What is your greatest weakness?

"I believe I could improve on some technical skills including Excel and Word. Currently I am at a beginner to intermediate level; however, I would be more comfortable at an advanced level. I have enrolled myself in an evening/weekend workshop for the next six weeks. We will see how stellar my skills are after that course!"

Pick a weakness that is not a core skill for this position. You can be candid in your answer; recognizing that you aren't great at something and acknowledging your need to improve. Be sure to have an action plan in place for improving on this weakness. Perhaps you are watching TED talks to gain skills in a particular area, reading the latest-and-greatest book on the subject, or maybe you are taking a seminar at a nearby community center. We are all human with our weaknesses, so don't be afraid to share yours!

"I know this will come off as cliche, but it's truthful. My weakness is in not delegating. I know what I want to be done and how I want it done, so it's often easier to do it myself. However, it can inhibit my ability to grow. I cannot take on every step of a project; I need to be able to give the task or a portion of it to another team member or direct report, let go of the control and know it will be taken care of. I've spoken with my current manager about it, and we've developed a system where he can call me out on the behavior since often I'm not aware of it. By bringing awareness to it at the moment, I find my propensity to hold onto control has decreased, so I'm certainly moving in the right direction."

What part of your healthcare career brings you the most stress?

"The part of my career that brings me the most stress is when the schedule is running behind due to lack of hustle on mine or my teams part. I like to be on time with my schedule to ensure that our patients and clients are assisted properly."

Stress can often be a regular part of the day to day work experience. Talk to the interviewer about which areas of your career are the most stressful. Ensure that your answer does not include a factor that would make you appear unfit for the position. (IE: a bus driver should not find driving to be the most stressful part of the job).

"To be completely transparent, I probably bring myself the most stress because of my innate desire to be the best. I strive for perfection too often, which causes undue stress on myself. I manage this by focusing my energy on productive activities that are good for my career."

If you could expand your knowledge and expertise in any healthcare service area, which would you choose?

"If I could choose any area of healthcare services to be a subject matter expert in, I would choose geriatric care. I do feel that this particular focus is not as popular as some, and become an expert in it would allow me to snowball in my career."

There are many facets of health care. If you could choose any area of healthcare to specialize in, which would you choose? Be sure to tie your answer into some aspects of what Baylor Health Care System does.

"I have a variety of interests within healthcare service, so that is a tough question for me! I suppose if I had to narrow it to just one area of expertise, I would say palliative care and the necessary family care that comes with it."

If Baylor Health Care System hired you today, what would you accomplish first?

"I saw on the job description that you want to move over to electronic medical records. I have experience at my previous employer moving all of the patient's charts into an electronic system, so that would be what I would accomplish first."

The interviewer wants to hear how you would make a positive impact at Baylor Health Care System if hired. It is always good to have an impact goal when hired at a new position. The interviewer wants to hear what you have planned to accomplish to determine if you will be a good fit for the team.

"Since I am new to Baylor Health Care System, I first want to complete the new employee orientation and read the policies and procedures manuals. Once I meet my coworkers and get a feel for where I am working, I can see what needs to be accomplished next."

How has technology made your work more effective over time? What have been any roadblocks you've had to overcome in using new technology?

"Having been a nurse for almost 25 years, we have seen many great advancements in technology as it relates to patient care. In the intensive care setting, so many things have come about that have increased my time to perform high level tests and procedures on my patients. Take for example the automatic blood pressure monitoring devices in patient rooms. Rather than me taking three minutes to take a patients blood pressure, I can go back and look at automatic reading that were taken every 20 minutes, document them and move along taking care of more important things with the patient."

The world of healthcare and providing excellent patient care has been so heavily influenced by changes in technology in recent years and chances are great that your job has been directly impacted by changes in technology. Baylor Health has received an award for their innovative use of technology and your interviewer will be looking to hear how technology has made your job better at some point in your career. When you talk about a direct example, be sure to point out that you are very receptive to new technology and that you look at any new things from a patient care perspective. If you experienced any roadblocks with technology, put a positive spin on it for your interviewer.

"The field of occupational therapy has been greatly impacted by technology in just the eight years since I graduated school and got my first job. Today, I utilize some really awesome computer and table applications with patients that help with fine motor skills and cognitive skills. Just a few years ago, these advancements didn't exist. They've taken the place of some outdated techniques and I am seeing a much better rate of performance from my patients with the new technology. Can you talk about what technology the department is currently using and how it is positively influencing patient care?"

With the ongoing changes in the healthcare services industry, how do you keep your knowledge current?

"Every morning I listen to X Podcast because I find the information to be fresh, and valuable. In addition to this podcast, I also subscribe to a couple of industry blogs. One is ABC, and the other is XYZ. I greatly value the information shared between fellow professionals. What resources do you prefer to stay on top of industry trends and changes?"

Employers expect employees to stay up-to-date on their respective field, and today's technology makes this reasonably easy! List several ways that you receive your industry knowledge and stay on top of trends. Tell the interviewer about those daily update emails you receive from professional organizations, conferences you attend, and seminars you have taken.Lastly, it's a great idea to ask the interviewer what resources they refer to for industry trends. That question can start up a great conversation, and you may learn a thing or two as well.

"I am an avid fan of google alerts! I will receive an email with the related information any time there is a major headline about the healthcare services industry. In addition to this, I also subscribe to a couple of medical-related journals."

What type of work environment do you dislike working in?

"I can be productive in most work environments, so long as the mentality is positive and teamwork is encouraged. I cannot work in an environment that feels negative or toxic."

