I’m Dr. Hassan, a Board-Certified Physiatrist and Independent Practice Owner. I help physiatrists start and grow their own profitable practices so they can achieve financial independence and live without limits.

Every interview season, certain questions always show up. If you’re hunting for a job, you’re probably going to run into behavioral interview questions. These may seem tricky at first, but you can make a great impression by preparing for them in advance. Here are some suggestions for understanding this interview technique and making it work to your advantage:

How to prepare for behavioral interviewing

1. Understand the underlying purpose. Behavioral interviewing uses a candidate’s past performance in similar situations to predict what they’re likely to do in the future. The reason this method is so popular is that it usually yields more reliable information than hypothetical questions.

2. Review your experience. Scrutinize your CV to extract the accomplishments that demonstrate why you’re the right candidate for the position you’re seeking. Think about how the areas of your life, like hobbies and volunteer work, have also equipped you with valuable experience.

3. Study the job description. Read the job description vacancy announcement carefully. The wording often provides important clues about what skills and traits your prospective employer will want to discuss.

4. Get familiar with common questions. You can find a list of typical behavioral interview questions and many job hunting books. The career services section of your residency program is another excellent place to look.

5. Rehearse your responses. Take a trial run by doing a mock interview with a friend. If you’re on your own, you can practice in front of a mirror.

Mastering the three key points

1. Describe the situation. Behavioral questions usually start by asking you to give an example of a challenge you’ve encountered. Give a brief account of how you were faced with meeting a tight deadline or winning over a skeptical audience.

2. Explain your actions. Next, talk about what you did. Walk your interviewer through the strategy you developed and the series of steps you took.

3. Focus on outcomes. It’s all about getting the desired results. If possible, use quantitative terms to describe your achievements, like how much money you saved the organization or how many patients you were able to treat and satisfy successfully.

Additional suggestions

1. Be specific. Providing the appropriate level of detail makes your qualifications more evident. Instead of saying you improved overall outcomes, describe how you changed the organization and implemented safety protocols for all patients in the organization.

2. Speak naturally. If you’re going on interviews for an extended period, you’ll probably be giving the same answers over and over. Ensure you sound enthusiastic and fresh every time.

3. Accentuate the positive. Certain behavioral questions prompt a candidate to describe weaknesses and past disappointments. Use them to show how much you’ve learned and grown.

4. Seek clarification. Stay on the right track by asking pertinent questions if you’re unclear about what your interviewer is asking. It will help both of you to make a better decision about whether you’re a good fit.

5. Stay up to date. Many employers would prefer to evaluate candidates based on their most recent experience. If you’re back in the job market for the first time in years, be prepared to discuss recent accomplishments.

6. Make yourself memorable. One of the best things about behavioral interviewing is that it gives you a chance to tell your personal story so you can stand out in a crowded job market. Many candidates will have similar-looking CVs, but you can highlight experiences that make you unique.

Walk into your next interview feeling more confident about your ability to handle behavioral questions. With a bit of planning and practice, you’ll improve your chances of winning a great job.

Have you recently been rejected after a job interview? Check out our blog here on how to best deal with rejection during your job search.

__

I am Dr. Hassan, Board-Certified Physiatrist and Independent Practice Owner I help physiatrists start and grow their own independent practice so that they can achieve financial independence and live without limits. Please go to businessofrehab.com/contractnegotiations to pick up the free guide to help you negotiate the contract after you did an amazing job on your job interview.

__

Attention, Physiatrists! Stop leaving money on the table. Sign up for the free video series: How To Build A Profitable Practice in 90 Days or Less: http://www.sixtytosuccess.com

 Inline image