Do not underestimate the importance of your physical appearance at the interview. While your clothes should be comfortable enough for you to get through the day without excessive squirming and adjusting, a too casual appearance will reflect badly on your professionalism.

It is not appropriate to wear scrubs to an interview. If you expect to be asked to scrub-in during the day, pack a pair of scrubs in a briefcase that you can carry with you. Do not wear jeans or a T-shirt. Make sure that your clothes and shoes are clean. Check this several days in advance so that you have time to have clothes dry cleaned and shoes polished if necessary. Attend carefully to your personal hygiene. Avoid perfumes and colognes. Use breath mints, but do not chew gum.

Women are advised to wear business suits rather than dresses. The suit may have either a skirt or pants, but it should definitely have a jacket. Avoid frills, spaghetti straps, short skirts, and low-cut necklines. Keep jewelry and make-up simple and conservative. While simple earrings like hoops or studs are generally fine, remove any other piercings.

Men can also wear business suits, though generally a jacket and tie is sufficient if worn with dress slacks. Avoid loud or whimsical ties and bright colors. A conservative appearance will help keep attention on you rather than on your clothes. Do not wear earrings or other piercings.

Purchase a portfolio to keep all of your documents organized and at hand. Before your interview fill your portfolio with extra copies of your CV, your cover letter or personal statement, and a written listing of at least four references. Bring copies of any credentials you might need to complete paperwork for employment, privileges, etc. such as license verification, Medicare/Medicaid numbers, DEA numbers, Social Security and/or Visa numbers and so on.

The portfolio should also have a notepad and pen. It's a good idea to take notes during the interview, as this will help you to remember important information later as well as to demonstrate your sincere interest in the position.

Always ask for an agenda when you schedule an interview. The agenda should cover any meetings, facility and community tours and any other activities the employer has scheduled for the site visit. Read this thoroughly in advance and bring a copy of the agenda with you.

Be prompt!

Do not bring your spouse, significant other, children or pets to the formal interview. If there is a social gathering later in the day, this may be an appropriate time for your spouse to join you. If you are not sure, ask the employer if they would like to meet your husband or wife at that time, or if they would rather do that at some other time. Travel expenses for your family and kenneling for your pets are your own responsibility.

Do your homework. If the practice has a web site, you can gain valuable information about the services and procedures they choose to emphasize, some of the facilities they have on hand, how they are connected with other health care organizations in the area, etc. Find out who the key people are in the practice/department, and learn what you can about their backgrounds, specialties and outside interests. Knowing something about the organization and its people help you to establish a rapport at the interview and will demonstrate sincere interest in the position.

Anticipate questions you are likely to be asked. Practice how you will respond. When considering your answers, try to focus on the strengths that make you stand out as a candidate and what you can bring to the practice. Give concrete examples of past successes to illustrate and lend credence to your answers. But keep your answers concise - don't babble. Give them a reason to make you an offer.

Employers often ask questions like these when interviewing candidates:

• Tell me about yourself. (This question is about your professional self, not your personal self.)
• Why do you want to work here?
• Why did you go into this area of medicine?
• What could you contribute to our facility?
• What was your greatest success? Your greatest failure?
• If you feel you have any weaknesses with regard to this job, what would they be?
• Assuming we make you an offer, what do you see as your future here?
• Why should we hire you?
• How do you feel about evening work? Weekend work? Call rotations?
• Are you considering other positions at this time?
• How does this job compare with them?
• How do you feel about relocating?
• Have you lived/worked in rural/urban/etc. setting before?
• Why do you believe that you could handle this position?
• If you could have your choice of any job, what would it be and why?
• What are your short and long-term goals? How do you expect to achieve them?
• What does success mean to you? How do you measure it?
• What motivates you?
• Do you plan to further your education? If so, to what extent?
• What else do you think I should know about you?
  (Again, focus on professional aspects like skills, management style, etc.)

Remember that the interviewer is trying to evaluate your skills, capabilities and experience. Listen carefully to the questions. Ask for clarification if you are unsure of how to respond. Stay positive. Smile. Pause before you answer to consider what concrete examples best support your response. Keep your replies clear and relevant. Get directly to the point. Ask if the listener would like you to go into greater detail before you do. Address issues the practice is facing in terms of how you can contribute. Focus attention on your successes. Sell yourself. Keep in mind that your goal at the interview is to secure an offer.

The interviewers want to hire you. They need a physician. From the huge stack of CVs they've sifted through, yours stood out enough for them pay for the cost of a site visit in hopes that you are the right person for their practice. They want to show you their accomplishments and are hoping that they, their practice and their community will make a good impression on you, too. Smile.

This is your opportunity to demonstrate your interest in the practice as well as to obtain the information you will need to best evaluate the position with regard to your own needs. This is not the time to discuss compensation. If the employer asks you about your financial expectations or requirements, do not throw out a figure. Redirect the focus back to the practice by saying something to the effect of, "I'm sure that if we all feel that I would be a good fit for the practice, we can work out something acceptable to everyone. Can you tell me more about .(your relationships with area hospitals, the typical volume for common procedures, how the nephrology department fits in with the organizational structure of the hospital, etc.)" When they are ready to make an offer, that is the time to negotiate for compensation (see: Negotiating Your Contract)

OK, now that you know what not to ask, what questions should you ask? Questions about the organization, the needs of the practice, work hours and call schedules, patient load, and partnership opportunities will provide you with valuable information about the position as well as demonstrating your interest and your professionalism. Questions about the impacts of managed care and what strategies they use expand their patient base also demonstrate your savvy regarding medicine as a business. Don't forget to ask about recreational opportunities in the area, community activities and organization for you and your family members. You want to know if this is a place where you can be comfortable living, and your employers want someone who will build ties to the community. This kind of sincere interest in the area will help you stand out from other candidates.

If you want the position, don't be afraid to ask for it. Tell the employer that their practice is just what you're looking for and that you think you'd be a good fit as a member of their team. Ask when they expect to be making a decision. Clarify what will be the next step in the hiring process.

After the interview, make some notes that recap a few interview highlights. If you are working with a Liaison or Physician's Agent, call them immediately after the interview-from the car or the hotel, certainly while you are still in the area. He or she will have important feedback for you (see: Working with Liaisons/Agents)

We recommend sending a thank you note following each interview. It is a good idea to carry blank note cards with pre-stamped envelopes with you when you travel to the interview site. That way you can write the notes while the names and faces of the people you interviewed with are fresh in your mind. If you interviewed with a committee, send a separate card to each interviewer personally. Mention highlights from the interview or specific aspects of the interviewers professional or personal life to individualize each note. Examples include: "I was particularly impressed with the diagnostic resources you and your team have put together," "It was a pleasure to meet you and your husband Martin. I hope we have the chance to golf as a foursome someday soon," etc. Do not hand deliver the notes. You can mail them at the airport or as soon as you arrive home.