Are you pretty flexible in your ability to work in most environments? Have you experienced a position where the atmosphere wasn't conducive to your productivity? Be sure to know the type of situation offered in this position prior, to the interview. If you aren't completely clear on the workplace environment or culture, kindly ask the interviewer to expand on the work environment for you.

"I prefer to focus on the positive, so if it's okay, I would like to share with you what my ideal work environment looks like. My ideal environment is organized, collaborative, positive, energetic, and encouraging. I love working with like-minded people who set challenging goals for themselves. I thrive when I work for supervisors who encourage curiosity and creativity in problem-solving."

In your opinion, what makes you a great problem solver?

"I am a great problem solver because I do not allow stress to cloud my judgment and mute my sound decision making. I am a keen observer with a great memory which allows me to recall unique solutions or ideas."

Employers want to know that you have a methodical approach to problem-solving. Consider the skills and qualities that help you successfully face problems. Perhaps you have a keen eye for detail. Maybe you can see opportunity when others can only focus on the issue. Share your strengths as a problem solver, and your ability to come up with innovative solutions.

"I believe I am a great problem solver because I am sure to gather as many facts as possible, I look at the problem and its potential solutions from multiple angles, and I am not afraid to make a creative decision that might seem off the beaten path."

Here at Baylor Health, we live our mission daily of being a Christian ministry of healing by promoting many great community programs that help the less fortunate and underserved. Have you been a part of any programs like this in the past?

"Yes, I have been involved with community programs since I was ten years old. I have volunteered at soup kitchens, food banks, assisted living centers, and the local animal shelter. My parents volunteered every weekend on their days off and would take my sister and me with them. I feel great joy and humility helping those less fortunate."

While Baylor Health Care System is a Christian ministry, the interviewer is not precisely asking if you have been a part of a Christian-based community program. The interviewer wants to hear about any community-based programs you have volunteered with to see that your values align with Baylor Health Care System's core values to help others less fortunate. If you have not had the opportunity to help with a program, describe any other service you have provided, such as helping an elderly neighbor grocery shop or mowing their lawn.

"I have not formally volunteered with a community-based program for the past four years. I was working part-time and going to school full-time, so finding the time to do so was challenging. I help my widowed neighbor, take her grocery shopping every Saturday, and take her to her doctor's appointments and the salon when I am available. I enjoy helping others and wish to get back into helping a community program now that things have slowed down for me a bit."

Talk about a time you had to adjust to a major change in your workplace or your job. What enabled you to handle the change effectively?

"Just last year, my organization made the change over to the Epic EHR system and it was quite the significant change for our entire organization. Prior to that, we had been using an outdated medical record system that still involved us using paper charting at times. When we first started training on Epic, a lot of my colleagues were not receptive to the upcoming change and after talking with them, it was clear that their fears were solely stemming from the fact that they'd have to learn and train on something new. With a positive outlook, I tried to individually refocus every colleague of mine on the fact that the new system would allow us to chart more efficiently, give the patients a better record and allow us to have more patient contact time. I know that my positive outlook and dialogue went a long way with my fellow nurses based on feedback I received once we started hand on training. Today, we are all so happy with the new system."

No matter the business or industry that you work in, change is inevitable and you need to be open and receptive to change to be a great employee. In no place is this more true than in the healthcare industry. Changes in laws, regulations and healthcare coverage make this field very fluid and you as a healthcare worker need to be as well. Talk about a significant change you had to endure in the workplace and reiterate to your interviewer that you are open to change because you educate yourself to know why it is happening. Some keys to point out are maintaining a positive attitude and using your communication skills to talk among your peers.

"Having served as the Director of Lab Services for six years now, I've been a part of leading some big changes in our department over the years and I really think there are a few fundamental things that make change easy for my staff: knowledge, compassion and proper planning. Three years ago, we implemented a new work order procedure with our physicians and this directly impacted my staff. The plan for the change to the new process, we held several trainings for both provider and lab staff that laid out the expectations for the new process. Throughout the trainings, it was critical that we pointed out why changes were being made and how our work and patient care would be greatly impacted by the changes. Upon seeing these things and being trained, my staff were much more receptive to the change and the training."

Our hospitals are staffed with 24/7 coverage of spiritual care staff. Have you had the opportunity to work with chaplains in the healthcare setting?

"I am a firm believer that the body, mind and spirit co-mingle in harmony to help a person maintain great health and the chaplains that I work with in my current job are great ambassadors of this harmony. During my time as a hospice nurse, one of our chaplains made house calls to patients that were choosing to die in the comfort of their own home and he had such an amazing ability to help comfort both patients and their family through prayer and spirituality. When he was present in the home, I could tell an immediate difference in family members of terminally ill patients. They became more relaxed and at peace with the situation they were confronted with, making care decisions much easier for them. I really love the fact that your position will put me in the working hands of the chaplains as well."

Like many other hospitals, clinics and long-term care facilities, Baylor Health has a strong spiritual care staff that is available any time for patients or family members/loved ones of sick patients. For this question, be sure to point out the healing power that spirituality can have on patients and the solace that it can have on visitors to the hospital. If you have personally witnessed the positive power that chaplains and spiritual care services has had on a particular patient, be sure to bring that up as well.

"My current employer has a strong spiritual care staff that is available at the request of patients or their family members. There have been times I have went to a patients room for a blood draw and the chaplain was their consoling the family and every time I walked out of that particular room, I got a great feeling of warmth and comfort. For a lot of people entering a hospital, no matter if they are a patient or a loved one of a patient, they are entering a very scary time in their life and I really appreciate the fact that the chaplains are available to those that need them the most."

