35 Kaiser Permanente Interview Questions & Answers

Table of Contents

1. Adaptability Questions
2. Behavioral Questions
3. Direct Questions
4. Discovery Questions
5. Diversity Questions
6. Education Questions
7. Experience Questions
8. Operational Questions
9. Situational Questions
10. Teamwork Questions

Adaptability

1. When have you had to adapt to change in the workplace?

How to Answer

In the ever-changing and evolving world of healthcare at Kaiser Permanente, being flexible and adaptable in your work is a key trait that your interviewer will be looking for in any candidate that they hire. To get at your ability to be pliable in your work, your interviewer would like to know about a time you were required to adapt to change in the workplace. Being able to adapt to change in the workplace is an essential skill to possess because change is inevitable at Kaiser Permanente. Talk to your interviewer about a time when have had to adjust to changes on the job. Ensure that the example that you use displays your ability to take on change with a smile on your face, a positive attitude, and produced an excellent result.

Written by Ryan Brunner

Entry Level Example

"While I was in school, I worked at a fast food restaurant, which was very fast-paced. I was hired to work the cash register, but more shifts than not, I would come in, and we would be very short-staffed. That meant I might work four different areas during my shift, ranging from cleaning the dining room to making sandwiches or doing the dishes. I tried to always keep a positive attitude and remain flexible, knowing that being short-staffed was a stress to everyone, so I was willing to do what was necessary to keep the team moving together. I understand the need for change and do all I can to support it."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

Answer Example

"In my current role there is a lot of staff turnover when it comes to our management team. I have had to adapt to 3 new managers in the past four years and each has had their own unique styles and expectation. It is not the ideal situation, but I have always adjusted for the good of the team. When some of my colleagues were down and out regarding the changes, I was always the person to point out the bright side of a new change and I did so through both conversation and action."

Written by Ryan Brunner

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"When the Covid Pandemic started, there was a rapid learning curve on what and how to use PPE effectively. I was nervous that I was not using the proper equipment during high-exposure risk procedures. We had in services to help us prepare. I would make sure to alert my team of a covid + patient and what protection to use, ie respirators vs N-95 masks."

Amanda's Feedback

The COVID-19 pandemic presented many opportunities to adapt as the situation evolved. You can enhance this response further by also sharing what you did to build team morale and try to maintain a healthy work/life balance in the face of increased workloads and long hours. Finally, end your response by talking about the positive outcome. Did your team learn how to effectively use PPE and successfully protect themselves and their patients?

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"COVID is a prime example of a time I had to adapt to change at work. We had to learn a lot of new protocols and though I was concerned whether everyone’s health and safety would be an issue, after going through the training I felt reassured that we would have all the correct safety measures in place. It really helped the whole office work together on adhering to those protocols to keep everyone healthy."

Jaymie's Feedback

Great! Interviewers want to know that you can adapt and embrace change when needed within the organization. It sounds like you had a positive attitude and were willing to be flexible, which are two qualities that the interviewer should find valuable in a candidate.

Anonymous Answer

"In my previous role as a therapist in the wraparound team, I had to adjust to the high staff turnover which led the agency to be short-staffed until the position was filled again. With that, I had to take on different roles such as the behavior specialist and facilitator in order to serve the needs of the client. It was very stressful, but it gave me the experience of case management and behavior intervention skills."

Jaymie's Feedback

Staffing shortages cause a lot of stress in the workplace, so this is a good example to share that shows you can adapt and overcome. Your response shows that you were a team player and were willing to do what was needed to serve your clients. Good job rounding out your answer with skills you also developed through the experience.

Anonymous Answer

"Working in the restaurant business during the pandemic was a crazy time. I know we were one of the industries that got hit very hard economically. One change was the amount of people I had on my team. When the lockdown hit, only a select few were allowed to stay on to keep the restaurant going. The chefs for obvious reasons, but the servers that were chosen to stay became delivery drivers. So going from a waiter to a delivery driver was definitely a huge change. I was doing a completely different job, but it was easy to learn. And then when lockdowns got lifted and the restaurant opened back up, we were severely short-staffed. Those who weren't chosen to stay during the lockdown were given the offer to return, but most had already moved on. And so one of the things I had to adapt to was learning how to work well with fewer people. I had to learn additional tasks on top of the duties I had as a waiter. This included learning how to cook, so I could help in the back if necessary, as well as being my own busboy, and learning to bartend. So I would say in that one year alone I had to go from a waiter to a delivery driver then back to being a waiter, but with the responsibilities of several other positions at my place of work. It was stressful, but at the same time, I'm glad I endured because I learned a lot from that experience."

Jaymie's Feedback

The pandemic impacted so many in the workplace! Employees in the restaurant industry faced many challenges, as you've described well in your response. Your example demonstrates your ability to be agile, flexible, open-minded, determined, and a team player. Great job!

Anonymous Answer

"I work in a kitchen and there was one shift where I came into work where it was only me in the kitchen because my manager was on vacation and the shift leader had called off that day so I had to figure out how to do all the things that my manager usually takes care of by myself. I have never taken on the role of delegation, although I had to on this day since we were short-staffed. I received some help from the employees working in the front of the store and so I delegated them to roles in the kitchen that would help the most for us to get all the work done for the day. I had to make sure specific paperwork was filled out, orders were made correctly, all food was put away properly, and all workstations were cleaned. I believe I communicated with everyone well and was capable of doing all necessary tasks without any problems."

Jaymie's Feedback

This is an excellent example to share with the interviewer. It showcases your ability to remain calm under pressure, take initiative even when you don't have all the necessary information or instructions, delegate tasks, communicate effectively, and work with the team to achieve common goals. Great job!

Anonymous Answer

"The COVID pandemic disrupted the entire world, including workflow. Once the lockdown began we made numerous changes to our practice and immediately began seeing patients via teleconference. Over the next couple of weeks, I developed several methods so we could resume performing diagnostic tests, and provide critical treatments to patients while maintaining social distancing. These adaptations allowed us to continue to care for our patients, and keep our staff employed."

Jaymie's Feedback

COVID-19 definitely required healthcare workers to adapt! It sounds like you faced the challenge head-on and embraced the change to continue supporting your patients and providing quality care. Nice job!

Behavioral

2. Patient care requires a strong amount of compassion, and Kaiser Permanente strives to provide compassionate care to their patients. Do you consider yourself a compassionate person?

How to Answer

To succeed at Kaiser Permanente, you should have a solid level of compassion for your patients or customers. Talk to the interviewer about the compassionate qualities that you possess and that you'd bring to this role with Kaiser Permanente. Prior to your interview, try to think of some keywords that define your compassion and empathy for others in the work that you do. These can include terms like sympathy, empathy, humanity, kindness, caring, and heart.

Written by Ryan Brunner

1st Entry Level Example

"I definitely consider myself a compassionate person. I take the opportunity to understand others and really try to put myself in their shoes to better understand their perspective of a situation. In my friend group, I've always been the natural counselor, helping others in difficult times and being there for those who need someone to listen. I always listen with an open mind and heart and never cast judgment. I believe I could add value to Kaiser Permanente by contributing this strength and core value if given the opportunity."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

1st Answer Example

"I understand that compassion is one of the top qualities that I need to bring to the workplace at Kaiser Permanente and I consider myself a very compassionate person. I am warm-hearted, responsive to my patients' needs, and always empathetic to others. I take the time to listen and reflect back to ensure that I am providing the best care possible."

Written by Ryan Brunner

2nd Answer Example

"My main reason for pursuing a career in healthcare was due to my compassionate nature with people. While I always do my best to provide kind and considerate care to my patients, I heavily emphasize things like patient privacy and patient advocacy when necessary. These go above and beyond what it means to provide compassionate care."

Written by Ryan Brunner

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I see myself as a compassionate person; I see more than a sick person picking up their prescription. I don't know what the patient could be going through, but showing I care for them and treating them like family will make a difference for them to feel better."

Rachelle's Feedback

This is a great response, and it shows that you truly do care about the people that you come across every day.

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"I have much compassion for my patients because I remember how terrifying my lengthy hospitalization as a 10-year-old was. As a result, my empathy guides me to be gentle and honest during a procedure. My goal is to have my patients view me as a healer and someone they trust to take care of them."

Amanda's Feedback

Compassion and empathy are dual characteristics that are vital to providing high-quality medical care to patients. Our ability to be compassionate with others is often rooted in our own life experiences, meaning those that have experienced suffering can sometimes have a greater capacity for compassion than anyone else. You can make this answer more impactful by explaining why you experienced a lengthy hospital stay as a child and how that influenced you. Do you remember receiving compassionate care during that time that inspired you to want to care for others in a similar way? Are there specific actions you take to express compassion, such as always using a patient's name, actively listening to their concerns, allowing them to ask questions, and expressing how the procedure will help them toward the goal of healing?

Anonymous Answer

"Yes, I do consider myself a compassionate person. We don’t always know what a patient’s situation is when they are coming in so I always try to be as gentle and kind as possible for them to feel at ease. This can help them to feel open explaining why they are not in the best mood or what is troubling them. And the whole visit is much smoother that way."

Jaymie's Feedback

Excellent job! It's important to be compassionate in healthcare, and it sounds like you understand the importance of empathy and perspective when working with patients.

Anonymous Answer

"I think that those who choose to be in the social work profession have some level of compassion. I chose this profession for that very reason. I consider myself a very compassionate person who finds joy in helping others and I do so in an empathetic and caring way."

Jaymie's Feedback

Compassion is important in every role at Kaiser Permanente. It sounds like you're passionate about caring for and helping others.

Anonymous Answer

"I definitely consider myself a compassionate person. Looking back on my time in the restaurant industry, I never shied away from putting myself in a position to assist customers with whatever their needs were and going beyond. Whether it be ensuring customers with food allergies have a safe meal, going out of my way to assist an elderly customer getting in and out of their seat, or paying out of my own pocket to make sure a customer gets a free meal for their birthday. I always try to treat customers as if they were an extension of my family. I believe the compassion I bring can add value to Kaiser Permanente if given the opportunity."

Jaymie's Feedback

Excellent! You did a great job tying in your customer service skills from your restaurant experience, and it's easy to see how those would transfer into patient care in healthcare.

Anonymous Answer

"Yes, I do consider myself a compassionate person, whenever someone tells me about their struggles or a situation they are in, I put myself in their shoes and try to see what they are going through because I want to understand it from their perspective. I try my best to listen and give caring advice and not any judgment to someone telling me their struggles."

Jaymie's Feedback

Really trying to see things from another person's perspective is such a valuable attribute in healthcare! Being a good listener, displaying empathy and kindness, and not judging others are all excellent ways to demonstrate compassion in the workplace. Nice job!

Anonymous Answer

"Yes, I consider myself to be a compassionate person. I listen intently to patients and let them tell their stories. Then I ask questions. I usually repeat back to them what they've said to ensure that I have their history correct. This helps the patient to know that someone listened and paid attention to them. I acknowledge their frustrations in dealing with their health problems. We then discuss different treatment options, and I give them a voice in the decision-making."

Jaymie's Feedback

Great answer! Your response highlights effective communication skills along with compassion for your patients and what they are going through.

Behavioral

3. Working at Kaiser Permanente, there are many emotions that staff can experience in a day. Have your emotions ever been in the way of your productivity on the job?

How to Answer

No matter if the job you are interviewing for at Kaiser Permanente puts you in direct patient contact or not, the healthcare industry, in general, can be very emotional at times for any staff member. In asking this question, your interviewer wants to know if you consider yourself to be an emotionally driven person. Talk to the interviewer about your emotions and if they have ever affected your productivity at work. If possible, try to point out your ability to stay calm in an emotional situation on the job by pointing out a time that you had to in the past with great results.

Keep in mind - almost everyone is an emotional creature to some degree, but there are other ways that you can describe yourself that have a more positive connotation. If you are passionate, you could choose to refer to yourself as expressive, communicative, open, and unreserved.

Written by Ryan Brunner

1st Entry Level Example

"When I was in college, I worked at a fast food restaurant, so naturally, there was a lot of interaction with the public. I often worked nights and weekends, and sometimes, customers would come in intoxicated. I've had many customers become rude, angry, and sometimes outright offensive, but I never took it personally and kept my demeanor calm and professional. I never let their behavior dictate my response, and I never let it overwhelm or upset me to the point that I couldn't complete my job. I know in healthcare, you may have similar experiences with patients or caregivers who are angry or upset or who have maybe just had someone they love pass away. I would treat each situation with professionalism, care, and compassion and would not let emotions get in the way of me doing my job at Kaiser Permanente either."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

1st Answer Example

"Everyone is emotional to a certain degree, and I would consider myself kind-hearted and open. A career in healthcare can be emotional at times; however, I choose to focus on the positives. For instance - if we are close to losing a patient, I will focus on the positive memories rather than the illness. This mindset has consistently allowed me to continue with a productive shift no matter the emotions that come my way and I would be able to bring this same level-headedness to work at Kaiser Permanente."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

2nd Answer Example

"This is a great question. I think the right answer is, 'of course, but not for long!' We've all had those tough cases. A child dies, a patient yells at you, or you have to give someone a cancer diagnosis. It's professional to take a few minutes after an encounter like that and let those emotions come and go. I cope with these emotions by telling myself that it's not my story, it's the patient's story. I think it's okay to be moved by someone else's experience, but I don't need to make it mine."

Written by Ryan Brunner

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I'm human, and of course, I feel sad if one of my patients has bad news if a customer dies or something happens to my coworkers or someone I care about, but I also don't let those feelings affect my job and productivity."

Rachelle's Feedback

There is a balance between allowing normal emotion and allowing it to impact your work. It seems you have found that balance. Nice work!

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"I care about the patient's emotions, but I don't let it get in the way with work. I had a patient who lost his wife he has been married to for 50 years. I can at least hug the patient, and I told him to think about the good memories he has had with her."

Rachelle's Feedback

This is an emotional situation, indeed. It seems you are very empathetic while providing personalized care.

Anonymous Answer

"Everyone has an emotional moment, especially in health care. I consider myself kind-hearted but driven to complete my task. I have the ability to put my emotions on the back burner so I can complete a job. An example, unfortunately, lidocaine was injected intrathecally. I realized immediately, put the patient in reverse Trendelenburg position, called anesthesia, and transferred care. Once care was transferred, I was upset, but was able to calm down and finish the work day."

Amanda's Feedback

Good job! Experiencing emotion is part of being human, but in a healthcare setting your ability to focus on the patient and task in front of you regardless of your feelings is vital. You can enhance this response by explaining who erroneously injected the patient with lidocaine. If it was your mistake, you will also want to explain what action steps you've taken to prevent that mistake from happening again.

