Preparing for Your Face-to-Face Interview

Prepare to do well

This interview is your opportunity to sell your strengths, face-to-face. The job often goes not to the best candidate, but to the candidate with the best interview performance. Your future career success may depend on how well you handle your upcoming face-to-face interview.

Many highly qualified candidates fail to obtain positions simply because they interview poorly. Your performance in the interview will be affected most by two factors:

	How enthusiastic you seem
	How well prepared you are

Many positive things can unfold during an interview. Keep in mind that while an employer may have a specific personnel requirement to satisfy, an interview can be a forum for discovering even greater opportunities. This may lead to expanding the position and the compensation for the right kind of candidate.

If you are poorly prepared, you will inspire little interest on the part of the employer. As a result, you may never see the full extent of the opportunity, much less be offered the position.

No matter how well-qualified you are, the success of the interview depends upon your ability to demonstrate sincere interest in the employer's needs. You will need to ask and answer questions intelligently, while exhibiting your ability to make a real contribution to the employer and its objectives.

Things to consider

Take advantage of a few surprising facts:

	Well prepared candidates often receive offers while better qualified competitors do not!
	Few candidates bother to research a company prior to the interview.
	Only one out of ten candidates sells his or her abilities and accomplishments effectively.
	Successful candidates always ask questions about the position and the employer.
	One way to move toward the top of the list is to ask for the offer. (Facilities want people who ask for the job.)
	Recognize that an interview is a classic buyer and seller situation. You must assume the role of seller in order to gain the employer's interest in you as a candidate.

Make the interview work for you

Establish a relationship with the interviewer that permits a relaxed dialog and open exchange of information. Be friendly and show interest in what the interviewer is saying. Look for opportunities to demonstrate your interest in the opportunity, the interviewer and the employer.

Withhold questions about those issues (such as compensation) that can better be resolved once an offer is about to be made. Maintain your self-esteem but do not dominate the conversation. Strike a comfortable balance between listening and asking or answering questions.

Consider the impression you are trying to create and discuss with your recruiter any questions you may have concerning appropriate attire for the interview.

Anticipate 'tough' questions the employer may ask and review them with your recruiter.

Prepare key questions of your own that demonstrate your understanding of the facility. Review these with your recruiter.

Be ready to discuss how you have performed in the past, particularly in solving problems similar to those likely to be encountered in the job.

Do not try to negotiate a compensation and benefits package during the interview. Let your MedTeam recruiter take the lead. If asked directly about your compensation requirements, mention your current actual compensation, including any bonuses, etc. Indicate to the employer that you would expect a fair and reasonable increase commensurate with the new position.

Before leaving any interview, express your sincere interest in pursuing this opportunity. Remember, enthusiasm!

Following up after the interview

Immediately after the interview several actions are critical:

	Take a few minutes to write a summary of what happened in the interview while it is fresh on your mind. Write down portions of the interview that went well and those that caused you some problems. Where there any skills for which you felt the interviewer had concern?
	Call your MedTeam Staffing recruiter immediately and 'debrief' him or her on your meeting. Your recruiter must know how the interview went so he/she can be more effective in talking to the employer about you.
	Most Important - Write a Thank You letter to each key person you met. Indicate your appreciation for the opportunity to discuss their facility and its needs. Be sure to re-emphasize any pertinent experiences and accomplishments you discussed that may uniquely qualify you for the opportunity.
	Do not burn your bridges. If you initially decide that the opportunity fails to meet your needs. You may be misreading the situation. This warrants further discussion with your MedTeam recruiter. Remember that your recruiter maintains a close relationship with the client and can often resolve seemingly insurmountable issues.
	Call your recruiter.

You can do it.