You’re Hired! Ten Ways to Prepare for Your Permanent GP Job Interview

Working shifts as a doctor or nurse wreaks havoc on your personal life. These key tips will help any medic working a night shift schedule live a normalish life.

Years of training, little to no sleep, and studying have lead up to a moment like this.

Medical school has challenged you in ways you didn’t know possible, and you’re sometimes surprised you made it this far. You sacrificed nights out with friends, let go of that perfect relationship, and read books until your eyes crossed.

Luckily for you, the moment of truth has arrived. You’re in an interview for a permanent GP job, and you couldn’t be more nervous. Take a deep breath and approach the situation confidently.

Before you get to that big moment, we are here to help so make sure you keep reading. Below are 10 tips for landing the perfect general practitioner role.

1. Talk to Yourself

One of the best ways to prepare to impress the medical hiring board is to sit and talk with yourself the day before the big interview. Obviously, you know yourself best, but approach yourself from their perspective.

Review your application, and try to act like you’ve never seen it before. Put on an analytical eye and review your skills and accomplishments. Highlight some of your weak points and plan out clarification.

Don’t be afraid to make note of some of your highest points. This interview is a perfect chance to show off a little bit because they will want someone impressive.

While reading through your application, make a mental note of spots that may require further explanation. Ask yourself hypothetical questions about those spots and plan out your best answer.

If you have any friends or family already in the field, have them also review your application and present a mock interview. There are tons of materials online as well that include mock interview questions.

2. Look Into the Team

Whether or not you land the permanent GP job, even though we know you will, look into the team you would be working with. There’s nothing wrong with preparatory research.

Not only can you check platforms like LinkedIn, you can also read reviews of the practice online. Were people pleased with the service they received? Were staff members friendly and willing to help and listen?

Knowing what you are getting into will give you a peace of mind and can help in your interview confidence. We all know the more uncertainty surrounding a workplace, the more we tend to panic.

If there are major accomplishments surrounding the practice or specific staff members, casually mention how wonderful you think those things are. The hiring board will be impressed you did your research.

3. Evaluate Your Lifestyle

Before any interview for a permanent GP job, evaluate your life and set your expectations. Set your expectations in areas such as desired pay, desired schedule, and holiday time.

When doing this, you must be reasonable, of course, but figuring this all out ahead of time will save everyone from hassle down the road.

It’s also a refreshing sign to meet someone who knows their worth and what they would like. You must be prepared for negotiation, but you’d be surprised what people agree to when you’re confident in your expectations.

4. Understand the Role

Not only will you have expectations for your employer, they will have expectations for you as well. You must understand the role, all required duties, and be prepared to take it on when given the position.

To better prepare for the role, feel free to speak to the GP who previously held the position. Make sure to review all points of the application and job description, and speak to the staff about the array of responsibilities.

Depending on the geographical location of the clinic or practice, there could be different challenges you must face. Be prepared for those challenges.

If you really want to go the extra mile, prepare questions about the role that shows you did your research. Always know the job!

5. Know the “Why”

One obvious question you will receive is, “Why did you apply for this position?”

Before you head into your interview, ask yourself that question. If it helps you to better prepare your answer, take out a sheet of paper and write down everything that drew you to the specific role.

You may know why you want the position, but you need to know how to tell someone else why you want the position. Speak out loud to yourself about why you want the role, and make sure you sound genuine.

If there was a specific moment of time in the past that made it clear to you why you want to be a GP, explain that moment. Keep it brief yet inspiring.

The hiring board wants to know not only does the person they are hiring have skill and experience but they also have passion.

6. Memorize the Details

We’ve all had the terrifying dream of missing an extremely important opportunity. You wake up sweating, heart pounding, and running to your planner to make sure you actually didn’t miss anything.

Once you know the details of your interview, engrave them in your mind. Put them in the calendar of your phone. Make a note on your fridge, and put them in your planner.

Do whatever you need to do to make sure you know the exact place, time, and date. To be extra prepared, make a trip a few days before to the location of the interview. This will make sure you know where to go and how to get there.

On the day of the interview, wake up and leave early. This will prepare you for traffic or any other hindrance along the way.

7. Take Care of Yourself

Not only can life burn you out, but medical school, job hunting, and stress of landing a job can burn you out. Make sure before you go into the interview, you take care of yourself.

Whether it’s forcing yourself to take a nap or doing yoga in the morning, take time for yourself and strengthen yourself. If you’re stressed out, all of the negative energy can transfer to your interview.

Recite positive mantras every time you start to worry about the interview or doubt your chances. Tell yourself and believe you will land the permanent GP job.

If needed, text a friend when you start to feel worried. They can remind you of your skills and give the reassurance you need in the moment.

To be great in the interview and even better in the position, you’ll need to take care of yourself. When you are well-rested and ready to go, that’s when you put your best foot forward.

Balance is important in life, and self-care is a vital part of that balance.

8. Dress to Impress

Every person has that morning they wake up late and are forced to throw on wrinkled clothing and run out the door. Don’t let this happen the morning of your interview.

Before you go into land the permanent GP job, study the dress code of the office. Look at their site or even visit before you interview. Take their usual level and exceed it a by a smidgen.

Don’t show up in a full-blown tuxedo or ball gown, but make sure you look the part. Lay out the outfit the night before and make sure it is pressed and ready to go.

Wake up early to perfect your outfit, wash your face, and situate your hair. While we all know the typical television doctor may look constantly disheveled, save that for later when you’re established.

9. Record Yourself

Not only should you be conducting mock interview with yourself, you should also be recording them or videotaping them. This will allow you to go back and realize what could be improved.

Don’t be afraid to critique yourself when listening back, but don’t beat yourself down. When highlighting points of improvement, write down a possible solution.

Sometimes when speaking out loud, we don’t pick up on stutters, awkward pauses, or poorly worded responses. By recording yourself, you are giving yourself the opportunity to fix your interview responses.

If you have someone you trust, feel free to send them the recording and ask for their feedback. Having a second set of ears will give you a leg up on the competition.

10. Eat a Good Breakfast and Sleep Well

While it may seem silly to point these things out, these are things we often forget to do when under extreme amounts of stress.

You may not totally know what to expect in your GP job interview, but you can control what you do.

Go to bed a little early the night before, and eat a delicious breakfast the next morning. It’ll give you a clear train of thought.

How to Land the Permanent GP Job

It may seem nearly impossible to land the perfect permanent GP job, but don’t worry. We have you covered with the 10 tips above.

Between asking yourself mock interview questions, taking care of your own mental health, and eating a yummy breakfast, you’ll be set! Take a second to breathe because you’re going to do great.

If you need more interview tips, information on specific jobs, or are curious about working in Ireland, make sure to check out our site or contact us today with any questions!