Anonymous Answer

"I always make sure I compartmentalize my emotions because I feel that is part of being professional. The patients are coming in to be helped and I can’t do my best if I am distracted by other issues. Of course, I am only human so I do make sure that I talk to people close to me to let some of the pressure be relieved and allow me to continue to be present at work."

Jaymie's Feedback

This is a well-balanced answer that demonstrates your ability to focus on patient care and not be distracted, but that you have outlets when you need to talk through things with someone.

Anonymous Answer

"We tend to carry the emotional weight of our clients through their narrative or countertransference. We sometimes struggle with emotional things in our personal life. My emotions have never interfered with productivity because I find outlets to control them such as taking a break for deep breathing or meditation and consulting with my peers and supervisor."

Jaymie's Feedback

Working in healthcare means experiencing many situations that are emotionally taxing. It's great that you have outlets and ways to cope so that emotional stress does not interfere with your productivity.

Anonymous Answer

"That’s a great question and when looking back on my time in the restaurant business I would say no. I am not denying that I am an emotional person. But in a professional environment, I always try to remain calm and collected. Regardless if someone is offensive, rude, or angry, I always try to be the bigger person. I understand that in healthcare the experiences can be similar because both deal in customer service, and knowing how I uphold myself in the restaurant business I think I can easily apply that same work ethic to Kaiser.."

Jaymie's Feedback

You did an excellent job discussing your transferable skills and experience!

Anonymous Answer

"I have had days where I go to work while dealing with stressful things outside of work, and on those days I look at work like it is my escape from that type of stress and I'm just there to do my job and take my mind off of those things that may inhibit my ability to work. Even if more things pile in the way I'm feeling at work, I don't let my emotions get the best of me and make sure I'm fully focused on the task at hand."

Jaymie's Feedback

Naturally, working in healthcare can be an emotional job since you deal with real people every day. The interviewer wants to know that you can still remain professional and get the job done, even during challenging emotional situations. It sounds like you can work through your emotions and keep your focus on the task at hand.

Anonymous Answer

"We all experience different emotions throughout the workday, but this has never impacted my productivity, because I pay attention to how I'm feeling, and remain calm. Recently one of my sons called me at work, to let me know that he had been involved in a serious car accident, but that no one was hurt. I was very shaken by this, but after talking to him for a couple of minutes we devised a plan for his brother to drive him home. I took several deep breaths, calmed down, and was able to focus on work for the rest of the afternoon."

Jaymie's Feedback

You provided a great example that supports your ability to remain calm and focused, even when situations occur that may stir your emotions. Good job!

Behavioral

4. How do you handle the day-to-day stresses that come with this position at Kaiser Permanente?

How to Answer

No matter what role you're interviewing for at Kaiser Permanente, you will likely face some stressors in the day-to-day activities of the job. The hustle and bustle of any position in healthcare can be very demanding and your interviewer would like to know if you can appropriately handle the stress related to this job. Discuss how you can thrive in this role, even during the most stressful times. Reiterate to your interviewer that you are aware of the stressors that come with this role. If you can, provide an example of a time when you implemented a stress-management technique in your current role and explain why it was effective.

Written by Ryan Brunner

Entry Level Example

"I feel that one of my strengths is managing stress. In this role, I would utilize a couple of different techniques to help me manage the day-to-day stress of the job. I would keep myself organized by utilizing an electronic calendar and OneNote to keep my tasks and priorities highlighted. Additionally, I would keep lines of communication open with my manager so that each week I understood what needed to be done and what tasks were the highest priority for the team. If I had questions, I would ask them, and if I felt overwhelmed or had concerns, I would be sure to speak with my manager about those as well. Throughout my shift, I would take my meal breaks so that I could have that time to replenish my energy and decompress before getting back to my duties."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

Answer Example

"I handle stress very well, and when you call my references, they will attest to this fact. When I am under pressure on the job, I focus on the task at hand and make sure not to get distracted with other tasks. Staying on a deadline is very helpful, and I will delegate when necessary to alleviate some stress. If necessary for my own personal good, I don't hesitate to walk away from my desk and take a walk to calm my brain a bit before stepping back."

Written by Ryan Brunner

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I am super focused when I am stressed so I can make sure everything is done and correct. When I need to relieve stress, I will take a walk to get something to drink or turn on some soft music."

Amanda's Feedback

You've answered well by sharing that you face stressful situations head-on. You can strengthen your response by providing a specific example of how you've handled stress well in the past, or telling about a time when increased pressure actually helped you work more productively. This illustrates your ability to transform stress into action, successfully turning a negative into a positive, to accomplish your goal.

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"I like to make sure I keep on top of things, like making sure to finish charts in a timely manner, communicating with staff to make sure everything runs as smoothly as possible, and just getting in and working hard. After that, I make sure to give myself to unwind by doing yoga, meditation, or listening to music to help."

Jaymie's Feedback

These are all effective stress management techniques!

Anonymous Answer

"I consider myself someone who works well under stress. I feel that having deadlines puts pressure on me in a positive way to make sure I prioritize what is important and I do so by having a planner and prioritizing what needs to be done first. When the situation gets too stressful, I will change the scenery from the office such as a walk around the community during my break as a refresher."

Jaymie's Feedback

These are all great strategies to employ to combat workplace stress!

Anonymous Answer

"Working in healthcare brings many different stresses. I deal with stress at work by paying attention to how I'm feeling, remaining calm, and focusing on the task at hand. Deep breathing helps slow down the heart rate and improves focus in stressful moments. Away from work I exercise daily and try to maintain a regular sleep schedule to help with stress."

Jaymie's Feedback

Your response has a nice balance of techniques you use to reduce stress in and outside of the workplace. Perfect!

Behavioral

5. What is your patient care philosophy that you would bring to work at Kaiser Permanente?

How to Answer

Prior to your interview with Kaiser Permanente, your research into the organization's quality mission and vision will give you great insight into their patient care philosophy. If posed a question like this during your time with them, your interviewer will be looking to hear that your own patient care philosophy is a great match for Kaiser Permanente. Prior to your interview, put some serious thought into what drives your patient care philosophy internally and sincerely reiterate to your interviewer why you hold this philosophy near and dear to your heart.

Written by Ryan Brunner

1st Entry Level Example

"I would say my patient care philosophy would be to always put the patient first. To me, this means their emotional and physical needs, wants, and goals and doing what is best for the patient above all else. I would strive to get to know each patient as an individual, respect their values, beliefs and preferences, build a relationship of trust, and promote their best interests. I would provide quality care by being proactive to their needs and responsive to their requests while also involving their caregivers or loved ones in their care plan."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

1st Answer Example

"Every day at work, I remind myself that everyone I come across has their struggles. Every person I care for has a story. I make sure to get to know my patients whenever possible and I provide them with the most compassionate care possible. In the end, I try to always treat others the way I would expect to be treated if I were in their shoes."

Written by Ryan Brunner

2nd Answer Example

"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."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"Do my job and do it right. Try to do the best I can for patients and remember always to be compassionate with them and treat them like I want my family members to be treated, and go the extra mile helping them."

Rachelle's Feedback

This is a personal and caring approach. I really like this answer! Just some food for thought...how does this response align with the Kaiser Permanente philosophy? Are there shared values that you could also mention?

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"Since I was a patient as a child for an extended time, I empathize with the patient to attempt to anticipate their anxiety, frustration, and needs. I talk to my co-workers at every level and try to learn something every day. My goal is to take care of patients, even if I have a brief interaction like I would want my family and friends to be taken care of."

Amanda's Feedback

Your patient care philosophy encompasses the values or beliefs that support the way you care for patients. You can enhance this response further by explaining that you strive to treat every patient as if they were a friend or family member - providing the same level of dedication and care you would if the person were close to you by putting their health interests first and never forgetting that he or she is a person who may be scared, sick, or anxious about what is happening.

Anonymous Answer

"I’m very focused on patient education and it’s very important to make sure patients know what’s going on with their eyes and understand why something has to be done, like a referral out to a different department or special testing."

Jaymie's Feedback

This is a good philosophy to share! Can you go into more detail on what impact this has had on patient care or how your philosophy would make an impact at Kaiser?

Anonymous Answer

"Kaiser aims to provide quality care and prioritize the members' needs. My patient care philosophy aligns with that goal as I too aim to prioritize the members' needs by building a trusting therapeutic relationship, being a good listener, and providing tools and interventions to help prevent major crisis in their mental health."

Jaymie's Feedback

It's great that you've researched the mission of Kaiser Permanente and were able to incorporate your philosophy alignment in your response. Well done!

Anonymous Answer

"I treat patients how I would like to be treated as if they are family. Keys to patient care are letting them tell their story, and listening intently before asking questions. Another key is to be empathetic by acknowledging their frustrations and fears. I provide education by explaining their underlying condition in easy-to-understand terms and write out a treatment plan. During the visit, I asked if there are any questions."

Jaymie's Feedback

Your patient care philosophy aligns well with Kaiser Permanent's vision to "Embrace our members, colleagues, and communities as family, and work tirelessly to improve their wellness and quality of life. We also fundamentally believe that the expert care we deliver should be equally available to all. In short, we care. We advocate. We give. We thrive. And we do it all with the utmost sincerity and passion every day." Great job!

Behavioral

6. What would you say is the greatest weakness you would bring to this role at Kaiser Permanente?

How to Answer

Your interviewer knows that any candidate they select for this role at Kaiser Permanente isn't perfect and comes with an area or two for improvement. What is important to them is that you are cognizant of your own personal shortcomings. If possible, pick a weakness that is not a core skill for the position you are interviewing for. 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 if hired at Kaiser Permanente. 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!

Written by Ryan Brunner

1st Entry Level Example

"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!"

Written by Ryan Brunner

1st Answer Example

"I know this will come off as cliche, but it's truthful. My weakness is taking on too much and 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 all of the time. 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."

Written by Ryan Brunner

2nd Answer Example

"As I look back on my career and my life outside of work, my greatest weakness has always been my avoidance of conflict. While sometimes a good thing, there were times when I was fearful of even expressing my own beliefs or thoughts in thought that I would upset someone. Over time, I have learned to be open and honest with people in expressing my views in a nice way and this has really opened my eyes that most people are really very accepting of new ideas. I continue to work on this on a daily basis."

Written by Ryan Brunner

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I think my weakness is that I take too much to do. I tend to help the pharmacist with a resolution, and at the same time, fill, input, and answer the phone. I have been working on it by asking for help; if I'm helping the pharmacist, I ask another tech to fill or input."

Rachelle's Feedback

Good answer! It's great that you are working on asking for help from a variety of people when needed.

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"One of my greatest weakness is being unable to maintain focus for extended periods when engaged in long mental tasks. I have always performed best on tasks that require active verbal or physical interaction. To help challenge this weakness, I have actively made an effort to take breaks even if it is for a few minutes to refocus. Additionally, time management strategies such as to-do lists and prioritizing based on urgency and importance have helped with overall performance."

Rachelle's Feedback

It sounds as though you've made an excellent effort to overcome this weakness. It's great that you recognize what you need to best focus. Good answer!

Anonymous Answer

"For years, I was the single Radiology PA at this hospital. I was comfortable doing every procedure, consulting, and solving problems knowing it would be done correctly. However, the service is so busy, that an additional PA is needed. I have learned to relinquish some duties because I could not do everything. I have learned that I can trust that others will do an excellent job and do it with as much detail as I would."

Amanda's Feedback

I think I see where you're headed here, but it's important to clearly say what your weakness is. In this case, I think you're communicating that your weakness is a desire to do it all so that you can be sure it's done right. You can enhance this response by pivoting to talk about the actions you're taking to improve in this area every day. Do you communicate clearly with team members and delegate radiology tasks to build trusting relationships and show that you have confidence in those around you to do the job well? Do you refrain from micromanaging or reminding others how to perform certain procedures? Do you ask for others' opinions or input? Sharing what you're doing to transform your weakness into strength can help show the interviewer that you have the adaptability and leadership skills to excel as part of their team.

Anonymous Answer

"I am a shy person, so it is a little hard for me to talk to people I am not familiar with, but this profession has given me a lot of practice conversing with a lot of different people and I don’t have a problem making conversation in the exam room to make the patient feel more at ease."

Jaymie's Feedback

Your response shows you are self-aware and have identified an area of development, and that you have a plan in place to overcome it. Great job!

Anonymous Answer

"My greatest weakness would have to be that I am too critical of myself which leads to negative self-talk and insecurity. I find that I am harder on myself compared to what my colleague thinks about me. I am currently working on this by looking at the whole situation and finding the positive in it. I also downloaded a self-affirming app that gives me daily affirmations that I embrace for that day."

Jaymie's Feedback

Great job sharing your area of development and your strategy and action plan for overcoming it.

Anonymous Answer

"I think my greatest weakness coming into this program would be my technical skills. Like using Excel and Word. When taking prerequisite courses that were required for the program, the class that I struggled with the most was the Intro to Computers class. I know there were areas I could’ve still improved in. And knowing how important this career is to me I have already made efforts to fix this weakness. I’ve chosen to enroll in another computer class for this upcoming fall semester so hopefully, by December my skills will have improved in that area."

Jaymie's Feedback

You did a nice job sharing your weakness, and then focusing on ways you're working to overcome, grow and develop.

Anonymous Answer

"I believe my greatest weakness that I'm bringing to this role is that I can only speak English. I've had moments in previous jobs where I've had to communicate with individuals who did not speak any English and the language barrier was hard to get passed although this is no reason to not help these people. I still help them in any way I can trying to provide the same customer service that I would with someone who can speak English. One thing that I am doing to improve on this is I've downloaded a language app where I can learn simple phrases in other common languages that will better help me communicate with non-English speaking individuals."

Jaymie's Feedback

This is a great answer! You identified an area of opportunity that can help you relate to patients better, and you shared your plan for growing and developing in this area.

Anonymous Answer

"Early in my career, I would sometimes become impatient if patients took a long time when explaining their history, or if staff did not perform their jobs properly. By putting myself in the patient's shoes I've realized that sometimes the pattern of symptoms is simply not easy to understand, and can be difficult to explain. I've also learned to politely redirect patients when they veer off-topic. I've learned to take the perspective of staff members and cut them slack, as no one is perfect. Sometimes I give tips to the staff to perform a task more simply---"Have you ever tried it this way?"

Jaymie's Feedback

It sounds like this was a weakness from early in your career that you've considerably grown and developed since. Since the interviewer is asking what weakness you would bring to the role and team, try to share a more current example of an area of development. Perhaps you only speak one language, and it would be beneficial for you to be bilingual in your geographic location, or maybe you're undertrained in a particular area of care and would like to expand and develop those skills. Then, go into ways that you plan to overcome this area of weakness.

