
10 Great Physician Interview Tips for Residents, Fellows & New Doctors
Landing your first physician position after residency or fellowship can feel overwhelming. Between managing patient care, studying for boards, and completing rotations, the thought of navigating job interviews adds another layer of stress to an already demanding schedule.
The good news? With the right preparation and mindset, physician interviews become opportunities to showcase your skills and find the perfect practice fit. Whether you're exploring traditional employment, considering locum tenens assignments, or weighing multiple physician jobs, these proven strategies will help you interview with confidence and secure positions that align with your career goals.
From understanding your priorities to negotiating compensation, here's everything you need to know about physician interviews that actually makes a difference.
10 Interview Tips for New Physicians
1. Define Your Professional Priorities First
Before scheduling your first interview, spend time creating a comprehensive list of your career requirements. This self-assessment becomes your compass throughout the job search process and helps you evaluate opportunities objectively.
Consider These Essential Factors:
- Practice Environment: Hospital medicine, outpatient clinics, academic medical centers, and urgent care facilities each offer distinct advantages. Think about where you performed best during training and which settings energized you most.
- Work-Life Integration: Be honest about your ideal schedule, call frequency, and time-off expectations. Consider how these factors will impact your long-term career satisfaction and personal relationships.
- Professional Growth: Evaluate opportunities for continuing education, research involvement, teaching responsibilities, and leadership development that support your career trajectory.
Understanding these priorities helps you ask targeted questions during interviews and make decisions that support both immediate needs and long-term career satisfaction. This clarity also demonstrates to potential employers that you're thoughtful about your career choices.
2. Master the Art of Pre-Interview Research
Prepare thoroughly for physician interviews to show genuine interest and make informed decisions. Start research two weeks in advance by contacting recruiters or hiring managers to discuss position details like patient demographics, schedules, and workplace culture. For locum tenens roles, review assignment duration, housing, and credentialing.
Key Prep Steps:
- Research the organization: review their website, news, achievements, and patient population.
- Understand the community: explore local amenities, schools, housing, cost of living, and cultural attractions.
- Connect with local physician networks or societies.
This preparation helps foster meaningful conversations and showcases your commitment.
3. Include Your Family in the Process
Many healthcare organizations encourage candidates to bring spouses or partners to interviews, recognizing that career decisions affect entire families. This inclusion strengthens your candidacy and provides valuable perspective on community fit.
Before the interview, ensure your spouse or partner understands the opportunity and has spoken with recruiters. They should be prepared to discuss their career prospects, educational needs for children, and lifestyle preferences.
Preparing Your Partner:
- Share detailed information about the position and community
- Discuss potential challenges and opportunities
- Align on priorities and deal-breakers
- Establish their supportive but secondary role in the process
During interviews, your partner may participate in separate activities like community tours, school visits, or meetings with other physician families. These experiences provide insights into local quality of life and help assess whether the location supports your family's needs.
4. Develop Strategic Questions That Matter
Asking thoughtful questions shows professionalism and helps with decision-making. Prepare a list covering clinical, professional, and cultural aspects of the role.
Clinical Questions:
- What’s the patient volume and payer mix?
- How much time is spent in different settings?
- What support staff and EHR system are in place?
Professional Development:
- What are the continuing education budgets?
- Are there research, teaching, or leadership opportunities?
- Does the organization offer mentorship or career advancement support?
Culture & Community:
- What do physicians like most about working here?
- How do physicians collaborate locally?
- Are there work-life balance policies and community involvement options?
Take notes to stay engaged and remember key details when deciding.
5. Address Compensation Before the Interview
Financial discussions should happen before you arrive for the interview, not during it. This advance preparation allows the actual interview to focus on relationship-building and cultural fit rather than contract negotiations.
Work with recruiters to understand the complete compensation package, including base salary, productivity bonuses, benefits, and any signing bonuses or loan forgiveness programs. Request information about how your expected compensation compares to regional and national averages for your specialty.
