Healthcare Interview Guide: Common Questions, Interview Tips, and More

Key Insights:

• If you are pursuing a role in the healthcare field, preparing for each stage of the interview process can help you put your best foot forward.
• Take the time to research your potential employer before the interview and prepare your response to common questions. On interview day, dress professionally, arrive early, and follow interview etiquette. Once the interview is complete, send a follow-up thank you to reaffirm your interest in the job.
• Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA) is committed to helping our grads with job search assistance. Our Career Services team can assist with resume creation, interview prep, and more.

Navigating the Healthcare Interview: From Preparation to the Follow-Up Thank You

One step between earning your healthcare degree and pursuing career opportunities is the job interview. An interview is your chance to shine a light on your achievements, experience, and skills, while also demonstrating to the hiring manager why you are the right person for the job.

Getting yourself ready for each stage in the process can help you put your best foot forward. This means preparing in advance, making a good impression at the healthcare interview itself, and following up with a thank you once your meeting is over.

Stage 1: Healthcare Interview Prep

The average time needed to properly prepare for a job interview is between five and 10 hours.¹ This time may be spent researching the potential employer, familiarizing yourself with common interview questions, and rehearsing what you'll say. While UMA's Career Services team can help our learners with interview prep, there are a few actions you can take to get started on your own.

Research the organization

Researching the healthcare organization helps you determine whether it could be a good fit for you. This is important because if it isn't, it can affect how satisfied you are with the job, your level of engagement, and how long you might want to stay with that employer.² It also helps you arrive at the interview prepared with a list of questions to ask about when considering whether you want to work for and with the employer.

Look at the organization's website and social media pages. Get a feel for its culture to see if you'd be comfortable working there and consider whether its core values align with yours. Read online reviews and news articles about the company and check online sites such as Glassdoor to see what employees have to say about their experience working there.

Additional things to look for during your research include:

• The company's mission and vision
• The services and/or products it provides
• The clients or patients it serves
• What it says about its employees
• Who is in leadership positions (you can also learn more about them on LinkedIn)
• How it stacks up against its competitors
• The size of the company and whether there's room for advancement
• If it's involved in any charitable organizations or other forms of philanthropy that you may also support

This type of information will give you a good feel for what the organization is about and how it operates. Based on what you find, you'll also have a better idea if you are a good fit and if they are a good fit for you.

Prepare for common interview questions

After doing your research, it's helpful to consider the questions an interviewer is likely to ask. This allows you to formulate your responses in advance and may help decrease your stress if asked these questions, since you'll have your answer ready in advance.

The job search site Indeed shares that some of the most common job interview questions are:³

• Tell me about yourself and your qualifications. They want to know how your education, training, passion, and experience make you a good candidate for the job opening.
• Why should we hire you? Tell them how you can benefit their healthcare organization. This is where doing your research beforehand helps. Explain how you can support their mission and vision based on your drive, education, and skills.
• What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses? Give examples of each. For your weaknesses, explain how you're working to improve them.
• Can you tell me about a difficult work situation and how you overcame it? Talk about some of the strategies you used, sharing a story about a time you responded well under pressure, if you have one.
• What are your goals for the future? When developing your answer to this question, think about how the role you're interviewing for fits into your career goals.
• What are your salary expectations? Know in advance how much the position you're applying for generally pays. You can find this information on the Bureau of Labor Statistics' website, such as on its Healthcare Occupations page. Use this data to provide a salary range consistent with your education and experience.

If you have a gap in employment, you might also be asked why you took time off. If you had experiences during that year that better prepared you for the open role, now is the time to share them.

If you're interviewing for a remote healthcare position, the hiring manager may ask slightly different questions. These might include:⁴

• Have you ever worked from home? If so, what are some challenges you faced and how did you handle them?
• Why do you want to work remotely?
• Where do you plan to work? (home office, shared coworking space, etc.)
• How would you rate your skills in working with technology?
• How do you communicate with other remote team members?
• What strategies do you use to stay focused when working remotely?
• How do you “switch off” after work?

Develop a list of questions yourself

It's also good to go into the healthcare interview with a list of the things you want to know. Asking questions makes you sound interested in the position. It also shows that you're putting a lot of thought into the job and what it entails.

If your research leaves any questions about the company or the position, these should be added to your list. Other questions to consider asking include:⁵

• Can you elaborate on the job's day-to-day responsibilities?
• What characteristics would help a person succeed in this role?
• What are some of the challenges a person in this role might encounter?
• How is performance measured?
• What type of career path does this position fit into?
• What do you like best about working here?

Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse

Just as a public speaker practices their speech until they know it without much thought, rehearsing some of the things you want to say during an interview can provide similar benefits. At the same time, you don't want to be so scripted that you don't come off as genuine. So, practice what you'll say, but also be willing to let the conversation flow naturally.

In addition to rehearsing how you'll answer interview questions, practice how you're going to introduce yourself to help get the interview off on the right foot. Also, practice how you'll thank the interviewer for their time once the interview is over so you can end on the right foot, too.

Stage 2: The Interview

After the preparation stage is complete, it's time for the interview. Whether you're interviewing in person or taking part in a virtual healthcare interview, factors to consider during this portion of the process include dressing for success, making arrangements to be early, and following job interview etiquette.

Dress for success

The clothes you wear to an interview can impact the organization's first impression of you. Wearing something that makes you feel confident can also make it easier to walk in with your head held high.

