Healthcare Job Interview Prep: Key Questions & Tips

Last week, we explored the reflective process of asking yourself, “Is this job really right for me?” Once you’ve done that honest work and decided to apply—and your application moves you to the interview stage—it's time for the next step: preparing for the interview itself.

Interviewing isn’t just about proving you’re qualified. Especially in healthcare, it’s about showing how your skills, values, and working style align with the organization’s mission—and figuring out if the environment will truly support you.Below are practical strategies and key questions to prepare so you walk in confident, authentic, and ready to evaluate if the role is a fit for you, not just if you’re a fit for them.

Prepare for the questions you’ll almost certainly be asked

1. Tell me about yourselfThis question seems simple, but it’s deceptively tricky. Rather than repeating your CV, tell a concise story about who you are as a clinician, educator, or professional—why you chose this field, what you love about it, and what motivates you now.Keep it to 2–3 minutes, and shape it toward the role: if it’s an academic position, emphasize teaching and scholarship; if it’s clinical, highlight patient care and teamwork.

2. Why are you interested in this job?Break this into two parts:

• Why this organization? Research their mission, patient population, recent projects, or innovations. Tie your interest to concrete details: “I’m drawn to your community focus and your work with underserved populations.”

• Why this role? Explain why the responsibilities fit your skills and goals: “I’m excited to help build out your new inpatient curriculum, drawing on my background in medical education.”

3. What are your strengths?Choose strengths that matter for the job, and illustrate them with specific examples:

“I’m particularly strong in interdisciplinary communication, which helped us redesign our morning huddle and reduced handoff errors.”

4. What are your weaknesses?Pick something real but not mission-critical, and show what you’ve done to address it:

“Earlier in my career, I struggled with delegating tasks, but I’ve been intentional about coaching junior residents and sharing leadership roles.”

5. Why should we choose you?This is your chance to blend passion, skills, and alignment:

“I believe my experience in quality improvement, commitment to resident education, and values around patient-centered care align with your department’s mission.”

6. How do you work as part of a team?Healthcare is team-based by nature. Share an example of collaboration—especially how you handle conflict, support colleagues, or step up in a crisis.

7. What are you looking for in a supervisor?This shows self-awareness and helps them see how you’d fit with the team.

“I value open communication and feedback, and I thrive under leaders who encourage growth and innovation.”

Prepare your own questions to ask them during the interview

Interviewing isn’t one-sided. Your questions help you assess if this environment will support your growth, protect your wellbeing, and align with your season of life.

1. What kind of day-to-day support is there?Do new faculty or team members have structured orientation, mentorship, or resources? This tells you about onboarding and culture.

2. What development opportunities exist?Are there funds or protected time for CME, conferences, quality projects, or leadership training? Investing in you often signals long-term commitment.

3. How does the team approach wellness or burnout prevention?Even asking this question opens conversation about schedule flexibility, call expectations, or built-in support systems.

4. What are common challenges people face in this role?This can surface unspoken issues and show whether they’re candid and self-aware.

Interviewing

5. What does success look like in the first 6–12 months?This helps you understand expectations, metrics, and how your impact will be measured.

Additional strategies to stand out (and protect your own wellbeing)

• Do your research beyond the website: Talk to people who work there, ask about leadership style, team dynamics, and why others stayed—or left.

• Practice aloud: Even if it feels awkward, practice with a colleague, mentor, or coach. Speaking your answers makes them sound natural rather than rehearsed.

• Reflect on your own deal-breakers: Before you walk in, be clear about your non-negotiables: schedule, salary floor, culture, or support for career goals. This prevents making a decision you’ll regret later.

• Stay authentic: You don’t need to fit a mold. The best interviews feel like a real conversation, not a performance.

Why this matters

An interview isn’t just a test you pass. It’s an opportunity to explore if this team, this mission, and this role truly fit the professional and person you want to be.Preparing well means you’ll feel calmer, show up more grounded—and walk away with the information you need to choose wisely.

Whether you’re stepping into your first attending role, moving into leadership, or just exploring what’s next, thoughtful preparation can transform an interview from something you dread into something you own.

If you are looking support in preparing, I can help. Fill out this form or schedule a call to see how I can help.