Do you think it is possible to be a good team member, yet disagree with the leader?

"I think that it is possible to be a great team member, even when disagreeing with the leader. It's all in how you maintain respect for each other despite the difference in opinion."

The interviewer wants to know that you can be diplomatic in the workplace, even when you may not agree with your leader. Show the interviewer that it is possible for you to be a good team member, yet disagree with the leader from time to time. Explain that you believe everyone is entitled to their own professional opinion, yet capable of maintaining respect for each other at the same time. Show that even if you disagree with the final decision they make, you support the direction the team is heading.

"I believe that being a good team member is more about attitude than it is about compatibility. You do not need to agree with everyone 100% of the time, to be effective in your job."

What are your ultimate career goals down the road? Do you foresee an ability to relocate in the future should your dream job open within Baylor Health?

"Having been a nurse for five years, I definitely have dreams to one day be in a nursing leadership type role. I have really loved my time working in the family medicine setting where I can build relationships with patients and this potential move to Baylor Health would hopefully give me opportunity down the road to find that leadership role with more experience in the primary care setting. And with both my spouse and I being from the Dallas area and having most of our family around the area, we are really looking to stay in this area for the rest of our working careers. With my dreams to one day be in a leadership position, can you talk about educational experiences available within Baylor Health to gain leadership skills and talk about the requirement of a supervisor and director roles in nursing here?"

Baylor Health is an extremely large organization with over 47,000 employees and many locations throughout the state of Texas. For this question, your interviewer will be looking to hear what your career goals are and if you have the ability to relocate any time in the future. For your answer, be open and honest with your interviewer on both fronts and be sure to walk the fine line of stating what your goals are without giving indication that you'll only be looking to stay in the job you are interviewing for for a short period of time. While the company believes in and values promoting from within to keep employees satisfied in their jobs, your interviewer is also looking for a long-term fit within their department.

"After receiving my Master's degree in Healthcare Administration, my ultimate career goal is to become an Administrator over one or more of the specialty care areas. As you can see from my resume, the early part of my career has given me a great base of the inner workings of the hospital and clinic industry and I believe this position will help me round out my experience even more in the coming years. Having worked at a director level role in radiology and occupational health, my experience will bode well for the surgical specialties group here at Baylor Health."

Why should Baylor Health Care System hire you over other candidates?

"I am sure many qualified candidates are applying for the position. The reason you should hire me is that I have a stellar reputation and excellent past performance reviews from all of my supervisors. I have over sixteen years of experience in the healthcare industry and will bring my expertise and patient care skills to Baylor Health Care System. I am honest, dependable, empathetic, and patient and will make a great addition to your team."

Many qualified candidates are interviewing for the same position, so now is the time to showcase your skills and experience, showing the interviewer you are the best candidate for the job. Highlight unique traits that will make you stand out from the crowd.

"Baylor Health Care System should hire me because I exceed your minimum job requirements and have the characteristics you are looking for. I hold the same values and faith as your organization and am an excellent healthcare provider. I genuinely care about improving the quality of life of my patients, and it shows in my compassionate and empathetic nature. I work well in a team environment and in high-pressure situations. And on top of it, I speak four languages fluently, which is always helpful in the healthcare industry."

Well, this is all of the questions I have for you. Do you have any questions for me?

"Yes, I do. Thank you for asking. How long have you worked for Baylor Health Care System? And, what do you like least and most about your job?"

Interviewers try to cover everything a candidate needs to know during the interview, but it is not always easy in a short time span. Interviewers like it when candidates ask a question or two since it shows that they are genuinely interested in learning more about the position or the company. Good questions to ask are about the company culture, what the first 30 days would entail, or what the interviewer likes most and least about working for Baylor Health Care System.

"Thank you for asking; I appreciate it. Yes, I have a few questions. When are you looking to have this position filled? Also, after all we have covered in the interview, is there any reason you would not hire me for the job?"

What would you like me to know about you that is not found on your resume?

"Something that is not on my resume but is a big part of my life is that I am a foster mom to seven children. I think it is pertinent to my position in maternity care as it is obvious I love children and have a mothering, nurturing nature. I could not have children of my own, so foster care has been a rewarding and enjoyable experience."

While the interviewer can learn a lot about you from your resume and the interview, there are still things that the interviewer does not know about you. They would like to learn more about your accomplishments or extracurricular activities related to the position but may not have found a way on your resume. Tell the interviewer something about yourself that you are proud of and would like to share.

"An achievement I am proud of, but that is not on my resume, is how I was the spelling bee champion for three years in college. I represented my school across the country and was honored to win three years in a row. The dean awarded me a special plaque which was really thoughtful, and my trophies sit in a glass case at the entrance to the college."

Have you ever been fired or written up as a healthcare professional?

"Unfortunately, I have been written up once in my career. It was completely my fault, and I deserved to be written up. I missed a shift eight years ago because I wrote my schedule down wrong and went camping with my family. We had no cell service, so I did not receive the phone calls and messages from my supervisor until the next day. I immediately called my supervisor when I got the messages, and she was pretty upset with me. I was written up for failing to show up for my shift, and I have never made a mistake with my schedule since then."

The interviewer asks this question to see if you have had disciplinary measures taken against you as a healthcare professional. If you have had problems in the past, the interviewer wants to hear your side of the story and determine if what happened was a minor event or if it would keep them from offering you the position. Be honest and truthful in your response.

"No, I have never been fired from any job or been written up in the ten years I have worked as a healthcare professional."

