Pulse - March 2022 - 20

THE RVT
Answering Difficult
Interview Questions
Theresa Cosper-Roberts, RVT
O
ne of the most stressful parts of any job search
is the interview. Often, we become tonguetied
or freeze when faced with a seemingly
difficult question. Here are some ways to develop
your answers to common interview questions.
Tell me about yourself
This question is one that people often struggle with. It can
be difficult because the question should be answered to the
best of your ability, while ensuring that you don't provide any
information that may create unconscious biases. The best way
to answer this question is to prepare an elevator pitch.
Think of yourself as a product that you need to sell to a
someone in the time that it takes to ride an elevator together
(30- 60 seconds). What would you say? Why should they want
to invest in you- what is your value? What makes you stand
out amongst the 30 others that have applied for the position?
Questions about your interest in the position
Answers to questions about your interest in the position
should show that you have done research into the company.
If at all possible, tie your answer into the company's mission
and long-term goals. This will help the hiring manager and/or
owners better see how you fit into their vision of the company.
I am interested in working with you because I am truly impressed by
your company and its vision for the future. I saw in a recent Facebook
post that you are starting a neurology service. I am very interested in the
technical aspects of neurology and patient care, and I feel that I would
be a good addition to the practice, as I can bring experience and value
to the service.
Questions about weaknesses
Questions about personal weaknesses are often designed to
gauge your honesty, self-awareness, and willingness to work
towards improving issues as they are arise. When answering
these questions, make sure that you acknowledge a genuine
issue (you are not perfect), but also show how you have overcome,
or are working to overcome, the issue.
Acceptable answer: I believe that the biggest weakness that I
have had to overcome is struggling to ask for help when needed. I
overcame this issue by learning that leaning on my coworkers and
their expertise is never a problem and that it helps foster a team
atmosphere. We are all invested in each other's success.
Situational/Behavioral Questions
A few questions asked in interviews are behavioral/ situational.
The best way to answer these questions is to use the
STARR method: Situation, Task, Action, Result, and Reflection.
This method works before for questions like:
20
Tell me about a time when you had to go above and
beyond in order to get the job done.
Acceptable Answer: In my current role, there was a time where
we did not have an appropriate medication in stock for a patient
(Situation) because of a nationwide backorder. I contacted local clinics
and human facilities to see if any of them had the correct item in
stock (Task) and was able to obtain the drug (Action) for the patient
in a timely manner (Result). Upon Reflection, given the increasing
instances of backorders, I would.....
Questions about your current or previous positions
Questions about past positions can be somewhat difficult
to manage. When answering these questions, be honest but
do not bash your previous employer! Negative conversations
about past employers reflect poorly on you and can haunt
you in the future.
Discussions about difficult situations at previous jobs can be
made easier by using " I statements " instead of accusatory statements.
Instead of saying " Dr. Soulcrusher was a jerk that made
the lives of those working for him a living nightmare, " say:
" I want to work for a company where the managers and owners
are supportive and good listeners. I did not find that there. However,
that is the culture that you have, and I would like to be a part of it. "
Recognizing and answering illegal questions
California's fair employment and housing act prohibits
discrimination against applicants on the basis of race/color,
gender, religion, and more. Illegal and inappropriate questions
should always be a red flag, but often these questions are
asked innocently by someone ignorant of laws. Recognizing
illegal questions and knowing how to handle them takes
some wisdom, as you need to be respectful, but still need to
protect yourself from unconscious biases. If you choose to
answer, consider providing a vague response and immediately
deflecting with another question. This method works for
questions like " Do you have any children? "
" I think that I may like to have a family someday. What about
you? Do you have any children?
When all is said and done
When faced with a difficult question, just remember to
breathe, smile, and do your best. P
Think of yourself as a product that you
need to sell to a someone in the time
that it takes to ride an elevator together
(30- 60 seconds). What would you say?
MARCH 2022
PULSE
Pulse - March 2022

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