Job interviews can be nerve-wracking and perhaps more so if you apply for a position in the medical field. Medical recruitment relies not only on your primary medical education but also on the interview’s success to explore both competency and compatibility. Make sure you ace the interview by being prepared, putting your best foot forward, and treating the interview like the next step on your path to success.
General Interview Etiquette And Advice
As with all interviews, you will want to ensure that you adhere to the basic principles and conventions during the recruitment process. Some good practices are simply to be on time, be well versed in any relevant interview topics, have a clean and professional appearance, and ensure you have the appropriate documentation with you. Getting a good night’s rest and employing some relaxation techniques may also be useful to you. You will want to ensure that you are composed, comfortable, and confident when answering the interviewer’s questions. Communicate clearly and calmly throughout the process and ask the interviewer if they need any additional information at the end of the exchange. You will find that even if you are being screened for a locum position, you will spend most of your interview focused on things you already know a lot about: your medical experience.
Clinical Expertise
After completing your high school education with matriculation exemption, your tertiary medical education, any additional training, community service or internship requirements, and ensuring that you are registered with the appropriate governing body – SANC (South African Nursing Council), HPCSA (Health Professions Council of South Africa), or SAMA (South African Medical Association) for example – that you are in good standing to be considered for the professional position you applied for.
Doctors will be questioned and assessed based on their area of expertise. They may be asked to roleplay a case or give examples of how they handled previous difficult or special patient cases to showcase their competency. The interview is a two-fold process of discerning the recruitment’s behavioural, personal compatibility, clinical skills and testing their proficiency within the required medical field.
As a nurse, you will also be asked to roleplay a case or give examples of how they handled previous difficult or special patient cases to showcase their competency. You can also relay by the information based on the specific position being filled. For example, a nursing service manager, or hospital matron, may be asked how they would manage their ward effectively without compromising patient care.
Contact the Medical Resources Group on +27 (0) 87 012 5015 to find out more about things to do during an interview as a Healthcare Professional.