Best Interview Questions to Ask Healthcare Candidates

The healthcare industry is too particular with its recruitment. Unlike other industries, healthcare recruiters look for employees who are not just well-versed in medical knowledge but also fulfill human skills like empathy.

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the US will come across a major shortage of 122,000 physicians by the year 2032. That’s alarming, right? Also, a study conducted by Mercer reveals that healthcare businesses need to hire 2.3 million employees by 2024 to ensure that they can take care of the aging population.

These statistics also reflect the competition to hire the best healthcare professionals that has led such organizations to expedite the onboarding of top talents. The healthcare interview questions to ask candidates should be industry-focused.

But how do you know which set of questions can bring you the candidate that you are in search of? This guide can help you identify the specific questions for your specific needs so you can perform an effective hiring process.

Best Interview Questions and Answers for Candidates in the Healthcare Industry

The purpose of any interview only gets accomplished if you get the relevant response from the candidate. But does that depend all on the candidate? Not really! The type of questions you select for the job interview also has prime significance. Let’s deep dive into the subject to counter a few that you may include in your interview kit.

Awareness of Industrial Trends: “What are the megatrends of the healthcare sector as per the current situation?”

This is one of the common mistakes that recruiters fail to realize. Healthcare interview questions to ask in every interview have to be according to the market situation as the healthcare industry is constantly evolving.

Let’s say you’re hiring a fresher, they must know what’s currently happening in the sector. Not only this, experienced candidates should be aware of the latest technologies operating in the industry. And, those who know about it reflect their commitment to learning about the industry.

Analysis of Candidate’s Tolerance Level: “How do you handle stressful situations?”

Undoubtedly, there are times in the healthcare business that can provide some stressful situations for professionals. Therefore, this makes it fundamental to know whether a candidate can handle it seamlessly or not.

At times, people with dignified degrees and startling percentages also end up reacting worstly. So, make sure your healthcare center does not have such candidates being your representatives in the future. It is expected from healthcare candidates to be calm and polite.

Look for candidates who share effective strategies for managing stress. If you can find one, you’re good to go with the perfect fit!

Judge on Communication Skills: “What do you do when patient communication gets tough?”

Such healthcare interview questions when asked by the candidate unlock their real side. A patient may not build good communication while in pain. But that must not stop their right treatment.

That is why a professional who has the caliber to be friendly and can give tough medical information to patients is crucial.

This question is all about seeking humanity in applicants and how they can handle patients with patience.

Additional Reading: 5 Strategies to Deal with the Healthcare Employee Shortage

Level of Effort & Dedication: “Have you worked with a patient that required a lot of your time and effort? If so, how did you look after this patient while providing other patients with the necessary care”

After patience comes action. Checking on a patient who requires extra attention while managing others is not everyone’s cup of tea. With this question, you can expect them to tell you about any case where they dedicatedly dealt with such a medical case.

Ask for realistic examples of how they communicated with the patient and coordinated with other colleagues. Also, make sure the candidate can answer about the measures that they may take in a given situation.

The candidate has a perfect blend of knowledge and care and keeps getting better at their job.

Maintaining Life Balance: “How do you practice self-care?”

Burnout in healthcare has become too prevalent due to rising workplace stress levels. When interviewing candidates for open roles in this sector, ask about their methods for relieving tension. Interrogate about their lifestyle and things that trigger them to go imbalanced.

In case they practice meditation or mindfulness that’s a plus. Along with whether their work-life balance remains healthy by asking this question. You might even identify candidates who consider self-care essential to long-term career effectiveness!

“Tell me about a time that you had to deliver bad news to a patient. How did you manage the situation?”

You must assess how a candidate deals with emotionally charged and complicated situations effectively. This question checks candidates’ communication abilities, patient-centric care, and emotional intelligence. They can tell you about any such experience where they had to present bad news to a patient and how they did it with compassion and commitment. When you assess a candidate’s experience delivering tough news, you not only get to know their technical abilities but also understand their interpersonal capabilities.

Career Motivation: “What do you see as the future of healthcare?”

The healthcare industry is dynamic with constant changes and developments in technology. The candidate you’ll be hiring should be well-versed with the future of healthcare. It helps you assess their awareness of industry trends, technological advancements, and patient-centered care.

The question also helps you check their strategic thinking, passion for healthcare, and ability to adapt to the changing requirements of the field. It’s better if the responses touch on topics like technology integration, population health, healthcare policies, collaborative approaches, and global health challenges.

Understanding of the Industry: “Describe one of the most significant challenges in the Healthcare industry”

When asking this question of candidates, you can expect them to show an awareness of current challenges in healthcare and their ability to overcome them.

Candidates should relate specific examples like handling compassion issues or shortages in supplies and staff as well as explain what steps were taken to resolve these issues. Also, seek practical solutions and insights into problem-solving skills within healthcare scenarios.

End Thoughts

Follow the mantra of hiring the best, unlike the rest. Conduct effective interviews in healthcare to hire ideal candidates with technical expertise, adaptability, and empathy. The above-mentioned techniques may help you find the right healthcare interview questions to ask healthcare candidates to deal with the rise in healthcare workforce shortages.

These suggested questions cover essential areas from medical industry awareness to stress management and prospects. This attempt to find candidates who not only meet current needs but can contribute positively to healthcare’s dynamic landscape – and serve as an aid in selecting those capable of meeting complex patient care challenges is essential.

Additional Reading: Know the Most Commonly Asked Questions in the Interview