There are no perfect interview questions. However, investing a little extra time to choose the best possible questions can make a huge difference in the quality of candidate you hire. When determining your questions, it is wise to focus questions around past job performance and the level of commitment he or she would have to the open position. In order to test the candidate’s decision making skills, it’s also a good idea to throw in a few scenario questions about various situations that the candidates is likely to face.
- “What motivated you to apply for this job?” The foundation for analyzing a candidate is understanding why they are interested in the position in the first place. They may answer this question with a personal narrative about why they decided to seek out a new position; this kind of answer is acceptable as it communicates trust. Another way the candidate may answer this question is by talking about their connection with the company; this type of answer is also very good as it indicates loyalty and a sense of ownership.
- “What are the three most important attributes or skills that you believe you would bring to our company if we hired you?” This type of question will give the candidate a chance to market themselves and what they perceive to be their greatest strengths. The candidate will also be given a chance to analyze the company and connect its needs to his or her skill-set.
- “Why are you leaving your present job?” Understanding the candidate’s reasons for leaving their current position will help you gain insight into how they handle work relationships and stress. If they would likely be facing challenges similar to the ones they are trying to escape from in their current position, you will know that the candidate may not be a good fit.
- “If we hired you, how would you go about establishing credibility quickly with the team?”Being a team player is key in any job position, but especially in the healthcare industry. This question will force the job seeker to formulate a plan in his or her mind of ways that a newly hired employee can make connections with and gain the trust of the other employees. Employers also use this question to evaluate the candidate’s planning and problem solving skills.You could precede this question by asking, “Why is teamwork important?
- “Tell me about yourself?” This is one of the most frequently asked interview questions for a good reason: it helps the interviewer gain a big picture understanding of candidate’s past, desires and possible future directions. Is the candidate a good fit for the culture of the company? Would he or she be a positive or negative influence? Does the candidate seem content to stay in one place?Other potential interview questions:
- “How could you make this clinic/hospital more successful?”
- “What would you do if a patient refuses care at the risk of his or her own safety?”
- “What would you do if a physician questions the accuracy of your work?”
- “How many patients do you feel comfortable providing care to at one time?”
- “What do you like about this town and can you see yourself living here long term?”
- “What would you like to ask us?”