This position requires long hours on your feet and heavy lifting at times. Is there anything keeping you from being able to perform those job duties?

"I saw that in the job description and have no issues standing for long periods or lifting heavy objects. I stay in shape by running and lifting weights, so lifting is not a problem. I also found a really comfortable pair of shoes that allow me to be on my feet for hours without difficulty."

The interviewer asks this question to see if you have read the job requirements and understand what the job entails. They want to hire candidates who can withstand being on their feet for long hours and perform the heavy lifting required for the role. While the interviewer cannot discriminate against hiring you if you have something that keeps you from standing for long periods or lifting heavy objects, they would like to know if you can fulfill their requirements.

"I have worked in the healthcare industry for five years, so I understand the job's requirements. I wear comfortable shoes and do not have a problem being on my feet for long hours. I usually do not have a problem lifting heavy objects, but I had carpal tunnel surgery four months ago and am still recovering. My doctor said I should be completely healed and have complete strength return to my hand within a few more months. So, I must be careful with my left hand until I am completely healed."

It is often said that a career in healthcare is a 'thankless job'. How can we keep you motivated and engaged, even on the days when you feel your work goes unnoticed?

"I am an easily motivated individual, and it does not take much to keep me engaged. I am fully aware that healthcare-related positions can seem thankless. Honestly, the best thanks that I can get is a pat on the back now and then. The majority of my motivation comes from simply helping people."

The interviewer would like to know how they could continue to motivate you - even on the hardest of days. Do you need to have verbal recognition? Are you motivated solely by the success of your team? Talk to the interviewer about how you have stayed motivated in the past.

"My chosen career was helping people at exactly the point they were least capable of censoring themselves or giving back. So, I stopped needing thanks from my patients. It's not like I don't need positive reinforcement. Everyone does. But I made a point to find it in other places instead of expecting it from my patients. Nowadays I make an effort to expressly thank the people I work with when they do a good job. I focus on being grateful to be allowed to see private, raw, emotional parts of peoples lives. And I make work-related goals I can achieve for satisfaction."

At Baylor Health Care System we seek to hire individuals who display a keen interest in the healthcare arena. Would you consider yourself dedicated to a career in healthcare services?

"My entire career has been dedicated to the healthcare services field. I find it incredibly rewarding and interesting because I get to help others and every day brings new challenges! One of the reasons I applied for this role with Baylor Health Care System is because I can see a long-term fit here. I plan to work in the healthcare segment for my entire career."

Assure the interviewer that you are dedicated to a lucrative career in the healthcare services industry. The hiring manager would like to know that this position fits into your long-term plan and that, if hired, you would stay with Baylor Health Care System as long as possible.

"I know this career can take a toll on personal life, and I understand that while it can be more-or-less sustainable, it's more than just a job for me. So far, I have dedicated my entire adult life to this career. I have shadowed numerous professionals and have worked multiple clinics. I know this is the right career for me."

"This career is not just something I want to do 8-5 to get by; it's something I want to BE. I want to be someone who dedicates themselves to a craft. I chose healthcare because the learning opportunities are endless. It's constantly evolving. I find the human body is fascinating, and I think that society is only healthy when it cares for its wounded."

Talk about a time you successfully promoted a health or well-being strategy for a patient. Why was this important for the patient?

"Recently, I helped develop a weight loss plan for a patient who had dreamed of working as a firefighter. His size kept him from passing the physical agility exams, and he was discouraged and depressed with his weight. During his annual physical, he told me about his dreams and recent failures. I asked if he would be willing to work with a nutritionist and personal trainer to help him lose weight. He agreed, and I gave him referrals to a nutritionist and personal trainer at the hospital where I was working. After six months, he had successfully lost 50 pounds and passed his first firefighter agility test. After his oral interview, he was offered the position and fulfilled his dream of becoming a firefighter. He and his wife came to my office and brought me flowers and a thank you card for helping him fulfill his dreams."

As a healthcare professional, you are working as a patient advocate. Part of your job is promoting healthy living and developing strategies or providing resources for the patient to achieve optimal well-being. You may have helped patients stop smoking, lose weight, live a healthier lifestyle, or reduce stress. The interviewer wants to hear when you have successfully promoted a health or well-being strategy for a patient and why the patient appreciated your assistance.

"I worked in a women's reproductive clinic and had a patient who found out she was six weeks pregnant. She confided in me that while she was excited to become a mother, she was addicted to pain pills and alcohol and did not think she could stop abusing them even while pregnant. I gave her pamphlets that showed the different stages of the fetus and explained what alcohol and drugs would do to her child if she continued to use them. I knew those pamphlets would not make her stop and asked if she would be willing to enter rehab during her pregnancy. She said she would think about it, and I thought I would never hear from her again. A few days later, she came into the clinic with her mother and said she was ready to do what it would take to become clean. She enrolled in the program and successfully became clean before her baby was born. I assisted with her delivery, and her baby came out completely healthy. My patient said I helped save her and her baby's life, which made me very happy."

Tell me about your healthcare related education and training.

"I have a nursing degree as well as additional on the job training within clinical research. I feel that my nursing education opened up many potential industry-related avenues for me. I graduated top of my class and completed a valuable internship with 'XYZ Health Services'. All of these experiences have helped prepare me for success in this role with Baylor Health Care System."

Take a few minutes to walk the interviewer through your formal post-secondary education as well as any on the job training. Talk about your most positive take-away's from your post-secondary experience and be sure to tie in how that experience will help you succeed in this position.