Behavioral

7. Give an example of a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty when working as part of the team. What was the challenge you faced and how did you handle things with your teammates?

How to Answer

When working with an organization the size of Kaiser Permanente, working as part of a team is a necessity in any position. Using a specific example from your work history, talk about a specific time where you had to go the extra mile as part of a team to make a project or task a success. In detail, discuss any hurdles you had to overcome and how you worked with your teammates to handle the challenge.

Written by Ryan Brunner

1st Entry Level Example

"In college, I took a business course, and in it, we had a group project with four total students assigned to research a company, do a SWAT analysis, and present it to the class. Initially, it was set up perfectly because we had four students, and there were four parts to that analysis. We met a few times, delegated assignments, and planned to meet again in a few weeks. At that next meeting, we found out that one of the students dropped the course without telling anyone, and the other was going to have emergency surgery and would be out of class for a while, leaving just one other student and me. The professor didn't empathize with the situation, so the two of us were responsible for completing the remainder of the project and presenting it in less than one week. Needless to say, that was a huge challenge since we weren't provided with any of the work the other students had done, so we worked together to create a plan; we kept in close communication and supported each other when the other was struggling. We met every evening before the presentation to finalize the project and rehearse our parts. The presentation went well, and we got an A, and I think having a positive attitude, committing to our responsibilities, communicating, and collaborating all helped us overcome this challenge."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

1st Answer Example

"In my current position, I was part of a team that was tasked with evaluating and improving our patient discharge procedures from our unit. As we met for brainstorming and solution ideas, we realized that our new process decisions would affect many other departments. In knowing that, I reached out to key players from our emergency department, nursing administration, and med/surgery unit to take part on our committee. In the end, their participation ensured that all departments that this decision would affect had a say in the new process. Looking back, my initiative to involve others was key in making the new procedure work for the entire organization."

Written by Ryan Brunner

2nd Answer Example

"Throughout my career, I've always loved working as part of large, inter-departmental teams where my leadership skills can fully be utilized to bring out the best in people. On a recent project, I was part of a team that was testing new EHR's that we would potentially put to use in our organization. Prior to bringing in representatives from three hand-selected companies, I brought up the idea of getting references on them first. My idea was to talk to users of EHR systems at all levels. To do this, we developed a survey where respondents could answer questions on the EHR regarding ease of use, effectiveness, and effect on patient care. Once developed, I researched and put out contact to users of the systems and we saw a great response rate to the survey. This process helped make our project a success in the end."

Written by Ryan Brunner

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"When I started in Interventional Radiology, I was not trained in IR procedures. There was not a formal method of teaching IR PAs. I discussed with hospital credentialing and became the first PA proctor in our Heath system. I had to submit my previous procedural logs and take a test. New hires were appreciative of learning one on one. The challenges are learning how each new hire learns and the best approach to teaching each new hire."

Amanda's Feedback

With this question it's important to explain a team challenge and how you collaborated with your team members to go above and beyond the call of duty to achieve a goal or overcome an obstacle. Consider strengthening your answer by expanding the example you've chosen to highlight how you worked as part of a team or collaborated with others on the path to becoming the first PA proctor. You can wrap up your response by sharing how many new hires you've trained and the new skills you've gained along the way that make you a stronger team member.

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"I worked with my team and managers to improve the discharge process at our facility. Making sure case management has the patient's follow-up appointments, the pharmacy should be listed, and any changes in medications on the day of discharge should be taken care of. By engaging other interdisciplinary team members, the discharge process is more organized now."

Jaymie's Feedback

Great start! Can you be more specific as to what your role was in the process and what specific part proved to be a challenge for you?

Anonymous Answer

"When working as the Marketing Manager for the high-end fitness facility, we would run fitness challenges to kick start people's fitness journey and convert them to memberships. We coordinated various measurement categories and contests to reward multiple winners. As a team, we were responsible for recruiting and enrolling from 1:1 invites to community and business outreach and partnerships as well as social marketing. We solicited partnerships, planned and coordinated prizes, and the whole end celebration. When it was almost go time, we were below our enrollment numbers so I came up with the idea to reach out to the concierges at the local apartment buildings. I offered them discounted membership in exchange for referring residents to our facility and in a couple of days' time we had 10 enrollments and exceeded our participant enrollment goal."

Jaymie's Feedback

Excellent example! You gave a good overview of the situation, the challenge, how you responded, and the result of your efforts that had a positive impact on the team and business!

Anonymous Answer

"This has happened quite often lately because of the understaffing at my current job. I jump in and do pretesting, scanning, and answering phones if needed. I know this is best for the whole office when I provide that extra help."

Jaymie's Feedback

Good job! It sounds like you are not someone who does the bare minimum and checks out but rather is willing to be a team player and provide support to better serve the patients.

Anonymous Answer

"During my internship working with foster students. I found that some weren’t showing up to school as it wasn’t important to them. I gathered some of the other interns and delegated research and information to prepare a presentation to present in the students’ STRTP home on their rights as a student, the importance of graduation, and the potential of unlocking their future in a positive way. As a result, it sparked an interest in some students as they came in to inquire more about their rights and current academics."

Jaymie's Feedback

It sounds like you took great initiative on this project and got the buy-in of your peers to work through those challenges to make the project a success.

Anonymous Answer

"Back when working in the food industry, the owners of the restaurant asked for ways that the overall experience for customers could be improved. The staff manager, bar manager, and myself cooperated on creating a new way of organizing our food ordering system. This was because a lot of time was being wasted because when servers would put in food orders everything was all over the place, or there were buttons that were lacking so things had to be manually typed out. This was the system we had been using for the past 6 years so reorganizing it in a way that made sense for everyone that was already used to this format was quite the endeavor. My managers knew the system, but they weren’t fully supportive of changing everything up. So the role I took on was creating a new format that they could implement. In the end, they would be the judge of whether or not we should use the format that I created.

It took a week to finish this task and even after it was completed, I made sure to communicate with every other server and get their input on how it could be improved. It’s great looking back on it because it was one of the few times in my career where being really organized and being transparent with my team benefited everyone and now that the system has been updated everything runs a lot smoother over there."

Jaymie's Feedback

What a unique opportunity to make a significant impact in the workplace! It sounds like you took the initiative to organize, plan, and communicate throughout the project and learned a lot from the experience. You answered all parts of the question exceptionally well!

Anonymous Answer

"I had an incident when I worked in the food industry during the pandemic where another worker tested positive after coming to work. This prompted my manager to have all people working with that person at the time to stay home and quarantine. A majority of the staff couldn't work and the rest of the employees who were cleared to work needed to be on every shift until everyone else could come back. I organized a list of all tasks that needed to be done before opening and after closing. Everyone chose a task and helped others if they finished early. During business hours, I made sure that we were staying on time with all orders by setting a clock a few minutes ahead of real-time and communicating with everyone on orders. If it wasn't busy I made sure to always be working on something that way I was always productive. It was a challenge to run a restaurant for several days while short-staffed but with an organized plan and good communication skills between each other, we effectively worked as a team."

Jaymie's Feedback

Your response really draws attention to your ability to remain calm in stressful situations, organize and prioritize tasks, communicate effectively, collaborate with others, and motivate the team to complete the goals. Excellent job!

Anonymous Answer

"During the pandemic lockdown, I was able to develop a method to continue to provide important treatments to patients while maintaining social distancing. But, all of the staff in one of our offices quit, and we were short-staffed in a second office. So I provided all of the treatments in that office for four straight months until we were able to hire and train new staff. The patients and other staff members were very grateful."

Jaymie's Feedback

You stepped up and volunteered to take on the work of many others in order to serve patients. Great example!

Behavioral

8. What part of your work brings you the most stress?

How to Answer

Stress can often be a regular part of the day-to-day work experience, especially in healthcare. Your interviewer at Kaiser Permanente fully understands that any candidate that they interview experiences stress in their work. What they're looking to hear by asking this question is that you have the ability to manage your stress in a healthy and productive manner. Be sure to talk openly to your 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 job that you are interviewing for and reiterate how you effectively handle this stressor in your work.

Written by Ryan Brunner

1st Entry Level Example

"In my last volunteer role, I supported a fundraiser for the women's shelter. Even though it was only a few hours a week, I found the position to be very stressful. I'm not easily overwhelmed or flustered, so I took a step back and tried to determine why I was feeling stressed, and I realized it was because the expectations of the role were unclear. There were about 25 of us on the project, and after reaching out to some of the other volunteers, it appeared no one really understood who was responsible for what, and there wasn't a lot of communication to prepare for the event. I went to the volunteer director and expressed my gratitude for being able to support such an organization, but constructively shared my feedback that if we could improve communication and set clear expectations on roles and responsibilities, I felt like we would accomplish more and have a better chance of reaching our goal. I even created and shared a few templates in Word to help get organized. He took my feedback well, and shortly after, we had a volunteer meeting to go over all the details, and we were given a point of contact for all questions in the future."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

1st Answer Example

"The part of my career that brings me the most stress is when the schedule is running behind due to many different factors. I like to be on time with my schedule to ensure that our patients are assisted properly. When the inevitable happens and the schedule runs behind, I don't hesitate to gather the troops and pull together in a team effort."

Written by Ryan Brunner

2nd Answer Example

"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 unnecessary stress for myself. I manage this by focusing my energy on productive activities that are good for my work."

Written by Ryan Brunner

3rd Answer Example

"In all honesty, the thought of a poor outcome with a patient is what stresses me the most. Early in my career, I probably worried too much about the fear of failure with my patients. With some great advice from some mentors in my role, I have harnessed that fear into the ability to go above and beyond for my patients to help ensure that I've done my part to create a great health outcome for them."

Written by Ryan Brunner

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"Patient adherence, the idea of patients, not taking their medications like they are supposed to, and affecting their health, can be stressful. By talking to them, explaining how important it is for them to take their prescriptions daily, and offer them auto-fill on their prescriptions, and enroll them on ready reminder will help them take better care of their health."

Rachelle's Feedback

I can see how it would be stressful when you care for your patients' success so much! It sounds as though you do everything possible to ensure your patients are set up for success.

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"It can be stressful at times being shorthanded, but I always no matter what, make the best of it and work hard."

Rachelle's Feedback

It's great that you make the best of things and work hard, regardless of the stress levels or being short-handed.

Anonymous Answer

"The biggest stressor in my current job is the exorbitant Monday morning consults. I understand the urgency of every patient and the need to expedite their procedure. How I typically handle this stressor, is to briefly review the consult list on Sunday night. I can prepare myself for the emergent procedures and I have a plan for Monday morning. I expedite the workups of every patient, then present them to my attending for guidance. I feel in control and can manage my stress, knowing every detail is addressed."

Amanda's Feedback

You've answered well by sharing that you face stressful situations head-on. You've provided a specific example of how you handle stress well by using pressure to help you work more productively. This illustrates your ability to transform stress into action, successfully turning a negative into a positive, to accomplish your goal.

Anonymous Answer

"Being that I am currently with a start-up company, it is stressful not already having structure and procedures in place. When I started, the sales reps had 3 days of training and were put on the sales floor to sink or swim. Being 100% commission-based led to a high turnover that did not support revenue goals. I coached the owner into hiring a trainer and creating a manual in order to provide more in-depth training. To support integrating training we implemented a mentor/mentee program. In addition, I interviewed the reps and facilitated weekly sales training based on the most common struggles. As a result, we have reduced turnover, and increased retention and sales."

Jaymie's Feedback

Good job describing strategies you use to overcome those stressors and challenges in the workplace.

Anonymous Answer

"What brings the most stress is my weakness of being too self-critical. I overthink about whether an intervention is sufficient enough or if I should have gone a different route in a conversation that was brought up. I feel that I have gotten better at utilizing my supervision time to bring up these anxious thoughts and remind myself that I am still in the learning process and that my supervisor is there to help guide me in the process."

Jaymie's Feedback

It's always good when you can identify stressors, especially those that can be self-induced. What's important here is that you're self-aware and have come up with a plan to overcome this area of development. Well done!

Anonymous Answer

"The one thing in my work that brings me the most stress is when a customer doesn’t have a good experience under my watch. I hold myself to a huge standard in the restaurant business because you’re dealing with people. And people’s opinions in the restaurant business are everything. The last thing I want is for that bad experience to be reflected in a Yelp review. Whether it’s in my control or not, if situations start to happen that affect the customer’s overall experience, that stresses me out because all I want to do is deliver good service and make the customer’s experience great. I worry a lot about failing the customer but I definitely turn that into motivation to go above and beyond for people."

Jaymie's Feedback

This is a good stressor to share with the interviewer that emphasizes your commitment to customer care, which will translate well into healthcare. You could round out your answer by sharing a technique or strategy that you use to communicate and check in with customers during their dining experience. That will show the interviewer how you try to mitigate that stress and will also highlight your interpersonal, communication, and customer service skills. Good job!

Anonymous Answer

"The part of my work that brings me the most stress is when the workload seems heavier than normal. This stresses me out because I am very precise with my time management. I don't like being late if I am on a time crunch. If I feel the amount of work that I have to do is more than the time I have, I make sure to spend a specific amount of time on each task. I break down my work into smaller tasks that way my workload doesn't seem as heavy. I also set a timer on my phone to know exactly the amount of time I am spending on different things."

Jaymie's Feedback

You shared a stressor for you, but more importantly, you shared ways that you help combat this stress, and you gave specific techniques and tools you use. Good job.

Anonymous Answer

"One of the most stressful aspects of work is staying on schedule. There are often delays, as some patients arrive late or have not completed their necessary forms before they arrive. I remain calm and strive to efficiently see each patient, while not appearing rushed. We politely explain to late patients that they might have to wait a bit so we don't inconvenience patients who arrive on time. The late patients are almost always understanding and appreciate that we will see them."

Jaymie's Feedback

It can be challenging to maintain a schedule when patients are late! It sounds like you work closely with your front office staff to communicate with patients and make every effort to see all patients timely. Nice job!

Direct

9. In order to work for Kaiser Permanente, you must be able to pass a full criminal background check. Do you consent to a full background check?

How to Answer

Working in the healthcare services industry at Kaiser Permanente means that you could be in contact with vulnerable people, children, pharmaceutical drugs, drug-related equipment, confidential information, and other areas of sensitivity. Assure the interviewer that you are able and willing to pass a complete background check if hired at Kaiser Permanente. If you have a criminal record, you must disclose this.

