It’s time to pull everything you have done so far together and interview in the setting(s) of your choice. Both you and the company conducting the interview will be assessing how well you fit into a position compared to the other applicants. Your clinical skills, your interpersonal skills, your judgment, your work ethic, and your probable job satisfaction are all on review. Come prepared to tell your story in a way that showcases your best qualities and suitability for the position and be prepared to ask diplomatic questions before you accept an offer.

Stage of Interview

Interviews go through several stages and are often with multiple people within the company. In each of these stages, people will be scrutinizing a different aspect of who you are as a person and as a clinician. Pay attention to what interview stage you are in and who you are speaking with so that you can create a strong positive impression across the board. An initial or screening interview is generally looking for a neat and professional appearance, confidence, and friendliness. A formal or clinical interview is usually examining your experience, skill set, critical thinking, and judgment. A peer or informal interview might weigh in on your team spirit, flexibility, and personality. A Human Resource interview tends to be more focused on making sure you are able to complete training and comply with regulatory requirements. By assessing yourself in these areas in advance, you will be able to remain relaxed and focused. 

Types of Interview Questions

There are many types of interviews and you are likely to encounter all of them over the course of an interview cycle. Here are some of the types of interview questions you are likely to experience separated into categories so that you can prepare appropriate answers in each and ensure a smooth and confident flow in your answers.

• General Questions General questions are usually part of the initial interview and are more open-ended so that you can give a broader, more general picture of yourself. These types of questions might be as odd as ‘What type of vegetable are you and why?’ to the well-worn ‘Where do you see yourself in five years?’ or ‘What are your strengths and weaknesses?’ As cliché as these questions are, they do serve a purpose. They may be designed to see how you respond to something when you are caught off guard or to make sure that your long-term goals match with what they can offer you in your career over the next five years. So be prepared to stay professional, keep smiling, and roll with these types of questions by thinking about the context in which they are being asked.

• Clinical Questions Although we all know that your skills have to be good enough to graduate and pass the Praxis, specific employers will be looking for specific skills and experience relevant to the position for which you will be employed. Expect questions that address what ages and diagnosis you have worked with, specific equipment or software programs you have used, and your familiarity with terms and processes within the work setting. Read the job ad, position description and company website carefully to make sure that your answers align as much as possible with what you know the hiring manager will be looking for in selecting someone for the position. As a new graduate, you may not have all of the experience that the hiring manager would like you to have. Be sure that you can show the transferability of your existing skills and experience to the position you are interviewing for. 

• Behavioral Interview You can expect some questions that seek information regarding your character and how well your personality will mesh with others you will be working with. Although cultural fit is the primary focus of these types of questions, according to a recent LinkedIn article your prospective employer is also looking for traits that will allow you to contribute now as well as grow in the position. Attributes most employers find desirable include: adaptability, collaboration, ability to prioritize responsibilities, flexibility, and leadership potential.

• Situational Interview Questions Situational interview questions have become the norm and it is an area where you should invest more time in preparing how to address these types of questions. Usually, a situational question will ask you about a specific event and how you conducted yourself in order to meet a challenge or overcome a problem. Your future employer is assessing your critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and judgement with these types of questions. The question may be posed relating to a situation you have or are likely to encounter on the job or it might be a more open-ended question allowing you to select any relevant situation from your experience.
  
  One of the best techniques for answering these types of questions is the STAR technique. ‘STAR’ stands for situation, task (overcome the challenge or problem), action, and result. By giving yourself four steps to use to answer, you can showcase your strengths in each step. Using the STAR outline allows you to tell your story concisely and effectively.

Format of Interview

Your actual interviews might include an online test, a phone interview, or virtual interview, and one or more on-site interviews with individuals or teams. It’s hard to be ready for everything but it’s helpful to take a few minutes and learn the advantages and disadvantages to each. Learn to use each to your advantage and showcase your strengths.

• Online Interviews: Online interviews are standard and statistical so in some ways they are the most impartial candidate evaluation. In some cases, your resume submission to an ATS system (Applicant Tracking System) is your online resume evaluation so it’s critical to not fail this first essential step. 

• Phone Interviews: Interviews conducted by phone are usually initial interviews and are more general and informative. You might want to take notes and review later. Since you will not have visual cues in a phone interview you will want to be more aware of voice tone and listening skills. Allow pauses and pause yourself during your answers as it is easy to interrupt a speaker or to run on too long when someone wants to interject a question or clarification when speaking on the phone. Sometimes energy levels don’t come through well on the phone; keep a smile on your face as it can be heard in your voice and improves voice tone.

• Web-Based Video Interviews: FaceTime, Google Hangouts, Zoom, or other types of internet-based face-to-face interviews are becoming more prevalent so in addition to making sure you are familiar with the technology, here are some other tips for excelling in this interview format. Have a practice interview with a friend and check out your technical setup especially if you are unfamiliar with any service or software being used. Check the visual and sound quality of the connection from the location you will be using to avoid awkward problems when the interview time arrives.
  
  Although this type of interview is almost like being there in person there are still a few advantages you can prepare for. You will want to sit at a table or desk so you feel more professional. Make sure there is nothing visually distracting behind you, and take steps to minimize any background noise. Since you will still have some degree of visual privacy, you can prepare note cards to help cue your answers and remind you of questions you want to ask. Remember to make eye contact with the camera, not the monitor.

• In-Person Interviews: On-site interviews can be with either an individual or with a group. You will want to arrive a few minutes early for your interview and bring a few copies of your resume and references with you. Your dress should be professional but comfortable.
  
  When meeting with an individual you want to establish some type of professional rapport as soon as possible. Prepare some simple complimentary comments such as an appreciation for the clarity of directions, the attractiveness of the building or part of town, etc. Show your social manners until the interview begins. Once the interview begins, allow them to lead the conversation but remember the tips given above regarding facial expression, voice tone, energy levels, and context of the questions being asked. It is okay to bring a notebook to the interview but ask for permission to take it out and take notes before doing so. If offered the opportunity to ask questions be prepared to do so. Failure to ask questions is often interpreted as a lack of interest or focus. If you are interested in the position, ask what the next step is in the interview process and what the timeline for a decision will be in addition to any other questions you might have.
  
  When speaking to a group, remember you are both interacting with someone and being observed by others simultaneously. To prepare for this complex type of interaction, practice active listening vs passive or assumptive listening and respond in ways that allow each member of the group to know where your focus is even when they are not the person with whom you are directly interacting. Make sure to shift your focus and make eye contact with everyone in the group as the interview progresses.

Next week we’ll share what types of questions you will want to ask so that you can more easily compare opportunities and job offers.