"I did my undergraduate in chemistry and medical school at St. George's University. I loved surgery, so my electives were in general surgery, trauma epidemiology, and orthopedics. I'm happy to be moving on to more responsibility as a resident. I have had some amazing mentors, and I found that I could perform with some different teaching styles."

One of our main values at Baylor Health is that we never settle. What does this mean to you in your job?

"If I could say that I've only learned one thing through my career in healthcare, it would be that the need to be continuously adaptable is a must to be successful. While there are times that it becomes easy to get stuck in routines, I take the approach of seeing things from the patients perspective and when new and more innovative ways of doing things are readily available, we must take advantage of those things for the sake of our patients."

This is a very open ended question and your interviewer will really be looking to hear how are always looking for ways to be better in your work and the care you provide in your work setting. Be sure to point out to your interviewer that complacency in your job is unacceptable because of the constantly changing state of healthcare. If you have an example of how you lead a charge for something innovative in your work process or patient care process, be sure to bring that up to your interviewer to show that you are the type of person that never settles.

"As a Nurse Practitioner, if I ever settle on my ways of caring for a patient, I am doing them a huge disservice to their health and well-being. Research and innovation in the world of orthopedic surgery is happening at a rapid level this day in age and I stay on top of these things by reading and attending conferences and I'm always willing to incorporate new ideas and techniques into my practice. "

What is your patient care philosophy?

"Every day at work, I remind myself that everyone I come across has their struggles. Every person we care for has a story. I make sure to get to know my patients whenever possible. Everyone has the right to compassionate care."

It's always a great idea to research the company before your interview. You want to get to know their care philosophy so that your answer can reflect what is important to them. What is the core of your care philosophy? Keep your answer concise yet sincere.

"I have three philosophies when it comes to my work. One for the clinic, one for me, and one for the patient. First, I work in a system, and I respect that. I follow the rules, I maintain my certifications, and I appreciate the policies and values of whatever site I work. Patient care is a privilege, and I respect the role I have in clinical care and the part other people have. Second, I want to be the best at what I do. Every day I learn something, and that's because I choose to get better. Last, I adapt to the individual. If I'm meeting the requirements of my position, and evolving within my profession, then I am free to adjust to my patient and be the provider they need. Some patients need a lot of attention; some want less, and some need boundaries. I have trained myself to adapt my communication style, so a patient gets what they need."

Baylor Health is a large organization and we promote teamwork within and between each and every department here by living the value we are in it together. In what ways have you witnessed teamwork helping a patient?

"Fortunately during my career as a nurse and now a Director of Surgery, I've gotten to be a part of many great team efforts in the OR. In healthcare, every person brings a unique set of skills and training to their role in caring for the patient and a true team effort is necessary. This is so true when it comes to critical trauma surgeries that need to happen with little preparation time. When these come into our OR, our team bands together, communicates well and does what it takes to do what is necessary for the patients. In my days as a nurse, I usually took the lead among the staff in the OR for emergency cases and that was part of the success that I built to take on a director role."

No matter who you are and what role you play in the greater patient care picture, you're interviewer will be looking to hear that you understand that every person at an organization must be focused on the same goal and be willing to work as part of a team to achieve that goal. Talk about the importance of the role player in patient care on top of talking about an example that you've been a part of a team effort to help achieve excellent results for a patient. When giving your example, talk about the role you played on the team.

"Having worked in Oncology for four years now, I have really witnessed how a collaborative team effort happens for each patient. When we are referred a new patient, not only do we as a nursing, physician and radiation staff work together, but we also need to work closely and effectively with primary care, palliative care and other areas as well. In these situations, I am a timely and effective communicator through email and verbal communications. I am always willing and ready to pick up the phone to call a member of our care team to discuss any issues or thoughts and I keep an open phone line and email inbox as well for things to come my way. For cancer patients, we all bring our specialty expertise to their care and we are all an integral part of their road to healing and recovery."

Healthcare service companies require strong organizational skills and attention to detail. How do you ensure that your work is properly organized, and highly accurate?

"I am a highly detailed person, and I thrive on having a high level of organization in my day. This organization includes my scheduling, paperwork, and more. If I am offered a position with Baylor Health Care System you will never find me to be disorganized! I utilize my Outlook calendar and set alerts for myself for deadlines and important activities. My documentation is strong as well."

The success of the healthcare industry thrives on the accuracy of information, and organization. Talk to the interviewer about the ways that you ensure accuracy and organization in your day to day activities. Perhaps you use a particular app or software. Maybe you are a pen and paper person. Whatever your method, be sure to highlight that you are successful in organizing your day.

"I'm a bit of a nerd. I carry around a notebook and write down important facts if I think there is a chance I will forget them. But this is usually just for transitions. Every clinic I've ever worked in has its way of communicating and recording facts, so I put time and attention into using the system the people around me are using. That way its easier to transition care and the patient has all their info in the same place. My notebook saves me when I'm swamped, but I try to be efficient and put info directly into the [group record/EMR/chart] when I can."

When working as part of a large team, what role do you find yourself taking on and what style of communicator would you say that you are?

"In looking to join the staff here at Baylor Health, I think my experience in my current emergency department has prepped me to work as part of a large cohesive unit. In my current ED, we have a 32 bed unit and average around 120 patients per day so our 12-hour shifts are usually action packed. In working with our unit as a whole, I would consider myself the worker bee type that stays focused on patient care while taking direction from my leader. When working in unison with another nurse in caring for a direct patient, I definitely take the lead. If I'm hired for this role, you'll find that my communication skills with patients and colleagues is very effective. I am able to verbally communicate well with patients, always using the AIDET method. With colleagues, I am a great listener and communicator and I know they appreciate that about me."

