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Summary. When preparing for doctor interview questions, it’s important to review the most common interview questions and to go to your interview prepared with your resume. Interviewers should select the best interview questions to fit your candidate rating system.
The interview process for physicians and doctors can be stressful. Healthcare employers need to hire the best candidates for patients to receive the best care. To help you prepare for your next doctor interview, we have put together 35 doctor interview questions with 20 example answers.
Key Takeaways:
Be sure to use examples and the STAR method to help you answer behavioral questions.
Interviewers should have a clear understanding of your ideal candidate.
As a Candidate:
Have good examples for your answers to the interview questions ready.
Come prepared with your resume, interview out clean and professional, and arrive early to help organize your thoughts.
Prepare and review the most common interview questions.
As an Interviewer:
Have a clear understanding of what you want your ideal candidate to be to know what to look for during interviews.
Select the best interview questions that fit your rating system.
Prepare your pitch for the candidate to sell your employer brand, company culture, and benefits to them.
Tell me about yourself
When answering this question, you should describe your current situation, your past job experience, and a reason why you are a good fit for the position. You should also include how you align with the company and its values.
Example Answer:
“I am an experienced and qualified doctor, and I have completed my medical education and residency training at the top of my class. I have worked in various clinical settings, such as hospitals and community health centers.
What sets me apart from other doctors is my ability to develop strong relationships with my patients and provide them with high-quality care. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute my skills and experience to your healthcare team and make a difference in the patients' lives.”
Why should we hire you as a doctor?
To answer this question, you should tell the interviewer some of your experience and why it is relevant for the position. You want to highlight your skills and professional experience.
Example Answer:
“I believe my experience and technical skills make me an excellent candidate for this position. I completed my residency training in cardiology at the top of my class and have worked in clinical settings. This has given me the relevant experience needed for the position.”
Why do you want to work here?
When answering this question, you should first do research on the company and its values and mission. You should relate your own values to the company with your answer. You can also describe how you see yourself succeeding in the role.
Example Answer:
“I am excited to work at County General because I am impressed with your dedication to serving the community and providing outstanding patient care. I also believe in giving patients the best care possible. I am also committed to ongoing learning, and Country General makes ongoing learning a priority among its doctors.
The culture and teamwork are also another reason I want to work here. I believe in strong communication and collaboration among doctors and healthcare professionals.”
Where do you see yourself in five years?
To answer this question, you will want to connect the job to your career goals. It’s important to be honest and realistic with your answer. Don’t make something up because you believe the interviewer is looking for a specific answer.
Example Answer:
“In five years, I see myself as an experienced doctor who is making an impact on my patients' lives. I plan to continue to develop my clinical skills and knowledge to stay up-to-date with the latest medical advances.
In addition to my clinical work, I want to contribute to the broader healthcare community and get involved in research to help make an impact on the health of the larger community.”
As a doctor, do you have any strengths and weaknesses?
When answering, your strengths and weaknesses should reflect the requirements of the role. Be sure that you highlight the skills that are listed in the job description. Explain the ways that you will improve or gain the skills that you lack or that are your weaknesses.
Example Answer:
“My greatest strength as a doctor is my ability to communicate with my patients. Building strong relationships is essential to delivering high-quality care. I take the time to listen to their concerns, and I am sure to explain their conditions and treatments so that they can understand.
One of my weaknesses is that I can often be a perfectionist. This can sometimes lead me to overthink my decisions and spend too much time on certain tasks. I have been working on finding a balance between prioritizing tasks and delegating responsibilities when it’s appropriate. This has helped me to be more efficient with my work.”
Why do you want to be a doctor?
To answer this question, tell a story of a meaningful patient or doctor interaction that inspired you to become a doctor. Avoid using phrases like “I want to help people” and answers that are focused on yourself and focus more on the patients.
Example Answer:
“While working as a volunteer, I met a patient who was suffering from a chronic illness and was in and out of the hospital for months. The doctor I was working with during that time would check on her a few times a day and would review her medical chart every time.
The doctor would also take time to ask about her life and interests outside of the hospital. He genuinely cared about the wellbeing of the patient and it made me want to be a doctor just like that. I want to make a difference in the lives of my patients and give them the best care possible.”
What makes a good doctor?
To answer this question, you will want to include the qualities you believe make a good doctor. This could be that doctors are good communicators or that they are organized. The interviewer is trying to get a better understanding of what you believe a good doctor is.
