Good news: you got an interview for a job in healthcare! But don’t get too comfortable just yet. Now is the time to start preparing for some of the most common healthcare interview questions.
Interviewing for a healthcare position can be nerve-wracking You want to make a great impression and show the interviewer that you have the skills, experience and personality to excel in the role. An important part of acing the interview is anticipating the questions you’ll be asked and preparing thoughtful responses
Certain questions tend to come up in just about every healthcare interview. Here are seven of the most common questions asked in healthcare job interviews, along with some great tips on how to answer them.
1. Tell Me About Yourself
This open-ended request to provide an overview of your background is often one of the first questions asked in an interview. Take the opportunity to highlight your most relevant experience and qualifications for the specific role.
Provide a brief walkthrough of your work history education and pertinent skills. Share some standout accomplishments from previous healthcare positions. You can also mention what drew you to a career in healthcare and discuss passions and interests outside of work. Aim for a concise response that covers the key points in under five minutes.
Tip: Since this question is often asked, prepare an answer ahead of time so you can give it with ease and confidence. Prepare two or three key points you want to emphasize about your background. Rehearse your answer aloud several times.
2. Why Are You Interested in Working Here?
Interviewers want to know how interested and excited you are about the job or organization you’re applying to. When answering, be specific about what appeals to you.
- Mention aspects of the clinic, hospital or company’s mission, values, culture and work that motivate you or align with your own principles.
- Highlight particular services, technology, programs or specializations that excite you about the opportunity.
- You can also note opportunities for professional growth through training programs or collaborations.
Convey a genuine interest and commitment to the employer. Back up what attracts you with concrete facts and details about the organization and position. Show you’ve done your research to demonstrate an informed interest.
3. What’s Your Biggest Strength?
This question allows you to call attention to a standout skill that makes you a strong candidate for the role. Pick an attribute that aligns with the position’s requirements. Explain how this strength has benefited you professionally and added value for employers. Provide a specific example that illustrates this strength in action.
Some strengths commonly cited by healthcare professionals include:
- Strong clinical knowledge and technical abilities
- Empathy and connecting with patients
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Attention to detail and organization
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem-solving and critical thinking
- Flexibility and adaptability
Be prepared to discuss strengths that will be major assets in the particular job you’re applying for. Have a story ready that gives evidence of possessing this strength.
4. What’s Your Biggest Weakness?
Though this question puts many people on the spot, it’s an opportunity to acknowledge an area for improvement while still highlighting your assets. Be honest, but put a positive spin on your response by discussing a weaker skill set you’ve actively worked to develop.
For example, you might mention initially struggling with time management and being late for shifts. Explain steps you’ve taken to become more organized and prompt. Outline how you’ve improved in this area and what you’re doing to continue getting better.
If you state an actual flaw, show that you’re self-aware and proactive about strengthening your abilities. Emphasize how you’ve made measurable progress to turn this weakness into a strength.
5. Why Did You Leave Your Last Position?
Interviewers want to know about potential red flags in your work history, like frequent job changes, dismissals or drama-filled departures from previous employers. Be clear and upfront about why you left roles. Have a reasonable explanation ready for any questionable circumstances.
If you were laid off, highlight that it was through no fault of your own and due to downsizing or restructuring. If you were fired, own up to the reasons and state what you learned. If you left jobs due to relocation, pursuing education or seeking better opportunities, say so.
Keep your response positive. Avoid badmouthing previous employers. Explain what motivated your transition in a diplomatic manner.
Most importantly, reiterate your commitment to your next position. Note your intention to grow long-term with the prospective employer.
6. How Do You Stay Up to Date with Healthcare Advancements?
Given the fast evolution of healthcare, interviewers want to know that you’re actively deepening your knowledge and skills over time. Discuss how you make learning and growth a priority day-to-day. Ways you might stay current include:
- Reading medical journals, publications and industry news
- Taking continuing education courses and seeking certifications
- Attending conferences and seminars
- Participating in professional organizations and online communities
- Following thought leaders and experts on social media
- Taking on projects outside your comfort zone
- Cross-training and learning new technologies
Convey your dedication to continually expanding your capabilities. Provide examples of emerging concepts or techniques you’ve recently learned. Demonstrate intellectual curiosity and a commitment to professional development.
7. What Are Your Career Goals?
This question gauges whether your aspirations align with what the position and organization have to offer. Be clear about how your objectives make you well-suited for the specific role and work environment.
If you hope to move up and advance long-term in a clinical, research or leadership capacity, explain how this opportunity can guide you toward that goal. You might mention desiring more responsibility, supervisory roles or involvement with new programs. Tie your aspirations directly back to the employer.
Even if your ultimate aim is to gain experience before continuing your education or moving, avoid saying so. Focus your response on how this position furthers your near-term objectives and gets you closer to larger goals. Demonstrate your intent to maximize your time, growth and contributions at this job.
What made you decide to pursue your role in healthcare?
Healthcare is a broad word for a world of diverse areas of expertise. There are those who specialize in nursing, therapy, medicine, pharmacy, and so much more. No matter what your healthcare specialty is, you likely chose it for a reason. The person interviewing you wants to know what interested you in healthcare and why you chose this career path. They can find out more about your goals and see if you have the qualities they want in a healthcare professional by asking this question.
When answering this healthcare interview question, be honest and authentic. If you can share a personal story or experience that influenced your decision, even better!.
Tip: If you want to stand out, list any special skills or experiences you have that make you a good fit for healthcare. For instance, you might have worked with a wide range of patients before, or you might be bilingual in a language that is in high demand. Whatever it is, be sure to mention it here. You will have a great interview if you show that you are interested in healthcare and have special skills and experience to offer.
1 Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In contrast to other fields, this healthcare interview question doesn’t always ask if you want to move up in the company. Rather, healthcare employers want to know if you plan on sticking around. Health care has a high turnover rate, and they don’t want to waste time and money on someone who will leave soon.
Use this healthcare interview question to show that you have long-term goals in healthcare. You will show that you are serious about the job and not just looking for a short-term job this way. When talking about your long-term goals, be sure to include how you plan on developing professionally. This will show that you are responsible for your own education and know how important it is to keep learning in the healthcare field.
Pro Tip: Be realistic about your goals. You should show that you care about healthcare, but you should also show that you’ve given your goals a lot of thought. You could talk about a specific certification you want to get, a subject you want to learn more about, or a skill you want to improve.
HEALTHCARE Interview Questions and TOP-SCORING ANSWERS!
What are healthcare interview questions?
Healthcare interview questions are not always about your qualifications or experience. Healthcare employers also want to know that you understand the challenges of healthcare and if you plan on sticking around. You will also want to show that you have done your research by preparing thoughtful questions about the company and the position.
How do you answer a healthcare interview question?
Be honest and confident when answering this question. This helps the hiring manager assess your interest and passion for the industry and role. Healthcare organizations often attract people who are looking for more than just a job.
What questions do healthcare hiring managers ask?
Healthcare hiring managers will likely ask challenging interview questions, so it’s important to prepare ahead of time and anticipate situations where you may have to think of an answer on the spot. Interviewers might ask you behavioral questions, such as providing examples of accomplishments.
Why does a healthcare interviewer ask a question?
There are a few reasons why an interviewer might ask this question. One reason is to gauge the interviewee’s ability to work collaboratively with other healthcare providers. Another reason is to determine whether the interviewee has a good understanding of the importance of communication and teamwork in healthcare.
