Monday, February 2, 2009

Interview To Become A Medical Receptionist

Professional interview


Medical receptionists work in hospitals, private practices, medical clinics and surgical centers. Some receptionist responsibilities include greeting patients, scheduling appointments and answering the phone. An interview is your opportunity to show a potential employer why you are the best candidate for the position. Having good interviewing skills will help you stand out as an applicant. Your experience and skills may have helped you get selected for an interview, but your ability to impress the interviewer is what will get you the job.


Instructions


1. Update your resume to reflect your current skills and experience. A professional and complete resume will be essential for the interview. Include word processing, spreadsheet and database skills. Include your work experience in medical offices (for example, insurance billing, patient records and scheduling appointments). Make sure your resume lists your typing speed and ten key skills. If you don't have much experience as a medical receptionist, make sure you emphasize your word processing, spreadsheet, customer service and typing skills. Don't point out the fact that you don't have experience, instead talk about your skills.


2. Familiarize yourself with the potential employer's specialty. Perhaps you have experience in that particular specialty that will help you standout as a candidate in the interviewing process. Knowing about your potential employer will help you better prepare for the interview by tailoring your responses toward that particular employer.


3. Dress professionally---wear slacks or a skirt,at least knee length with a blouse or jacket. Have your clothes clean and pressed. You'll want to make a good impression and showing up to an interview in wrinkly unkept clothing will make you look unprofessional. Arrive 10 minutes early to the interview and bring a list of professional references with you. Be prepared to fill out an application.








4. Greet the interviewer and shake his hand. Maintain eye contact when speaking. Be professional in your responses and ready to give information about your skills, education and experience. Be sure to emphasize your related skills. For example, you worked as a receptionist at a business office and answered the phone and accepted payments from customers. These related skills would be helpful working as a medical receptionist because some the duties are similar.


5. Be professional and courteous throughout the interview. Toward the end of the interview, if the opportunity presents itself, ask questions about the position or company. For example, ask if the company offers an educational tuition assistance program. A tuition assistance program may be helpful if you plan on going back to school to upgrade your career---perhaps into a medical records technician. Be an active participant and demonstrate your interest about the company. At the end of the interview, shake the interviewer's hand and thank him for his time.


6. When you get home, follow up by sending a thank you note. Highlight your skills and why you are a good candidate for the position. This is also a good time to list any additional skills you may not have mentioned during the interview. Be sure to include your contact information.

Tags: about your, potential employer, skills have, will help, your skills