Common Questions for a Medical Job Interview

Preparing for a medical job interview can be both daunting and overwhelming. The idea of having to face a professional in the field scrutinizing your strengths and weaknesses can prove to be terrifying. Nevertheless, there is really nothing to be afraid of as long as you prepare for your interview.

An interview is always part of the hiring process because it is during a face to face conversation that your potential employer gets to know more about your personality.

An interview is always part of a medical recruitment process, regardless of whether you choose to apply in person or through online channels. Nevertheless, it is true that rehearsing for probable answers to the interview questions may be overwhelming because of the infinite number of possible questions that the interviewer may ask.

Thus, here are some common questions for a medical job interview, and how to best answer them.

“Tell me about yourself and what motivated you to become a health care provider.”

One of the most common questions that interviewers ask during a medical job interview relates to your background. By asking this question, they would like to have a good idea of your credentials, as well as past work experiences that may be relevant to the position you are applying for.

This question will also give the interviewer with an insight to your character, as well as the things that drive you to pursue your profession.

In order to answer this question, you can give a brief background of your past experiences that comprise the reasons why you decided to pursue the medical field. You can also cite what you needed to overcome in order to attain your credentials, as well as what you have learned from your previous work experiences. Relate all of this to the position that you are vying for.

“Why did you choose to work in the healthcare sector?”

Another question that is very similar to the question above is the interviewer asking about your reason for working in the medical field. This question is often asked because the interviewer intends to establish your dedication to the role, as well as your driving factor.

Needless to say, working in the health care sector is rather quite challenging and the interviewer merely wants to gain an insight on what you are willing to take and give up in order to fulfill your responsibilities as a health care provider. Thereby, in answering this question, make sure that you show your desire to help others and improve their lives by sharing a personal anecdote.

More than your credentials, citing your personal experience will help establish your motivation and dedication. You can also cite your goals and objectives such as being able to diagnose illnesses accurately or providing the proper treatment and care to your patients.

“Why did you leave your last position?” or “What makes you intend to leave your current role?”

These questions are often asked of applicants with a previous work experience or are currently employed. By asking this question, the interviewer aims to understand the things or situations that prompt you to move on.

As much as possible, employers want to establish whether you will be able to render several years of employment under their institution, or you will be transitioning not long after you are hired.

Hence, keep in mind that this is not the time for you to raise complaints that you may have had with your previous employer. Rather, try to keep everything in a positive light. It is often the best practice to answer in a manner that will shift the focus on new opportunities or career advancements and growth.

“What is your biggest strength or weakness?”

Another question commonly asked in a medical job interview is about your strengths and weaknesses. This is because jobs in the healthcare field are challenging because the responsibilities imposed on health care workers involve caring and saving the lives of others.

Thereby, interviewers want to know what strengths you can contribute to their team and how you plan to handle your weaknesses. In this case, cite one of your strengths that are relevant to what they are looking for.

Having a good background on the job description of the role you are applying for may greatly help you answer this question. On the other hand, be honest about the aspect that you are not so strongly about and immediately supplement your answer by indicating that you are willing to improve and that being in the position of the role you are applying for may just help you do that.

“How do you keep yourself updated with the current advancements in the health care sector?”

There are instances wherein the interviewer would like to know the level of your knowledge in terms of the medical field. This is because along with the other industries, the health care sector is continuously evolving in parallel to the advancements in modern technology.

Thus, they are often keen to know whether you are following these progresses and the steps that you are willing to take in order to do so. If you are currently pursuing advanced courses, or you have plans to do so, then that is the perfect answer for this question.

This is because continuing education is the best way to keep yourself informed and updated on the current advancements in health care. Nevertheless, you can also explain that you make it a point to read and review articles in scientific press papers, but in doing so, make sure that you provide specific journal names or websites.

A medical job interview may indeed seem daunting, but this is necessary for a medical institution to ensure that they are employing people with the right qualifications and attitude to go with it.

Show your potential employer what you are made of by being honest about your credentials and confident with your skills. Get to know some of the most common questions that are asked during the interview to calm your nerves and be the best version of yourself during the interview proper.

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