Interview Behavioral Questions Prep: Common Healthcare Interview Questions and Answers
After you’ve printed off your resume and researched all that you can about your potential employer, it’s time to focus on that final hurdle — the interview. Interviewing for any position can be a nerve-racking experience; fortunately, the right preparation can go a long way toward giving you the confidence you need to handle interview behavioral questions.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of interview behavioral questions and answers geared especially toward healthcare professionals.
Why use an interview for job questions about past work experiences?
Every job interview is different, but chances are they all follow a similar format during which the interviewer will have quite a few interview job questions to ask. These questions will help them learn more about you, your work ethic, and whether or not you will be a good fit with their company.
Many interviews include traditional interview job questions that focus on your qualifications, previous roles, and how you will add value to the position you’re applying for. But some questions go beyond that…. enter interview behavioral questions.
Behavioral-based questions help an employer understand how you may respond to specific workplace situations. They also help the employer get a better idea regarding how you’ll react to different circumstances based on your experience. These questions often present a specific situation, then focus on similar experiences you’ve had in the past and what the outcomes were.
The right way to answer an interview job question
When it comes to answering interview healthcare questions, one of the best things to do is to relate a real-life story that highlights your capabilities. The key to a successful response is to provide a relevant, specific, and focused answer. Using the STAR format helps keep your answer simple, direct, and coherent.
What is the STAR format? It stands for:
- Situation: Determine a true past situation that is relevant to the question.
- Task: Describe what your task was in the situation.
- Action taken: Describe how you responded to the situation.
- Results: Disclose the outcome of your actions.
Following this format will allow you to answer the interview job question in its entirety and give the interviewer a good idea of how you’ll fit into the company. And, of course, practice your answers to some of the most common behavioral interview questions for nurses or others seeking a position in healthcare. Here are 18 common healthcare interview questions you can use to practice for your next big job opportunity.
Always remember, with interview behavioral questions, the recruiter wants to find out if you handled something well in the past so they can predict if you will handle different situations in the future simiarly.
18 interview behavioral questions and answers to help you prep
1. When was a time that you had to work under pressure, and how did you handle it?
Why they ask it:
Working in healthcare can be highly stressful. Your interviewer wants to know how well you can handle the pressure.
Answer like this:
Detail the situation and why it made you feel pressured to perform a certain way. Communicate the actions that you took to resolve the situation. What did you learn about yourself and your job? What impact did the stressful situation have on your ability to respond to stress and pressure in the future?
2. Describe a time when you faced a challenge at work and how you overcame it.
Why they ask it:
No job is easy, so how do you respond when faced with a challenge? This question can help gauge perseverance, critical thinking, and other important soft skills.
Answer like this:
Your challenge may be anything, but remember that the more specific it is, the better. Describe the challenge, how it made you feel, and what specific steps you took to overcome it. What were the results? What would you do differently in the future? What skills did you develop as a result of experiencing a tough situation?
3. Have you ever made a mistake in the workplace? What happened and what were the outcomes?
Why they ask it:
Everyone makes mistakes, and it’s important to acknowledge them. The interviewer cares less about the mistake you made and more about whether you can honestly admit fault and discuss what you learned from the issue.
Answer like this:
Be specific about the mistake you made and the problems that it caused — own up to them and never try to shift the blame to someone else. Discuss anyone else involved and how you came to realize your mistake. How did you resolve the error? What did you learn from the experience, and how did it make you a better person or employee?
4. What career goals have you set for yourself, and how are you working to achieve them?
Why they ask it:
The interviewer wants to know what you hope for out of your job and career, which may help determine whether or not you’re a good fit for the position. This interview job question also helps gauge determination, perseverance, and goal-setting skills.
Answer like this:
Share your goal and why it is important to you. Discuss how you have come to this point, what challenges you have faced, and how you have overcome them. Be sure to briefly describe what other steps are needed to achieve your goal and how you intend to reach them.
5. Describe a time that you worked on a team. What do you find most challenging? What do you find most rewarding?
Why they ask it:
No matter your job, chances are that it will involve collaborating with other people in some capacity. How will you handle it? Cooperation, flexibility, and effective communication skills can make or break a team; your interviewer will want to know if you can work well with others to produce favorable outcomes.
Answer like this:
Describe the purpose of the team and your role in it. Detail any issues or problems you had and how your team resolved them; be sure that you also discuss any successes as well. What did your team accomplish? What was the most challenging part about working in the team? What was the most rewarding aspect?
6. Describe a time when you disagreed with a co-worker or a member of management.
Why they ask it:
Issues and disagreements in the workplace will invariably appear; when they do, how do you manage them to ensure you can still perform your job properly? Here, the interviewer wants to learn more about how you navigate difficult workplace situations.
Answer like this:
Don’t talk badly about anyone during an interview — instead, focus on the situation and stick to the facts. Describe how you remained professional despite the disagreement and try to end on a positive note by sharing what you learned from the situation and how it will help you manage future disagreements.
7. Have you ever worked with a hostile or disagreeable patient? How did you manage it?
Why they ask it:
Some patients may be difficult to work with, but they still deserve the proper care and respect. This interview question focuses on whether you have experience working with difficult patients and, if so, how you managed it.