Written by Ryan Brunner

1st Entry Level Example

"I have previously completed a background check to be a volunteer, so I have no problem completing another as a condition of employment with Kaiser Permanente."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

1st Answer Example

"I have a clean criminal record and am happy to comply with any background check you require of me for this role."

Written by Ryan Brunner

2nd Answer Example

"No problem. I understand that it's part of the job. But I want to be upfront, I have done a full background check before, and there is a possibility you will see a charge for possession of marijuana in the check. It was several years ago, and it's no longer an issue for me because I've made significant changes in my life to pursue this career. But I don't want you to be surprised by the information. I'm happy to answer any questions you have."

Written by Ryan Brunner

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"Yes, I understand I have to have a clean background, and I'm happy to comply with it."

Rachelle's Feedback

Straightforward answer - very good!

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"Yes! I have a clean criminal record and will comply fully with a background check."

Amanda's Feedback

Good job! Consenting to a background check is a typical part of the process and your willingness to promptly comply is the best way to answer this question.

Anonymous Answer

"I have a clean record and as part of the hiring process, I will happily consent to a full criminal background check."

Jaymie's Feedback

A brief and direct answer such as this is appropriate.

Anonymous Answer

"I have no objections to this. I have no criminal background and have undergone background checks in the past."

Jaymie's Feedback

Perfect! A brief and direct answer is appropriate here.

Direct

10. Why do you think you will be successful in this role with Kaiser Permanente?

How to Answer

Rather than just sharing how you have gone above and beyond expectations in the past, focus on how your qualities will help you to meet and exceed expectations in this role with Kaiser Permanente. Discuss the reasons why will you be great at this job. Talk about your qualifications and skills that will help you to do this job well. If you can, match your strengths to the requirements outlined in the job description and make sure to thoroughly research the position prior to your interview.

Written by Ryan Brunner

1st Entry Level Example

"I know that a major part of Kaiser Permanente's vision is collaborating with people to provide quality healthcare for the community. This is important to me because I know it takes many people, from receptionists to providers, to care for patients and ensure they have a positive patient experience. Each and every employee plays a critical role in the patient care process. I understand the dynamics of a team and what it takes to be successful, and I find great value in working as a team to create positive outcomes. I believe my drive to collaborate with others and provide excellent customer service for patients would add value to Kaiser Permante's team."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

1st Answer Example

"Knowing that the main mission of the organization is improving the health of the communities that Kaiser Permanente serves, my forward-thinking vision will make me a very successful employee in this role. Never being complacent, my creative thinking and project leadership skills will serve your organization greatly."

Written by Ryan Brunner

2nd Answer Example

"Outside of my excellent clinical skills, the biggest attribute that I will bring to the table for Kaiser Permanente is my empathetic approach to treating patients. In a community-type setting, my main goal is to build relationships with my patients to keep them coming back to me for their care. I believe that building a strong rapport with patients through trust, empathy, and compassion is the key to a successful healthcare organization and I can't wait to bring these qualities to the patients of Kaiser Permanente."

Written by Ryan Brunner

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I will be successful in this role because I'm responsible, hardworking, learn fast, multitasker, and I'm reliable. Also, I am organized, bilingual, and I have pharmaceutical knowledge. I work good under stressful situations, and I'm good at resolving patients' problems."

Rachelle's Feedback

These are all excellent skills to have, and you sound very talented! Be sure that some of the skills you mention are a match with what Kaiser Permanente is looking for in the job posting or job description.

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"I will be confident and happy to be improving the health of Kaiser patients. My attention to detail leadership skills will help the eye clinic be successful for the patients and employees."

Rachelle's Feedback

This is a good start! Be sure to bring as much detail from the job description/role responsibilities as possible. Then, give a higher level of detail on how you will achieve this.

Anonymous Answer

"Throughout most of my career, I have been a proceduralist with an attention to detail. My approach is to give high-quality medical care in a compassionate and empathetic manner. I am very truthful and gentle with my patients so I can build trust. I want them to come back to me for further healthcare and feel comfortable. Given Kaiser's model to give excellent healthcare to the community."

Amanda's Feedback

It sounds like you enjoy working with patients and strive to build long-term relationships with them through high-quality, responsive care that meets their unique needs. Consider enhancing this answer by explaining how the experience or skills you have would translate into the new role you're applying to. Where possible draw connections between the skills, expertise, or experience you have and the requirements of the role you're applying to. This better highlights your suitability for the role.

Anonymous Answer

"I believe I have the traits of a successful Kaiser mental health provider because I am adaptable and flexible, not only am I a good listener, but I took a course in my undergrad to be an active listener. I am proactive in everything I do, and I am a compassionate and result-driven person. I take constructive criticism well as it will improve my skills as a clinical social worker."

Jaymie's Feedback

Good job! If you haven't already, try to incorporate a few traits or skills you possess that were listed in the job description as well.

Anonymous Answer

"That’s a great question, and I think I’ll be perfect for this program and this career because of how passionate I am for this job, and because I’m very compassionate when it comes to helping people. There is not a situation in which I won’t go above and beyond for a person, especially in healthcare. To add on, I'm also team player, I’m never the type to make enemies, and I respect everyone’s points of view. I think I have all the traits of what would make a great healthcare worker."

Jaymie's Feedback

Being a team player and someone who is compassionate and caring toward others are skills and qualities that will align well with the role. Great job!

Anonymous Answer

"I understand that Kaiser Permanente strives to provide quality healthcare through a well-rounded team that caters to all of a patient's needs. In my experience, working as a team is the best way to provide great customer service. I know that each person contributes something different to a patient's experience with the company. I believe that my ability to work efficiently with others and my communication skills will allow me to be successful in this role."

Jaymie's Feedback

Based on your other responses to questions, it will be clear that you are a team player and someone who can communicate effectively to achieve individual and collective goals. You also have a lot of solid customer service experience (based on your other answers) that will help you succeed in the role, so don't forget to mention that!

Anonymous Answer

"Yes, I will be successful at Kaiser Permanente, as I have significant experience in this role, and have a long track record of compassionate patient care with successful outcomes. I have a very strong work ethic and have always been recognized as a person of integrity. I work well as part of a team and have always developed a collegial, collaborative work environment."

Jaymie's Feedback

Great! If you haven't already, tie in some qualities, traits, and characteristics listed as required or preferred in the job description as well. You can also speak to your alignment with their mission, vision, and/or core values to make your answer even more impactful.

Discovery

11. What role would you be most comfortable taking on as part of this team at Kaiser Permanente?

How to Answer

At Kaiser Permanente, teamwork truly does make the dream work for the patients and families that rely on the organization to provide world-class care. In asking this question, your interviewer truly wants to understand the role that you naturally take on when put into a team-based environment. If you tend to take the lead, you can let the interviewer know, but avoid sounding overbearing. If you usually like to generate new ideas and allow someone else to execute them, share your creative side while expressing that you prefer for others to take the lead. While there is no right or wrong answer to this question, be sure to speak with honesty and confidence in explaining how you interact as part of a larger team.

Written by Ryan Brunner

Entry Level Example

"As I've just recently entered the workforce, I would be most comfortable in a support role on this team. I'm very open-minded and eager to learn, and I take direction and feedback well, so I feel that being in a position where I can learn while supporting the team with tasks and duties would be ideal. I'm able to effectively communicate by asking questions if I don't understand something or need clarification and also by recapping what I do know or have completed so that everyone is on the same page about the work that has been done. I feel I can add a lot of value in an administrative and support capacity, so I'm excited to learn more about this opportunity."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

Answer Example

"I am usually the 'ideas person' in team projects. In my current position, I am not the most persuasive person on our team, but I am highly creative. This skill means that, in most projects, I am great at creating a plan of action but am most comfortable passing the final patient-facing tasks to our more extroverted personnel. Here at Kaiser Permanente, I would look forward to being the ideas person on your team and also expanding my confidence and skill set in taking the lead on some projects."

Written by Ryan Brunner

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"My position at Kaiser is a Radiology Physician Assistant. There are no other roles for that position"

Amanda's Feedback

This question is a little tricky because it's unclear. It can help to think of it more broadly - going beyond your actual job title to reveal more about how you function within a healthcare team. There are many roles to play on a team and this question is asking about the kind of role you tend to take on when you're part of a team. Do you tend to take on a formal leadership role or tend to lead by example in more of a supportive position? Are you the creative member able to think outside the box or more of a logical analyst able to keep the team on task? You may also excel as an empathetic listener, able to help resolve conflict and build strong relationships. While I've listed several general options here, you don't have to stick to standard role divisions (i.e. leader vs. follower). At the end of the day, many role titles are fluid. It is best to explain clearly what your strengths are and how those strengths would benefit you as a Radiology PA.

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"Because I am an associate trying to gain my hours for licensing, I would feel comfortable being in the learning role as I have very limited skills and experience in the mental health therapy/counseling field. I hope to gain more knowledge and skills from my superior and apply them to all members across the lifespan."

Jaymie's Feedback

It's good to be honest about your experience and skill set, as you have been here. You did a nice job explaining your goals as a more junior team member.

Anonymous Answer

Jaymie's Feedback

It's good to be honest about your experience and skill set, as you have been here. You did a nice job explaining your goals as a more junior team member.

Anonymous Answer

"My role is physician, and I strive to foster a team environment that is collegial, and collaborative so that every member of the team feels appreciated for their efforts."

Jaymie's Feedback

Excellent! This aligns nicely with Kaiser Permanente's vision: "we are trusted partners in total health, collaborating with people to help them thrive, and creating communities that are among the healthiest in the nation."

Discovery

12. In your opinion, what makes you a great problem solver that we would be hiring at Kaiser Permanente?

How to Answer

In looking to hire you at Kaiser Permanente, your interviewer wants to know that you have a methodical approach to problem-solving. Consider the skills and qualities that help you successfully face problems on the job and be sure to reiterate them to your interviewer. 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 the ability that you would come up with innovative solutions on the job at Kaiser Permanente.

Written by Ryan Brunner

1st Entry Level Example

"I feel that I am a great problem solver because I'm a strong critical thinker and I'm very resourceful. If I have a problem and the solution seems easy, but I lack that resource or tool, I'm able to be creative and think outside the box to find another solution. I'm also very self-reliant, and if there is a problem I'm unsure how to approach, I'm quick to research it and track down the necessary information or person to consult with. I never give up and will work until I have found a solution to whatever problem is at hand."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

1st Answer Example

"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 each and every day on the job in our fast-paced work environment."

Written by Ryan Brunner

2nd Answer Example

"I believe I am a great problem solver because I am sure to gather as many facts as possible in any given situation. 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. In a recent project in my department, I was tasked with participating in a team that looked at our dispensing of medications and how our processes could be improved. As part of the team, I lead the cause of making sure that we took all factors into account and walked through all solutions that we could imagine. I utilized many resources for research, both inside and outside of our organization, and these resources were crucial in our success."

Written by Ryan Brunner

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I am a great problem solver because I know that it is a process that requires me to think rationally and not allow my feelings and judgments from looking at the facts. Also, when solving any problem, it is important to be able to identify as many possible solutions as possible in case one of them might not work out. In seeking out possible solutions, I also seek feedback and support from others when needed and also plan on how to cope in case of a solution does not go as planned."

Rachelle's Feedback

Your problem-solving approach is fantastic! You offer multiple solutions, look at the issue from all angles, and aren't afraid to ask for help when needed. Well done!

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"I listen to both sides."

Kevin's Feedback

See my suggestion below; expanding your response presents as more professional.

"I have well above average problem-solving skills. I am resourceful and am constantly thinking outside of the box. I approach any issue looking at it from multiple angles. I am flexible in my work and identify other dynamic opportunities for innovation or kaizen. I consider this one of my strengths."

Anonymous Answer

"My problem-solving method is a systematic approach to account for every detail to reach a solution. I try to think outside of the box for creative solutions. A recent example, an obese patient with spinal headaches had multiple failed blood patches by anesthesia. Since IR is not credentialed to do blood patches, I suggested IR could provide fluoroscopy assisting the Anesthesiologist in performing the blood patch."

Amanda's Feedback

Using an example is a great way to strengthen your answer and paint a clearer picture of your problem-solving ability. You indicate you are a very systematic problem solver, but then state that you're creative. This can seem to be contradictory. Consider strengthening your answer by stating that you have strong analytical skills that help you approach problems logically, but are also able to think creatively when a systematic solution isn't available, making you a well-rounded problem solver capable of adapting to the situation. Then, go on to share your example that illustrates your point.

Anonymous Answer

"What makes me a great problem solver is being able to look at solutions from all angles of the situation. For example, I had a student who wasn’t attending school consistently and I had to build a trusting relationship, help identify his future goals, and collaborate with his social worker to identify his barriers to education. From there, the student felt more motivated to take his education seriously."

Jaymie's Feedback

Being able to see the perspective of others in a situation is a true skill and one that the interviewer will find desirable in a candidate. Great job!

Anonymous Answer

"I would say that I am a great problem solver because I am a rational thinker. I don’t allow my feelings to cloud my judgment. When solving any problem, I try to identify as many possible solutions in case one might not work out. I also ask for feedback. For example, I do a lot of problem-solving when I bartend. When a customer asks me to make a drink I’m not 100% sure, If I don’t know the recipe, I’ll ask my coworkers for assistance because I know some have bartending experience. And if my coworkers are busy, I’ll look up the recipe. Rather than turn a customer down immediately and say “No I can’t serve that” I embrace the challenge of making a drink I’ve never made before and doing my best to solve the issue."

Jaymie's Feedback

Great example! It shows you can remain calm in a stressful situation, self-help with available resources, ask for help when needed, and work quickly to solve a problem.

Anonymous Answer

"I believe I am a great problem solver because I am very observant and a rational thinker. I do my best to try different ways of solving a problem that results in the best outcome. I have had an issue at my current job where we needed to cut down on the time it took to make and fill out orders. Normally, we would have one person working at each station, doing a different task to complete orders. I discovered that if we have multiple people working at the same station we could fill out orders faster. This allowed us to effectively cut down on our time and we were able to fulfill the maximum amount of food that we can make each day."

Jaymie's Feedback

This is an impressive example to incorporate in your response! It shows that you can think critically and take the initiative to share your ideas with others, which ultimately leads to a reduction in time to fill your orders. Great job!

Anonymous Answer

"My extensive experience provides perspective on many different aspects of healthcare, and helps to see the larger picture when solving problems. There is often no perfect solution to a problem, but collaboration with different people provides different points of view, and this can lead to several possible solutions. During the pandemic the members of my practice brainstormed to develop several ways to continue to provide optimum patient care."

