From First Impression to Offer
By Ivan Bartolome, President & CEO, HealthSearch Partners and Neill Marshall, Chairman, HealthSearch Partners
Throughout this series, we’ve taken a deep dive into the unique world of search committee interviews — what they are, how to prepare, what to do, what to avoid, and the kinds of questions you’ll likely face. Now, let’s pull it all together.
Here are the keys to standing out for all the right reasons and avoiding the landmines that derail even the most qualified candidates.
1. Understand the Format
This isn’t just another interview. It’s a performance, a political arena, and a chemistry test all rolled into one. You’re not just answering questions, you’re showing how you carry yourself under pressure, how you engage with a group, and whether you “fit” with the culture.
Tip: Understand who’s in the room, what each person’s role is, and what they care about.
2. Prepare Like a Pro
Learn everything you can about the organization, its challenges, and its people. Prepare a clean, three-to-four-minute intro. Practice your delivery. Anticipate the questions. Have your closing statement and three strong follow-up questions prepared.
Tip: Do a mock interview on video and critique it honestly. You won’t regret the time spent.
3. Deliver With Discipline
Stick to time limits. Be concise but thoughtful. Support your points with real examples. Keep your energy in the zone: engaged, present, but not overbearing. Respect everyone in the room equally, and speak to each person, not just the most senior voice.
Tip: Speak in threes — three accomplishments per job, three takeaways from a challenge, three values that guide your leadership.
4. Mind the Intangibles
How you dress, how early you show up, how you interact in the hallway — it all matters. You’re on stage the minute you hit the parking lot. Remember, in a small community, people will notice.
Tip: Don’t let your materials, or your manners, be messy. Be buttoned up in every sense of the word.
5. Leave No Doubt
If you want the job, say so. If you’re willing to relocate, be clear. If you see yourself in the role for 10 years, don’t hint, declare it. They want a confident, committed leader, not someone who’s feeling them out.
Tip: One clear ask for the job is more powerful than five vague statements of interest.
Final Word:
Search committee interviews reward the prepared, the self-aware, and the strategic. You don’t have to be perfect. But you do have to be polished, intentional, and authentic. If you walk in with clarity, carry yourself with purpose, and connect with the people in the room — you’ll stand out in all the ways that matter.
Up next: The Search Committee Interview: Gain The Advantage – Conduct A Mock Search Committee Interview
