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Healthcare Technician Interview Guide: Most Common Questions and How to Prepare

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CATEGORIES Healthcare Techs

If there’s one thing healthcare technicians know best, it’s the importance of meticulous preparation. When it comes to acing a healthcare technician interview, preparation is equally critical: The more prepared you are, the more your technical skills can shine, helping you stand out as a top candidate. 

We created this guide to equip you with the tools you need to succeed in your next interview:

Let’s dive in!

How to Prepare for a Healthcare Technician Interview

The best way to fight interview nerves is to show up knowing you’ve done your research. Your interviewer will notice you’ve done your due diligence—a trait that’s highly sought after by employers. Here’s how to set yourself up for success:

Do Your Research

Re-read the job description

Taking the time to thoroughly review the job description is especially important for healthcare technicians. Technical roles often have specific requirements for skills, certifications, and experience. Highlight important requirements and take notes on your relevant experience. Better yet, jot down a few specific examples of times you’ve performed key responsibilities and the outcomes you achieved. 

Research the facility

Familiarize yourself with the facility where you’re applying. Search their website to understand their specializations, patient volume and demographics, operational scope, and any other basic information that would affect your day-to-day in the role. 

It’s also worth taking the time to research the organization’s mission, values, leadership, and other driving forces to make sure they align with your own values and career goals. Plus, sharing how your values align with theirs during the interview is a sure-fire way to stand out from the crowd. 

Brush up on procedures, regulations, and techniques

As a healthcare technician, it’s essential you can demonstrate in the interview that you are up to date on core job functions such as proper sterilization, specialized procedures, lab protocols, and regulatory compliance. Review these topics ahead of time to make sure you can provide accurate, detailed answers on the fly. 

Research the latest medical technology trends

The healthcare field is advancing every day, and employers are eager to hire people who can keep up with the ever-changing industry. Research new advancements in your field and be ready to share examples of times you’ve successfully used new or cutting-edge techniques. 

Practice Your Answers

Take the time to review our list of most common healthcare technician interview questions below and practice your answers to each question. What examples can you provide to illustrate your competence and expertise? While there’s no way to predict exactly what questions you’ll be asked, having some practice under your belt will go a long way in helping you feel confident and prepared. 

Try using the STAR method (situation, task, action, result): a simple yet effective way to answer situational questions (e.g. “Tell me about a time when…”). Start by describing the Situation you were in and the Task or goal you were responsible for, then explain the Action you took to accomplish it and the Results of your efforts. 

One effective way to practice is to conduct a mock interview. Ask a colleague or mentor to pose as the interviewer and ask you some common questions. Have them provide feedback on your answers, both in terms of technical content and delivery, to help you improve. Mock interviews are also a great way to reduce interview anxiety by simulating the interview environment. 

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Most Common Healthcare Technician Interview Questions

Employers not only want to know that you can do the technical functions of the job, but that you’re a team player who aligns with the organization’s culture. Interviews for healthcare technician and technologist often feature both technical and behavioral questions that assess your qualifications, skills, teamwork, and ability to thrive in a high-stress environment. 

It’s important to note that there are many types of healthcare technicians and technologists, each with unique skills, qualifications, and expectations. Depending on your specialty and experience, you may face questions that are more technical and specific. While this guide gives a baseline of what you can expect from a general technician or technologist interview, you should be prepared to answer more specialized questions tailored to your field. 

Jump to a specific med tech interview question
  1. Tell me about yourself.
  2. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
  3. What are your professional goals?
  4. Why do you want to work at this facility?
  5. What steps do you take to ensure effective collaboration with physicians and nurses?
  6. Tell me about a time when you had to deal with competing priorities at work. How did you handle it?
  7. Tell me about a time when you had to work with a difficult coworker. How did you handle it?
  8. How do you stay up to date on new advancements in the field of medical technology?
  9. Describe a time when there was a discrepancy with a test result. How did you handle it?
  10. How do you ensure compliance with health and safety regulations working in a busy lab environment?
  11. What is your level of experience using laboratory information systems (LIS) and/or electronic health records (EHR)? 
  12. How do you explain testing procedures to patients without using confusing medical jargon? Give an example.
  13. How do you respond when a patient asks a question you can’t answer? 

Background and Personality Questions

1. Tell me about yourself.

It’s safe to assume you’ll be asked some version of this question in any job interview. Your answer helps the interviewer get to know you, your background, and importantly, how well you can communicate a lot of information in a short time—a common task for healthcare technicians.
How to answer: Keep it concise. Explain your current or most recent role, including the core responsibilities you had that most closely align with the job description of the role you’re interviewing for. Then briefly describe your qualifications, certifications, and the values that drive you at work. Try to keep your answer under 2-3 minutes.

2. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

This is another common topic you’re likely to encounter in any interview. Employers primarily use this question to assess your ability to self-reflect—it’s important you can communicate where you excel and where you are still growing. 
How to answer: Avoid giving a laundry list of common traits. Instead, reflect on past experiences to illustrate where you shine and how it’s helped you in your career. When talking about your weaknesses, make sure you share how you’re working on improving. 

3. What are your professional goals?

Employers want to know that you are growth-oriented and forward-thinking. Try to communicate what motivates you, both in the immediate and long-term future (think five to ten years).
How to answer: Share what you’re working toward now, either by applying for this role or through continuing education. Then paint a picture of where you see yourself a few years in the future—bonus points if it’s something that could reasonably be achieved at the organization you’re interviewing with. 