Example Answer:
“A good doctor is someone who has a deep commitment to providing high-quality care to their patients. They need to have excellent communication skills to be able to collaborate with other physicians to help treat the patient. A good doctor should also be someone who understands the importance of empathy and emotional support.
A good doctor is also someone who is dedicated to patient safety and takes a proactive approach to preventing medical mistakes. They follow and understand protocols and guidelines and are willing to speak up if they witness something unsafe.”
What quality do you think is most important in a doctor?
To answer this question, provide one or two qualities that you believe are the most important for a doctor. Provide an explanation to back up your reasoning.
Example Answer:
“I think the most important quality a doctor can have is empathy and understanding the feelings of others. Doctors who are empathetic with their patients are able to establish strong rapport with their patients and create a sense of trust and safety with them.”
How do you cope with stress?
To answer this question, you will want to provide a specific example of how you handled stress in your past. The interviewer is looking at how you handle job-related stress and what you do in a stressful situation. Try to make it positive by saying stress is a motivator and provide an example of a time when it made you more productive.
Example Answer:
“When dealing with stress at work, I try to practice good time management and organizational skills. I will break down a larger task into smaller, more manageable tasks. This helps me stay focused and prioritize the most important work.
When dealing with stress outside of work, I try to prioritize self-care and make time for activities that I find relaxing, such as reading or spending time with loved ones. Having a strong network both professionally and personally is a great way to handle stress.”
How do you collaborate with other physicians and nurses?
Be sure to provide examples from past positive experiences of collaborating with other physicians and nurses. If there are no past positive experiences, discuss how you overcame any challenges with past colleagues. Use the STAR (situation, task, action, result) method in your answer.
Example Answer:
“When collaborating with other physicians and nurses, I make sure to establish an open line of communication with them. I actively listen to their input and ideas, as well as share my own thoughts and perspectives. I also believe establishing clear roles and responsibilities with team members helps prioritize tasks according to their urgency.
I believe collaboration like this helps build trust and respect among the team members, which leads to better outcomes for patients.’’
What is your philosophy about medicine and treating patients?
You should first determine what your work philosophy is and consider what makes you good at your job and what motivates you to reach your goals. Your answer should be honest about how your work philosophy aligns with your strengths and the company’s goals.
Example Answer:
“My philosophy with medicine and treating patients is based on a client-centered approach. Each patient deserves to be treated with empathy, compassion, and respect. My goal is to provide each patient with personalized care that meets their needs because each patient is unique in their own ways.”
Describe how you communicate complicated medical information to patients in your care.
Use your past experience with discussing medical information with your patient to help you answer this question. The interviewer is looking for how you would discuss complicated medical information with future patients.
Example Answer:
“Effective communication is a critical aspect in providing high-quality care to patients. When communicating with patients, I try to use simple language, and I try to avoid using medical jargon and technical terms that may be confusing for patients.
It’s also important to me to be an active listener and ask questions about the patient's understanding. I listen to their questions and try to answer the best I can. This allows for me to clarify any miscommunication or to go into further detail with patients.”
How do you keep current with your medical training and licensing?
Discuss your plans for how you will continue your medical training and licensing. Interviewers want to know what your long-term goals are, so be sure to explain how continuing and keeping current with medical training is part of your long-term career goals.
Example Answer:
“To help stay up-to-date with the latest research and medical training, I plan to stay engaged in a variety of educational activities, such as attending conferences and participating in online courses.
To help stay current with my licensing, I will regularly review the requirements for my state and speciality board to help ensure that I am meeting all of the standards.”
How do you build rapport with patients in your care?
When answering this question, it's important to emphasize the importance of effective communication, empathy and respect for patients. Use examples from your past experiences to help you answer.
Example Answer:
“To build rapport with patients, I am sure to communicate clearly and effectively with patients, using language and terms that they will understand. It’s important to be an active listener and ask open-ended questions to understand their concerns.
“It’s also important to me to treat patients with respect, dignity, and professionalism. This means building and maintaining appropriate boundaries and listening to their preferences and concerns. This helps me to provide care that is aligned with their values and goals.”
What is your process for evaluating and treating patients?
To answer this question, you should emphasize your ability to assess patient needs and how you create treatment plans that tailor to each patient. Provide an example from your past and answer it using the STAR (situation, task, action, result) method.
