6 Questions Often Asked In Interviews for Healthcare Jobs

After you have submitted your resume with an included cover letter for the healthcare job you want, you get a call back to come in and interview. Congratulations! Make sure you're prepared to the best of your ability for your meeting by preparing yourself to answer questions often asked in interviews for healthcare jobs. You’ll be ready to deliver your answers with confidence and increase your chances of landing that position.

Why do you want to work in this industry?

Don’t tell a potential future employer that you just like to work in the healthcare industry. Focus on your job history within the particular industry and then tie in a success story, if possible. An example would be what you have done in a previous job to help improve the practice. Maybe you worked with upper management to help increase patient satisfaction rates in your clinic by 30% and feel gratified because you work in an industry you feel passionate about.

How do you handle stressful situations?

Working in healthcare can be stressful, so it is important to make it known that you can handle these situations as they arise. Avoid sharing a story about how you were stressed because you waited too long to finish a school project. Instead, explain a time at work when you were given a difficult task or multiple assignments that needed a lot of attention, and not only did you complete the tasks, but you finished them before they were due.

What is your greatest weakness?

This is one of the most popular questions interviewers ask. It’s also one of the most difficult to answer. You don’t want to present yourself negatively by saying a weakness of yours is working too hard. Discuss skills you have improved on while also taking an opportunity to turn a negative into a positive. You could say that being organized wasn’t always your strongest suit, but you implemented a time management system that helped improve your organizational skills.

What are your healthcare career goals?

Employers want to know that you are ambitious. It's a significant investment to hire a new employee and companies want to avoid spending time training someone who is only planning on being with their business for six months before heading abroad to study Traditional Chinese Medicine. If you love the field you’re in, let them know you would like to move up by increasing your on-the-job experience, and eventually earning a leadership role or even becoming head of your department in the future.

Why should we hire you?

This is your chance to show why you stand out from everyone else. Don't just explain how you're more qualified than the other candidates or that you need a job. Explain why you would make a good employee, what you can offer, and why you would be a good fit for their company. Keep your response brief making sure to highlight previous achievements.

Do you have any questions for me?

Instead of replying, “No, I think that’s everything.” Be prepared to ask some questions. This will show you want to learn as much as possible by having done some research before going into the interview. Try and ask questions that focus on you joining their team such as, "if I get the job, how soon can I start?" Try not to ask more than three or four questions, but remember to ask about the next steps to take going forward or when you may hear back from them.

Additional Tips to Consider

Other interview tips to keep in mind include:

• Dressing for your interview accordingly to fit with the organization and its culture.
• Arriving on time, relaxed and prepared.
• Making a good first impression by being authentic, upbeat, focused, confident, and concise.
• Remember your body language is just important as your speech so make sure you smile, keep eye contact, listen, and respond.

At the end of the interview, sell yourself and close the deal. Thank the interviewer(s) in person and then by phone or email. Following up may not land you the job, but it will certainly give you an advantage and remind the employer how interested you are in the position and how much you enjoyed speaking with them.

HealthCare Support (HSS) has over a decade of experience in healthcare recruitment committed to helping candidates throughout their professional journey. Our recruiters are healthcare specialists and provide tailored coaching and preparation before each interview. Stay up-to-date on our available opportunities when you join the HealthCare Support Talent Network today! To HSS, we don't just want to find you a job; it's our passion to find the perfect match for you.