4. Why do you want to work at this facility?

This is your opportunity to prove that you’ve done your homework. Giving a thoughtful and detailed answer to this question will form a personal connection between you and the facility in your interviewer’s mind, which will help you stand out.
How to answer: Draw from your notes to share what you’ve learned about the organization’s mission and specialties, and how they align with your own values and qualifications. Be specific and reference where you found the information about the facility, whether from their website, a news article, or colleague. 

Behavioral and Teamwork Questions

5. What steps do you take to ensure effective collaboration with physicians and nurses?

Healthcare technicians play a crucial supporting role on any healthcare team, and collaborating with other healthcare providers is an important part of the job. Your answer to this question communicates your working style and ability to be effective as part of a team.
How to answer: Outline the tactics you use to communicate with others on the team, and how you overcome barriers to communication. If possible, share an example of a time when you had to use collaboration skills to solve a problem. 

6. Tell me about a time when you had to deal with competing priorities at work. How did you handle it?

Healthcare is a fast-paced field where technicians are often staffed on multiple tasks at once. Your ability to multitask and prioritize effectively, especially when under pressure, is an essential skill.
How to answer: Describe the breadth of priorities you were responsible for, and then outline the factors you used to determine priority order (e.g. certain specimens had a shorter shelf life than others). Try incorporating an anecdote about how you communicated your priorities to the team to show you’re a team player. 

7. Tell me about a time when you had to work with a difficult coworker. How did you handle it?

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Navigating workplace dynamics is a reality of any healthcare job. Your answer to this question shows your interviewer that you can handle conflict and maintain professionalism in any situation. 
How to answer: Describe the situation (and the colleague) carefully and respectfully. Don’t badmouth a colleague or workplace—instead, show empathy and a willingness to communicate. Be sure to explain what you learned from the situation. 

Technical Skill Assessment Questions

8. How do you stay up to date on new advancements in the field of medical technology?

Medical technology is a fast-paced field where technicians are often staffed on multiple tasks at once. Your ability to multitask and prioritize effectively, especially when under pressure, is an essential skill.
How to answer: Describe the breadth of priorities you were responsible for, and then outline the factors you used to determine priority order (e.g. certain specimens had a shorter shelf life than others). Try incorporating an anecdote about how you communicated your priorities to the team to show you’re a team player. 

9. Describe a time when there was a discrepancy with a test result. How did you handle it?

Ensuring accuracy in test results is an essential function of most healthcare technician roles. This question helps the interviewer gauge your level of expertise in your field, as well as your problem solving skills. 
How to answer: Be as specific as you can while maintaining patient confidentiality. Describe the situation, how you noticed the discrepancy, the steps you took to resolve it, and importantly, what you learned from the experience. Make sure you explain how you communicated with both your team and the patient (if applicable).

10. How do you ensure compliance with health and safety regulations working in a busy lab environment?

Employers want to know that you’re well-versed in regulatory compliance best practices, and that you can still uphold them under pressure. 
How to answer: Reference the specific regulatory board(s) that you are certified with. Walk through a typical procedure or technique that is listed in the job description, explaining in detail how you uphold standards in every step of the process. 

11. What is your level of experience using laboratory information systems (LIS) and/or electronic health records (EHR)? 

Your proficiency with digital tools is an important component of your ability to perform in the role. This question assures the interviewer that you are familiar with the tools of the trade. 
How to answer: List the specific systems you’ve used in the past, your level of familiarity with them, and how you’ve used them to be effective in your role. If you don’t have experience with the employer’s software, instead demonstrate that you are a quick learner by sharing your experience with comparable tools and how you would go about learning a new system. 

Patient Care Questions

12. How do you explain testing procedures to patients without using confusing medical jargon? Give an example.

Healthcare technicians and technologists often administer tests and procedures to patients who are anxious or confused, and who aren’t familiar with medical terminology. This question gauges your ability to soothe a patient’s worries while performing your duties effectively.
How to answer: Lead with empathy. Focus on how you adapted your technique to a patient’s individual needs and communicated what they needed to know without overwhelming them. 

13. How do you respond when a patient asks a question you can’t answer? 

It’s common for patients to want answers much sooner than they are available, or answers that you are not authorized to give. For healthcare technicians, it’s important that you can empathize with a patient while still upholding proper communications. 
How to answer: Once again, lead with empathy for the patient’s situation. Describe how you went about explaining the situation, and importantly, how you set boundaries for what you can and can’t answer. If possible, reference a specific example from your past.

Questions to Ask Your Interviewer

After your interviewer has asked all their questions, they’ll leave time for you to ask them questions in return. Being prepared with thoughtful questions is one of the best ways to show that you’re an engaged and motivated candidate. Here are some examples: 

Can you describe the organization’s work culture? 

A positive cultural fit can make a huge difference in job satisfaction and career growth. This question is a great way to ensure that there’s a mutual fit between you and the organization. 

What does a typical day look like for a person in this role?

The interviewer’s answer to this question should give you a clear picture of the role that goes beyond the duties listed in the job description. It also shows the interviewer that you’re proactive about understanding your role in the organization and how you’ll contribute. 

What does onboarding and training look like for this role?

Starting a new tech role is sure to come with a host of new tools, techniques, and systems to learn. This question gives you insight into the support you’ll receive when starting the role, as well as the organization’s commitment to ensuring their employees’ success. 

How does your organization support employees’ well-being and/or professional development?

Burnout is a common concern in the healthcare field. Asking this question tells you whether the organization is invested in employee well-being, and indicates to your interviewer that you value both personal and professional growth.

Are there opportunities for advancement within the organization?

This question indicates to the employer that you have a growth mindset and a long-term interest in growing with the organization. It also helps you understand their approach to career development so you can make sure it aligns with your own goals.

Find your next tech job 

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