Not everyone can move from being a chiropractor to neurosurgeon but working in healthcare means there are always opportunities to expand your skills in a new role. But first you have to master the dreaded interview.
Even if you’re good at thinking on your feet – as most doctors and nurses must be – it pays to prep for what could be a life-changing hour of your life.
The best way to do this is ask yourself five questions, and practice them out loud.
Why do you want this job?
You’d be surprised how many people overlook this one. Remember, employers are not looking for a funny one-liner. Answering with “Show me the money!” will not land you the job. This is the time to explain how your skills match the role, making you the right person for the job.
Tell us about yourself
The danger with these open-ended questions is they can be mistaken for small talk before the “proper” questions start. Beware, they are not!
Focus on your employment history not your personality and stick to the recent past – not tales from when Casualty was in its first season.
Why do you want to leave your current job?
There are two basic rules when answering. One: never be negative about your current job or employer. Two: don’t say you need more cash. Instead focus on your desire to explore new challenges and expand your experience.
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
An old one but a goodie. Forget false modesty. Pick three qualities you have in spades that also appear in the job spec. Have an example of how these qualities have benefitted your employer.
Being able to describe a weakness shows good self-awareness – but focus on something trivial and, most importantly, fixable: like forgetting to do the crossword in The Lancet.
Do you have any questions?
You know you’re on the home run when this comes up but resist the urge to relax just yet. This is not a polite enquiry: this is you being tested on how much you’ve researched the GP practice, hospital or healthcare company.
Having visualised yourself working here means you can ask incisive questions about how they do things.
Now, armed with top answers to top questions, go get that new career in the Medical sector with s1jobs.