Interviewing for a new role can be daunting, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s only become more challenging. Many industries have adapted to virtual interviews during this time. However, many healthcare organizations are beginning to resume in-person job interviews. However, many healthcare organizations have resumed in-person job interviews—at least for part of their hiring process. According to our research, 39% of employers are conducting in-person interviews for clinical roles, while 36% are utilizing a hybrid (combination of remote and in-person) interview process. The numbers look similar for non-clinical roles.

“Healthcare facilities have needed to adapt their interview process to today’s evolving landscape,” says Becky Litvack, Managing Director of ES Healthcare. “However, most clinical professionals are required to be on-site to perform their role. As a result, healthcare facilities have determined ways to safely shift back to in-person interviews.”

It’s important to note that if you aren’t comfortable with an in-person interview, be upfront with the organization and recruiter you are working with.  However, if you are comfortable going on-site for an interview, you’ll want to keep in mind these tips in mind to stay safe and professional during the hiring process:

Follow CDC guidelines and social distance

This may be obvious, but it’s important to remember to follow the CDC guidelines whenever you are interacting with someone, especially during an interview. Make sure you are wearing a professional-looking mask and are keeping it on for the entire interview. It’s also best to avoid handshakes and try to stay six feet away from your interviewer during the hiring process.

Smile through your mask

Body language is key during any interview, even when you are wearing a mask. That’s why you’ll want to make sure that you are smiling throughout the interview, even if the hiring manager can’t see what’s behind your mask. Smiling impacts how you talk and will help you come across as confident throughout the interview. These types of body language cues will showcase to the hiring manager that you are happy to be interviewing with their company and are engaged in the conversation.

Be mindful of your voice

Wearing a mask during your interview also requires you to be mindful of your voice. It may be difficult to hear someone through a mask so make sure to annunciate your words and adjust your volume so the interview can clearly hear your answers. You may even want to practice interviewing with a mask on with someone in your household to ensure you ace the interview.

Be upfront about any recent exposure to COVID-19

It’s important to be upfront about any recent exposure to COVID-19, including whether you are experiencing any potential symptoms of the virus. Before you go into an interview, most healthcare organizations will ask pre-screening questions such as, “Have you been exposed to COVID-19? or “Have you had COVID-19 symptoms in the last 14 days?” You’ll need to answer these questions honestly throughout the hiring process if you expect to land the role. “Many people may think that not being able to make an in-person interview may hurt their chances of getting the job, but that’s not the case at all,” says Becky. “Many of our healthcare clients are very understanding and will have a virtual interview or wait until the candidate has fully quarantined to conduct the interview.”