Navigating the Site Visit and Following Up

Most recruiters advise residents who are beginning their first physician job search to start 18 months to two years before the completion of training. Start early, but be selective and only entertain interview invitations that genuinely interest you. Onsite interviews are time-consuming and can be taxing emotionally, so be intentional with your acceptances.

Site visits are perhaps the most important element of the recruitment process. If you are not offered a site visit, I recommend that you do not pursue the opportunity. You cannot get a good feeling for the organization, the medical staff, or the location without visiting the site. I encourage you to also request that your significant other be allowed to accompany you on the visit. I have witnessed many offers to interested physicians whose spouse or partner came for a look and was less than enthusiastic for whatever reason.

Once you begin your search, narrow down your top three opportunities and schedule those onsite visits within weeks of each other. Scheduling multiple site visits over several months can prove problematic for many reasons, but the main reason is that if this is a high-demand specialty, your top offer could be filled by the time you complete all your site visits and make a decision.

If you are sold on one offer, don’t continue your search for the sake of more site visits. If you believe the position fits at least 80% of your practice criteria, accept the offer and cancel the remainder of your scheduled site visits.

Preparing for the Interview

The specifics of the site visit are typically handled by the recruiter or organization representative with whom you have had contact. They will help you select a date and arrange your transportation and accommodations. Your contact will also arrange meetings between you and the CEO, practice administrator, and other administrative staff as applicable.

They will arrange for you to visit the practice location and, as appropriate, the hospital and its facilities, and will introduce you to the relevant administrators at these sites. They will also arrange for you to meet with physicians in your specialty as well as physicians from other specialties. If you are interviewing for a group practice, they will likely arrange for you to see some of the other facilities in and around the town.

Here are some additional recommendations for your visit:

• Prepare for your site visit by researching the practice, hospital, or clinic as well as the community.

• Arrive on time. If you can’t determine from the itinerary where you should be at a particular time, ask in advance.

• Dress professionally and DO NOT WEAR SCRUBS!

• Ask questions that demonstrate you have done your research on the organization.

• Bring copies of your CV to distribute at meetings.

• Be prepared to sell yourself and your special skills and abilities.

• Be considerate of those you meet.

• Avoid discussing other opportunities you may be pursuing.

When meeting with the assigned personnel, especially the CEO, practice administrator, or lead physician, you must communicate effectively. Consider mirroring what they say by repeating it and agreeing with it, if indeed you do agree. Use open-ended questions to gather more information about issues. For example, you might ask. “What are the considerations for a salary increase?” rather than saying, “I would like an increase in my salary.”

Excerpted from Managing the Maze: A Handbook for Resident and Fellowship Physicians Navigating Decision Points Post -Training (American Association for Physician Leadership, 2026).