Interviews are conducted to find the best candidate for any given position. Interview questions are used to determine the background and knowledge of the candidate. Potential physicians go through the same rigor of an interview as anyone else, but the questions asked will be directly related to their field. Video interviews for doctors and people in the medical field are being utilized more and more frequently. Physicians must be prepared to answer pertinent questions, whether interviewing for a temporary or full-time position. The suggested questions below are provided for hospital and healthcare administrators for video interviews with physicians. These open-ended questions are designed to prompt elaboration that will provide the interviewer with insight into the physician's personality and practice style. 1. Tell me about yourself This question is a great open-ended ice breaker. When this question is asked, you are not expecting a life story. In fact, the way the physician approaches the question will be telling with regards to how they deal with patients. 2. What made you decide to practice medicine? The interviewer asks this question to assess what motivates the physician and what makes them passionate about the job. The ideal response would be an enthusiastic one with a clear explanation of what moves the physician in the practice of medicine. Assess the answer in terms of the position to be filled. 3. Describe a situation where you took charge This question should elicit an event that the doctor clearly conveys. Ideally, the event occurred in another clinical setting. As an interviewer, you should be seeking insight into the leadership abilities of the physician with this question. 4. If you feel overwhelmed with the amount of work you have, what will you do? The goal of this question is to determine how the physician multi-tasks, prioritizes and delegates responsibility. If the physician responds that they are never overwhelmed, you can assume that the doctor is well-suited for their niche, or that they are not completely truthful in their answer. Everyone from time to time feels overwhelmed with their work. Ideally, the physician readily cites a strategy for dealing with overload. 5. What is one thing that your former patients would say about you? This question gives the interviewer another opportunity to gauge on how well the physician will work with patients. Answers will likely be self-appointed, positive attributes about the doctor. For example, the physician may state that her patients like how well she listens to them, and that she shows them kindness in their difficult situations. Compassion goes a long way. However, you must factor in the possibility that the physician is likely presenting the attribute they perceive as most positive. The selection of the attribute may tell you more about the physician than the actual answer she delivers. 6. What would you do if a patient was confrontational? This is a question that will help you to assess the physician's ability to deal with difficult situations. The answer will provide you with insight into the physician's ability to handle patients who are sick, frightened and uncomfortable. The physician should provide methods for calming an agitated patient, as well as using the situation as an opportunity to offer information and education to the patient and other medical staff. 7. What are your greatest strengths as a physician? The interviewer asks this question to assess the contribution the physician will make to the hospital or clinic. Based on the position you are filling, the physician's answers should coincide with the necessary skills and attributes. 8. What are your weaknesses as a physician? When this question is asked, most candidates will turn their weaknesses into cover strengths. For example, the physician may state that he is overly time-conscious and is a stickler for deadlines. You might attempt to elicit some examples where the weaknesses were detrimental and other examples where the weaknesses were beneficial. 9. Why are you interested in working at this facility? An ideal answer would include responses about how the hospital has contributed to the community, and saved countless lives. The reputation of the hospital or the possibility of working with a particular member of the staff is also reasonable a response. Of course, you as the interviewer hope that you will not hear a response that indicates the candidate simply needs the money or the job. 10. Do you have any additional questions? The final interview question should inquire as to whether the candidate has any additional questions. Ideally, the physician will present you with two or more thoughtful questions about the facility, the staff or the position. These open-ended interview questions are designed to provoke thoughtful responses that provide you with insight regarding the physician's personality, style of practice and temperament. However, the most value may lie in the comparison between two or more physicians regarding their answers to the questions. Let CompHealth help you in finding the ideal physician candidate.