14 Healthcare Interview Questions and Answers: Ace The Interview

So you've landed an interview for a healthcare position! This is great news, but don't get too comfortable yet. Now is the time to start preparing for some of the most common healthcare interview questions.

How to Answer Interview Questions for Healthcare

While there are many different types of healthcare interviews, from panel interviews to behavioral interviews, there are some healthcare interview questions that come up time and again. By preparing yourself ahead of time, you can feel confident and ready to ace your next healthcare job interview.

1. 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. Your interviewer wants to know what drew you to healthcare and why you decided to pursue this career path. This question allows them to learn more about your motivations and whether you have the qualities they are looking for in a healthcare professional.

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!

Pro Tip: If you want to stand out from the crowd, be sure to highlight any unique qualities or experiences you have that make you a good fit for healthcare. For example, maybe you have experience working with a diverse population of patients, or you are bilingual in an in-demand language. Whatever it is, be sure to mention it here. By showing that you are not only passionate about healthcare but also have unique skills and experience to offer, you will be sure to impress your interviewer.

2. Tell me about your previous experience in healthcare.

If you have healthcare experience, great! Your interviewer wants to know more about your professional background and what skills and experience you can bring to the table. When answering this question, be sure to focus on your previous roles that are most relevant to the healthcare position you are applying for.

Try to avoid simply reciting your resume here. Instead, take the opportunity to share stories and examples of your healthcare experience. For example, if you are applying for a nursing role, you might share a story about a time when you provided exceptional patient care. Or, if you are applying for a healthcare administration position, you could discuss a time when you successfully implemented a new process or policy change.

Pro Tip: If you do not have healthcare experience, that’s okay! You can still ace your healthcare job interview by focusing on transferable skills, volunteer work, or education. For example, if you have customer service experience, you can highlight how you provided excellent care to customers and helped them resolve any issues they had.

3. Tell me about a difficult patient experience and how you handled it.

In healthcare, you will often deal with difficult situations and patients. Your interviewer wants to know how you handle these situations and whether you have the skills to cope with the challenges of healthcare.

When answering this healthcare interview question, be sure to choose a patient experience that highlights your coping skills. In your answer, be sure to describe the situation in detail and how you handled it. Did you stay calm under pressure? Did you use your problem-solving skills to come up with a creative solution? Did you go above and beyond to make sure the patient was comfortable and received the best possible care?

You may also want to include what facility processes you referenced in your decision making or what techniques you employed. For example, maybe you utilized a de-escalation technique you learned in your healthcare training or consulted with the patient's social worker to develop a care plan.

Whatever the situation, be sure to highlight how you managed it in a professional and positive manner. This will show your interviewer that you are capable of handling difficult situations and that you have the skills to be a successful healthcare professional.

Pro Tip: Be sure to mention any experience you have working in a similar environment and how you addressed the challenges that came with it. Show your interviewer that you are prepared for the challenges of this specific position.

4. Tell me about a disagreement you’ve had with a team member.

In healthcare, working with an interdisciplinary team is crucial. However, there will be times when you will disagree with someone on the best course of action for a patient or a particular situation.

For this healthcare interview question, choose an example where you disagreed with another healthcare professional but were still able to maintain a positive relationship. In your answer, be sure to describe the situation in detail and how you handled it. Did you calmly explain your reasoning? Did you listen to their perspective and take it into consideration? Did you compromise and come to a mutually beneficial solution?

Your answer should show that you are able to handle disagreements in a professional manner and that you are always looking for what is best for the patient. This will demonstrate to your interviewer that you have the communication and collaboration skills necessary to be successful on an interdisciplinary team.

Pro Tip: Each healthcare discipline brings a different perspective, but all are essential to providing the best possible care. Be sure to highlight your focus on both interdisciplinary care and maintaining a positive work environment.

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5. How do you handle feedback?

In healthcare, it is important to be able to take feedback from patients, families, and other healthcare professionals. This feedback can be positive or negative and can be given in person or through surveys.

