Most people know it’s a good idea to research a company before an interview. But the question of how to do your research is a little more complicated. Luckily, you can go as in-depth or surface-level as you want during the research process. An excellent first step is simply looking up the employer’s name online. Usually, you’ll find the clinic’s website and be able to do some research about its values, history, and more. This is a great way to build specific questions for your interview. From there, you can check out other sites like Glassdoor, where employees can discuss their experiences working at a particular clinic. Be sure to check out the office’s social media pages (if they have any), as you can often get a sense of the company culture they want to project.
Once you’ve finished your research and are about to start your interview, there’s work yet to be done. Here’s what to look for during the interview itself to help get a peek behind the curtain of what your new job might entail.
In-person interviews offer a significant benefit: you get to scope out the environment of the clinic’s you’re applying for and form your own opinions about what working there would be like. An organization’s work environment can vary widely, from friendly and laid-back to fast-paced and intense. Before you even set foot in your interview, you must do some soul-searching and determine what kind of work environment most aligns with your goals. This will help ensure you don’t end up in a position that ultimately doesn’t mesh with your preferences.
Once you have a good idea of what you’re looking for, go into your interview with open eyes. On the way to the interview room, observe the other employees and the general environment in the building. Are people chatting and relaxed, or do they seem focused on their work? When they interact with patients, are they friendly or curt? The attitude of the other employees and the additional benefits (or lack thereof) that a company offers can tell you a lot about the environment before you ask a single question.
That being said, it’s also a good idea to ask a few questions about the job’s work environment to get a base of comparison with your observations. If there seems to be a mismatch between what you see and what your potential employer says, that could be a red flag.
An inclusive workspace makes an active effort to ensure that all its employees and patients are welcomed and made to feel at home. Of course, a potential employer would hardly admit to not being inclusive, so it’s wise to use your interview as an opportunity to gauge how inclusive a company really is.
A good first step is to look at the clinic’s employees, either during your visit to the building or on the company’s website. Are the nurses, technicians and other employees visibly diverse, with a variety of genders, cultures, and ages? Does any signage in the office suggest they prioritize inclusion and support? In addition, inclusive companies should prioritize continuing development and collaboration. Rigid, hierarchical organizations with little room for continued growth are far less likely to be welcoming and inclusive spaces.
Ending up in a workspace that doesn’t prioritize inclusivity can be an uncomfortable experience, and it might even make some people feel less safe to be themselves. And in a healthcare setting, that can seriously impact a clinic’s ability to provide the best care to patients. That’s why it’s crucial to gauge whether the institution’s inclusivity standards are up to par before you accept a job offer.
How involved is your potential employer with their community? This question goes deeper than you might expect. One good starting point is to evaluate what population size the office serves. Does it have clinics in different locations? This can give you a sense of its widespread reach and the scope of the office’s focus. It also pays to see whether the clinic is engaged in outreach programs, such as fundraisers or charities. Educational events are another great way that a healthcare facility can make a difference outside of the community. The way and degree that a clinic connects with the people they serve can have a huge ripple effect on the company culture and work experience.
At the end of the day, doing your due diligence before and after an interview can add another layer of stress to the process. But with a bit of work in advance, you can go in feeling ready to knock the interview out of the park. Do your research, come prepared, and you can quickly determine whether this job is right for you. And if you’re ever looking for the help of a top-notch staffing agency to help connect you with your dream job, look no further than MyTeam Medical Staffing.