Some basic interview attire tips include:

• Aim for more formal rather than less. Even if the work environment seems casual, choose clothing that you'd see in a professional office setting. This helps convey respect.⁶
• Keep your clothing colors neutral. Bright colors can be a distraction, so it's best to avoid them. Also, think about what the color you choose may say to the interviewer. Navy blue sends a message of stability and trust, for instance, while light blue and white convey approachability and honesty.⁷
• Aim for modest. Revealing clothing can come across as unprofessional in a healthcare interview and reduce your credibility.⁸ Choose attire that is more modest and provides a professional appearance.
• Check your outfit before the big day. Take the time to check over what you plan to wear to make sure there are no stains on it, no missing buttons, or anything else that may make you look unkempt. This is also a good time to iron out the wrinkles or, if you have enough time, take your outfit to the dry cleaner and get it pressed.
• Do a try-on session. In addition to checking your garments for any noticeable issues, try them on to make sure they still fit and that you have all the pieces you need. Also, pay attention to anything else that could be a potential turn-off to a hiring manager, such as an odor of cigarette smoke. Doing this in advance gives you time to make changes if something doesn't feel right, is missing, or somehow leaves you feeling less than confident.

Take steps to arrive early

It can look bad if you show up for your job interview late. For some interviewers, even arriving on time is a sign that you don't take the opportunity seriously.

Make arrangements to be at your interview 10 to 15 minutes before it is set to start. If it is quite a distance away, plan to get there earlier than this so you won't be sidelined by an unexpected traffic jam or a flat tire. You can always go to a local coffee shop and gather your thoughts until it's time for the interview or reference your notes in the car while you wait.

Follow interview etiquette

Following etiquette during the interview is another way to make a good first impression. This includes listening carefully to questions before giving your answer, being honest with your responses, keeping a positive tone, and not interrupting the interviewer.

At the end of the interview, the hiring manager will likely ask you if you have any questions. Now is the time to look at your list and see if there is anything that wasn't already covered. You may also want to inquire about the next steps in the interview process, so you have a better idea of what to expect moving forward.

Read more: 5 Surprising Interview Tips

Stage 3: Post-Interview Follow-Up

While it may seem like your only duty after the interview is to wait and see if you get an offer, there's still something you can do to potentially get a leg up. It involves sending a thank-you.

A well-crafted post-interview thank you provides yet another opportunity to impress the interviewer with your communication skills. It can also help you stand out from job candidates who don't take this additional step, reaffirming your interest in the position (and the healthcare organization) while showing that you're willing to put in more effort in an attempt to get hired. Plus, sending a thank you after your discussion is simply a kind gesture. It tells the interviewer that you appreciate their time and consideration.

How to write a post-interview thank you

An effective thank you that is sent after a job interview contains a few essential elements:⁹

• A personalized greeting, such as by starting the letter with “Dear Mr. Smith” or “Hello Ms. Jones”
• Words of appreciation, expressing your gratitude for the interview and thanking the interviewer for their time
• A quick recap of your education and experience, briefly reminding them why you'd be a good match for the job
• Encouragement to take further action, such as by telling them to contact you if they have additional questions
• Your contact information, making it easier for them to get back in touch with you

Plan to send this type of thank you within 24 to 48 hours of being interviewed.¹⁰ You have a couple of options for its delivery. You can send it via email, or you can write it out by hand, either delivering it personally or placing it in the mail.

Whichever you decide, it can be helpful to get the hiring manager's contact information before leaving the job interview. If you've been communicating via email, you may already have it. If not, asking for their email would enable you to send an electronic thank you. Otherwise, you can send the thank you via regular mail to the company's address.

Ideally, match your communication method to that of the organization to show that you're paying attention. This also shows that you're willing to take the steps needed to mirror their preferred approach.

Feel Stressed About Your Healthcare Job Interview?

It's normal to have interview anxiety. These feelings may arise because you're meeting with a stranger (which can be anxiety-provoking) or because you feel a lack of control over the situation, which can lead to feelings of anxiousness. They can also come from worries about your ability to communicate well, being likable, or whether you're good enough for the job.¹¹

Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA) understands how stressful job interviews can be — at every stage of the process. Our Career Services team is here to help our grads prepare for job interviews, providing advice on interview attire, assisting with resume creation, and more.

UMA graduates can reach out to Career Services for guidance or with help in addressing job search challenges. Call us at 888-315-8211 to learn more about what we can do for you or visit us online.

FAQs

• How do you answer the question, “Tell me about yourself?” Be brief, but also relate your work experience to the position you're interviewing for.¹² This can help to give the interviewer a quick overview of your background, while also telling them why you'd be good for the job.
• What are the most asked questions during an interview? Common interview questions can include those that ask about your experience, as well as questions about why you're leaving your current job, how you define success, and strategies you use in times of conflict.¹³ UMA's Career Services is available to help our learners prepare their responses to job interview questions such as these. Call us at 888-315-8211 to learn more.
• How do you ask about health insurance in an interview? If you're interested in learning more about the organization's health insurance benefits, you may want to ask how much employees pay for coverage, what coverage options are offered, and if there's a waiting period.¹⁴ Larger healthcare organizations may put this information on their website, under “Careers” or a similar section.
• What are behavioral interview questions? Behavioral interview questions ask about specific experiences you've had or how you've handled certain situations. For example, an interviewer may want you to tell them about a time when you experienced a conflict with a co-worker, providing any strategies you used to resolve it. These types of questions help potential employers determine whether you have the soft skills needed for the job (e.g., those related to communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving).