Interviewing for a potential locum tenens engagement is different from doing so for a permanent position in that the speed of the process is different.

When considering a long-term practice opportunity, you might interview over a period of weeks or months with a number of people and make one or more site visits before making a decision about whether to accept the job. With locum tenens, you have to make a positive impression and get all of the information you need to make a decision in short order — sometimes based on a single phone call.

Here are a few tips to help you interview by phone for locum tenens positions that, if you accept, will be a good fit for you, the organization and the patients you’ll serve.

Research the hospital or group you are considering ahead of the interview so that you have enough basic information to ask informed questions. Spending 20 minutes or so on the organization's website should suffice.

Set aside enough time for the phone interview to that you are not rushed, and make sure you are in a quiet location for the call. Driving down the freeway at 70 mph is probably not conducive to a quality conversation, especially one this important.

Have your CV in front of you during the phone interview so that when questions are asked about specifics you’ll be looking at the same document as the interviewer. In addition, have the job description handy, ideally highlighted or notated in a way that will help you remember to ask about anything that is unclear or about which you want more information.

Be straightforward about how your experience and qualifications are aligned with what's required for the engagement you are considering. There are plenty of locum tenens opportunities available right now, so don’t sabotage yourself by accepting a position that isn't genuinely a good match for you.

Before the phone call, make a list of points that you want to be sure to cover. Depending on the opportunity, this might include factors like patient volume and acuity, technology available at the facility, EMR system used, support staff, after-hours call duty, or what to expect in terms of orientation.

If you are being interviewed by an administrator and have clinical questions that he or she can’t answer, ask for a follow-up call with someone (e.g., head nurse or medical director) who can provide the information you need.

Be prepared for open-ended questions like, "Tell me more about your work at XYZ hospital," or "Why did you choose critical care as your specialty?" Relax and be yourself during the phone interview, but be careful not to wander off-topic, tell tiresome war stories or reveal more personal information than you are comfortable with.

By the time the interview is complete, you should have a pretty good idea about whether you want to move forward and accept the locum tenens position. If you’re not sure, don't give a definitive answer one way or the other. Instead, call your recruiter and talk through the situation. It’s usually better to sleep on a decision and make it a good one than to be hasty and have regrets.