Jaymie's Feedback

Having experience working with diverse teams definitely improves innovation, collaboration, and problem-solving in the workplace! If you have specific outcomes of your problem-solving during the pandemic, feel free to share an example or two with the interviewer to showcase your skills.

Discovery

13. What do the words "customer service" mean to you in this role with Kaiser Permanente?

How to Answer

Kaiser Permanente is 100% focused on the service that they provide to their patients. Your role with the organization could potentially put you in front of patients, vendors, or family members of patients, and all are considered customers of the organization. Talk about how your role at Kaiser Permanente can have an effect on the customers of the organization and how you go about providing excellent service to those customers.

Written by Ryan Brunner

1st Entry Level Example

"For Kaiser Permanente, I realize that patients are the customers. Without the patients returning, business would suffer, so the entire patient experience is critical. In this role, I would go above and beyond to treat every patient and their families with the same respect and care that I would my own family or friend. I know that every interaction is important, from answering the phone to checking someone in at the desk or just assisting a patient or family member in passing through the hallway. Each day, I would bring a positive attitude to work, treat patients with compassion, kindness, and professionalism and go out of my way to ensure that they would recommend Kaiser Permanente to all of their friends and family."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

1st Answer Example

"In this profession, my customers are my patients and their family members and I look to be at my best in providing excellent care and compassion to them. My care reflects on the organization as a whole and with the fact that word of mouth travels fast, I want my patients to come back again and again for their healthcare needs. Furthermore, I consider my coworkers in other departments as part of my customer base because my work can often have an impact on their work. I strive to write complete notes in the EMR and communicate effectively on patient hand-offs to them."

Written by Ryan Brunner

2nd Answer Example

"Having spent my career working in healthcare education with large institutions, my customers are the employees that I train and the educational materials vendors that I work with on a daily basis. To best suit my internal customers in their training, I ensure that I am a subject matter expert in the setting I am providing education. During training sessions, I take a methodical and knowledgeable approach with my students and keep an open ear for questions. If I promise any follow-up to my students, I do so in a timely manner. To my external vendor customers, I speak openly and honestly about our organizational needs and partner with them to create innovative and effective training sessions for our employees."

Written by Ryan Brunner

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"To me, it means to have a positive attitude to patients, smile and make them feel comfortable, answer any question they have, or resolve any issues they have. Make them think we care about them as if they were our family members so that they will come back."

Rachelle's Feedback

Your version of customer service sounds warm, welcoming, and caring. Very nice answer.

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"The Radiology PA is the face of the Radiology team to our patients. I strive to make each procedure as easy and painless as possible so our customers are satisfied while providing excellent care. When patients have to schedule a Radiology procedure, my hope is that they trust the team to take excellent care of them as stress-free as possible."

Amanda's Feedback

In a medical role the words "customer service" can often be used in conjunction with or interchangeably with "patient care" because your customers are typically patients. You can strengthen this answer further by explaining what your guiding principle is when it comes to treating patients and building trusting relationships. Do you strive to treat each one as you would want someone to treat your family members? Do you work to put the customer first, making sure their unique health needs are addressed?

Anonymous Answer

"It means that I am providing quality care and prioritizing their needs through a system theory approach where I’m supporting members by collaborating with family members and other healthcare professionals, identifying strengths and barriers in themselves and their environment, and being able to advocate for them when necessary."

Jaymie's Feedback

Excellent!

Anonymous Answer

"I know that if I were working for this organization, my customer service would reflect the patient's overall outlook on the company. I understand that Kaiser Permanente strives to provide excellent care for their patients. I would treat every customer how I would treat a member of my family. For patients in my care, I would try my best to provide them with a good, memorable experience where they would want to come back for all their healthcare needs."

Jaymie's Feedback

This is an excellent philosophy centered around patients and providing a positive experience for each! It will align well with Kaiser Permanente's mission and values.

Anonymous Answer

"Customer service at Kaiser Permanente means we treat patients and their families how we would want to be treated, like family, with compassion and kindness. I understand that we are all people with problems. I listen to patients's needs, develop an understanding with them, and do everything in my power to help them."

Jaymie's Feedback

Your passion for treating patients with respect and providing high-quality care is evident in your response. Nice job!

Discovery

14. If Kaiser Permanente hired you today, what would you accomplish first on the job?

How to Answer

In looking to start this new position with Kaiser Permanente, it is essential to set a goal on how you will make a positive impact quickly after being hired. Tell the interviewer what your impact goal is, should you be the successful candidate for the job. If you want to make an impact with your answer, research as much as you can on this position with Kaiser Permanente to refer to the immediate needs of the department. This could include increasing budgets or improving patient care.

Written by Ryan Brunner

1st Entry Level Example

"My first task would be to learn and absorb as much training and information as possible. I want to add value immediately, and the quicker I can learn the roles and responsibilities of the job, the quicker I can be working independently but still supporting the larger team. I do feel that I can immediately add value though in the area of customer service. I truly enjoy working with the public, I understand the core values of Kaiser Permanente, and I look forward to providing an excellent experience for the patient and their families so they continue to return to us for care."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

1st Answer Example

"When we were speaking earlier, you mentioned that you were urgently seeking to improve the level of patient care and compassion at this facility. I want to offer my strong skills when it comes to building patient rapport and help to improve the satisfaction of everyone that uses the services of Kaiser Permanente. I would plan to make a positive impact very quickly by conducting training with staff and implementing a code of conduct within the clinic."

Written by Ryan Brunner

2nd Answer Example

"Coming on board to the tight-knit team you have here at Kaiser Permanente, my first goal would be to get to know each and every person on the team and find out what I can do to make their job easier and more efficient. I know that working as a team is of utmost importance here and the team members having a clear understanding of how we can work together would be extremely beneficial."

Written by Ryan Brunner

3rd Answer Example

"In looking to further my career in the healthcare field, I know that Kaiser Permanente has the highest of quality standards for the care that they provide. If hired onto the team here, my first goal would be to learn and understand the quality measurements that the organization utilizes and study prior work that has been done to improve those measurements. By seeing and understanding the history, I can help guide a plan moving forward for the team."

Written by Ryan Brunner

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I will learn fast all I need to know to better help patients so I can answer their questions and make them feel cared for and improve patient care."

Rachelle's Feedback

Learning fast is a wonderful way to serve your customers and help your new team to be a strong as possible. Great answer!

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"I want to accomplish high-quality care for the patients because no matter what, they deserve our compassion."

Rachelle's Feedback

Your answer is nice and heartfelt; however, the interviewer may be looking for a more specific and tangible set of goals such as exceeding expectations in your training, etc.

Anonymous Answer

"As the newest member of the Radiology team, I will quickly get to know the individual members and evaluate how best to integrate myself. As a provider, my first accomplishment will be to learn a few new procedures. I have 17 years of procedural experience as well as a background in x-ray which should expedite my learning."

Amanda's Feedback

This is a great foundation. This question is used to determine how you would immediately impact the business if hired. Training is often a vital component to success in a new role, consider sharing how you would leverage the tools and resources available to ramp up your productivity and ability to contribute quickly through things like learning new procedures or practicing in hands-on scenarios, etc. to develop a clear understanding of your workplace, team, and job duties. If possible, share which new procedures you'd like to learn and several you've already mastered to show the interviewer that you'd be able to hit the ground running while also being willing to learn something new.

Anonymous Answer

"Previously, I mentioned I would take on the role of a learner. My first accomplishment would be to successfully go through the training and learn new skills to be able to work independently at a pace that would allow me to serve the members in my caseload effectively."

Jaymie's Feedback

As a new team member, it's reasonable that your first goal would be to complete the training and orientation process successfully. Good job.

Anonymous Answer

"My first accomplishment at Kaiser Permanente will be to get to know the other team members and develop an outstanding rapport with them. I will learn how they best accomplish their roles. This will help us work smoothly together, problem-solve as a team, and provide optimum, compassionate care for our patients."

Jaymie's Feedback

These are great goals to share with the interviewer!

Discovery

15. Tell me about yourself and the type of person we'd be looking to hire at Kaiser Permanente.

How to Answer

Take a few minutes to tell the interviewer a few things about yourself. You can begin with your recent education, family life, volunteer work, or talk about your travels. Bring up anything that is interesting and highlights your ability to be a responsible, reliable, and bright individual on the Kaiser Permanente team.

Written by Ryan Brunner

1st Entry Level Example

"On a personal note, I love spending time outdoors; it reenergizes me and relieves stress. I enjoy hiking, reading by the lake, bicycling, and visiting local state parks. Professionally, as a recent graduate, I'm eager to find a well-established organization that I can join and add value to while also learning and expanding my skill set. Even though I may not have several years of experience, I feel I would bring value in other ways to Kaiser Permanente. I'm very outgoing and people-centric, I love serving others through excellent customer service and compassion, and I'm very reliable, having only missed two days of class in my two-year program."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

1st Answer Example

"A bit about me - I love to travel, read, and conduct research. I am a recent grad from Columbia University and have spent the past 12 months traveling the world. It was the best experience that I could have given myself as I was able to learn so much from seeing how the rest of the world lives. I returned to the US just last month and had been actively looking for work the past couple of weeks. I am looking forward to getting into the routine of a career again."

Written by Ryan Brunner

2nd Answer Example

"I am an avid marathon runner and have traveled to 10 countries in the last eight years to compete in a variety of races. I am a competitive individual and enjoy keeping fit. Being newer to my career in healthcare, my biggest goal as of late has been to take as many related courses and workshops as possible. I am eager to get a great start on my career."

Written by Ryan Brunner

3rd Answer Example

"From a young age, I was raised around a farm and animals are a huge part of my life. My spouse and I are a foster home for abandoned dogs and we love this aspect of our lives. We also raise chickens and goats and have a couple of horses as well. Outside of our animals, my family loves to camp around the region and we do so on many weekends each year."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"In 2006 I started working at Giant Eagle pharmacy as an OTC associate. I also help the pharmacist with anything they needed from translating to ringing up customers. At the same time, I was going to school to become a tech and got a job at a Wal-Mart pharmacy as a tech in 2010, and I have been working there since."

Rachelle's Feedback

Your work history sounds strong, and it seems as though you are very loyal to your work. If you can add in a little bit more about your education, that would round out your answer nicely.

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"I love to spend time with my family and go hiking and bike riding. I have been working in the eye clinic field for eight years, and I look forward to building my skills and learning."

Rachelle's Feedback

You sound energetic and positive! There are other ways you could expand on this answer as well, if given the time. For instance, you could chat about any volunteer work or post-secondary experiences.

Anonymous Answer

"I love to take my family to amusement parks and county fairs. When we are riding rides, enjoying good food, and watching people, we are happy and carefree. We also like to enter our homemade crafts and drawings to the county fair and I am competitive with my family. Besides spending time with my family, I am working towards my goal of a black belt in Gumdo, Koren Sword Fighting. I am thankful that my instructor will modify forms due to my weak right knee, which I've had a repaired torn medial meniscus."

Amanda's Feedback

Sharing things you enjoy is important, but consider starting by talking about your recent education, family life, or volunteer work before you share hobbies or interests. Bring up anything that is interesting and highlights your ability to be a dependable, responsible, collaborative member of the Kaiser team.

Anonymous Answer

"I graduated with my MSW last year with a 3.9 GPA. I completed two years of internship providing therapy and case management to at-risk youth and grade school students. After graduation, I worked as a wraparound therapist providing field-based services to foster children and families referred by DCFS. I hope to be part of Kaiser’s mental health team because its vision aligns with my own personal values and how I want to serve my community."

Jaymie's Feedback

You did a nice job giving an overview of your education, accomplishments with your GPA, experience, and how that would align well with Kaiser Permanente.

Anonymous Answer

"I am one of eight kids and grew up in the Midwest, where I went to medical school, completed specialty training, and practiced for several years. I moved out west two years ago and have worked in private practice. I enjoy all sports, especially trail running, hiking, skiing, and swimming. My four young adult children and I enjoy visiting national parks and discussing the latest Marvel or Star Wars movies."

Jaymie's Feedback

You're off to a great start! Incorporate skills and abilities that you'd bring to the table that align with the mission and values of Kaiser Permanente.

View This Question and Answers

Discovery

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

How to Answer

Depending on the role you are interviewing for at Kaiser Permanente, a majority of the work could be in a team-based environment. Conversely, you could be relied upon to work solo a majority of the time and need the ability to make quick decisions on your own. Talk to the interviewer about your preference when it comes to teamwork or working individually and be sure to avoid pigeonholing yourself into one particular scenario (ie: I only like to work by myself). You may work well without the need for much management or direction, or perhaps you are better driven in a collaborative and team-led environment. Either way, be honest with the interviewer about your preferences without leaning negatively, either way. As well, a thorough read through of the job description will give you some insight into the type of environment you would be joining at Kaiser Permanente.

Written by Ryan Brunner

1st Entry Level Example

"I used to volunteer at the humane society, and there were times I would volunteer, and during my shift, I would be there alone either organizing the supply pantry or cleaning out kennels and other times I would be working on fundraisers with the group in the community. I really enjoyed both aspects and believe in a professional setting such as Kaiser Permanente, I would be successful in both a team-based setting and an individualized setting."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

1st Answer Example

"Whether I am doing an independent project or working in a team environment, I always give my best. I enjoy the camaraderie of working in a team, but I can be successful working autonomously as well. If it is fair to ask, can you talk about the type of environment I would be joining at Kaiser Permanente?"

Written by Ryan Brunner

2nd Answer Example

"I have found, in the past, that I work well in an individually driven environment; however, I can certainly be productive in a team-based setting as well."

Written by Ryan Brunner

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I work good with minimum supervision, but I also enjoy working with a team. Either way, I always do my best, and I make sure the job is done the way it suppose to be."

Rachelle's Feedback

Nice! You are showing the interviewer that you are highly capable in either situation.

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"I enjoy working in a team. At my last job, I had the best group, and we worked together well. I also enjoyed working independently when there were days I was the only technician since my days went by so fast."

Rachelle's Feedback

You are able to operate well in both situations, which is fantastic. You sound very enthusiastic about your last role, which is always a positive for any hiring authority to see.

Anonymous Answer

"It depends on the task. I work well in teams and individually. However working in a pharmacy definitely requires teamwork whether it's supervising technicians, coordinating with nurses and physicians. So depending on the goal, I am able to work individually and in a team just as effectively."

Marcie's Feedback

Great! The interviewer will appreciate that you are able to work both on a team and independently. To further strengthen your answer, can you talk about a time when you did one of these successfully? This will make your response even more memorable to the interviewer.