When answering this healthcare interview question, choose an example of when you received negative feedback and how you handled it. Did you take the time to listen to the feedback? Did you thank the person for their feedback? Did you take action to improve the situation?

Your answer should show that you are able to handle negative feedback in a professional and constructive manner. This will demonstrate to your interviewer that you are always looking for ways to improve your skills and provide better patient care.

Pro Tip: Make sure to highlight your ability to take feedback one step further by using it to enhance your skills. Use a phrase such as, "I seek out feedback from both my peers and my superiors because I know it is the best way to continuously improve my skills."

6.  Do you have experience with…? (a specialized or setting-specific skill)

Each healthcare setting will have specific skills that are necessary for success. For example, if you are interviewing for a job in a hospital, they may want to know if you have experience with electronic health records (EHRs). If you are interviewing for a job in a nursing home, they may want to know if you have experience with specific outcome measures.

Before the interview, be sure to do some research on the healthcare setting and the specific skills that are necessary for success. During the interview, if the interviewer asks if you have a particular skill, be honest about your experience. If you do not have experience with the skill, explain how you would go about acquiring it or a similar skill that you can build on.

Your answer to this healthcare interview question should show that you are willing to put in the extra work to acquire the necessary skills for the job. This will demonstrate to your interviewer that you are dedicated to being successful in this position.

Pro Tip: Highlight your willingness to learn new skills and adapt to change. Tell the interviewer about other skills you have taken the initiative to learn. For example, talk about a time when you realized an area where you needed more education or training and how you took steps to improve it.

7. Why are you interested in this company/this setting?

When answering this question, take a step back and think about why you are interested in the healthcare setting where you are interviewing. What about the setting appeals to you? Do they have a good reputation? Do they use cutting-edge technologies? Do they focus on patient-centered care?

When you answer this healthcare interview question, show that you have done your research and you are genuinely interested in the healthcare setting. This will demonstrate to your interviewer that you are not just looking for any healthcare job but that you are specifically interested in their company or healthcare setting.

Pro Tip: With high turnover rates, healthcare companies today are looking for employees that will be around for a while. In your answer, be sure to highlight what you like about the healthcare setting and explain how it fits with your long-term career goals. Especially if they are offering a sign-on bonus, the employer will likely be listening to see if you have plans to stay with the company.

8. How do you communicate difficult news to patients and their families?

If you work in a patient-facing healthcare role, you will likely have to communicate difficult news to patients and their families. This question is designed to see how you handle difficult conversations.

Your answer to this healthcare interview question should show that you are able to deliver bad news in a compassionate and professional manner. This will demonstrate that you understand the importance of bedside manner and that you are capable of handling the emotional aspects of healthcare.

Make sure to share a specific example with the interviewer - whether it is specifically healthcare-related or not. This will show them that you are not just giving them a canned answer but that you have actually had to deal with this type of situation before.

Pro Tip: Any patient going through a difficult time will be at some stage of grief. Talk about the stages of grief or another psychological framework and how you use that to help you communicate difficult news to patients and their families. This will show that you are not just thinking about the momentary conversation, but that you are also thinking about the long-term psychological effects on the patient.

9. Tell me about a time you made a mistake.

Healthcare interviewers are looking for you to be grounded in reality. Mistakes happen. The important part is that (1) you recognize the mistake before it turns into something bigger, and (2) you take steps to ensure that the mistake doesn’t happen again.

This healthcare interview question is your chance to show that you are able to learn from your mistakes. This will demonstrate that you have a growth mindset and that you are always looking for ways to improve. When talking about a specific mistake, be sure to emphasize what you learned from it and how you took steps to prevent it from happening again.

Pro Tip: Healthcare is a highly regulated industry with many rules and regulations. Emphasize what steps you generally take to avoid costly or legal mistakes. This will show that you are not only aware of the rules and regulations but that you also take them seriously.

10. Tell me about a time you went above and beyond for a patient.

Healthcare is a difficult field to work in. You must have empathy and compassion as core parts of your personality to be successful. This question is designed to see if you have those qualities.