Answer like this:
Never speak badly about a patient, but be sure to honestly describe the situation. How did you feel during the interaction? How did you respond to the patient? How did you ensure that the patient still received the care they needed? Be sure to discuss any resources you used and the outcome of your actions.
8. What has been your proudest moment in the workplace? What makes it so special to you?
Why they ask it:
This question can give more insight into what motivates you in the workplace. It is also a good opportunity for you to discuss some of your workplace achievements and display the dedication that went into them.
Answer like this:
Share not only the proudest moment but also the moments leading up to it. If applicable, describe the actions that you took, the challenges you faced, and the knowledge that you gained. If your proudest moment occurred as part of a team, don’t forget to give your teammates credit for their roles.
9. What is your approach to communicating with those who are not fluent in medical jargon?
Why they ask it:
This question determines whether or not you can communicate with more than just one group of people. How do you adapt to provide the best care possible?
Answer like this:
Explain the situation and why you changed your communication style. Give concrete examples of the language you used and how the listener responded.
10. Has there ever been a time when you were unsure of something in the workplace? Give an example and describe how you managed the situation.
Why they ask it:
No one expects you to know everything in the workplace — but you should actively try to educate yourself when needed. This question can help your interviewer see your humility, adaptability, and willingness to learn.
Answer like this:
Share a time when you didn’t know the answer to something such as a policy, a patient question, etc. Go through your process of finding the correct information and what you did with that information once you discovered it.
11. Describe an instance when you had to work in a fast-paced setting. What is your system for managing and prioritizing tasks?
Why they ask it:
Are you able to adapt when needed? How do you change your work style to better manage your responsibilities? This question is useful in determining how well you can handle and categorize information.
Answer like this:
Focus on the reasons for prioritizing certain tasks over others and what you do or might do if your priorities have to change suddenly. Describe your methods for keeping your task list organized and how you remember what to do next.
12. Have you ever felt overwhelmed with your workload? What did you do to combat this feeling?
Why they ask it:
Your interviewer may be gauging how resilient and adaptable you are and may also be using this question to determine if you are comfortable with delegation. This question can also help determine your time-management and prioritizing skills.
Answer like this:
Be specific and articulate why you felt overwhelmed with your workload. Describe the actions you take to combat these negative feelings and how they helped your specific situation.
13. Has there ever been a time when you failed to communicate well? What happened and how did you recover the situation?
Why they ask it:
Miscommunication happens to everyone, but do you learn from it when it happens to you? This question not only explores communication but also touches on your sense of self-awareness, flexibility, and how you learn from your mistakes.
Answer like this:
Describe a miscommunication you had in the workplace, being sure to acknowledge your part in the problem. What happened as a result of the miscommunication? What made you realize you communicated badly? End on a good note by discussing what you learned from the experience and how your communication style has developed as a result.
14. Describe an instance of negative feedback that you received. How did you respond to it?
Why they ask it:
Being teachable and open to change are important traits. With this question, your interviewer is able to not only determine your attitude toward feedback but also gain more insight regarding certain challenges you have had or continue to have that may require correction.
Answer like this:
Be honest and open, but don’t speak badly about the feedback or feedback giver. Describe the feedback and who gave it to you. Discuss what you felt upon hearing the feedback. Take ownership of any mistakes that you made, and share what, if anything, you changed to incorporate the feedback and improve.
15. Have you ever stepped into a leadership position at work, either official or unofficial? What was the situation?
Why they ask it:
This question can help determine how comfortable you are with taking charge of a situation when no one else can. It can also be indicative of your level of knowledge, interpersonal skill, and self-confidence.
Answer like this:
Share the situation and why it required you to step into a leadership role. Why did you choose to take the lead? Who else was involved? What happened as a result, and what opportunities or experiences came as a result of your action?
16. Have you ever felt dissatisfied with your career path? What did you do about your dissatisfaction?
Why they ask it:
No one is happy with their job all the time — but how do you react when your job doesn’t live up to your expectations? Interviewers are looking for honesty and maturity in the answer to this common interview question.
Answer like this:
Discuss a time when you had doubts about your career or were dissatisfied with your work. Give a clear background as to why you felt this way as well as what changed your thinking. What did you learn from the experience, and how did it make you a stronger employee and person?
17. What motivates you in the workplace?
Why they ask it:
Your interviewer may be looking for a certain type of person who will blend well with the people and culture in the workplace. They can also use this question to help learn more about your personality and reasons for seeking employment with them.
Answer like this:
Be as specific as possible — you may even share an example that demonstrates your overarching motivation. Describe what makes you willing to go above and beyond in the workplace.
18. What are the most difficult elements of healthcare for you? How have you overcome or how are you working to overcome these difficulties?
Why they ask it:
Your interviewer wants to know what challenges you the most about your job and whether or not you have the necessary critical thinking skills to combat the challenge.
Answer like this:
Describe the components of your job that are most difficult for you to do, and be sure to discuss why they are difficult for you. Even if you are still struggling with them, be sure to give a step-by-step walkthrough detailing how you manage the difficulty while still providing superior care.
Interview behavioral questions are very common in interviews today. Past behavior predicts future behavior, and this is how a recruiter will find out more about how you behave in different situations.
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