Anonymous Answer

"I have worked with a team and independently under the distant supervision of the Physician. While working with a team, I enjoyed the camaraderie and bouncing ideas and problems to arrive at a solution I otherwise may not. I have worked independently as a solo PA provider and have enjoyed it. I know my limitations, but can be very productive in my productivity and time management."

Amanda's Feedback

It sounds like you have the ability to work productively in either environment, so it's appropriate to say so. It's very likely that any role would require some element of both. However, because this question is asking about your preference you can also honestly share which one you prefer and why.

Anonymous Answer

"I do well in both settings. Working independently means that I can work at my own pace and learn from my mistakes. Working in a team provides me with different solutions and opinions from my peers and delegating the work can be less stressful. Whatever setting I am placed I will be more than comfortable with."

Jaymie's Feedback

Excellent job leading with reassurance that you can be successful in both environments, then giving a positive to working in each.

Anonymous Answer

"I feel that I am more efficient working in a team-based position where I can communicate things easily with one another and we can work together on things to get them done more efficiently. Although if I am needed to work individually, I know that I can just as well get the job done with my excellent work ethic and ability to make quick decisions."

Jaymie's Feedback

It's always beneficial to share with the interviewer that you can be successful in either setting, just as you've done here. Great job!

Anonymous Answer

"While treatment decisions are ultimately up to me, the other team members, which includes the front desk staff, medical assistants, and nurses all make important contributions to help the patients. Working with other physicians in the office can be extremely helpful, as none of us have seen it all, and it is reassuring to be able to exchange ideas with colleagues."

Jaymie's Feedback

Great! It sounds like you understand each team member's value in patient care, and you enjoy working collaboratively to serve patients.

Discovery

17. Kaiser Permanente supports a healthy work/life balance for all employees. How do you balance life and work?

How to Answer

It is essential to keep a healthy work/life balance to prevent burnout in any career and your interviewer at Kaiser Permanente wants to hear that you have the ability to do this. Talk to the interviewer about how you can maintain that appropriate balance for yourself. As you answer, don't hesitate to talk about the things that you enjoy in your free time to show that you have the ability to mentally and physically recharge yourself after a hard day's work.

Written by Ryan Brunner

1st Entry Level Example

"During my time in college, I had to work to find ways to strike that work/life balance between classes and assignments and taking care of myself. I found that creating a schedule and sticking to it really helped me. When I would set specific times to attend doctor's appointments and to exercise or visit family, I was more likely to attend those events, which really helped me take time for myself to recharge and refocus. Being organized and prioritizing what tasks I needed to do that week helped me stay on track with my schoolwork. I think self-care is also very important, so I exercise, eat healthily, and try to get enough sleep every night to help maintain that balance."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

1st Answer Example

"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."

Written by Ryan Brunner

2nd Answer Example

"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."

Written by Ryan Brunner

3rd Answer Example

"Outside of my career, my priorities in life are my family and being outdoors. When not at work, I spend many days outdoors with my family and I have found that time in the woods or on the water help refresh my body and prepare me well for the next time I step into my job. Working in a very stressful and draining job, I also ensure that I take time to refresh and reset myself during long days on the job. A five minute walk or a quick conversation with a colleague can make a world of difference in breaking up a hectic day."

Written by Ryan Brunner

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I like my job, and I enjoy what I do. But when I'm home, I don't think about work. I want to relax, read a book, meditate, go out with my friends or take my mom to eat at a good restaurant and enjoy my day off to come back to work recharged."

Rachelle's Feedback

It sounds like you have a very full personal life, with a fantastic work/life balance. Very good answer!

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"While at work, I am focused and driven to take care of my patients and team members. However, at home, I enjoy spending time with my family which includes going to the gym with my daughter several times a week. I also practice Gumdo, and Koren Sword Fighting several times a week. I am a brown belt and will soon test for my high brown belt. I love that it keeps my core body strength to decrease back pain. Also, I have built muscle mass which aids in positioning patients at work so I do not get hurt. I enjoy volunteering for my daughter's Marching Band and Orchestra groups."

Amanda's Feedback

Well done! This answer illustrates that you have interests and activities outside the workplace that help you stay healthy, active, and engaged with your family and friends. Consider strengthening it further by explaining that taking time for yourself and things you enjoy outside work hours helps recharge you so that you can give your best to your patients and team during work hours.

Anonymous Answer

"There’s sure to be burnout in our field. And to prevent that I indulge in self-care by spending time with my family. Being grounded in nature helps me recharge so I go on hikes and to the beach often and trying new things like visiting new cities and new restaurants satisfies my craving for new experiences. All of these things help recharge me and prepare for the next work week."

Jaymie's Feedback

Practicing self-care and engaging in hobbies and activities you enjoy are great ways to create a healthy work-life balance.

Anonymous Answer

"There can be times when work days feel long or stressful which may lead to burnout. This makes it difficult to have a good, consistent work ethic. When I am not working, I try my best to do things for myself that I enjoy and are stress-free. With the free time I have, I will walk/play with my dogs, spend time with friends and family, and relax and recharge. I will take planned vacations to ensure I am not overworking myself. I know that giving this time to myself is essential to having a healthy balance of life and work."

Jaymie's Feedback

Self-care is essential, and it sounds like you've found the right balance of self-care, work, and engaging in hobbies outside of work to help reduce stress.

Anonymous Answer

"When not at work I enjoy spending time with family and exercising. Both of these are great stress reducers. I find being in nature, especially in the mountains, to be very relaxing. I try to maintain a regular sleep schedule, as sleep helps the body heal and better adapt to stressors."

Jaymie's Feedback

These are excellent strategies to help reduce stress!

Discovery

18. How would you describe your personality and how would it benefit this team at Kaiser Permanente?

How to Answer

Kaiser Permanente is an extremely large and diverse organization and their hiring managers are looking to piece together teams that are diverse and well-rounded. The interviewer is looking for more information on your personality and how you will mesh with the existing team and what new traits you may be able to bring to the team. As you talk openly and honestly about your personality traits with your interviewer, try to match your personality traits with the mission and values of Kaiser Permanente.

Written by Ryan Brunner

1st Entry Level Example

"I have a heart for others, and I'm genuine in the care, kindness, and compassion I show when interacting with friends, family, or even strangers. I'm personable and outgoing and find it easy to strike up conversations with almost anyone I meet. I believe in providing excellent customer service through positive experiences, empathy, and effective communication. I know that Kaiser Permanente values quality and compassionate care for all, and I think my personality and values would align well with the organization."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

1st Answer Example

"I would describe my personality as approachable, light-hearted, and positive. I believe that, if asked, my colleagues and supervisor would say the same about me. My coworkers and patients always have an easy time talking to me and bouncing new ideas my way. Even when times would get tough in this role with Kaiser Permanente, I would be looked upon to bring a contagious positive attitude to your team."

Written by Ryan Brunner

2nd Answer Example

"I'm genuinely easy-going, probably from all the international travel I experienced in my 20's. I like to do the right thing, and sometimes I get stressed trying to reach that goal, but I think it's a worthwhile endeavor. I can be funny, but my sense of humor is pretty dry, so people don't always know that about me when they first meet me. My personality would positively benefit your team at Kaiser Permanente through my consistent approach to doing the right things in patient care."

Written by Ryan Brunner

3rd Answer Example

"I have always been naturally introverted, but I have turned that personality trait into an advantage for me. With my coworkers, I am the person that is usually quiet and takes in as much information as possible when we are in a problem-solving environment. Once they get to know me, my colleagues know that my mind is continuously thinking of new ideas and only speaking about them when it is determined to be a good time. I love working as part of a team and my colleagues take well to my personality."

Written by Ryan Brunner

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I would describe myself as a hard worker. I have a kind and outgoing personality. I get along well with others and work well as a team."

Rachelle's Feedback

Excellent! It seems you would be a wonderful teammate to have around.

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"I grew up in the country, which makes me very approachable and friendly. When explaining procedures to the patients, I strive to use terminology they understand and to break the process into small steps. My hospitalization as a child gave me insight into how patients are feeling in a strange hospital environment. This will benefit Kaiser because I am an approachable and friendly provider."

Amanda's Feedback

Rather than saying you grew up in the country, consider expressing it a little differently so that it's easier for someone who didn't grow up in the country to understand what you mean. You may consider sharing that you grew up in a rural area or small town where most people knew one another and were very approachable and friendly, which has influenced your personality to be someone who is very personable, kind, and approachable. You can also share that your personality makes you a strong collaborator with team members as well as someone patients can connect with and trust quickly.

Anonymous Answer

"I would describe myself as an ambivert who at times finds solitude in being alone and excitement when meeting new people. My easygoing - go with the flow attitude makes it easy to get along with everyone which would benefit the Kaiser team because I am easy to talk to and a team player."

Jaymie's Feedback

These are all traits and characteristics that would align well with the role at Kaiser Permanente.

Anonymous Answer

"I am genuinely very curious about the world, other people, and their backgrounds. This helps me to better understand patients, team members, and what motivates them. While I'm serious in my role as a physician, I'm naturally light-hearted, humorous, and very optimistic. My sense of humor keeps the mood light and helps everyone cope with stressful days at work."

Jaymie's Feedback

These strong qualities and traits align well with the culture of Kaiser Permanente. Good job!

Discovery

19. Talk about the importance of integrating yourself into the community in which you practice medicine. How would you effectively do this?

How to Answer

One of Kaiser Permanente's primary values is making the communities in which they practice a healthier place. They expect their healthcare providers and staff to be an integral part of these communities as participants and leaders. This question is an opportunity for you to discuss community service types of activities that you hold near and dear to your heart and any efforts you have been a part of in your past.

Written by Ryan Brunner

1st Entry Level Example

"As a newer provider to the community, it will be important for me to get out and introduce myself to others. I plan to attend wellness events and fundraisers in the community so that I can begin to meet members of the community and start to build and foster those relationships. I would also like to do some volunteer work in the community by volunteering for medical tents during community events or mentoring youth through the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

1st Answer Example

"Since my college days, I have taken great pride in my community service by volunteering at the local food pantries and homeless shelters. I am very fortunate to be where I am at today, and I think it is vital that people lend their time and efforts to help those that are less fortunate. I love the fact that Kaiser Permanente seeks to improve the health of both your members and communities that you serve and I'd love to be a part of that mission moving forward."

Written by Ryan Brunner

2nd Answer Example

"Currently, I spend one weekend a month building homes for Habitat for Humanity. I learned the construction trade at a young age, and I love being able to help families get the home of their dreams. As well, I am an active participant in my local rotary club. If I were to be offered this position, I would look forward to bringing these services to this area as well."

Written by Ryan Brunner

3rd Answer Example

"Knowing that I wanted to pursue a career that involved healthcare and science, I received my bachelor's degree in cytotechnology from Thomas Jefferson University. Having worked in the field in Philadelphia for a few years, I am greatly excited about this opportunity with Kaiser Permanente because of the opportunity to work as part of a larger team and to help make this community a better and healthier place to live."

Written by Ryan Brunner

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I believe in volunteering in the community where you live. I volunteered setting up and dismantling a children's consignment sale for 13 years prior to Covid. Unfortunately, the sales have shut down. Since I have two high school girls who are involved in music. I volunteer with their organizations in various roles. My youngest daughter is involved in volunteering. I hope to involve them in various Kaiser community volunteering opportunities."

Amanda's Feedback

Your response makes it clear that you volunteer in your community in various ways. You can consider improving this response by explaining why. What makes you want to give back to your community? Do you feel it demonstrates that you're committed to knowing and supporting a group of people? Does it help you build trusting relationships with community members? Are there specific Kaiser volunteer opportunities you'd be interested in?

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"One thing that sparked my interest in Kaiser is their involvement with the community. In the past, I’ve set up donation bins in different businesses to aid the homeless with needed items. I have donated baby goods to domestic violence shelters and showed my solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community by volunteering at the Long Beach Pride Parade. I hope to continue to serve my community and do so representing Kaiser."

Jaymie's Feedback

It sounds like you're very active in the community and would have no problem supporting other Kaiser Permanente-related outreach and community activities!

Anonymous Answer

"Involvement in the surrounding community is important, as it helps to educate people about medical services that may help them or a loved one. For many years I volunteered at an area hospital's annual health fair, and provided educational material regarding diseases we treat, and performed free medical tests for an underserved population. More recently, I volunteered at an annual fall festival and provided educational material."

Jaymie's Feedback

These are great opportunities to provide education and care in the community. Your engagement in these types of events is also important so you can network with families in the community and begin to build trusting relationships, which could ultimately contribute to new patients joining the practice.

Discovery

20. Kaiser Permanente is a very large organization and values the promotion of employees from within. What are your ultimate career goals in the healthcare field and what are you doing to fulfill those goals?

How to Answer

The interviewer would like to dig deeper into your true areas of interest when it comes to your larger career goals. They want to know that your passions align well with what Kaiser Permanente is offering. A large organization like Kaiser Permanente walks a fine line when talking about promoting from within because departments want long-term retention while also wanting their employees to reach their goals within the walls of the organization. Be upfront and honest on your career goals with your interviewer and make sure that your interest falls within the realm of the position that you are interviewing for.

Written by Ryan Brunner

1st Entry Level Example

"As a recent high school graduate, I'm looking to find an entry-level administrative role to establish myself within at Kaiser Permanente. I'm still exploring and trying to decide which healthcare career path I want to pursue, and I think starting out in this role would give me the skills and experience I need to help guide my path."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

1st Answer Example

"If I could expand my expertise in any medical specialty, I would choose anything within primary care. This is one of the reasons I have applied with Kaiser Permanente. I feel that your focus will be a great fit with my long-term career goals to eventually work in primary care with a great organization. In my current organization, I have been picking up extra shifts in family medicine to expand my skills."

Written by Ryan Brunner

2nd Answer Example

"I'm very interested in clinical research. One of the things that attracted me to working with Kaiser Permanente is your ongoing community-based research collaborations. I'd be curious to hear if your department had any needs in this area. Is this something junior staff can be involved in?"

Written by Ryan Brunner

3rd Answer Example

"Having worked as an RN for eight years now, my ultimate career goal is to be in a leadership position like a department director. I am currently pursuing my MBA to help advance me into a leadership position later in my career, and I'm hopeful that opportunities will exist down the road with Kaiser Permanente when I am ready to demonstrate my ability to lead."

Written by Ryan Brunner

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I am happy with what I do as a pharmacy tech. I love my job. In the future, I will like to be a PA and help more people."

Rachelle's Feedback

Wonderful! Are there any specific action steps you would need to take to reach your goal of becoming a PA?

