Pearls for Interviewing for Your First Position at the AAO Annual Meeting

By Cristina Boggiano http://www.theophthalmicassociates.com/

AAO is the busiest meeting of the year for most attendees and prioritizing and time management are keys to navigating this conference. If this is a year when you are hoping to conduct interviews for a future position, I have highlighted some of the best practices accumulated in over a decade of attending this major convention.

Plan your schedule ahead of time
If you are seeking a new position or are in your last year or two of completing a residency or fellowship, it is beneficial to have performed research on practices and positions of interest beforehand. The AAO along with participating ophthalmic publications have job boards and career center listings of current positions. Start reaching out to those practices a few months before the meeting to help you determine who you would like to meet for a face-to-face interview.

Preparation is essential
Be sure to bring copies of your curriculum vitae and business cards. Have an idea of the types of specific questions you would like to ask the hiring practice, as well as an approach towards how you will answer typical interview questions. The AAO meeting offers stellar opportunities for onsite networking with practice members that are attending with the intention of hiring. Facilitate these chance meetings with prospective employers by being proactive and prepared.

Take notes
If you are planning to interview with several potential employers, aim to take notes after your interview. Oftentimes, the information you gather from this initial in-person interview will be enough for you to decide whether you want to explore the opportunity further. Taking notes will help you keep track of those important first impressions, when you reflect on them post Academy.

Call, text or email if you are behind schedule
It is inevitable and very likely that you will end up running behind schedule at some point during the meeting. To avoid an unfavorable first impression have your contacts cellular numbers, email addresses and hotel information. This way you can quickly inform them of a delayed meeting. One of the worst things any candidate can do is to not follow up or completely miss the scheduled meeting. It may sound like common sense, but there have been many times when a potential employer is left with no explanation as to why their candidate did not arrive.

Protocol on following up
In the same way you establish and maintain contact with hiring practices leading up to the annual meeting, make sure to follow up within a few weeks after the show. Keep in touch with the hiring manager and keep them apprised of your level of interest in their position. Quick follow up is not only essential with the practice on the top of your list but it is also important to communicate with other practices you are considering. Ophthalmology is a small world, and it is necessary to maintain professional standards.

Often blunders like running late and missing meetings are simply a result of the abundance of activities to participate in during this condensed meeting. Finding a position becomes more difficult in the middle of an extensively planned schedule were where sessions, courses, presentations and special events abound.

This is where utilizing a dedicated career advocate or experienced ophthalmic recruiter is advantageous. Along with acquainting you with the most current practices hiring, your advisor is responsible for representing and promoting you to practices that are in your area of interest. This steward can track your interview schedule along with the hiring practice and hold each side accountable for their commitment and time. Upon returning from the symposium, a recruiter will guide you through negotiating offers and ultimately smooth the progress of transitioning you to your next position.

Attending the AAO meeting provides an indispensable opportunity to help you find a career advancing position. An ophthalmic recruiter can serve as a vital tool for you to rely on so that between interviewing, you can instead focus on continuing to add value to your career and be an asset to your field. Ophthalmic Associates will be available at this year’s AAO at the Moscone Center, South Hall at Booth #236 to discuss any aspect of your pursuit in finding a position.