Your answer should show that you are willing to go the extra mile for patients, even when it is not required. This will demonstrate that you truly care about your patients. When talking about a specific example, be sure to emphasize the positive impact that your actions had on the patient. This will show that you not only care about your patients but that you are also able to see the difference that your actions make in their lives.

Pro Tip: Follow up your answer with how you manage a positive work-life balance. Empathy is key, but you will also need to self-manage your time and energy to avoid burnout. Healthcare burnout is a top reason for high healthcare turnover rates. Employers want to know that you are aware of the problem and that you have a plan to prevent it.

11. How do you stay current on healthcare news and developments?

Healthcare is a rapidly changing field. New technologies, treatments, and regulations are constantly being developed. It is important to stay up to date on these changes so that you can provide the best possible care for your patients.

For this healthcare interview question, discuss your system for staying current on healthcare news and developments. This will demonstrate that you are proactive about your education. When talking about your system, be sure to include specific resources that you use. This will show that you have put thought into your system and that you are using reliable sources for your information.

Pro Tip: Go beyond the regulated requirements of maintaining your license. Healthcare employers want to know that you are focused on topics and trends that will impact their organization. This will show that you have a strategic mindset and that you are always looking for ways to improve.

12. What do you think is the most important healthcare issue facing our organization?

There are many healthcare issues facing organizations today. These can include access to care, the opioid epidemic, healthcare costs, etc. Your answer to this healthcare interview question should show that you are aware of these issues and be willing to be a part of the solution. This will demonstrate not only that you keep up with healthcare news but also that you have thought about how you will be impacted by it in this role.

However, be careful not to bring up controversial topics unless you know where your employer stands. During the interview, stick to issues that impact reimbursement, patient care, or employee retention - rather than polarizing political issues.

Pro Tip: When talking about healthcare issues, be sure to emphasize how you would like to see these issues addressed. This will show that you are not only aware of the problems but that you are also thinking of ideas for solving them.

13. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Unlike other fields, this healthcare interview question is not necessarily asking if you want to climb the corporate ladder. Rather, healthcare employers want to know if you plan on sticking around. Turnover rates in healthcare are high, and they want to avoid investing time and money in someone who will leave soon.

Use this healthcare interview question to show that you have long-term goals in healthcare. This will demonstrate that you are committed to the field and that you are not just looking for a temporary position. When talking about your long-term goals, be sure to include how you plan on developing professionally. This will show that you are proactive about your education and that you understand the importance of lifelong learning in healthcare.

Pro Tip: Be realistic about your goals. While it is important to show that you are committed to healthcare, you also want to show that you've put real thought into your goals. For example, you may discuss a specialized certification you want to obtain, a topic you want to learn more about, or a skill you want to develop.

14. Do you have any questions for us?

Make sure you have some questions prepared that show you have done your research on the healthcare organization and the role. This will demonstrate that you are interested in working for them and that you have put thought into your career path.

With the high turnover rates in healthcare, employers want to know that you understand what the position is before you start. This will show that you are not just looking for any healthcare job, but that you are specifically interested in this position and what it has to offer. It also shows you are realistic about what the job will entail - challenges and all!

Below are some healthcare interview questions to ask that will show you are interested in the specific organization and position:

1. How would you describe the culture of the healthcare organization?
2. What challenges does the healthcare organization face that this position will help address?
3. What opportunities are available for professional development?
4. What are the unique expectations for this position?
5. How does this company support a work-life balance for employees?
6. Are there opportunities for community involvement or educating the next generation of healthcare workers?

Avoid questions about salary, vacation time, and benefits. These topics will be addressed later on in the hiring process. By asking thoughtful questions, you will show that you are truly interested in the healthcare organization.

Pro Tip: The more specific you can be, the better. Always use the company name to show you have done your research. For example, "What challenges does [healthcare organization] face that this position will help address?" is better than "What challenges does healthcare face?"

Key Takeaways on 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.

By knowing how to answer interview questions for healthcare, you will be one step closer to impressing your interviewer and landing the healthcare job of your dreams!

Looking for more interview advice? Check out our articles, tip sheets, and webinars in our Resource Center or enroll on our Interviewing Masterclass.