This series of ideas is devoted to making you the #1 interview candidate. I’m basing it on my many years of experience working with Physician Leaders and Healthcare Executives.
When you don’t have experience to match the question, resist the temptation to be completely honest! “No I don’t…” may sound honest but it also signals deficiency. Instead try to answer with possibility: “When I think of that issue three things come to mind, …… , …… , and ……” Then for each word you said: “My experience with …… allows me to ..….”. This gives the listener something positive to listen to and more importantly allows the listener to understand how you think about things. This is what they really want after all. Now of course some will listen and say, “So you have no direct experience with …...” Then of course you can fess up but keep that positive also: “You are correct but what I’ve learned from situations previously is that experience is born when we first think of how to do old things in a new way.” Never, ever, never (did I already say never!?) give one-word answers. The interviewers want to hear not only ‘the’ answer; they want to hear who you are. But remember my tip of words and wordiness – keep it to under two minutes! What do you think?