, Jul 26, 2018

Video: Associate Optometrist and Ophthalmologist Interview and Job Search Tips (Part 4)

Have an interview coming up soon, but not sure how to prepare? We’re here to help! We’ve put together 10 tips for new graduates and experienced eye care professionals alike on how to find the best job opportunities, prepare for the interview, and land the position even when competition is high. Check out Part 4 of our video series below!

In case you missed the previous videos from our series, you can get caught up on Part 1 herePart 2 here, and Part 3 here!


by Sheri Beveridge
Regional Account Executive/Recruiter for Optometrists
(540) 206-2315
sbeveridge@etsvision.com

Tip #7: Remember the basics

You already know how to dress professionally, show up five to ten minutes early, silence your cell phone, smile, and make direct eye contact, so let’s skip to the things you may not have thought of. First, treat all staff members with courtesy and respect. Most practice owners feel their staff are like family and will listen to their opinion, especially if negative. We have seen owners not make offers to otherwise excellent candidates because they treated a staff member poorly. Don’t let that happen to you!

Second, show some enthusiasm! Believe it or not, more practice owners hire based on personality and positive attitude than any specific clinical skills.

Third, show sincere interest in the hiring doctor’s situation. Understand that they have a problem that needs to be solved. Have they recently lost a key associate or partner? Is the practice growing so fast that they can’t keep up with demand? Once you have a clear understanding of the owner’s motivation to hire an associate, you can decide mutually if you are the solution.

Finally, if you are interested in the position, let the owner know! Don’t be afraid to say something like “I just wanted to let you know I’m very interested in this opportunity and I’m ready to take the next step, whatever that should be. How should I proceed from here?” This of course does not mean that you would accept any offer from the practice, however, it opens the door and let’s the practice know that you are very interested in the opportunity and are ready to discuss the contract or meet partners and staff.

Tip #8: Remember the thank you cards

Have the thank you cards in the mail within two hours after your interview. If you time it right, the practice will receive your thank you card the very next day. To do this, buy the thank you notes prior to your interview. When you’re at your interview, be sure to get business cards from everyone that you speak with so that you can have the correct spelling of their name and their title. Two or three days after the interview, give the practice a call and let them know that you are still interested in this opportunity unless they’ve given you specific times when they will get back with you.

While it’s important to let the practice know that you are very interested in the opportunity, if the practice or doctor lets you know that they will contact you in a specific amount of time, wait until that specific amount of time has passed before you contact the practice again. You don’t want to come across as overbearing or overly aggressive.

In the next few weeks we’ll be covering the remaining tips on our list, so be sure to keep checking back for more helpful interview tips and career advice in the near future! In the meantime, if you’re looking for an associateship, partnership, or ownership opportunity, don’t hesitate contact us today! We’d love to help connect you with the right opportunity.

News/Insights

How to Set Yourself Apart from Other Candidates During the Interview Interviewing

How to Set Yourself Apart from Other Candidates During the Interview

Apr 4, 2022

The increased demand for optometrists and ophthalmologists in today's job market means you may very likely have multiple offers on the table. Conversely, most practices look a...

How to Turn Down a Job Offer Professionally Interviewing

How to Turn Down a Job Offer Professionally

Sep 23, 2020

In 2020, landing a position with an independent practice can be a challenge, particularly in the wake of a worldwide pandemic. In recent months, however, we've seen a signific...

The Right Questions to Ask When You Meet a Candidate Hiring

The Right Questions to Ask When You Meet a Candidate

Jun 16, 2020

There is a common perception that interviews are about putting the best face forward for both the practice and the potential employee. While it is natural to want to make a go...

Screen Time: Tips for Making the Most of a Video Interview Interviewing

Screen Time: Tips for Making the Most of a Video Interview

Mar 25, 2020

The video interview has seen a marked increase in popularity in recent years as technology has become more accessible and affordable, and for good reason. The convenience of b...

Answering the Call for the Phone Interview Interviewing

Answering the Call for the Phone Interview

Mar 17, 2020

Most of our placements start with a phone interview. It’s a valid part of the screening process for both the candidate and the practice. For the candidate, you can easily as...

Interview Logistics 101: Putting a Candidate at Ease Hiring

Interview Logistics 101: Putting a Candidate at Ease

Jan 21, 2020

You think you’ve found a candidate who might just be the perfect fit and you’re looking forward to a great interview. However, your candidate could have a flight delay on ...

Picking Out a Winning Wardrobe for Your Interview Interviewing

Picking Out a Winning Wardrobe for Your Interview

Jan 9, 2020

You’ve got the resume polished, the phone interviews have been conducted, and it’s time for your first face-to-face interview. While even the best dress or the sharpest fi...

Pop Quiz: How to Answer Unexpected Interview Questions Interviewing

Pop Quiz: How to Answer Unexpected Interview Questions

Dec 4, 2019

Preparation is the key to any job interview. You know a potential employer is going to ask about your background, likes, expectations, and aspirations. But what do you do if t...

Haunted by a Bad Employment Experience? Interviewing

Haunted by a Bad Employment Experience?

Oct 31, 2019

What to do if you’ve had a negative separation with a previous employer Maybe you were laid off as non-essential. Perhaps your contract wasn’t renewed. Maybe you got fire...

Preparing for Popular Associate Optometrist & Ophthalmologist Interview Questions Interviewing

Preparing for Popular Associate Optometrist & Ophthalmologist Interview Questions

Aug 13, 2019

Hiring managers can only learn so much through a resume. If you’ve made the cut to visit the office for an interview, it means the practice wants to dig deeper. This is your...