How to Answer the Hardest Healthcare Interview Questions

One of the most important parts of the healthcare hiring process is the interview. But some of the questions you may get asked are vague or otherwise difficult to answer on the spot. Therefore, it's important to prepare ahead for the toughest interview questions. In this article, we'll discuss some of the most common and difficult healthcare interview questions, and we'll provide tips on how to answer them effectively.

What’s the Point of Healthcare Interview Questions?

As healthcare workers, we get asked a lot of questions by our patients, friends, and family members. Those individuals are looking for knowledge derived from our training. There are times, however, when healthcare interview questions appear to disregard this training and expertise in favor of seemingly generic stories about our lives. These questions, though, serve an important purpose.

Healthcare interview questions are designed to assess more than just your skills, experience, and knowledge in the healthcare field. They also aim to gauge your core values, professional philosophy, and fit for the organization as a whole. Here are some of the key goals of healthcare interview questions:

• To assess skills and experience: Healthcare interview questions typically ask about the candidate's experience in specific areas of healthcare, such as patient care, clinical procedures, and administrative tasks. They may also ask about the candidate's education and training.
• To gauge core values and company fit: Healthcare interview questions can also be used to assess your professional philosophy and fit for the healthcare organization. For example, a question about how you would handle a difficult patient can give the interviewer insight into your view of and ability to handle stress. Similar questions can assess how you view your role in a team, your view of various leadership styles, and your level of professional aspiration.
• To comply with regulations: Healthcare organizations are subject to a variety of regulations, and healthcare interview questions can be used to ensure that you are aware of and compliant with these regulations. For example, a question about your understanding of HIPAA can help the interviewer determine how aware you are and dedicated to patient privacy.

Your expertise and training are definitely part of the equation, but employers want to know that you will be able to find satisfaction in the role and at the healthcare organization. By asking a variety of healthcare interview questions, interviewers can gain a comprehensive view of how well you will fit into the company culture and workflows. This information can then be used to make a hiring decision that is in the best interests of the healthcare organization and its patients.

How to Answer These 10 Hard Healthcare Interview Questions

Now that you have a better understanding of why interviewers ask healthcare interview questions in general, let’s dive deeper into 10 of the toughest healthcare interview questions, why they are asked, and how to best answer them.

Question 1: Why do you want to work in healthcare?

Why Employers Ask This Healthcare Interview Question

Employers are looking for candidates who have a passion for helping others and who are committed to providing excellent patient care. This question helps them gauge the candidate's motivations and interest in the healthcare field.

How to Answer This Hard Interview Question

This is your chance to show your ability to not only express your passion, but also to self-reflect. If possible, talk about a specific circumstance that initiated your passion for healthcare. Use specific descriptions of the situation and people involved, using their names if appropriate (and HIPAA-compliant). The more specific you are, the more real your story and passion will come through.

In addition, add any details that have changed your perspective or path since that initial spark. For example, if you initially wanted to be one discipline but became another, talk about how you discovered your current discipline and why you are so passionate about it. This could also be more subtle, such as the setting you want to work in or the philosophy you have adopted. This story of change shows that you are not only passionate about healthcare but also willing and able to adapt to shifts in the healthcare landscape.

Question 2: Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult patient or coworker.

Why Employers Ask This Healthcare Interview Question

Questions like these are known as behavioral interview questions – they are invitations to demonstrate who are as a professional and what it will be like to work with you. In addition to describing how you handled a challenging situation when answering this particular interview question, the interviewer wants to know how well you explain your reasoning and how respectful you are about a difficult person. In healthcare, there will be many differences in opinions – between patients and healthcare workers, different disciplines, or employees and leadership. Healthcare employers want to know that potential employees can demonstrate professionalism despite these differences.

How to Answer This Tough Interview Question

The story you pick to tell is less important than how you describe the situation. Start by presenting the background of the story from an objective point of view, rather than a defensive one. Then, describe how you addressed the situation while integrating a sense of empathy for the other party. This can be accomplished by using some of the following statements:

• “I expect they were feeling…”
• “I realized I was missing…”
• “In order to better understand where they were coming from…”
• “It’s possible that they thought…”

Once you have finished describing the situation, end with a summary of what you learned from that situation and what you have changed since then. This can be an interpersonal tactic you now use, a fault in your own thinking that you realized and admitted to, or something else that shows a potential for growth.

Question 3: What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Why Employers Ask This Healthcare Interview Question

Employers use this healthcare interview question to assess your self-awareness, problem-solving skills, and ability to think critically. They also want to understand your ability to recognize areas where you need to grow and how you plan to address them. In healthcare, employers are looking for self-sufficient and self-motivated employees who can identify their own growth opportunities.