Example Answer:
“When evaluating and treating patients, my process starts with a thorough assessment of their medical history, symptoms, and any relevant diagnostic information. This will include a physical exam and ordering any necessary lab tests or imaging studies.
After having a clear understanding of the patient's medical condition, I work with them to develop a tailored treatment plan based on their preferences and needs. During the treatment process, I make a point to continue my communication with the patients and monitor their progress and make any adjustments to the treatment plan as needed.”
How do you approach discussing unpleasant topics with patients and their families?
Be sure to discuss how you approach the conversation with empathy and sensitivity. Use past experiences as examples and answer them using the STAR (situation, task, action, result) method.
Example Answer:
“When discussing difficult topics with patients and their families, I try to begin the conversation by acknowledging the difficulty of the topic and creating a safe and supportive environment for them. I try to use clear and concise language when discussing medical treatments and avoid using language they may not understand.
During the conversation, I try to emphasize that the patient and their family are a team, and we will all work together to develop the best possible treatment plan. I encourage them to ask questions and to share their thoughts and feelings and participate in the decision-making as much as they are comfortable with.”
Do you have any experience in physician leadership?
To answer this question, be sure that you highlight your leadership experience and how it has helped you improve your patient care and the outcomes you get. Use the STAR (situation, task, action, result) method to help you answer this question.
Example Answer:
“I have experience in physician leadership. In my last role, I served as the lead physician in charge of a team of healthcare providers. My responsibilities included overseeing the care of patients, developing treatment plans, and coordinating with other departments to ensure efficient patient care.
During this process, I learned how to effectively communicate with patients and staff. I also learned how to manage conflicts and challenges. I was also able to gain insight into healthcare administration and was able to implement improvements in areas such as patient safety and quality of care.”
Have you ever made a misdiagnosis? If so, how did you resolve it?
You should be honest and transparent in your answer about making a misdiagnosis. Use a past example, and provide the steps you took to resolve the situation.
Example Answer:
“Yes, I have made a misdiagnosis. In one case, I misinterpreted a patient’s symptoms and made a diagnosis that turned out to be incorrect. Once I realized my mistake, I immediately informed the patient and consulted with my colleague to help determine the correct diagnosis.
I worked with the patient and their family to explain the situation, and it corrected the course of action for a new treatment plan. I offered my sincere apologies for the mistake. After this, I took the opportunity to review the situation with colleagues and to implement new measures to prevent similar errors from occurring in the future.”
What do you do if you disagree with a patient?
When answering this question, use an example from your past to help you answer. If you do not have an example from your past, provide the steps that you would take in that situation. Use the STAR (situation, task, action, result) method in your answer.
Example Answer:
“If I disagreed with a patient, I would approach the situation with empathy and respect for the patient's autonomy and right to make their healthcare decisions on their own. I would listen to their perspective and try to understand their concerns and reasons for the decision.
If, after the discussion, I still feel strongly about the patient's decision, I would engage in a respectful and open conversation to express my concerns and present medical evidence for the course of action I suggest. My goal as a doctor is to provide the best care for the patient while also respecting their decisions and autonomy.”
Is this your dream hospital to work at?
When answering this question, use the research you have done before to help you answer. The interviewer is looking to see if you want to work at this specific hospital or if you want to just work anywhere. Try to align your core values with the values of the hospital or clinic.
Example Answer:
“I am really excited about the opportunity to work at this hospital. It has been my dream to work here. I am impressed by your reputation and the quality of care that is provided to patients. This hospital encourages the growth and advancement of doctors and that is something that I want to do in my career.”
What do you hope to accomplish in this position?
What aspects of medicine do you find most challenging? Why?
What do you know about our organization and the patients in our care?
How do you prevent committing medical malpractice?
Tell me about a time when you disagreed with another physician. How did you handle it?
What challenges do you feel physicians are facing today?
What are some of your greatest accomplishments?
What is your experience level with using electronic medical records on the job?
What is your approach to dealing with upset or aggressive patients?
What excites you about medicine in general?
What do you believe to be some of the most pressing health issues today? Why?
Are you aware of any current controversies in the area of medical ethics?
Have you had any malpractice suits?
Will you travel if the job demands it?
How do you stay up-to-date on current events in the medical and healthcare industries?