How to prepare for an interview with a hospital

Our candidates are often thrown into an interview setting relatively quickly after starting the process of looking for a new job. Read the below pointers to get you prepared for the interview.

You have got an interview, great – what’s next?

Whether it’s your very first interview or if you’ve had plenty of them in the past, you can never be over-prepared! No one knows exactly what the interviewer will ask of you, and the excitement could easily let you lose track of the basics, but there are some things that you can add to your checklist and keep in mind before the time comes. Confidence is key, and these interview preparation tips could help you get just that by staying organised and being ready.

Confirm the time, date, and location

The time, date, and platform being used for the interview is usually set by the interviewer (though some might give you an option from which to choose). Be it Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Hangouts, or at a physical location, make sure that you’ll be able to attend before you respond for confirmation.

If the interview is online, do the following checks:

Do you have a stable internet connection? If not, find somewhere or some way that will allow you to have an uninterrupted conversation.
Do you have a quiet place available? If you know that you might have a noisy environment during the time of the call, find a space where the noise will not be heard, and you’ll be able to talk with the interviewer without being disturbed. (See some more video interview tips here.)
Does your environment look neat and tidy? Take a look around the area which will be visible behind you in the screen and make sure that it is tidy and presentable. If you prefer to blur the background, log on a few minutes before the interview and blur the background (or insert a template background) before it begins.

Research the company

The interviewer has researched you by reading your CV, that’s why you’ve got the interview! But have you researched them? Reading their website and online profiles will help you to learn more about them, allow you to formulate questions to ask about the role, and give you some insight into how you can contribute to the hospital setting if you’re hired.

Connect with the person on LI

A recruiter and/or interviewer is likely to be reaching out to as many candidates as possible to find the perfect fit for all the roles that the company is looking to fill. What does this mean for you? Their inbox will be inundated with emails, and if your email happens to be one that they miss, you could lose out on an opportunity to communicate pertinent information. If you connect with them on LinkedIn, you could use that platform as a quick way to follow-up about whether they’ve received your email. It also gives them a faster way to get in touch with you!

Make notes

Before you begin the interview, grab a pen and paper to keep next to you while you chat. Try to make as many notes as possible (without ignoring your interviewer/recruiter), so that you can keep track of important information that they might convey during your conversation. For example, is there something specific that you need to prepare for your second interview? Do they want you to send something before they make another appointment to meet again?

What sort of interview is it? Competency or just a chat?

While it’s always best to be prepared for any situation, it can help to know whether the interview will be centred around your skills and employment history, or whether it’ll be more about discussing your availability for a thorough interview. Either way, be ready! Do your research about the role, what kind of questions you’ll likely need to answer, and whether you have any questions about your responsibilities or the like.

Remember that the first step is always the most daunting. If you’re organised and prepared, your confidence will shine through and you’ll represent the professionalism that you need to get the job you’re dreaming of.

Read more: Does your resume need an update before you start applying to jobs? Take a look at our tips on how to improve it and make you stand out from the rest!