… at times while trying to get a handle on all these we forget the “little but very important details”
The outcome of a job interview most times will determine who gets picked and who gets to try again. Oral and written interviews have become acceptable ways of verifying the employability of candidates vying for job placements.
Preparing to be interviewed for the position of a Medical Physicist can be a challenging task, especially if the job description requires ample clinical experience. This write up hopes to share some tips that may help interviewees prepare adequately before an interview and land that next job.
First, you must be knowledgeable about every aspect of Medical Physics including radiotherapy, radiology, nuclear medicine, radiation protection etc. Having adequate knowledge of your subject matter will help boost the candidate’s confidence before and during the interview. A show of confidence backed by the right answers can be easily detected by the interviewers and can be a great determinant when it comes to who the employer selects.
Secondly, remember to delve into the administrative arm of the institution you are interviewing for: its policies, goals, vision and mission statements. It is important that you get to familiarize yourself with the organization you intend to work with. This will further show the interviewers you are really truly interested in their organization.
Thirdly, at times while trying to get a handle on all these we forget the “little but very important details” – I am talking about those fundamental principles of Medical Physics. It could be something as basic as ‘Who discovered the X-ray? Simple as this question may seem we might be unable to answer during the interview but fast forward a few minutes after the interview, just as you step out the door, the answer comes flooding in like someone just turned on the tap and then you wish you could run back and just inform the interview panel the answer is Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen.
In my experience, most times it is not the ‘big-hard things’ that make us look ‘unintelligent’ before the interview panel; it is mostly the ‘small-simple piece of information’. This sudden mental block can be traced to anxiety, a lack of confidence, fear or low level of preparedness. This situation can be embarrassing but it is also avoidable. It is my opinion that we can avoid this embarrassing situation through adequate practice.
Taking adequate time to practice and prepare before an interview is very important. Having adequate time preferably daily to go through the important facts needed by every Medical Physicist will help improve your ability to recall this information when needed. Beyond just reading, this can also be accomplished by having discussions with colleagues and fellow Medical Physicists
Furthermore we can prepare if we teach, share and mentor. You can’t give what you don’t have, so also you cannot teach what you don’t know. What you teach you will rarely forget. Sharing knowledge and experience will always enhance our understanding of that subject matter. Whatever you give out to the universe will attract itself back to you.
More so, I have always been an advocate of ‘internalized learning’ rather than mere ‘cramming’. Cramming can aid in passing examinations and in getting good grades but I strongly doubt it will help in sustaining the knowledge acquired and turning it into practice. Therefore, seek to not just learn at the superficial level but fall in love with what you are learning such that it can be ‘committed to heart’, but don’t stop here, go further until what you have learnt becomes a part of you
Lastly, PRAY. Pray about your interview and commit it to God’s hands. The holy books admonish us to commit our ways to God and He will direct our paths.
I have shared a few of my tips, I am looking forward to learning from your ideas on how to ace interviews and secure that dream position. Kindly share your own tips in the comment section below. Thanks.
Ibrahim Mark
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