How to Answer This Tough Interview Question

Make sure to have a clear and concise response that demonstrates your self-awareness and willingness to learn. This is one of the toughest but also most common interview questions, so be sure you plan ahead and have a comprehensive list ready. Typically, about three to five strengths and two to three weaknesses are enough to round out your answer.

Strengths are easy to talk about, but what about weaknesses? As in every other healthcare interview answer, be sure to use real-life and descriptive stories to demonstrate these in practice. Talk about how you have taken advantage of opportunities in the past and how you plan to continue developing yourself in the future. Here's an outline that can help you talk about your weaknesses and how you've overcome them:

• State weakness concisely
• Tell how you came to realize this weakness
• Explain strategies you have developed to overcome this weakness

You may mention that losing track of time when you are engrossed in time with a patient is one of your weaknesses. Explain that you have developed a strategy of wearing a watch, setting timers for sessions, and dividing sessions into chunks to make them easier to manage.

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Question 4: Tell me about your experience overcoming the challenges of working on an interdisciplinary team.

Why Employers Ask This Healthcare Interview Question

Interdisciplinary teams are a pivotal aspect of providing high-quality healthcare to patients. Therefore, interpersonal skills are important for all members of the healthcare team. This question helps employers understand how you collaborate with others and how you manage multiple tasks and projects that may arise from patient care needs. It also allows them to assess your problem-solving skills and how you handle complex situations that arise often in healthcare.

How to Answer This Hard Interview Question

When answering this question, it’s important to both describe what has gone well and what has been difficult during your experience with interdisciplinary teams. Healthcare is not all sunshine and rainbows – so your answer doesn’t have to be either. Employers expect that you have had philosophical or ideological differences with other members of the team, if you have enough experience in healthcare. However, your answer should demonstrate that you can handle these situations professionally and maintain good relationships with coworkers or rapport with patients.

If you are newer to the field of healthcare, you can still demonstrate these soft skills in healthcare through non-healthcare related interactions. For example, you can talk about the interactions you have had with students in other disciplines, during clinical experiences, and when all else fails, between friends and family. Ultimately, the interviewers want to know you are ready to handle the difficulties of patient care and working on interdisciplinary teams.

Question 5: Tell me about a time you went above and beyond for a patient.

Why Employers Ask This Healthcare Interview Question

In the past, this question was asked to gauge a candidate’s dedication to patient care and the healthcare organization as a whole. However, as we are seeing more and more healthcare burnout happening across the industry, this question may serve a different purpose: to gauge how well the potential employee manages their work-life balance. When answering this healthcare interview question, it's important to first determine the interviewer's expectations and the company’s culture. Some companies continue to use this question to assess dedication while others may be concerned if a candidate appears to stretch themselves too thin. This inconsistency makes this one of the toughest healthcare interview questions out there. 

How to Answer This Tough Interview Question

In order to address these two conflicting interpretations of this healthcare interview question, you want to make sure to address each issue in turn. You want to show that you both have a strong desire to go above and beyond for patients, but that you are also aware of your own limitations and the importance of your longevity in your healthcare role.

For example, you may describe a time that you stayed after hours to help a patient achieve their health goals or to see a patient who arrived late. During your explanation, be sure to highlight your desire to help and dedication to representing your healthcare organization well. You can then, however, address the potential for healthcare burnout. You can demonstrate this awareness by explaining that your own mental health or personal obligations have prevented you from helping at times, but that you strive to help whenever possible.

Question 6: What do you like most about our healthcare organization?

Why Employers Ask This Healthcare Interview Question

Employers are looking for candidates who understand the mission, values, and goals of the healthcare organization. They also want to ensure that you have put in the time and effort to research their organization. This shows that you understand at least the basics about the organization and why you would like to work there.

How to Answer This Tough Interview Question

To answer this question, it is important to demonstrate your knowledge and experience in the healthcare organization, as well as your enthusiasm for the role. Make sure to research the company and be prepared to provide specific examples. Focus on areas where you agree with the healthcare organization, not on areas you would improve, during this answer.

Additionally, it is important to explain how you can contribute to the success of the organization. Talk about your skills and experience and how they can be used to benefit the company. Explain why you are interested in working for this healthcare organization specifically and what you hope to achieve.

Question 7: What are your goals for the future?

