FIRST IMPRESSIONS Turn the tables with good interviewing skills
By Lisa Goldberg

When was the last time you went on a professional job interview? If it has been some time, you’ll want to brush up on some basic interviewing skills — including how you present yourself as a potential associate to a prospective employer.

If you take time to prepare, you can show yourself to be an ideal employee and an asset to the practice. However, you might unwittingly sabotage yourself throughout the interview process by committing some fatal interview “sins.”

Here are some basic interviewing tips to help you land your first associate position:

• First impressions count. It’s trite to say, but you only have one chance to make a good first impression. Keep that in mind.

• Dress professionally. From a psychological point of view, studies have shown that wearing bright or loud colors can be a turn-off to an employer. Dress conservatively; wear earthy tones.

You do not have to wear a three-piece suit, but your clothing should be clean and pressed, and you should be well-groomed (combed and shaved).

A good rule of thumb: Dress as if you could go to work in the next five minutes. Business-casual attire is a good choice.

• Wear little jewelry. With jewelry, less is more. Be conservative — not flashy — in the choice of accessories

• Turn off your cell phone. Who should have the full focus of your attention — a telephone caller or a prospective employer?

Don’t make the mistake one young chiropractor did in a job interview: His cell phone rang; he answered it and put the caller on hold. He then asked the potential employer, “How much longer do you think we’ll be? I want to make a tee time.”

He was (rightfully) told he was free to go.

• Bring a resume. Applying for a position as an associate is applying for a job. Your resume should highlight your academic credentials, including honors you have received, as well as student activities that show leadership. It should also show previous work history, to demonstrate your work ethic, as well as (perhaps) your knowledge and interest in business.

• Arrive on time. “On time” actually means a few minutes early.

• Be prepared to answer typical (but important) interview questions. These include questions such as, “Where do you see yourself in five years?” and “What are your strengths/weaknesses?”

Many job seekers minimize the importance of these types of questions. However, how you answer them tells the prospective employer quite a bit about yourself.

For example: How you answer about your future in five years tells the interviewer how much thought you have given to your future, and how ambitious you are. If you want to own your own clinic in five years, but the chiropractor just wants a steady employee to run the shop, you may not be a good match.

And what you disclose about your strengths and weaknesses tells the interviewer if you have a grasp on your own limitations, if you are humble, and if you are willing to grow.

Answer with confidence and resolve. But, don’t try to second-guess the intention of the interviewer when asked these self-assessment questions. Answer honestly. The goal is not only to get a job, but to get the right job — a good fit.

• Use good communication skills. Look your interviewers in the eye when speaking to them. Always be polite, and never get angry or defensive.

• Ask questions. But ask the right questions. Ask about the practice — such as the demographics of the patient population, the types of cases that are typically treated, and the kinds of challenges the staff encounter.

Also, ask the chiropractor why she or he is looking for an associate and what the expectations for the associate are, and what a typical day is like.

• Avoid some topics. Although you should ask questions, you should avoid bringing up several topics in the first interview — such as salary and benefits. If the match is good, these things will be addressed. But bringing them up prematurely suggests that you are more interested in money than you are in the clinic or the work.

• Request an opportunity to talk with staff. Talking with staff members allows you the opportunity to find out more about the clinic's operations, as well as the personalities of employees and how they feel about working in the clinic.

The line between success and failure can be slim at times, and so it is important to take all steps, no matter how insignificant they may seem, to ensure your future as a chiropractic physician. Whether you are a new graduate just starting out or an experienced clinician with several offices, there is always room for improvement. Take a few minutes and think about what you can do to improve yourself and the way you run your practice. In the end, your patients and your bottom line will thank you for it.

SIDEBAR:
Practice your patient-education skills

Lisa Goldberg, PhD, is executive director of All Care Consultants (www.allcareconsultants.com), a medical staffing and placement firm, specializing in integrated and multi-disciplinary healthcare. She can be contacted through the Web site or by e-mail at lisa@allcareconsultants.com.