Best Questions to Ask During an Interview

For most practice owners, particularly those who also happen to be practicing vets, the administrative side of the business can be challenging – especially when it comes to hiring. You want to make sure that the staff you bring in will not only fit well with your other employees and embody your practice vision, but that they are capable of developing and fostering those all-important relationships with your clients and patients. To improve your chances of finding the right employees to join your team, here are a few key questions to ask during the interview process.

Why did you decide to get into the veterinary industry?

For most of us, the answer to this question is simple: because we love animals and we want to help them. In reality, however, some people make career decisions based on more logical things, such as available job opportunities and income potential. If you’re comfortable with team members who fall into the latter category, that’s great. If not, however, it’s good to get an idea of just how passionate each candidate truly is about the field they’ve chosen.

What was the most difficult situation you’ve ever dealt with and how did you handle it?

Let’s face it. In the veterinary field it’s not always going to be sunshine and roses. Sometimes we will be faced with challenges that require us to dig deep and draw from our inner strength, compassion and ultimate desire to improve the lives of animals and their owners. By getting a clear picture of how each candidate handles difficult or challenging situations, you’ll have a better idea of how well they’d fit on your team.

Describe your previous experience and what you liked/disliked the most about it.

You can tell a lot about a person’s character and ambition by learning how they feel about past roles they’ve had. This is also important if you are trying to fill a role for which you are seeking specific skills and strengths. For instance, if your practice is small and your staff members have to pitch in to share front desk duties, finding out someone you’re interviewing doesn’t like to answer phones is important in narrowing down your selection.

What is your ideal work environment?

The foundation of a successful veterinary practice is a strong culture, and maintaining that strong culture involves hiring staff that is the best fit. Understanding what your candidates are looking for in a workplace can help you determine whether or not they’ll fit in well with the atmosphere of your clinic. If their description is far off base, move on to the next.

How would your coworkers describe you?

Many hiring managers ask candidates to describe themselves from their own personal perspectives. Asking them how they think their colleagues would describe them, however, is much more introspective and revealing. Again, the goal is to find someone who will meld with your team, so look for answers that seem to align with your current practice culture and staff relations.

Why should we hire you?

Finally, let your candidate tell you in his or her own words why you should choose them for the role you’re trying to fill. What do they have to offer? What unique and compelling skillsets do they bring to the table? How could their experience, drive and personality contribute to your practice’s ongoing success? The more you delve, the more likely you’ll be to find the ideal person for the job.

Are you finding it difficult to adequately staff your practice? Does your role as owner or manager leave little extra time to focus on locating and hiring top talent? That’s what DreamTeamElite is here for! Give us call today at 800-469-1871 ext. 353 and learn how we can help with all of your staffing needs.

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