Checklist and Tips for a Successful Non-Clinical Job Interview
The interview is your opportunity to build the bridge between your personality, skills, and experience and the interviewer (company) you’re applying to. Being prepared is one of the keys to a successful interview.
Here is a checklist and interview tips to get you started!
1 week before the interview:
1. Know the role of the person/s you’re interviewing with.
Is this a screening interview with a human resources representative (usually the recruiter) or is this a decision-maker interview (usually with the hiring manager or a panel of interviewers)? This will help guide your preparation.
2. Research the company and have a clear understanding of the role you’re applying for.
You will have done this during application and now you do a deeper dive. What are the company’s mission and values? What are you curious about? Find something you really like about the company. How do you see yourself fitting in?
3. Create a list of interview questions and practice answering them out loud with a friend, partner, or coach.
Bonus tip: 4 common interview questions:
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- Tell me about yourself. The key to answering this question is to be brief (2-3minutes) and think about WHY you? WHY now? WHY this position?
- Why are you interested in this position?
- Why do you want to leave clinical medicine?
- Tell me about a time when you overcame a challenge.
4. Create a list of questions you want to ask them.
Bonus tip: Always have at least two questions. Even if all your questions have been answered during the interview, having additional questions indicates curiosity and interest.
A few hours before the interview
1. Plan to dress professionally for all interview types,
whether by phone, video, or in-person. This helps you get into the role and feel confident.
2. Test the video interface and internet connection a few hours before the interview.
Check for Zoom and other software updates. You don’t want to be late because your computer is installing updates!
Bonus tip for Zoom interviews: You can “hide self-view” by clicking on the drop-down blue box with the three white dots at the top right corner of your picture tile. This takes away the distraction of your face as you’re speaking.
5-10 minutes before the interview
1. Take a few deep breaths and ground yourself.
2. Ask yourself how can I contribute to or serve this company?
3. Remember how far you’ve come and you can do this!
During the interview
1. Take your time with the questions.
When nervous, we tend to hurry through answers. If you don’t know the answer to a question, or if there’s a multi-step question, ask for a moment to think about it and even write down the components of the question. This will give you time to process the question.
2. Have your resume on-hand and be prepared to answer questions about experiences on your resume.
After the interview
1. Follow up within 24 h with a personal thank you note to each interviewer.
Handwritten or email.
2. If you don’t hear back, follow up within one week.
3. If you get rejected, be graceful and polite.
Ask them if you can keep in touch re: future opportunities.
This checklist is a starting place on the road to a successful interview.
What else would you like to know about interviews?
If You’re Feeling Overwhelmed
Start with one small task and be consistent. You will gain momentum and a larger force will eventually knock out something big.
Everything in nature grows and struggles in its own way,
Establishing its own identity, insisting on it at all costs,
Against all resistance.
Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters To A Young Poet.