Answering Behavioral Interview Questions

Knowing how to rightly answer the tough question at a job interview is one of the toughest experiences. It's certainly no different when dealing with health care employment.

The toughest of those questions to answer can be what is known as "behavioral" questions. How well do you respond during a crisis? Do you get along with co-workers? How do you respond to constructive criticism? And so on.

We're here to help. We sought the advice of one of our Concorde Graduate Employment Specialists. She offered her the best way to handle some of these challenging behavioral questions when interviewing for health care employment. Perhaps you'll find yourself in a situation where some of this advice will come into play.

Having a good response to behavioral questions during health care employment interviews

"Hiring managers use behavioral questions to discover how a candidate will be able to approach a real-life situation that might be relative to the job that the candidate is interested in," said Apryl Remmer, RDA, B.S., Graduate Employment Specialist at Concordes campus in San Diego. "The responses to these questions enable the interviewer to get a perspective on what the candidate has done in the past to handle a work-related situation and will give the interviewer an idea how the candidate will be able to perform the job."

Remmer said the smart candidate can be prepared to answer behavioral questions by researching in advance. Seek out behavioral-style questions used in health care employment interviews. Jot down responses and practice those responses in front of a mirror. Say the answers out loud and with a couple of people until you can answer them naturally.

"Research the company in advance by checking out their website," Remmer said. "Take notes on their mission and vision statements and read reviews by customers."

Another important thing to do, she said, is read carefully the job description and look for key elements.

"The likelihood that the candidate will be asked a team player-type of question will be highly possible in the interview," she said. "The candidate needs to be ready with a solid response."

Visualize the event

Remmer suggests the candidate outline answers by envisioning events and the actions that took care of a particular situation. Keep answers organized so that the interviewer can visualize how you were able to deal with the situation.

"Give the interviewer pertinent information about skills that are relevant to the job and how the skills will be applied to the position," Remmer said.

The key to all job interviews, including those in health care employment, is to always go in prepared and poised. Make it a goal to never be surprised by anything an interviewer might ask.