You lucky, lucky dentist! You have landed more opportunities than you can count! That degree that you worked so hard for has paid off and you have a line of job offers on the table. Now to decide. Every new graduate’s dream right?! And if you are lucky enough to find yourself in this position, you have an arduous task in front of you: vetting these opportunities and finding the right one. But easier said than done. Especially if these opportunities are in different states, flying around can be time consuming (and expensive if you are traveling on your own dime, in the case of small private practices).
That is when what I call the “Two Call Vet” comes in handy. Now, when asked if new grads should interview at an opportunity, I always give the advice that interviewing is a practiced skill. If you genuinely think that an opportunity has any chance of being one that you would take, interview for it. Sometimes the best chances are the ones we least expect. BUT if interviewing will cost you time or money that you do not want to spend, then sometimes vetting the office by phone is a good option. At the very least, it gives you information. Sometimes I use this process to help give me more info to decide between two positions that appear to be very similar.
How to Vet an Office via Phone
The first phone call should be during office hours.
Be delicate, especially if you are thinking of purchasing the office in the case of a sale or transitions. Always assume that the staff do not know about any hiring process, especially if you are unsure. When you call during business hours, since the staff will not know who is calling, they will answer as they do for any patient and you will be able to see what the first impression is for patients. Do they put people on hold immediately if busy? How long are their hold times? Is the person answering the phone consistent? How do they seem when they answer the phone? What is your first impression?
If the phone interaction is pleasant, this is a sign of a well trained and functional office. Those are the ones who tend to have patients, which is a hint that you may have a more filled schedule. If the phone interaction is poor, then this may indicate an inability to retain or attract patients and also may hint to other internal problems.
The second call I make is when the office is closed.
This may be during evening times. On this phone call, note the message. Is it professional? Do they use a professional answering service? Do they leave the doctor’s cell phone for emergencies? Are they compliant with legal and professional requirements, such as having an avenue for on call emergencies? You can also call during the lunch hour. Are staff getting a designated lunch where the office is closed? Is there still someone there to answer the phones (consultants agree that there should always be someone to answer during lunch; patients are on their lunch hour and usually able to call then)? The after hours call will not only tell you about the systems in the office and the patient and staff interaction, but will also give you a glimpse into the flow and pace of the office and the quality of life to expect associated with the position.
That is when what I call the “Two Call Vet” comes in handy. Now, when asked if new grads should interview at an opportunity, I always give the advice that interviewing is a practiced skill. If you genuinely think that an opportunity has any chance of being one that you would take, interview for it. Sometimes the best chances are the ones we least expect. BUT if interviewing will cost you time or money that you do not want to spend, then sometimes vetting the office by phone is a good option. At the very least, it gives you information. Sometimes I use this process to help give me more info to decide between two positions that appear to be very similar.
How to Vet an Office via Phone
The first phone call should be during office hours.
Be delicate, especially if you are thinking of purchasing the office in the case of a sale or transitions. Always assume that the staff do not know about any hiring process, especially if you are unsure. When you call during business hours, since the staff will not know who is calling, they will answer as they do for any patient and you will be able to see what the first impression is for patients. Do they put people on hold immediately if busy? How long are their hold times? Is the person answering the phone consistent? How do they seem when they answer the phone? What is your first impression?
If the phone interaction is pleasant, this is a sign of a well trained and functional office. Those are the ones who tend to have patients, which is a hint that you may have a more filled schedule. If the phone interaction is poor, then this may indicate an inability to retain or attract patients and also may hint to other internal problems.
The second call I make is when the office is closed.
This may be during evening times. On this phone call, note the message. Is it professional? Do they use a professional answering service? Do they leave the doctor’s cell phone for emergencies? Are they compliant with legal and professional requirements, such as having an avenue for on call emergencies? You can also call during the lunch hour. Are staff getting a designated lunch where the office is closed? Is there still someone there to answer the phones (consultants agree that there should always be someone to answer during lunch; patients are on their lunch hour and usually able to call then)? The after hours call will not only tell you about the systems in the office and the patient and staff interaction, but will also give you a glimpse into the flow and pace of the office and the quality of life to expect associated with the position.