This guide will help you get ready for the next time you need to hire a Community Health Worker and get the best person for your organization. What makes a good CHW? How can you be sure you’ll find one?
This article talks about how to talk to a community health worker (CHW) and find the best person for your team. You’ll want to find someone with the same skills and dedication in a CHW as you would in an “all-star employee.” From figuring out what success means to coming up with interview questions that get to the heart of the matter, we’ll walk you through the whole process. By the end, you’ll be better equipped to find the perfect CHW for your community health project. When you need to hire a Community Health Worker again, use this guide to get ready and get the best person for your organization.
As one of the largest publicly traded hospital chains in the US, Community Health Systems (CHS) runs over 80 hospitals across the country. Are you getting ready for an interview with CHS? With so many locations and roles available, competition is stiff for open positions. Strong interview performance is key to standing out.
In this guide, we’ll cover what to expect during the interview process at Community Health Systems. You’ll find the most commonly asked interview questions along with sample answers to help you impress hiring managers. Let’s get started!
About Community Health Systems
Headquartered in Franklin, TN, Community Health Systems owns, leases or operates general acute care hospitals across 16 states. The company was founded in 1985 and now rakes in over $13 billion in annual revenue CHS facilities provide a range of medical services including emergency care, surgery, cancer treatment, stroke care and more
As an employer, CHS offers competitive pay along with health, dental and vision benefits. The company culture emphasizes teamwork and continuous improvement. Employees praise the strong orientation program and training opportunities CHS is dedicated to promoting from within, so there’s potential for quick advancement
Community Health Systems Interview Process
The Community Health Systems interview process typically follows these steps:
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Application: Submit an application through the CHS website for your desired role. Highlight relevant clinical, leadership or administrative experience.
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Phone screen: A recruiter or hiring manager will screen applicants by phone to learn more about your background. Be prepared to discuss your resume and interest in CHS.
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In-person interview: For clinical roles, the next step is often a one-on-one interview at the hospital where you’d work. Come prepared with questions about unit culture and workflows.
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Panel interview: For leadership roles, expect a panel interview with 3-5 stakeholders from various departments and levels.
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Skills assessment: Clinical roles may require demonstrating relevant abilities like taking vitals, administering injections, assessing wounds, etc.
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Reference and background check: CHS will contact professional references and perform credential verification before finalizing an offer.
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Job offer: The last step is a formal job offer if you successfully pass all the interviews and checks. This usually comes within 2 weeks.
Common Community Health Systems Interview Questions
Let’s explore examples of the most frequent interview questions seen at Community Health Systems:
General Interview Questions
- Walk me through your background and experience as it relates to this role.
- Why are you interested in working at Community Health Systems?
- What do you know about our mission and values as a healthcare provider?
- Why should we hire you over other applicants?
- Where do you see your career going long-term?
Behavioral and Situational Interview Questions
- Tell me about a time you provided compassionate care. What was the situation and how did you handle it?
- Have you ever had a disagreement with a colleague? How did you resolve it?
- Describe a time you had to adapt to a change in policy or workflow. What was the outcome?
- Imagine an upset family member is demanding to speak to a doctor right away. What would you do?
- How would you go about learning a new clinical skill or technique?
Leadership Interview Questions
- What is your leadership style and approach to managing teams?
- How would you handle underperforming employees or conflict within a team?
- Tell me about a time you successfully led a project or initiative. What were the results?
- How have you mentored or developed staff to take on new responsibilities?
- What experience do you have with hospital compliance, budgets and strategic planning?
Clinical Interview Questions
- Explain your expertise with [specific skillsets required for the role].
- How do you stay up-to-date on the latest clinical protocols and best practices?
- Walk me through how you would admit, treat and discharge a patient.
- How would you communicate effectively with an interdisciplinary care team?
- How have you contributed to quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient outcomes?
Questions to Ask the Interviewer
- Can you describe the training program and onboarding process for new hires?
- How is success measured for this role and what benchmarks are used?
- What does a typical day or week look like for someone in this position?
- What qualities make someone successful on your team?
- What opportunities are there for advancement and professional development?
Now let’s look at tips to ace the interview and stand out from the competition when interviewing at Community Health Systems.
Tips for Acing the Community Health Systems Interview
Show Passion for the Mission
Highlight your commitment to CHS’s focus on compassionate, quality care. Share why you’re excited to work for one of the nation’s largest hospital networks.
Demonstrate Knowledge of the Role
Thoroughly research the position’s responsibilities. Use the job description to guide your interview preparation.
Prepare Stories and Examples
Think of specific anecdotes to illustrate skills like teamwork, communication and leadership. Tie examples back to the role you want.
Ask Thoughtful Questions
Inquire about training, culture, advancement potential and day-to-day responsibilities to show engagement.
Exude Warmth and Empathy
For clinical roles especially, show you can provide compassionate care and develop rapport with patients and teammates.
Highlight Relevant Experience
Connect your background, clinical expertise and accomplishments to show you can add value in the role.
Express Enthusiasm for CHS
Convey genuine excitement to work for the organization. Mention specifics you find compelling about their mission and values.
With practice using the strategies above, you’ll be ready to impress hiring managers and land the Community Health Systems job you want!