Baylor Health s the largest not-for-profit employer in Texas and one of the largest in the United States. With over 47,000 employees and clinic/hospital locations covering a majority of the state, teamwork is a must for anyone that joins the ranks there. For this question, be open and honest with your interviewer about what role you usually take on as part of a larger team. If possible, use a specific team example that is recent in history and discuss how your role helped the team effort. On top of this, express to your interviewer that you are an effective communicator both verbally and through written communication while being a great listener as well.

"As I work as part of my larger team on our Med/Surg unit, how I communicate with my fellow nurses, physicians and leaders is integral to providing great care to my patients. During our daily huddle, I discuss patient care issues that I am seeing on our unit with my entire team in case they need to see a patient under my care. During my shift, I always update the attending hospitalist in a timely manner and keep my colleague abreast of urgent matters as well. On top of that, I make sure that I listen attentively to my coworkers on their patients in case I need to see their patients. My team first attitude is important in ensuring that our patients are all cared for in the most efficient and caring manner possible."

Patient care requires a strong amount of compassion. Do you consider yourself a compassionate person?

"I understand that compassion is one of the top qualities that I need to bring to the workplace, being in the healthcare services profession. I consider myself a very compassionate individual. I am warm hearted, responsive to my patients' needs, and always empathetic."

To succeed in the healthcare services industry, you should have a solid level of compassion for your patients or customers. Talk to the interviewer about the compassionate qualities that you possess. How would you rate your level of compassion for others?

Some ways to describe yourself could be: - Understanding - Warm Hearted - Empathetic - Responsive - Charitable - Tender Hearted

Have you ever been involved in ordering medical supplies, maintaining inventory, or other types of health care related administrative duties?

"I have experience in ordering medical supplies and maintaining inventory. I fully understand that there is an art to being properly organized when it comes to the availability of supplies. For medical ordering and inventory, I have used a variety of software and programs such as ABC and XYZ."

The interviewer would like to know if you understand what it takes to keep on top of ordering medical supplies and inventory. Assure the interviewer that you are capable of foreseeing needs, and making the appropriate action. Highlight your ability to be responsible when it comes to related administrative tasks.

"Yes. I used to do this in my former position. I was responsible for maintaining supplies on the general surgery ward for five years. It was great at working behind the scenes with the result being efficiency for others."

At Baylor Health Care System, we empower our employees to be a part of large decision making procedures and changes to work processes. Give an example of a time you were empowered in your work to make critical decisions on the job.

"Having worked as a Nuclear Med Tech in a satellite clinic for a few years, I have worked off-site from my direct supervisor and most of the folks that I support at our main hospital. Because of this, I was empowered to make critical decision from a pretty young age in my career. I remember back to my initial month working at the remote clinic and finding out that our camera's calibration was off one day. Having not experienced this before and having a patient coming in shortly, I kept my cool and followed procedures to contact technical support of the manufacturer. They walked me through re-calibration in a -quick and efficient manner. Upon later finding out about this, my supervisor was very grateful to hear that I took the initiative to handle myself versus calling him for help."

Baylor Health believes in empowering their employees to design and deliver a customer for life experience to their patients and the role you are interviewing for plays a big part in that. In the healthcare industry, it is important for all involved in patient care to have a say in how things operate. Think of a time where you were empowered to make a patient care decision or a process change in your work and talk about how your critical thinking made an impact on the patient or the workplace. Make sure that your interviewers feels like they can trust you to be empowered to make decisions in your work if hired.

"As an occupational health nurse, my current job has me going off-site to provide services with some of the large manufacturing facilities that contract through us. This work can involve flu shots, ergonomic training or pre-employment physicals and in this role, I need to be quick on feet in thinking at time because I am away from our clinic and my office. Each day in this job, my supervisor trusts that I'm able to handle patient issues at employers with ease and if hired at Baylor, you will come to expect that same trust in empowering me both in clinic and working off-site if required."

Why do you feel it is important for healthcare organizations to put a direct focus on affordability of services for their patients?

"Having spent a majority of my career in the urgent care setting, I have witnessed many patients that come to urgent care over the emergency department in order to save on the common emergency co-pays that a lot of insurance plans have. On our end, this can provide an influx of patients at times that aren't ideal. On the patient's end of things, they may be jeopardizing their life based on a $75 or $100 co-pay and it is truly sad to see in some cases. I really value the fact that Baylor focuses on finding ways to keep healthcare affordable for patients because healthcare should never be a thing in life that people are afraid of due to cost."

One of Baylor Health's key strategies is to focus on affordability for patients through improved cost discipline. For this question, talk about why it is important for consumers to be able to afford healthcare. On top of organizations considering factors on insurance coverage, they must focus on costs of individual services and how to improve those costs. Doing things in an efficient and effective manner can ultimately effect the overall cost for consumers in regard to labor and resources. Give your personal feelings about the importance of this topic and if you have any real life examples of a patient shying away from care because of cost, talk to your interviewer about this situation. As well, if you have ways that you are efficient in your work to help cut costs, talk to those points on this question.

"Having been in practice in Primary Care for a few years, affordability of specialty services is definitely a concern for some of the patients that I see. My current practice is in a low-income area and my referrals for lab work, imaging and other services are sometimes totally ignored by patients due to cost and bad outcomes can definitely happen because of this. Recently, a long-standing patient I had worked with scheduled an appointment to see me as his primary care provider with an obvious broken collar bone. Knowing his coverage involved a high deductible for imaging services, he declined to have an x-ray for us to determine the extent of the break and this really upset me. On your end, are you able to talk about some of the initiatives that Baylor Health has underway to help keep care affordable?"

