?

What are some leadership positions you've had?

Tell me about your research.

What are the Social, Legal, medical implications of a needle-exchange program. What are some viable
alternatives?
What are the social implications of gambling?

What would your solution be to the doctor shortage in rural areas?

Who is your role model?

How do you balance your time?

Would you feel guilty for going overseas to provide health care while many of your fellow Canadians are
waiting months and months in long queues to be seen by a doctor?

What do you think will be the biggest problem facing medicine in 10 years?

Tell us about a dissatisfying experience you have had at school or work?

Describe an ethical situation which you may encounter in the medical profession and how you would
handle it.

Describe a decision you regret making and why.

What would you do if a peer in your class seemed depressed or suicidal?

You are part of the Health Care Budget Committee. Decide where the money for health care is spent.

What is my opinion on two-tier health care?

How would you tell the parents of a young child that their child was terminally ill with cancer?

What event in the world's history do you think has had the greatest impact on today's society.

Give example of conflict with co-worker and how you handled it.

How do you plan to balance your personal life with being a doctor?

If my schedule was totally cleared for one day, what would I do to pass the time?

Can you think of a time that you made a mistake but it ended up working out better because of it?

If you could recommend one book for the whole world to read what would it be?

If your father was ill, and on a waitlist, would you drive to buffalo for diagnostic treatment?
If you could change one aspect of your character what would it be?

What was the most painful experience you have ever had (emotionally?) How did you cope with it?

What would you do if saw co worker steal medication?

What would you do if saw classmate cheat on exam?

What do you think about nurse practitioners?

Suppose you were a medical student and you detect alcohol on the breath of your supervisor (who can
make or break you). What would you do?

Can you think of a situation you were in that resulted in your displaying the qualities of a physician, a
situation where you didn't, and what you learned from it?

You are on duty in the ER when an unconscious 5 year old girl is brought in. It's clear that she needs an
immediate blood transfusion to survive, but her Jehovah's Witness parents are adamantly against it.
What would you do and why?

A senior citizen is suffering from terminal cancer and is in continuous, searing agony despite being given
high doses of painkillers. He asks you, his primary doctor, to euthanize him, saying: "I've lived a life of
dignity; I want to die with dignity." What would you do and why?

Would you administer a birth control prescription to a 12 year-old?

What do you think about alternative medicine and how what would you do if your patient told you they
were seeking alternative therapies?

What are the negatives aspects of being a doctor?

Define integrity.

Why not another healthcare profession?

How do you feel about the conflict in the Middle East?

Your young female patient wants a genetic test to see if she has the breast cancer gene, but her mother
does not want her to have the test. What do you do?

If you had a million dollars to spend in the health care sector where would you spend it?
Tell us about a time when you completely changed your point of view on a long held opinion.

Name a time when you dropped the ball and why?

You're a 50 year-old diabetic woman who is functionally impaired and just out of insulin. How do you
feel?

How do you feel about affirmative action in the United States?

How will you feel if you go to medical school and you are only an average student there?

What is the most important lessons your parents taught you?

Am I entitled to health care if I am a smoker who does not want to quit?

How would you explain to a little girl why the sky is blue?

What role do you see clinical trials playing in your research?

How do you reconcile your very broad range of interests with a career in medicine.

Think of an ethical situation from any area of your life and discuss both sides of the issue

Why do you think mental illness has stigma?

Comment on one group of people in Canada requiring specialized/distinct healthcare.

Why do you think doctors have so much power?