Dressing for Success at Your CHS Interview
Since most interviews are in-person at hospital locations, dressing professionally is key. Follow these tips:
For Women:
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Wear a pressed suit in a dark color like navy, black or gray
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Pair with a collared blouse or sweater in a complementary color
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Closed toe heels in a neutral color
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Minimal jewelry and accessories
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Neat, professional hairstyle
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Light makeup suitable for a healthcare environment
For Men:
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A tailored suit in navy, black or gray
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Long-sleeved dress shirt in white or light blue
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Subtle tie that matches your suit
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Dark dress shoes with dark socks
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Minimal accessories and fragrances
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Neat, professional hairstyle and clean shaven face
The goal is to project confidence through classic business attire. Wrinkle-free, high quality fabrics are best. Keep clothing clean and pressed. Avoid anything overly trendy or distracting. For lab coats, stick to white or navy. With the right interview outfit, you’ll look like you belong at CHS!
How to Prepare for a Community Health Systems Skills Assessment
Many clinical roles at Community Health Systems require passing skills assessments relevant to the position. Here are tips to prepare:
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Review the skills you will need to demonstrate and practice them thoroughly. Common assessments include taking vital signs, proper handwashing, sterile procedures, wound care, injections, and use of equipment.
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Ensure you understand the current best practices for the required skills per industry standards and CHS protocols. Review their procedures manual for guidance.
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Simulate the skills assessment conditions. For example, time yourself on skills and work within limited space as you likely will during the interview.
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Research typical cut-offs for passing thresholds. For instance, blood pressure measurements often have accuracy requirements to meet.
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Get a colleague or mentor to watch you practice skills and provide feedback. Fix any issues with technique ahead of time.
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Rest, hydrate and nourish yourself well before the assessment. Nerves can negatively impact performance.
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Ask the interviewer any clarifying questions before you start so you understand expectations.
With ample practice and preparation, you will be set up for success on the CHS skills assessment! Show them you have the clinical capabilities needed to deliver top-notch patient care.
Questions to Ask Your CHS Interviewer
The interview is also a chance for you to determine if the role and Community Health Systems align with your career goals and preferences. Bring a list of thoughtful queries such as:
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How would you describe the culture on your team and at this hospital location?
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What does career advancement and growth look like for someone in this role?
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What qualities make someone really excel working here?
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What opportunities are there for ongoing education, training and professional development?
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What do you enjoy most about working for Community Health Systems?
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What are some of the biggest challenges facing your department right now and how can the new hire help address those?
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How is Community Health Systems responding to healthcare trends like telemedicine and virtual care options?
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How does the job enable work-life balance and flexibility?
By asking insightful questions, you demonstrate engagement while determining if CHS offers what you want in your next career move.
Consider the specific community needs
Community Health Workers are frontline healthcare workers who serve to alleviate specific needs within a community. When selecting your next CHW, it’s crucial to keep your community in mind.
Things to consider when planning your interview:
- Do they live in the community you serve? One important thing for community health workers (CHWs) is that they share a cultural background with the people they help. This cultural link is what makes CHWs unique, and it’s also what makes their job so effective at improving health outcomes.
- Does your CHW speak the language of the community? Language skills are very important for immigrants and other minorities to have the best chance of getting health care.
- Is there a bias or background that might affect care? This isn’t always the case and should be looked at on a case-by-case basis, but there are some cultural issues to keep in mind.
Essential skills for to look for when you hire a CHW
When you hire a CHW, keep in mind that they need to be able to do a lot of different things to help their patients get the best care and improve their health. Community health worker skills include Core Competencies or hard skills, and soft skills to fulfill their role.
CHWs need to have “hard skills,” which include technical skills like being tech-savvy, research skills, professional training like peer education, health literacy, working with electronic medical records, or knowing how to use medical equipment correctly.
To stay useful and help their patients get the healthcare resources they need, CHWs need to keep up with the latest training and certifications. It’s likely that a CHW who trains often, keeps their certifications up to date, and regularly reviews their knowledge will do well in your company.
Also, think about how much it will cost to train a new CHW who is less experienced or doesn’t have the right training or certifications if you decide to hire them.
Soft skills for CHWs are harder to pin down. If you ask your candidates open-ended questions, they can talk about their past experiences, which will help you learn about their soft skills. Also, you can watch them and pay close attention to how they talk—their tone of voice, body language, and other things.
7 must-have soft skills for CHWs:
- Being able to set clear limits with the community, other staff, and themselves
- Emotional resilience. Empathy and connection are key for CHWs. But getting a high EQ (emotional quotient, also called emotional intelligence) and learning how to deal with stress are just as important to avoid burnout and other mental health problems.
- Cultural sensitivity and an existing cultural connection. Are they able to communicate as peers with your community?.
- The skill of being able to work alone and well with others When you hire a Community Health Worker, you need someone who can lead themselves but also work with others.
- The ability and willingness to learn new things. Things like new tools or technology, tough situations in the field, and taking care of other issues while on the go are all part of this.
- Organizational skills. Are they able to set priorities and organize their work with little help?
- Clear communication. Are they able to clearly communicate an idea or resource?.
HEALTHCARE Interview Questions and TOP-SCORING ANSWERS!
FAQ
What questions are asked at a CHS internship interview?
What do you say in a community service interview?
