Congratulations! You’ve studied and worked and researched and applied, and now you are invited for a site interview at a medical facility that you may decide to join. Now what?!

First, take a deep breath. The fact that you are invited for a site interview means that the medical facility has reviewed your resume and feels you are a qualified candidate for its employment opportunity, at least on paper. Now, the administration wants to meet you personally to see if you are a good fit for the group, and you get a chance to see for yourself if you can envision working there.

Usually, prior to the site visit, you will have had a phone interview with a staff representative of the medical facility or practice you are considering joining. This conversation should have answered a lot of basic questions about the practice, including the number of physicians in the group, the typical daily schedule, average number of patients per day seen, scope of practice and types of procedures they perform, and your expected patient care responsibilities.

I spoke with Chris Tracy, the Chicago-based director of recruitment for Royal Oak Health Group, who has been helping physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants find their dream medical jobs for 24 years. In full disclosure, he was the medical recruiter who placed me in my first staff position that I held after finishing my fellowship, where I stayed for fifteen years.

Mr. Tracy advises that you carefully review the itinerary for the site visit that will be provided to you ahead of time. This will give you information on whom you will be meeting, the schedule of the day, how much driving or walking is involved, and if you will have time to explore the city on your own or with a realtor. You should clarify if you are able to bring a family member or significant other with you to help to assess the opportunity. You should also ensure that you have clear travel directions to the facility.

First impressions are very important, Mr. Tracy notes. You should arrive early and be dressed professionally, as this projects the attitude that you take this meeting seriously. Casual clothes should stay in your closet. You should have already researched the practice or medical facility and understand its history, structure, number of offices or branches, and familiarized yourself with the geographic location.

When you meet the administration or physicians of the group, don’t be overly chatty; let them describe the facility, its vision, and culture. The practice wants to ensure that you are serious about the position and that you plan to establish yourself there, since they are making a long-term investment in you. They may ask if you have family in the area, or other ties to the region, to ensure that you plan to put down roots in the community. You should have an answer prepared for why you are applying for this particular opportunity. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, as this shows the administration that you are actively interested in the position.

You should use the site visit as an opportunity to learn everything you can about the facility and its staff. The following questions are a sampling of issues to consider: Is this somewhere you can envision yourself working? Do the staff members seem happy and competent? Do the physicians seem approachable, knowledgeable and appear to be people whom you would appreciate as your colleagues and confidantes? Does the patient load and call schedule seem like something you can handle? How many different offices and branches of the facility are there? Are you going to be mainly based at one office site or will you be expected to be driving to offices in different parts of town on a regular basis? Why are they recruiting another physician – is it due to growth of the practice, retirement of a physician, or are physicians leaving the group for some other reason? Ask for clarification or further details if something concerns you regarding your expected responsibilities to ensure that there are no misunderstandings.

Upon returning home from the site visit, take time to review everything that you’ve seen and heard. Remember to send a prompt thank you note to the physicians and administrators that you’ve met and reiterate that you are interested in the position. Discussing your site visit observations with a significant other or trusted colleague can help you clarify your impressions. If both you and the facility’s administration felt that the meeting was productive and has potential, you will likely be offered a contract or letter of intent, indicating that the facility is interested in hiring you to their staff.

Chris Tracy is director of recruitment for Royal Oak Health Group and can help you in your nationwide search for your ideal medical position.  He and his staff are dedicated to guiding, advising, and advocating for you.  He can be reached at ctracy@royaloakhealth.com.