Why Employers Ask This Healthcare Interview Question

Employers ask this question to determine if you are a good fit for the organization. They want to know if your goals align with the company's mission and values. They also want to know if you are motivated to grow and take on new challenges. If you are a healthcare provider who is responsible for setting goals for patients, the hiring manager may also expect you to emphasize the importance of setting meaningful goals.

How to Answer This Hard Interview Question

The first step, as with many of these healthcare interview questions, is to plan ahead. Make sure you have a list of two to three professional goals or a career roadmap that you can align with the organization’s mission and vision. By aligning your professional goals with the organization's mission and vision during the interview, you demonstrate your commitment to the company's values and show that you are invested in contributing to its success. This also highlights your ability to prioritize and work towards common objectives.

Equally important is emphasizing your willingness and excitement to take on new challenges. Expressing your eagerness to take on new challenges during a healthcare interview demonstrates your adaptability and growth mindset, which are highly valued in an industry where continuous learning and problem-solving are essential.

Question 8: How would you improve our healthcare system?

Why Employers Ask This Healthcare Interview Question

Employers ask this question to gauge a candidate's ability to think critically and come up with creative solutions to complex problems. It also helps them to assess a candidate's understanding of the industry and their enthusiasm for the profession. This question may be more common when applying for leadership roles, but if you are prepared to answer it, it can also help set you apart from other applicants.

How to Answer This Tough Interview Question

As important as what you say is what you don’t say when answering this healthcare interview question. If you avoid the most pressing topics in healthcare or your particular field completely, employers will think you are not aware of what is happening in the industry. Focus on discussing one or two current trends and initiatives in the industry. Show the interviewer that you are passionate about the industry and eager to learn more.

Most importantly, it’s important to include some sort of solution in your answer. Be sure to keep your solutions reasonable and demonstrate that you understand the complexity of and key stakeholders in the healthcare industry. Rather than proposing a complete overhaul of the healthcare payor model, suggest one tangible way the industry might move in that direction in the next three to six months.

Question 9: Tell me about yourself.

Why Employers Ask This Healthcare Interview Question

Employers ask this question both to determine if you have the right skills and qualities for the role, and how effectively you communicate. They want to make sure you can clearly articulate your past experiences and how you relate to the role. They also want to know if you are a good fit for the company's culture and values. Most importantly, though, they want all this information communicated as clearly and concisely as possible. This question is one of the hardest healthcare interview questions, and it requires some preparation.

How to Answer This Hard Interview Question

To prepare for this question, you can use the strategies discussed for the healthcare interview questions above. Review the company's mission and vision, find out about the company's culture, and practice relating your past experiences to the position. However, for this answer you don’t want to have a long, drawn out story.

For this healthcare interview question, it’s essential to have a clear and concise response ready ahead of time. Many people think of this as an elevator pitch. This can be a useful way to think about your answer to this question. Keep your answer to 60–90 seconds, including only the most important information.

Question 10: Do you have any questions for us?

Why Employers Ask This Healthcare Interview Question

This question often comes at the end of the interview, giving you a chance to clarify anything you may have been wondering about the organization. While this question may seem unrelated to the interview, it’s often very intentional. If you haven’t already asked questions during the interview, the interviewer may use this as a time to gauge how serious you are about working for this company. Asking an insightful question can show that you are not just looking for a job, but really want to work for this company.

How to Answer This Tough Interview Question

Since this question is typically asked at the end of the interview, your answer will leave them with a final impression. This may not be the best time during the healthcare job interview to voice concerns. Instead, ask about the work culture and the potential for peer interviews, as well as where the hiring manager sees the healthcare organization heading.

This is a great opportunity to show your enthusiasm for this specific position and eagerness to learn more. Here are some examples of questions to ask, if they have not already been addressed during the interview:

• Where do you see the healthcare industry going?
• How is this organization preparing for the future, now?
• What has changed in this organization in the past year?
• How would you describe the culture at this organization?
• How much emphasis is placed on patient care and satisfaction?
• What opportunities do employees have to grow in this organization?

If all these have been addressed, chances are that you had a very thorough interview. When in doubt, you can also ask, “What are the next steps in the hiring process? or “When can I expect to hear from you?” to show that you are eager to know if you got the job.

Now You Know How to Answer Hard Interview Questions in Healthcare

With these questions in mind, you can confidently prepare for your healthcare job interview. Take the time to review your answers and practice them with a friend or colleague. You should also research the company and the job role beforehand so that you have a better understanding of what is expected of you. Finally, don't forget to dress professionally and arrive at your interview on time.

Looking for more healthcare job interview tips? Check out the iHire Resource Center.