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"This position would offer new procedures to learn such as joint injections and fluoroscopy procedures. My goal is to become an expert in these new procedures."

Amanda's Feedback

This is an answer you can build on. Employers often ask this question to gain a clearer insight into your future goals and how those goals match up with the position you're applying for. You may not know exactly where you ultimately see yourself; however, it doesn't mean you have to name a particular role you want to be in. It could be as simple as naming skills you want to gain, the path you see yourself taking to becoming a respected manager (Is there another role you need to advance to first?), or naming a particular committee or project you'd like to work on, or talking about any additional training or certifications you'd like to earn that would help further your career. Where possible, draw connections between your career goals and the skills or traits required by the job description for the role you're applying to. You can also explain how learning these new procedures would benefit you in the pursuit of a larger career goal.

Anonymous Answer

"My ultimate career goal would first get a license as a clinical social worker and with support from Kaiser, I will get there quickly. My long-term goal is to stay with the organization and give back to Kaiser what they had supported me in and eventually move up to a leadership role where I can guide and mentor incoming associates to assist in reaching their goals."

Jaymie's Feedback

These are great goals to share with the interviewer. They want to hear that you are committed to the organization, and your response demonstrates that you intend to be there long-term.

Anonymous Answer

"My ultimate career goal with Kaiser Permanente is to provide optimum and compassionate care to patients by promoting a collegial and collaborative team environment. I am open to performing administrative duties if the opportunity arises, but my primary goal is to provide excellent patient care."

Jaymie's Feedback

Good job! If you are interested in additional training opportunities or mentoring newer team members, you can also discuss those areas.

Diversity

21. How do you feel you would fit in with the cultural values and diversity at Kaiser Permanente?

How to Answer

The sheer size of Kaiser Permanente makes them a very culturally diverse organization. Employees of the organization must be able to work with a wide variety of people in a wide array of departments. Talk about the importance of a diverse team and give examples of a time where you thrived in this type of environment. Your interviewer will be looking to hear that you have done your research on Kaiser Permanente and that you'll thrive in their workplace culture.

Written by Ryan Brunner

1st Entry Level Example

"I know that Kaiser Permanente values compassion, quality care, and collaboration. I align with all of those values and would promote teamwork and collaboration in the workplace by being inclusive of those with various experiences, backgrounds, and education. When teams are diverse, and everyone has a voice, collaboration, and innovation expand, and patient outcomes can be improved. I enjoy working as part of a diverse team because it has two-way value; you can expand your experiences and skillset by learning from others, and you can also contribute your knowledge and experiences to others on the team."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

1st Answer Example

"Knowing that Kaiser Permanente employs over 200,000 people and has an extremely diverse workforce, I truly value diversity and the importance it plays in a sound and successful business. Human beings all grow up in different manners and under different philosophies. When we become working adults, it is this fact that can help bring many ideas to the table in a work environment. In my current job, I work with a very diverse team, and we all value each other's thoughts and ideas equally. I take the time to get to know my coworkers and what makes them tick internally to ensure that we work better together. I also keep myself open to my colleagues so that they can know and understand me better as well."

Written by Ryan Brunner

2nd Answer Example

"The people on the frontlines of a business are vital to the success of any organization. The size of Kaiser Permanente and the number of employees here make the fact that diversity is of utmost importance, and I know that I would thrive in this environment. I value the input and ideas from all members of teams that I work on, and a diverse workforce opens the organization up to many more ideas. Even in my current role with a much smaller organization, we have a great amount of diversity, and that makes our team much more effective. I would look forward to working in an organization of this size to better experience an even wider amount of diversity."

Written by Ryan Brunner

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"Since growing up in a rural town, I was fascinated with the diversity of students/faculty when I attended Emory University. I now enjoy learning about different cultures from my co-workers and understanding their points of view on work topics. Kaiser has over 300,000 employees with a large diverse workforce. I have worked well with diverse co-workers and believe I will be a good fit for Kaiser."

Amanda's Feedback

This is a great start! When talking about how you would fit with the company's cultural values it's important to emphasize that you know what those are by stating them. This shows the interviewer that you've done your research and aren't answering vaguely. You can also strengthen this answer by talking about a problem you were able to solve, a patient you were better equipped to help, or a challenge your team was able to confidently face because you were part of a diverse team with multiple perspectives and ideas. Wrapping your answer up by talking about something impactful you've learned by working with a diverse team illustrates that you are authentic when you say that you see the value in diversity and inclusion.

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"Another reason that sparked my interest in Kaiser is how they promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the work field. People come from all walks of life and have their own perspectives which can bring value and quality care to its diverse community. I think my cultural values and cultural humility are important in order to respect my colleagues and provide members with quality care."

Jaymie's Feedback

You understand the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace and sounds like you would be a team member who supported Kaiser Permanente's values in the workplace.

Anonymous Answer

"I have always valued compassionate patient care in a collaborative team environment, and this aligns with the cultural values at Kaiser Permanente. Throughout college, medical training, and my years in practice I have always worked with a very diverse team of healthcare workers. Diversity is a strength that provides different perspectives on the world, and this helps us to better understand the human experience and provide the best care for our diverse patient population."

Jaymie's Feedback

Kaiser Permanente prides itself on valuing and respecting employees and physicians of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities, as diverse perspectives are essential to achieving its mission. Your response aligns well with the organization's culture!

Diversity

22. Kaiser Permanente has a diverse workforce. Talk about a time that you worked with a diverse team and what role did you play on that team?

How to Answer

Throughout Kaiser Permanente's 75-year history, the organization's commitment to diversity and inclusion has helped them in its overall mission. During your interview, your interviewer will want to be assured that you would be a champion for D&I if hired for the position. Let the interviewer know that you can handle an environment that offers diversity by giving an example of a time where you embraced diversity in the workplace. As you answer, talk about how the diverse environment helped you grow and thrive and how you helped foster a culture of inclusion.

Written by Ryan Brunner

1st Entry Level Example

"During high school, I went on a mission trip to Haiti. The group comprised about 15 volunteers, of whom I only knew two. The group was very diverse in age as I was the youngest volunteer on the trip, and the oldest was in their sixties. We also had ethnic and gender diversity on the team as well. At first, I felt a little anxious not knowing anyone and wondering if this group of strangers would be able to work together. I soon found that though each person had their own unique set of experiences, skill sets, and backgrounds, we all shared similar values, and we were supporting the same mission and vision. I learned a lot from each volunteer, and because we had such a diverse team, we were able to share ideas and solutions to problems that we may not otherwise have been able to come up with on our own. I believe the same concept would be true at Kaiser Permanente, and by working with different individuals to achieve the same goal, patients will be better supported and cared for."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

1st Answer Example

"I have worked with diverse groups of people most of my career, including my time in college. I am most comfortable, and happy, in this type of environment because it offers me unique learning opportunities. I have a full understanding that different cultures and beliefs can bring a team to its full potential because no stones are left unturned when new ideas are being thought of. In my search for a new position, it was important for me to find a new employer that embraces diversity & inclusion in their workforce and I'm confident I found that here at Kaiser Permanente."

Written by Ryan Brunner

2nd Answer Example

"I am so glad you pointed out your need for diversity at Kaiser Permanente. 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. During my training, I worked with community volunteer organizations in Peru, inner-city Chicago, and Russia. These experiences have really opened my eyes to working with people from backgrounds different than myself."

Written by Ryan Brunner

3rd Answer Example

"My current nursing team is very diverse and our team functions at its best when all members are bringing their own unique perspectives to the table. We all come from different backgrounds, different educations, and different points of view and I truly respect the views of all people to help our team function at its best."

Written by Ryan Brunner

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"Where I work, we have a diverse team; we all work together by translating to patients, helping them understand when they have questions, and splitting the job to get it done on time."

Rachelle's Feedback

This sounds like a very collaborative workplace. Good example!

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"I grew up in a homogenous small town in Ohio. College was my first introduction to diversity. During my first job at Duke hospital, one of my patients was greek. She asked if she could display religious artifacts during her procedure. I was very intrigued as she explained their meaning. I love D&I in the workplace so I can learn about different cultures and their method of dealing with situations. I am glad Kaiser has a diverse workplace so I can continue to learn."

Amanda's Feedback

This question is actually focused on a time when you worked with a diverse team and the role you played rather than a patient interaction. You can better highlight your experience working in a diverse and inclusive environment by talking about specific projects you worked on with a diverse team and how embracing those differences helped you solve problems or meet client needs. If you have any formal training in diversity and inclusion, this is also a great opportunity to talk about that experience. In the end, try to share how you celebrate diversity and remain inclusive in the workplace.

Anonymous Answer

"I have always worked with a diverse team in my professional life and it was always a pleasant experience. I love learning about my colleagues' different backgrounds and how different perspectives can reach the same goal. It made me feel included and important when everyone respects each other’s differences and is able to work well together. Kaiser does a wonderful job at promoting diversity and inclusion and I hope to be able to represent Kaiser’s rich culture."

Jaymie's Feedback

This is a great experience to share. Be sure to include an answer to the second part of the question about what role you played on the team.

Anonymous Answer

"Throughout my medical training and career, I have always worked with a very diverse healthcare team. During medical training, a large number of people from Jamaica lived in the community. We were grateful to work with nurses who grew up in the Jamaican community, and they shared their perspectives on patients's attitudes and expectations of their medical issues and care. This greatly helped us to provide better care for the patients."

Jaymie's Feedback

Great job! Round out your answer by expressing your understanding of the value that different perspectives, backgrounds, experiences, cultures, etc., bring to the team.

Education

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

How to Answer

Kaiser Permanente expects their employees to stay up-to-date on their respective fields, and today's technology makes this reasonably easy! List several ways that you receive your industry knowledge and stay on top of trends. Talk to your interviewer about continuing education you have participated in recently, any conferences you regularly attend, or any seminars you have taken in your field. As well, talking about any journals you subscribe to or any groups/societies in your field that you belong to can also win over your interviewer. 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.

Written by Ryan Brunner

1st Entry Level Example

"Currently, I follow healthcare trends through reading online news articles, trending topics on Google, and through platforms like LinkedIn by following certain companies and industry leaders. I know many employers offer workshops and continuing education opportunities, so if hired, I plan to participate in all that is offered to me. I also plan to attend community events to begin to network with other healthcare professionals I can connect and build relationships with."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

1st Answer Example

"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 in our field. What resources do you prefer to stay on top of industry trends and changes?"

Written by Ryan Brunner

2nd Answer Example

"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 industry. In addition to this, I also subscribe to a couple of medical-related journals, including the NEJM."

Written by Ryan Brunner

3rd Answer Example

"Having worked in the healthcare field for seven years now, I have really grown to appreciate the importance of continuing medical education and I jump at any chance to further my knowledge base in the field. I recently attended a pediatric trauma course that really opened my eyes to new techniques I could use in our emergency room."

Written by Ryan Brunner

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"As a certified pharmacy tech, I have to continue learning. I am registered at powerpack.com, where I get emails with anything new that happens in the medical field. I also learn a different kind of articles and submit my test to renew my certificate. I also receive emails from different pharmacy pages with interesting articles."

Rachelle's Feedback

It sounds as though you lean on a variety of reputable sources, which the interviewer should be happy to hear. Are there any resources from Kaiser Permanente that you could subscribe to, and then mention in your interview?

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"As a Physician Assistant, we are required to accrue 100 hours of CME every 2 years. I acquire this CME through various sources, conferences, Journal CME, and various online CME opportunities. Every other year, I attend a GAPA CME conference which keeps me up to date with current medical issues. I also read PA Journals (JAAPA) to keep current."

Amanda's Feedback

It sounds like you do a wonderful job of staying up to date; however, consider strengthening this answer by being more specific. Which conferences do you attend? Which journals do you read? Finally, consider sharing something particularly interesting that you recently learned through CME that you found helpful. This shows the interviewer that you're not just naming things, but actually engaged with these sources.

Anonymous Answer

"The use of social media helps me keep up to date with law and regulation changes such as the NASWCA and BBS page. I am subscribed to DMH+UCLA Well-being for LA Center for upcoming seminars presenting on different issues in the mental health population, and I will renew my NASW membership to receive the newsletter on current issues and become part of a forum with like-minded clinical social workers."

Jaymie's Feedback

These are all great tools and resources to help stay up to date on healthcare trends and topics!

Anonymous Answer

"We, physicians, are lifelong learners, and I stay up to date with new medical developments by reading numerous research articles as part of a program to maintain medical board certification. We are required to attain 50 hours of CME (continuing medical education) credits yearly, and I achieve this by reading articles in various medical journals to which I subscribe. Also, I attend national medical conferences where new developments in medical treatments are discussed in detail."

Jaymie's Feedback

These are all excellent methods to share with the interviewer.

Experience

24. Kaiser Permanente was initially looking for someone with five years of experience in a similar role. Considering you have just two years experience, would you be willing to accept this position at a lower salary?

How to Answer

If posed a question like this, or any regarding compensation, during your interview, you need to put some serious thought into if you are willing to earn your way up if Kaiser Permanente does not want to offer you top compensation right away. Discuss with the interviewer what you would expect for compensation if offered this position. With most large organizations operating compensation under a pay scale, talk about your willingness to start at the bottom of the pay scale and work your way up if you truly can agree to that. Bringing up points of being compensated in relation to experience is important because it shows the interviewer that you understand the basic principles of compensation philosophy.

Written by Ryan Brunner

1st Entry Level Example

"I understand that I do not meet the minimum requirements of five years, but as you mentioned, I do have two years of professional experience. In addition, I feel my mix of formal education of a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and volunteer experience in healthcare would add value to Kaiser Permanente as well. I understand you probably have a pay band based on experience, so I'd love to discuss my skills and experiences further and explore where my background may fall on that scale."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

1st Answer Example

"I would be happy to earn my way to the top compensation level if hired at Kaiser Permanente. I do assure you that, despite my being shy of experience by a couple of years, I am a top performer and you would not be disappointed in my performance."

Written by Ryan Brunner

2nd Answer Example

"When I applied for this position, I fully understood that I didn't meet the experience requirements for this position. But being confident in my abilities as a newer worker in our field, I am very comfortable starting at the entry-level of pay for this position and working my way up with experience. You'll quickly find that I am capable to perform this job with the highest of abilities despite not having the required five years of experience."

Written by Ryan Brunner

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"You are searching for someone with 5 years' experience and I have two. Starting from the entry level will allow me to continue to learn and work up the ranks at Kaiser. I am a very hard worker who is eager to become a team member with Kaiser."

Amanda's Feedback

You've done well by answering diplomatically. You can improve your response by assuring the interviewer that you have a flexible salary range, but that you'd like to be compensated appropriately based on your experience and performance record.

