I'm working on a feature article for PracticeLink Magazine, a national publication providing career planning information to physicians (primarily residents and fellows just entering the job market). This feature story is about "interview questions you'll be asked." Specifically, it aims to identify the most insightful questions hiring physicians and administrators might ask a physician job candidate, and share advice for how physicians should prepare to respond. I'm looking to speak to MDs and DOs who have insight into the physician job-search process -- whether as a physician who makes hiring decisions; a physician who participates in the recruiting of new attendings; an academic physician who coaches residents and fellows on job seeking; or a physician who has recently completed a job search. As a physician with a perspective on this important career stage, interviewing for a PracticeLink feature will give you a chance to help younger doctors following in your footsteps to avoid costly mistakes or simply make the most of the job-search opportunity.

One thing young physicians forget is that interviews aren't exams—they're chemistry tests. Committees already know your credentials; what they're trying to figure out is whether they can trust you, work with you, and hand you their patients at 3 a.m. That's why the best advice is surprisingly simple: be yourself, stay calm, slow down. If you wouldn't enjoy spending an afternoon with your "interview version," neither will they. The most insightful questions you'll get are the ones that reveal who you are under pressure. Things like: "Tell me about a case that changed your practice." "How do you handle conflict with colleagues?" "What frustrates you most in clinical workflows?" "What do you need from us to thrive here?" These questions aren't traps—they're invitations to show emotional steadiness, self-awareness, and teamwork. They want to see how you think, not how fast you talk. If you rush, fidget, or cram too much into each answer, you'll come off nervous instead of capable. My biggest piece of advice: let the conversation breathe. When the discussion naturally drifts into non-medical topics—family, hobbies, travel, even food—that's usually a sign you've won the room. Don't force it back into clinical territory; the human connection is often what seals the offer. Preparation helps, but authenticity lands the job. Know your stories, know what kind of environment you want, and walk in with the mindset that you're interviewing them just as much as they're interviewing you. —Pouyan Golshani, MD | Interventional Radiologist

When I interview doctors, my favorite question is, "How do you tell a patient they might not get the result they want?" The answer tells you so much. The people who can talk honestly about the risks, instead of just selling the procedure, are the ones we want. Being straight with people is what matters, both in the interview room and with patients.