Looking for medical job interview tips? This blog post lays out all the skills & tips you need to land your first entry-level job after you complete an Allied Health program.
Searching for employment in the medical field is not as difficult as one might imagine. When you have all the right tools, skills, and guidance, you’ll be well prepared for your interviews and ready to start your career!
HTI’s Career Services department helps students every step of the way and can guide you through the process of externship, interviews, and eventually hire.
Medical Job Interview Tips: Getting Started!
So you just graduated from a medical program program and you’re embarking upon the exciting process of interviewing for jobs! What do you need to know?
Besides the appropriate certificates, you’ll need a set of practical skills, soft skills (including attitude, manners, willingness to learn, etc), and proper attire. Many students believe it’s enough to have practical skills & their certificate of completion, but they forget about other important qualities employers are looking for.
Being polite, possessing charisma and a good personality is very important! Every business has customers (and in the medical field, patients) and wants their employees to provide the best possible customer care. Therefore, you need to demonstrate your “soft skills” and show your capacity from the moment the prospective employer calls you in for an interview!
When it comes to medical job interview tips, soft skills are just as important as technical ones.
How To Land An Interview: The Initial Phone Call
- Answer the phone with a smile (the person on the other end will feel the warmth in your tone).
- Avoid unprofessional voicemails and ringtones. No rap songs as ringtones.
- Also avoid unprofessional emails. Your potential employer doesn’t want to contact you via sexylips@hotmail.com.
Once you’ve gotten an interview, preparing your appearance is just as important as what you will say.
Among all medical job interview tips, professionalism and clean appearance go a long way.
What To Wear To Your Interview?
Helpful Tips for Ladies
- Brightly colored nail polish and long nails are not appropriate for the medical field.
- You are not in a modeling contest; the only colors you should wear to an interview are dark blue, black, or gray.
- Make sure that your hair is out of the way and up in a very tight ponytail.
- The earrings you choose should be no bigger than the size of a dime.
- No rings (unless a plain wedding band). No bracelets.
- Only sport watches allowed (Scrubs and Beyond has them).
- Shoes should be clean and conservative: short heels, closed toe, black.
- If wearing scrubs, stick with interview-appropriate colors: black, dark blue, light blue, or gray. Shoes must be white and spotless.
Helpful Tips for Gentlemen
- Guys, your shoes say a lot about you and your cleanliness. Make sure they are black, with no stains or dust. (We all know the last time you wore your fancy shoes was at your cousin’s wedding!) Please polish them up.
- If you don’t feel comfortable in a full suit, wear a white shirt, dark pants, and a simple tie.
- Brush your hair back; nothing should cover your eyes.
General Medical Interview Tips
- You want to appear clean, professional, and polite.
- The color of your hair is very important! Do not die your hair bright purple, or orange, or bright red (when you are not a natural redhead) or neon green!
- Stick with only natural hair colors—you are now a healthcare professional and working in the medical field.
- No Crocs.
- Leave facial piercings at home.
- Smokers should avoid smoking hours before the interview.
- Don’t chew gum during the interview.
For more interview advice, check out Indeed’s interview tips
Medical Interview Behavior Tips
Arrive 15–20 minutes early. Breathe in, breathe out, and walk in with confidence.
Introduce yourself at the reception: “Good morning, my name is __________, and I am here to see Dr. Smith. He scheduled an interview with me at 9.”
Thank the receptionist. When the interviewer arrives, stand up, shake hands, and say: “Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to meet with me.”
Wait for permission before sitting down. Bring 5 copies of your resume. Maintain eye contact. Don’t let yourself get distracted.
Stay focused, be friendly, and remain professional.
At the end of the interview, don’t get up until you’re invited to. Shake hands again. Ask when you can expect a call back or ask gently, “When can I start?”
Never leave without a business card. Send a thank-you email afterward.
When waiting to hear back, be patient. Some processes take up to two weeks. Have faith in yourself and expect good news!
Follow these medical job interview tips and you’ll walk into any interview with confidence.
Thank you for reading these interview tips. Should you have any further questions or wish to practice for your interview, please contact Healthcare Training Institute’s Career Services department at (908)-851-7711. We are happy to assist our students prepare every step of the way from externship to hire.
NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME TO START YOUR MEDICAL CAREER! Apply Now for our January 2016 Classes.