Landing a position at your dream dental practice brings a unique feeling of validation and accomplishment. To reach that eminent moment, it all starts out with a conversation.
For those of you meeting the practice owner for the first time, there’s a lot of pressure to get the initial interviews right. Both you and the owner are eager to learn about one another, build a connection and find out if your goals align.
The objectives of these first meetings are to continue the conversation and to have an opportunity to prove that you are the right doctor for their practice. It’s not just about landing the job; it’s about you finding a practice that fits your goals and the owner finding a person whom they can trust with their practice, staff and patients.
Whether it’s more of a formal interview or a casual conversation in a coffee shop, follow these tips and recommendations to help start off on the right foot and leave a lasting impression.
Focus on building the professional relationship
With their life’s work on the line, bringing a new doctor into the practice isn’t a decision for the owner to take lightly. Therefore, the connection needs to feel right for both you and the owner. Use this time to build a strong, cohesive relationship and ensure you can collaborate well with each other. A teamwork mindset and a relationship based on mutual trust and respect can lead to a thriving practice, and this all starts from the beginning.
Keep the spotlight on the owner
While this is a time for both you and the owner to learn about each other, it’s recommended that you don’t focus solely on yourself or what’s in it for you. Instead, be conversational with regards to the owner’s interests and find topics that encourage them to open up. Ask about their life, clinical philosophy and methods, clinical training, their staff or the community.
With the focus on the owner, it shows your interest in them and provides a sense of altruism. And as they talk about their story, the seller should also be open to learning more about you.
TAKE NOTE
It’s also not the right time to discuss things you want to change or do differently in the practice, nor call out the practice’s weaknesses. Oftentimes, this is the doctor’s legacy, and they’ve built their practice from the ground up. They may already be aware of these areas, but it would leave a sour taste to discuss the aspects you want to adjust in the initial interviews.
Set aside questions about the specific practice metrics (for now)
There’s a time and place to talk numbers and ask for the practice financials, but the initial meeting is not one of them. Asking about things like the practice collections, overhead and how much the doctor takes home can be invasive and a little too personal for the first meeting. Avoid these questions for now and concentrate on building the relationship first.
SUGGESTED QUESTIONS TO ASK
If you’re wondering what to talk about during the first few meetings, here are a few suggested topics and areas of discussion:
- What do you love most about your practice?
- What do you think an individual needs to succeed in your practice and community?
- What is your clinical philosophy?
- What areas of your practice hold opportunity?
- What is the most challenging part of practice ownership?
- What gives you the most joy from your practice?
- Tell me about your staff
- If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently?
- How do you and your family like to spend your downtime?
- What are your practice transition goals?
- How do you envision the transition timing?
- Where do you see yourself 5-10 years from now?
- How do you see a future practice transition or partnership working?
Be honest, humble and kind
While there’s a lot to think about during an interview, life skills like honesty, humility and kindness are core ingredients to strengthening your professional relationship with the owner.
Be honest with the owner and yourself about your goals, what you want in a practice and your expectations. When it comes to humility, be confident in who you are but not arrogant. And be kind in order to show consideration for the owner’s perspective and where they’re coming from.
At the end of the day, you’re being invited to potentially be part of the owner’s legacy. Be gracious for the opportunity and express your appreciation for their time. A thoughtful gift and a handwritten “thank you” card can go a long way and may even set you apart from other candidates.
While interviews can be daunting, they’re also exciting as they can lead to the opportunity of potentially advancing your career. If you have an upcoming interview or meeting with a practice, our advisors at NDP can provide a complimentary coaching call to help you feel prepared. Reach out to our team today.