Key Compensation Topics:
- Base salary structure and payment schedule
- Productivity bonus calculations with real examples
- Benefits package including health insurance and retirement plans
- Professional development allowances and continuing education budgets
- Malpractice insurance coverage and tail coverage policies
Understanding these elements helps you ask informed questions about productivity expectations, bonus calculations, and long-term earning potential during the interview process.

6. Review Employment Contracts Carefully
If preliminary contracts are available, review them thoroughly before the interview. This preparation enables more productive discussions and shows your attention to detail.
Focus on Key Contract Elements:
- Compensation structure and payment terms
- Benefits package and professional allowances
- Professional requirements and quality metrics
- Restrictive covenants and non-compete clauses
- Termination procedures and notice requirements
Having contract knowledge allows you to ask specific questions about terms that concern you and demonstrates your professionalism to potential employers. Consider consulting with a healthcare attorney if complex terms need clarification.
7. Prepare for Successful Negotiations
Most physician employment offers include room for negotiation. Successful candidates prepare by understanding market rates, identifying their priorities, and developing reasonable requests.
Research typical compensation ranges for your specialty and geographic area using physician compensation surveys and industry resources. This knowledge provides a foundation for evaluating offers and making counter-proposals.
Negotiable Items Beyond Salary:
- Signing bonuses or loan forgiveness programs
- Continuing education time and budgets
- Professional society memberships and conference attendance
- Vacation time and sabbatical opportunities
- Research time or administrative responsibilities
Approach negotiations professionally and be prepared to explain your requests. Remember that negotiation is collaborative, and be ready to make reasonable compromises that benefit both parties.
8. Maximize Facility and Community Tours
Comprehensive tours provide crucial insights into daily work life and quality of life factors. Take advantage of these opportunities to evaluate both professional and personal aspects of the opportunity.
During Facility Tours, Observe:
- Equipment quality and technology systems
- Workspace organization and workflow efficiency
- Staff interactions and overall morale
- Patient care areas and available amenities
- Support services and ancillary departments
For community exploration, consider doing independent research with a realtor rather than relying solely on employer-guided tours. This approach provides a more realistic view of housing options, schools, recreational opportunities, and local amenities.
If you have specific interests, arrange targeted visits. For example, if you're interested in outdoor activities, explore local hiking trails or sports facilities. If you have children, visit potential schools and meet with administrators.
9. Present Yourself as a Professional
Your appearance and demeanor create lasting impressions that extend beyond the interview room. Dress conservatively in business attire and avoid distracting accessories or strong fragrances.
Demonstrate Professionalism Through:
- Punctuality and thorough preparation
- Respectful communication with all staff members
- Active listening and thoughtful responses
- Genuine interest in the opportunity and organization
- Appropriate follow-up communications
Remember that everyone you meet may provide input on hiring decisions. Treat administrative staff, nurses, and other team members with the same respect and professionalism you show to physicians and executives.
10. Make Timely and Informed Decisions
The physician recruitment process requires significant time and resources from stakeholders, so make decisions promptly. Most organizations expect a response within 1-2 weeks. If you need more time, communicate clearly and stick to your timeline.
Managing Multiple Offers:
- Keep organizations informed about your timeline
- Communicate professionally
- Don’t string along employers without genuine interest
- Provide brief, polite feedback when declining offers
When deciding, be clear and prompt to maintain positive relationships for future opportunities.
Building Your Medical Career Foundation
Interviewing is more than a job search—it's an investment in your career. Each interview expands your network, sharpens communication, and clarifies your goals. Whether pursuing traditional roles or locum tenens opportunities, preparation and strategic thinking help align roles with your clinical interests, lifestyle, and aspirations.
Remember, interviews are mutual evaluations: employers assess your fit, and you evaluate if the role supports your goals and values. Use resources like recruiters, career services, and networking to find opportunities that suit you. Your medical career is a marathon—treat each interview as a step toward your ideal practice.