Preparing for Your Interview and Site Visit
After an on campus interview, strong candidates are usually invited to visit the employers facility. Work with the employer to schedule the on-site visit at a mutually convenient time. Sometimes employers will try to arrange site visits for several candidates to take place at the same time, so there may not be much flexibility … but youll never know if the employer is flexible unless you ask.
While on-campus screening interviews are important, on site visits are where jobs are won or lost.
Why PhDs Must Ask Questions During An Interview
A common misconception about industry interviews is that it is a one-sided conversation.
When in fact, it’s like any other conversation: two-sided.
It’s a dialogue that you get to participate in.
This is your opportunity to gather information and find out more about the company directly from the source.
You’re getting a coveted seat — you’ve got the interview.
Being prepared with questions shows that you treat this seriously and with respect.
According to a study by Glassdoor, the average overall job interview process takes 22.9 days in the United States and it is 4 to 9 days longer in France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
The increased complexity of interviews including group panels, candidate presentations, background checks, skills tests, and more all positively affect these times.
It is gruelling, both for you and the hiring manager.
It is important that you use this time wisely to assess the company and to show your true colors.
Otherwise, it is time wasted.
You need to ask questions that highlight your strengths and promote your transferable skills.
Self-promotion increases interview efficacy, says a study published by the Journal of Human Resource Management Review, as does establishing an easy rapport with the interviewer.
You need to get into the mind of the hiring manager — they want to see that you truly understand this role and are genuinely excited.
Because by candidate 20, hour 30, generic response number 55, candidates will blur into one another and what they will really be thinking is, “Is it time for lunch yet?”
Along with “let’s get this over with” and “next!”
The only way to prove your motivation is to ask insightful questions.
Pique their interest and make yourself memorable by being actively engaged in the conversation of your own interview.
Be prepared with questions to ask each hiring manager before, during, and after your industry interviews.
It helps to have questions you really want answered. One good strategy is to ask very specific questions about the group or practice you’re interviewing with. Matthew T. Burke, MD, a family physician who works as an urgent care physician with MedStar Health in Washington, gives some examples of the specifics he asks when talking to urgent care centers.
Ask those physicians, for instance, what drew them to that specific practice, and what has their experience with the practice been, Dr. Burke says. “Asking about an individual’s attraction to a practice and what keeps them working there is a great ice-breaker.”
“In urgent care, you want to be especially attentive to onsite capabilities, whether it’s labs or medications,” say Dr. Burke, who recently served on the board of the American Academy of Family Physicians. “You also want to pay close attention to referral services and networks. You need to know that your handoff to dermatology or orthopedics or the ER by ambulance is going to go smoothly and that you’ll be connected to these people.”
A two-day affair How does the site visit work? While there are many variations, most groups will bring you in for a two- or three-day visit. Practices generally keep visits short for residents and fellows because they know that training programs give them relatively few days off for job interviews.
Get specifics During a site visit, remember that you’re not the only one being judged. Use your visit as an opportunity to gather the information you need about the practice.
What Interview Questions to Ask Before, During And After An Industry Interview
It’s not enough to just show you’re interested with some background knowledge.
You have to prove it.
If you don’t want to be part of the blurred line of candidates, you have to be invested in showing that you’ve done your research.
This will also ensure that you’re able to make an informed decision on whether or not to accept a job offer.
As a PhD, you know how to do research and you’re clearly intelligent and motivated.
If this doesn’t come across in the interview, you won’t stand out.
Interview preparation is the key to success.
Here are a list of questions to get you on the right track for your next industry interview…
FAQ
What is a site visit interview?
How do I prepare for an onsite interview?
- Read the job description.
- Do some research.
- Study common interview questions.
- Prepare your own questions.
- Make plans to arrive early.
- Get a good night’s sleep.
- Dress professionally.
- Pack a bag of interview materials.
What are the 10 most common interview questions and answers?
- Tell me about yourself.
- What attracted you to our company?
- Tell me about your strengths.
- Tell me about your strengths.
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
- Tell me about a time where you encountered a business challenge?
Does an onsite interview mean you got the job?
It can be a good sign that you’re one of the final candidates if you’re asked to an onsite interview as a second or third interview — especially if the company flies you in from out of state — but it isn’t a guarantee that you’ll get the job.