When have you shown a willingness to learn a new method or new approach to solving a problem?

"When our facility came under new management last year many new methods and policies came into place. I was able to learn some exciting new approaches to our challenges in patient care and customer management. I quite enjoyed the process."

Being flexible, and able to handle change is a skill that all employers desire to see. Discuss with the interviewer your ability to approach a problem using new methods. Give a recent example but make sure to spend more time highlighting the resolution rather than the problem.

"It's funny; they say people in medicine are 'lifelong learners'. But on top of that, we're in this digital revolution, and everyone has to learn new software all the time. I'm finally getting old enough to realize that its difficult to be constantly adapting. I think my 75-year-old aunt telling me how to use my iPhone helped me appreciate that it's all about humility. Not WHO is teaching you, but if you are willing to learn. In the medical context, I just took an updated CPR course, and it went from the 2:15 compressions to continuous compressions and I had to adapt to avoid my past way of thinking."

Have you ever been part of a departmental alignment strategy where you had to adjust work processes? How did you handle that situation?

"Last year, the organization that I currently work for merged with a smaller group of clinics that provided primary care, lab and imaging services. Being an X-Ray Technician, I was tasked with helping train the radiology staff that would be training our department. I took it upon myself to do a fact finding mission about the services the new group was used to providing, the equipment they worked on and the EHR they used. Based on this info, our group was able to create a great onboarding and training program for our new staff."

As an ever growing organization, employees with Baylor Health need to be open and understanding to changes within the workplace. Talk to your interviewer about any organizational alignments that you've been a part of. Make sure to stress that you are open to change and seek to understand why things are changing and how the changes impact patient care in a positive way for buy-in. Rather than opposing change, demonstrate that you thrive on change by educating yourself and being a positive to others on your team.

"Early in my career, my employer was a large regional hospital system and a year after I started, the emergency departments were made a regional department under one unit and one director. Upon the announcement, we found out that a lot of policies and procedures would need to be evaluated and aligned into one department wide set. Right away, several of my colleagues worried that significant changes were looming and that our jobs were about change for the worse. In times like this, I keep a cool head and try to see the positive in any changes and I assured them that the new director would cautiously evaluate things and do what was right for patients and employees across the region. In the end, not many significant changes to our daily routine occurred and we received some great new coworkers and resources to use for our patients."

Baylor Health Care System has a diverse workforce. When have you worked amongst a diverse group of people?

"I have worked with diverse groups of people most of my career, including my time in University. I am most comfortable, and happy, in this type of environment because it offers me unique learning opportunities."

Are you accustomed to working with a very large or diverse team of individuals? Assure the interviewer that you can handle an environment that offers diversity. Even better, give an example of being able to embrace diversity in the workplace.

"I am so glad you pointed out your need for diversity at Baylor Health Care System Inc.. I greatly value diversity. I grew up in a fairly homogeneous town in Montana. When I hit my 20's, it was so important to me to learn about other cultures. I worked with community volunteer organizations in Peru, inner-city Chicago, and Russia."

Do you prefer to work in a team based position or individually?

"Honestly, I do not have a preference. I have worked in both environments and enjoy both for different reasons. I enjoy working individually with patients and having one-on-one interactions, as well as working on a team and learning from my team members."

Most healthcare positions require a mixture of working independently with patients and working with a healthcare team. The interviewer wants to know which you prefer, but they also want to hear that you can adapt to any situation in the workplace. It is best to be flexible and do both well. Describe which work environment you prefer, but highlight that you enjoy working individually and on a team.

"I have mostly worked on a team, so I am most comfortable with that. However, I had one healthcare position where I mainly worked alone and enjoyed that as well. I was excited to see that this position involves working with a team approach. I always learn from my team members' knowledge and experience, so I would say I prefer a team approach the best."

Baylor Health Care System supports a healthy work/life balance for all employees. How do you balance life and work?

"I find that with the right company, it's pretty simple to balance life and work. When I enjoy what I do it doesn't feel like a chore. I am always sure that when at home, my family gets my attention first. I take time on the weekends to do things for myself and ensure that I regenerate before the work week begins."

It is essential to keep a healthy work/life balance to prevent burnout. Talk to the interviewer about how you can maintain that appropriate balance for yourself.

"I make a strong effort to keep a healthy balance by spending my free time away from my cell phone and having more face-to-face time with my friends and family. I indulge in the things that make me happy, on my time off. By consistently rejuvenating in this way, I can give even more energy when I am at work."

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Baylor Health Care System Interview Questions

