Getting through the third part: preparing for a job interview by Dr Michaela Cartner

Getting through the third part

Preparing for a job

Not just the interview

Michaela Cartner

We will cover….

Preparation

What employers look for

Interview questions

These will be in yellow

Interview tips and quotes

These will be in green (Anonymous to protect the

guilty)

Preparation -Mine

Who am I ?

How did your first professional interview go?

What is your experience of interviewing panels?

Do you run any prep courses?

Outline your specific approach to a CICM trainee

presentation?

Preparations: Yours

“ most trainees don’t realise that the training program is a 5

year long interview.”

“Every day you are in my Department you prove your

worth for the future”

Preparations: yours

Facebook is not your friend

“I never employ someone without a google

and facebook check”

What employers are looking for

HR vs Clinicians

Clinicians

Loyalty, built over years

Strong knowledge of work

practices and unique strengths

Background workup includes site

visit

HR

Counts for nothing

All clinicians skills are equal

Innovation and value add

activities

Background workup includes

corporate website surfing.

Clinicians

Pragmatic and Practical

Language + values

Department focused

SHOW ATTITUDE

HR

Visionary, stakeholder

engagement.

Stakeholder focused

Organizational values

DETERMINE ATTITUDE

“behavioural interviews”

Reflective practice”

Clinicians

Deletes Director General Emails

Off piste questions

Unsolicited references

Unified team with workable

Roster, Research,

Education.Professional Standing

HR

Writes Director General emails.

Against the ethos

Solicited references

“World Class”, “Post

Commonwealth Games Legacy”.

Journey to magnet grade.

SIMILARITIES

Both love proactivity

Both want clarity, and don’t mind redirection

Hate Irrelevancy

“Supports the development of a culture within

the journey to achieve a magnet Hospital”

Helpful tips

“Pay equal attention to every member of the panel”

“Don’t badmouth the last job”

“Don’t crack jokes or swear”

Know the structure of the panel

Know the power balance of the panel

Address the content of the panel Qs

Interview questionsThere are 5 ….

Interview questions:

#1 Who are we?

#2 Who are you?

#3 Are you competent?

#4 What are you like to work with?

#5 Left field / Miscellaneous / Non clinical

#1 Who are we?

Hidden agenda:

How committed to us are you?

Who are we?

Why do you want to work here?

What made you choose us?

How did you hear about us?

How committed to us are you?

#1 Who are we?

“ I want a job”

“I have a ticket and you have a job”

“I need money”

“I’ve run out of training time in the bigger

ICUs”

“I want to learn ECMO”How committed to us are you?

“We arent employing a friend”

Over familiarity on the panel is fatal

#1 Who are we?

‘Im am old PA girl, I trained here. Ive always wanted to be

part of the team especially the retrieval aspect.

I’ve gone away to do X and Y and now….

Your reputation is the best in the state, My mentors… Ive

read about…., Im looking forward to…

#2 Who are you?Hidden agenda:

How will YOU be good for US?

#2 Who are you?

Tell me about yourself?

Where do you see yourself in five years?

What are your career ambitions?

What makes you the best person for the job?

What are you most proud of?How will YOU be good for US?

#2 Who are you? How will YOU be good for US?

Work life balance is really important to me

I plan on going part time.

In 5 years I want to be a really good clinician and

consolidate my practice.

In 5 years? Hopefully Private and Public

#2 Who are you? How will YOU be good for US?

My wife is pregnant/finishing her PhD and we

have two small kids.. Its hectic but we love it and

we juggle.

Im most proud of getting thru Medical school while

never missing my sons soccer Saturday,

#2 Who are you? How will YOU be good for US?

In 5 years I really hope I can contribute to the solid

teaching program. Teaching is one of my passions. I want

to participate in the mentoring legacy here.

Mentoring and moving into the SOT (***jargon **) role. Im

an educator. I will have finished my Masters by then.

#3 Are you competent?

Hidden agenda:Will you land us on the front page of “the Australian”?

PS we have googled you

#3 Are you competent?

You are asked to review…

What is you approach to ….?

Your junior comes to you with a bullying

complaint?

You suspect your colleague has… how would

you handle this?

#3 Are you competent?

These are the easy answers as they match

the viva approach.

BUT….remember, it’s a CONSULTANT

position!

#3 Are you competent?

Take ownership! Without being a cowboy

(group think)

My approach, My preferred option, My

practice….

The trap is ignoring HR !!!!

The ideal consultant

would have wider

operational priorities

(not just the

professional stream)

#4 Are you a team player?

Hidden agenda:

We don’t want to work with a *&%#!

For 20 years….

Are you a team player?

Tell me about a recent conflict at work?

Can you tell me about an innovation you

were involving in? That went well/failed?

Reflective practice.

Google it.

#5 Miscellaneous

Hidden Agenda:

KPI, KSC, non technical

Is there anything else?

Is there anything else?

Don’t say no!!!!.

Pet projects that show interest.

Don’t lie

Opportunity to restate your interest, clarify

Don’t ask about entitlements, holidays or pay

End with Smile!

So in summary….

Preparation

What employers look for

Interview questions

These were in yellow

Interview tips and quotes

These were in green (Anonymous to protect the

guilty)

Thank you