Are you looking for a job as a Medical Receptionist? Well…before you attempt to place your resume out their in GP Land, don’t you think it might be worth your while to be better prepared? I mean, if you really want the job, why not do your homework first and find out exactly what it is your future employer wants to see in your application for the Medical Receptionist job.
Anyone can apply for a job, but only a few actually take the time to research the role and and to nut out specific points of interest that will really set themselves apart from all the other applicants. To help you get started here are six of my very own secret tips to ensure you stand out in the interview and get the job you want.
So where do you fit in?
You have just finished your ‘Medical Receptionist’ course and graduated with flying colours. Or you want to return to work after a long break, changing careers or have just lost your job! What ever your circumstance, you all have one thing in common and that is you all want a job as a medical receptionist.
Life in a medical practice is changing…roles are evolving and medical receptionists are no longer just the person on the front desk making appointments and answering phone calls. The job description includes a plethora of things ranging from meet and greet to patient billing, all providing service to customers and the practice. But away from the obvious skills and personality traits required to fill the role, what you really want to know is how to stand out from all the other applicants. So here goes…
Qualified vs. Experience…
Most practices look for someone who has completed a course in medical reception. If you haven’t completed a course then you will have to prove yourself above those that have. The only thing that comes to mind is experience. If you have worked as a medical receptionist or similar role for many years then, depending on what the employer values more, they might choose someone with many years of experience over someone who is just entering into the medical industry for the first time. Don’t be fooled though…employers come in all shapes and sizes and they all want different things, so it might come down to the luck of the draw or you could do your homework and ask around. Drop in and ask the receptionist on the desk if they are looking for someone with experience or like to train their staff in a certain way. Don’t laugh; there is good reason why many employers prefer someone who has never worked in a role before. Fresh faced and eager to learn, can be an advantage in that the person does not have any pre conceived ideas about the role and no set routine to performing certain tasks.
Behavioural Based Questions…
If you are new to the industry, make a list of the skills that you will bring to the role, any past experiences that you have had that proved you have what it takes to meet the challenges of the role as a medical receptionist and be prepared to answer questions on how you handled those situations. Employers these days ask ‘behavioural based questions’ to get a better idea on how you react in varying situations. For example, ‘Have you worked a front desk before, and had to deal with an impatient or angry customer. If so, how did you handle the situation?’ If you have never had a similar experience then answer how you think you would react. Try to keep the customer as the focus and provide a solution that will benefit the customer and the practice.
First impressions count so make it memorable…
A very experienced manager once told me that to leave a lasting impression you must be memorable. I wasn’t sure exactly what she meant at first, did I have to wear a hat or tell a good joke! After a couple of weeks with this in mind, I finally figured out how to make this work for me.
It’s about approaching business situations in a friendly professional manner. It is important to smile and express warmth when communicating to someone. To always dress smartly, look well groomed and take pride in your appearance. It will not only help to make a good impression on your interviewer, but it will make you feel good about yourself and help you to exude more confidence. It also tells your future employer that you are serious and mean business.
Be yourself…nothing worse than an over bearing egotistical person trying to make out that they are better than they really are. People want to know about you personally. What you like to do on your day off, hobbies, sporting endeavors and how many kids you have! It keeps things real and will give your interviewer an idea as to how you will fit in with dynamics of existing staff members.
Be assertive! Make sure that you listen closely to the questions being asked and answer them as best you can. Don’t be afraid to pause and think about what you want to say. Try not to let your nerves get the better of you…if you can! Just remember that you have done your homework, you know the specialties of the practice, the types of patients that the doctors see, and any other tit-bits that you have managed to find out. So when the interviewer has finished asking you all the questions, you have some prepared to ask them. Surprise them! Ask a question that demonstrates that you have taken the time to find out about the practice and how it operates. For example, you could mention that you have a love for children and that the pediatric interest of the GP’s within the practice really interests you. Make a note of a few questions to ask and place them in a slim black cover incase you forget. You can even place a few copies of your resume in there for reference sake. Having taken the time to consider how you will benefit the practice and also what interest you about the role as a Medical Receptionist within their practice will demonstrate that you have a professional attitude that is sure to impress!
PracSoft preferred Medical Director an advantage…offer something of value!
Browsing the advertised jobs for medical receptionist I came across a large number of practices looking for an ideal candidate that possesses experience in Medical Director and PracSoft. Stating that, ‘it is a must’, ‘is preferred’, ‘is an advantage’, ‘must have exposure’ and ‘have experience in or like programs’.
It seems pretty clear to me that if you want to stand out from your competition in applying for a role as a medical receptionist, it would pay to do your homework on the type of software the practice uses and if you where serious about getting the job, take the initiative and get trained up in it.
Medical Director and PracSoft stand out as they are used within over 80% of computerised practices around Australia. There are many other medical software programs around as well, again find out and add it to your resume. A good understanding of a medical software program such as Medical Director and PracSoft included on your resume would be a big tick in the eyes of your potential future employer. Think about it from their perspective. If you’re already trained in PracSoft and Medical Director, this is a huge cost and time benefit to the practice. As they do not have to fund your training and your ability to start working at a higher level of competency will speed up your ability to understand your role and the day to day running of the practice. You might even find that you know more than the other practice staff already employed in the centre, giving you instant credibility! Being an instant asset to the practice is much better than a possible liability and in need of training.
Being able to offer something additional to the job, something of value to the practice…will exponentially increase you chances of securing a Medical Receptionist job.
Money is important, but don’t count your chickens until they have hatched…
What I mean is, don’t discuss what the pay is until you are offered the job. Bringing up pay in an interview takes great skill to ensure you do not come across as ‘all about the money’. Show them your skills and all that you are capable of offering to the role as a medical receptionist. You might disagree, but I think that it is something you have greater chance of negotiating with them once they want you for the job. If they think that you are the person for the role, then most employers are prepared to discuss pay and conditions with you. Ask them about probationary periods (trial periods) and whether there is opportunity for additional training for other roles within the practice. The relationship obviously needs to be a win-win for both parties.
Make a mental commitment?
One last word of advice…make sure that you are fully committed to wanting the job before you apply for it and go for the interview. If you aren’t the interviewer will sense it. Body language is a big deal these days and most interviewers are well practiced. Many athletes use visualisation to help them focus and mentally prepare for a race. If they can’t see themselves winning, they more than like will be beaten. If you want to be successful in applying for a role as a medical receptionist, make sure that this is something that you really want to do, and make a commitment to do it well. If you have done all of your homework and prepared as fully as you can for the interview, try then to visualise yourself getting the job. Trust me…if you walk in like the job is already yours, it will be!
Good luck…let us know how you go!