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1. What is your greatest weakness?
2. What part of your healthcare career brings you the most stress?
3. If you could expand your knowledge and expertise in any healthcare service area, which would you choose?
4. If Baylor Health Care System hired you today, what would you accomplish first?
5. How has technology made your work more effective over time? What have been any roadblocks you've had to overcome in using new technology?
6. With the ongoing changes in the healthcare services industry, how do you keep your knowledge current?
7. What type of work environment do you dislike working in?
8. In your opinion, what makes you a great problem solver?
9. Here at Baylor Health, we live our mission daily of being a Christian ministry of healing by promoting many great community programs that help the less fortunate and underserved. Have you been a part of any programs like this in the past?
10. Talk about a time you had to adjust to a major change in your workplace or your job. What enabled you to handle the change effectively?
11. Our hospitals are staffed with 24/7 coverage of spiritual care staff. Have you had the opportunity to work with chaplains in the healthcare setting?
12. Do you think it is possible to be a good team member, yet disagree with the leader?
13. What are your ultimate career goals down the road? Do you foresee an ability to relocate in the future should your dream job open within Baylor Health?
14. Why should Baylor Health Care System hire you over other candidates?
15. Well, this is all of the questions I have for you. Do you have any questions for me?
16. What would you like me to know about you that is not found on your resume?
17. Have you ever been fired or written up as a healthcare professional?
18. This position requires long hours on your feet and heavy lifting at times. Is there anything keeping you from being able to perform those job duties?
19. It is often said that a career in healthcare is a 'thankless job'. How can we keep you motivated and engaged, even on the days when you feel your work goes unnoticed?
20. At Baylor Health Care System we seek to hire individuals who display a keen interest in the healthcare arena. Would you consider yourself dedicated to a career in healthcare services?
21. Talk about a time you successfully promoted a health or well-being strategy for a patient. Why was this important for the patient?
22. Tell me about your healthcare related education and training.
23. One of our main values at Baylor Health is that we never settle. What does this mean to you in your job?
24. What is your patient care philosophy?
25. Baylor Health is a large organization and we promote teamwork within and between each and every department here by living the value we are in it together. In what ways have you witnessed teamwork helping a patient?
26. Healthcare service companies require strong organizational skills and attention to detail. How do you ensure that your work is properly organized, and highly accurate?
27. When working as part of a large team, what role do you find yourself taking on and what style of communicator would you say that you are?
28. Patient care requires a strong amount of compassion. Do you consider yourself a compassionate person?
29. Have you ever been involved in ordering medical supplies, maintaining inventory, or other types of health care related administrative duties?
30. At Baylor Health Care System, we empower our employees to be a part of large decision making procedures and changes to work processes. Give an example of a time you were empowered in your work to make critical decisions on the job.
31. Why do you feel it is important for healthcare organizations to put a direct focus on affordability of services for their patients?
32. When have you shown a willingness to learn a new method or new approach to solving a problem?
33. Have you ever been part of a departmental alignment strategy where you had to adjust work processes? How did you handle that situation?
34. Baylor Health Care System has a diverse workforce. When have you worked amongst a diverse group of people?
35. Do you prefer to work in a team based position or individually?
36. Baylor Health Care System supports a healthy work/life balance for all employees. How do you balance life and work?

Baylor Health Care System Interview Questions

1. What is your greatest weakness?

2. What part of your healthcare career brings you the most stress?

3. If you could expand your knowledge and expertise in any healthcare service area, which would you choose?

4. If Baylor Health Care System hired you today, what would you accomplish first?

5. How has technology made your work more effective over time? What have been any roadblocks you've had to overcome in using new technology?

6. With the ongoing changes in the healthcare services industry, how do you keep your knowledge current?

7. What type of work environment do you dislike working in?

8. In your opinion, what makes you a great problem solver?

9. Here at Baylor Health, we live our mission daily of being a Christian ministry of healing by promoting many great community programs that help the less fortunate and underserved. Have you been a part of any programs like this in the past?

10. Talk about a time you had to adjust to a major change in your workplace or your job. What enabled you to handle the change effectively?

11. Our hospitals are staffed with 24/7 coverage of spiritual care staff. Have you had the opportunity to work with chaplains in the healthcare setting?

12. Do you think it is possible to be a good team member, yet disagree with the leader?

13. What are your ultimate career goals down the road? Do you foresee an ability to relocate in the future should your dream job open within Baylor Health?

14. Why should Baylor Health Care System hire you over other candidates?

15. Well, this is all of the questions I have for you. Do you have any questions for me?

16. What would you like me to know about you that is not found on your resume?

17. Have you ever been fired or written up as a healthcare professional?

18. This position requires long hours on your feet and heavy lifting at times. Is there anything keeping you from being able to perform those job duties?

19. It is often said that a career in healthcare is a 'thankless job'. How can we keep you motivated and engaged, even on the days when you feel your work goes unnoticed?

20. At Baylor Health Care System we seek to hire individuals who display a keen interest in the healthcare arena. Would you consider yourself dedicated to a career in healthcare services?

21. Talk about a time you successfully promoted a health or well-being strategy for a patient. Why was this important for the patient?

22. Tell me about your healthcare related education and training.

23. One of our main values at Baylor Health is that we never settle. What does this mean to you in your job?

24. What is your patient care philosophy?

25. Baylor Health is a large organization and we promote teamwork within and between each and every department here by living the value we are in it together. In what ways have you witnessed teamwork helping a patient?

26. Healthcare service companies require strong organizational skills and attention to detail. How do you ensure that your work is properly organized, and highly accurate?

27. When working as part of a large team, what role do you find yourself taking on and what style of communicator would you say that you are?

28. Patient care requires a strong amount of compassion. Do you consider yourself a compassionate person?

29. Have you ever been involved in ordering medical supplies, maintaining inventory, or other types of health care related administrative duties?

30. At Baylor Health Care System, we empower our employees to be a part of large decision making procedures and changes to work processes. Give an example of a time you were empowered in your work to make critical decisions on the job.

31. Why do you feel it is important for healthcare organizations to put a direct focus on affordability of services for their patients?

32. When have you shown a willingness to learn a new method or new approach to solving a problem?

33. Have you ever been part of a departmental alignment strategy where you had to adjust work processes? How did you handle that situation?

34. Baylor Health Care System has a diverse workforce. When have you worked amongst a diverse group of people?

35. Do you prefer to work in a team based position or individually?

36. Baylor Health Care System supports a healthy work/life balance for all employees. How do you balance life and work?