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"During the phone screening with talent acquisition, they had placed me in level 1 experience due to my hours completed for clinical supervision. I am more than happy to accept a salary that fits my current experience and would hope to earn my way to higher compensation when I have met or exceeded Kaiser’s expectations."

Jaymie's Feedback

This is a perfect response. You aren't selling yourself short and you're willing to be flexible and discuss fair pay based on your background and experience.

Operational

25. Have you ever been involved in ordering medical supplies, maintaining inventory, or any other types of health care related administrative duties during your career?

How to Answer

The interviewer would like to know if you understand what it takes to keep on top of ordering medical supplies and inventory if hired at Kaiser Permanente. 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 required for this role with Kaiser Permanente, even if the role you are interviewing for isn't in a clinical setting. To get at your ability to do this, be sure to read through the job description thoroughly prior to your interview.

Written by Ryan Brunner

1st Entry Level Example

"Since I am new to healthcare, I do not have any formal experience in this area. I am very open to training, and I'm a quick learner, so I feel I would be able to be taught and pick the job up quickly. I am well organized, pay close attention to detail, and strive to maintain accuracy in all that I do, and I feel those skills would transfer well into this role and help me succeed if given the opportunity."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

1st Answer Example

"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 that were put to use by my organization. If hired at Kaiser Permanente, I would prioritize learning the inventory and ordering procedures for this unit upon starting."

Written by Ryan Brunner

2nd Answer Example

"Yes, I handle all of these administrative tasks in my current role. I have been responsible for maintaining supplies on the general surgery ward for five years. I have always been great at working behind the scenes with the result being efficiency for others."

Written by Ryan Brunner

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"Yes, the pharmacist and I are the ones that order prescriptions most of the time. I also check what's low and order specialty if it's a fast mover. I make sure the on hands are right for the computer to order what's on auto order. I also help the pharmacist manager every year when there is inventory and make sure it was done right with nothing missing and control inventory when we come at 9 pm and count all controls."

Rachelle's Feedback

Excellent! It sounds like you have the experience the interviewer would be looking for. If possible, also try to mention which programs or software you are experienced in when it comes to ordering or doing inventory.

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"I am usually the technician who has been doing the ordering for the medications and supplies. I also helped out on the inventory. I learned how keeping equipment in one spot is very important, so it doesn't get misplaced or lost."

Rachelle's Feedback

Keeping equipment in order is very important, indeed! Try going into as much detail as you can relating to your inventory and ordering activities.

Anonymous Answer

"I have not ordered medical supplies or maintained inventory. When I am getting supplies, if something is low, I always inform the Chief Technologist so they can be ordered. I have been the lead PA in two of my positions. My main duty involved creating the APP schedule. I am also a Proctor PA."

Amanda's Feedback

You've done a good job pivoting away from what you don't have experience with (supply ordering or inventory) and emphasizing what administrative duties you do have experience with. Consider enhancing this response further by talking briefly about the administrative duties being a lead PA involves beyond scheduling. Did you approve time off or handle other administrative matters for team members? What kind of administrative tasks do you handle as a Proctor PA? Sharing this additional information highlights that you have strong administrative skills as well as the patient care skills needed to excel in the medical field.

Anonymous Answer

"As a former operations supervisor with Chase, I didn’t have administrative duties such as maintaining inventory, ordering supplies and needs for the branch, and setting appointments for potential clients to our investment partners. If Kaiser needs me to fill this role, I would be more than comfortable to do so."

Jaymie's Feedback

Great! You can also reiterate that you're a quick learner and would be willing to take on those tasks as needed in the role.

Anonymous Answer

"Throughout my medical career, I have helped to maintain an inventory of medical supplies in an office where I worked one day a week. We developed a checklist of medical supplies, and each week I assessed whether the current supply was adequate. If we were low on supplies then we indicated what was needed on the supply checklist and faxed it to the main office, where a larger quantity of supplies were stored. Also, I maintained the work/vacation schedule for physicians in two of our offices and helped to manage a staff of nurses, medical assistants, and receptionists."

Jaymie's Feedback

It sounds like you're comfortable with these types of tasks and would have no problem performing them as necessary.

Operational

26. Working at Kaiser Permanente requires strong organizational skills and attention to detail. How do you ensure that your work is properly organized and highly accurate?

How to Answer

The success of Kaiser Permanente thrives on the accuracy of information and organization in all work that they do. 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 and paying attention to the fine details in the work that you would be doing with Kaiser Permanente.

Written by Ryan Brunner

1st Entry Level Example

"In school, I found several techniques helpful to keep myself well-organized and reduce the number of errors in my assignments. At the start of every semester, I would use the syllabus to help me plan out all my course assignments and enter the deadlines on my Google calendar. I used color coding to indicate whether it was a discussion post or whether it was a term paper. I then broke those larger assignments down into milestones and would also put those on my calendar to help me stay organized and on track. To help ensure my work was accurate, I used the writing center coaches to review my work and provide feedback, and I also used online tools like Grammarly to review my papers for editing errors. I know that in healthcare, it's critical to ensure accuracy, so that patient records are maintained properly. I would utilize past experiences and techniques in this role as well to be successful."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

1st Answer Example

"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 Kaiser Permanente, 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."

Written by Ryan Brunner

2nd Answer Example

"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, it's 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."

Written by Ryan Brunner

3rd Answer Example

"Working as part of a large team, there is a need to be extremely accurate in my patient care notes. This accuracy ensures that patient care transitions from one caregiver to the next. I document all necessary information as soon as possible so that the record is up to date and accurate. Our job requires multi-tasking, so I tackle one patient at a time while giving each patient my full attention."

Written by Ryan Brunner

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I'm a very detailed and organized person. I like to manage my time to finish my projects on time. Takes notes when I have to and double-check my work to make sure it's done right like typing prescriptions. Just like when I fill, I make sure the bottles are organized and in their place."

Rachelle's Feedback

It sounds as though you are highly organized and methodical in your work. Do you utilize any computer programs or even apps on your phone to keep your tasks organized?

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"I have a methodical and systematic approach to my procedures. I like my trays to be organized and set up the same way every time. Although I can multi-task, my attention is on one patient at a time so I can focus and be highly accurate in my care. After every consult or procedure, I immediately enter my notes in EMR so patients can easily transition from my care to another provider."

Amanda's Feedback

Attention to detail and accuracy are absolutely vital when providing medical care to patients. You have confirmed that you're methodical, organized, and focused to ensure that each patient has your full attention and receives optimal care. You can enhance this response further by explaining any additional actions you take to stay organized such as briefly reviewing chart notes before entering the patient room, asking follow-up questions to ensure a complete understanding of a patient's condition, or double-checking your notes for accuracy.

Anonymous Answer

"I consider myself an organized person, I do this by using a planner, writing down deadlines, and meeting and writing my tasks for the day. I use Post-it notes that I stick on my computer for priority work, and I organize my desktop folder which makes it easy to access files and notes. The way I pay attention to details is by using a highlighter so that important information sticks out."

Jaymie's Feedback

It sounds like you have found several effective strategies and techniques to help you stay organized, focused, and detail-oriented. Great job!

Anonymous Answer

"In school, I would use a reminder app that allowed me to keep track of all important assignments and dates throughout the semester. I also have a planner to know what assignments to do during the week. I prefer to use a pencil and paper for this because writing things out helps me to better remember things. I organize my assignments by color coding them to easily distinguish the type of assignment it was. For bigger assignments like projects and tests, I make sure to start working on them immediately. I split up studying time or different parts of a project into smaller parts each day to get everything done on time. I also check all my work multiple times to ensure everything is done correctly."

Jaymie's Feedback

Well done! These are all effective strategies and techniques to ensure you stay organized and are accurate in your work.

Anonymous Answer

"Organizational skills and attention to detail are critical in healthcare. When I obtain a medical history from a patient I summarize my understanding of the history with the patient to make sure that nothing was missed. I systematically proofread all medical notes, orders, and prescriptions to ensure clarity and accuracy prior to signing off on them. To help stay organized I routinely use the calendar and reminder functions in my smartphone so that important tasks are not missed."

Jaymie's Feedback

Good job! You covered several aspects of accurate documentation and proper organization in your response.

Operational

27. How would you handle communicating bad news to a colleague or patient at Kaiser Permanente?

How to Answer

At Kaiser Permanente, the most difficult side of working in the healthcare industry entails having difficult conversations with both colleagues and patients. In asking this question, your interviewer would like to know if you can adequately handle being the bearer of bad news. One of the toughest parts of communication can be delivering bad news to people with whom you work. Whether it is providing a less than favorable work review, or terminating someone, it doesn't come easy. Assure the interviewer that you can handle this type of task in a transparent, empathetic, and professional manner. If you have an example or two of a time where you had to have a difficult conversation on the job, don't hesitate to talk about how you handled that experience and what you learned from it.

Written by Ryan Brunner

Entry Level Example

"I would treat the situation and communication very delicately. I would first ensure that I understood all the facts of the situation so that I didn't misspeak or accidentally provide false information that might upset someone. I would then make sure I had a face-to-face conversation with someone versus an email or text and ensure the right setting for the conversation. For example, a private office where the door could be closed or another location out of earshot of others. I would be open and honest in my conversation with them, ensuring I was being clear and to the point and not adding confusion with unnecessary details or fillers. I would be empathetic and put myself in their shoes so that I could anticipate how they would feel or what questions they may have. Difficult conversations require patience, kindness, and compassion, and that's how I would approach communicating difficult news to a colleague or patient."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

Answer Example

"I certainly do not enjoy communicating bad news to a co-worker, but I do have experience in doing so. I make sure to practice empathy. Truth is always key, so I will be honest and clear when communicating the news. For instance, if I am to terminate someone's employment, I don't sugarcoat the reasons why. It's best that the person knows the reasons why so that they can learn from the experience."

Written by Ryan Brunner

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"Delivering bad news to a patient is very difficult. My approach is to be empathetic, soft-spoken, and truthful. In my current position, when a patient has a post-procedural pneumothorax that requires a chest tube and a hospital stay, I gently explain what happened, the need for the chest tube, and the hospital stay."

Amanda's Feedback

Balancing empathy with honesty is key when communicating bad news. You've shared a pertinent example that illustrates you know how to deliver difficult news in a professional setting. Consider sharing how patients react to the way you communicate. For example - Does your ability to calmly share facts with empathy and answer any follow-up questions help patients relax and adapt to the change in their situation?

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"Communicating bad news is never easy. As an operation supervisor at Chase, I had to give a bad review about a new teller at the end of his probation period. I did so in an empathetic and compassionate tone and in the end, had a conversation about how I could further support him to improve his skills and knowledge. I was able to be assertive but also show my caring nature."

Jaymie's Feedback

You began your answer with empathy and compassion! This was a great example to share with the interviewer as it highlights your ability to be professional, kind, supportive, and direct when faced with this type of situation. Great job!

Anonymous Answer

"I would not try and beat around the bush because it will always be hard delivering bad news to someone. When giving someone bad news I try to be empathetic while still being honest so that the news does not seem as bad. I had an incident when I was working in the food industry where a customer was waiting for a long time for their food and I could tell that they were getting impatient. When I told them the wait time on their food I offered them a cup for a free drink while they waited to make their wait not as bad."

Jaymie's Feedback

Being direct is an excellent approach to take when delivering bad news. Nice job taking the extra step in your response to provide an example of a time you had to give a customer bad news and how you made an effort to ensure they still had a positive experience. That will transfer well into the role at Kaiser Permanente.

Anonymous Answer

"Bad news needs to be communicated to patients with empathy and understanding. Several times I had to inform patients that their test results were suspicious for cancer. I explained that the test results were not conclusive, so more testing needed to be performed. Depending on the results of the additional tests the patient might need to see a physician who specializes in treating cancer. I explained that if they, unfortunately, had the cancer in question, it was usually treatable."

Jaymie's Feedback

Your approach sounds direct yet compassionate and empathetic. This is a well-balanced approach to communicating difficult news to a patient. Good job!

Operational

28. Tell me about a time when your communication skills greatly benefited your team. How can your communication skills benefit you in this role at Kaiser Permanente?

How to Answer

No matter if you will be working in front-line patient care or back-end support at Kaiser Permanente, communication can be the key to success in the healthcare world. Your interviewer would like to know how your communication skills have benefited your team in the past. Strong communication skills are required to be an active leader. As you answer this question with a specific example from your past, reiterate to your interviewer that you have excellent verbal communication skills and listening skills that will help you be a great communicator on their team at Kaiser Permanente.

Written by Ryan Brunner

Entry Level Example

"During my time in college, I worked on many team projects and presentations. Often, I found myself to be the natural organizer on the team, mapping out what tasks needed to be done, then helping the team decide who was responsible for what. I would send meetings recaps and follow-ups to each team member throughout the project. When it came time for the presentations, I often played a large role in the speaking aspects of the project. I am comfortable speaking in front of large groups, and I've used tools like Microsoft's "present with a coach" to sharpen and refine my speaking skills. Being able to communicate within a team and work together to present a project are skills that will transfer to this role and will allow me to add value to the team immediately."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

Answer Example

"My team is made up of great communicators, whom I have trained to take every piece of information and break it down to the simplest factor. This approach has greatly reduced in-house issues related to communication. Last year, we were in a bind and running very short-staffed during a time when our hospital was at full capacity. I took the role of delegating all of the high-priority work among my team and constant lines of communication were the key to success. We utilized verbal communication and a team-based messaging app on our phones throughout the two-week period."

Written by Ryan Brunner

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"Before my Attending arrived, there was an emergent TIPS procedure from the ICU who was unstable. I gathered pertinent information from the EMR, and discussed the case with the Intensivist and the patient's nurse. Then I organized and effectively communicated this information with my attending. Once he agreed to proceed, I informed the department staff of the urgency and expedited the transfer of the patient, which saved his life. My organized and efficient communication skills will be an asset to Radiology when communicating with other departments."

Amanda's Feedback

Clear communication is vital to the successful functioning of any team, but it is especially important in a medical environment where the consequences of misunderstandings or misinformation can be life or death. You've chosen a powerful example that can help make you a more memorable candidate. You can strengthen this response further by sharing how you see your communication skills benefit your team or patients in the role you're applying to. Would it ensure efficient workflows or more timely responses to other departments?

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"In a team being able to effectively communicate with your colleagues will help build trust, strengthen your professional relationships, boosts teamwork, develop a sense of belonging, and help you to become more productive. For instance, there was a time when one of my technicians was always placed at the drop-off station and she was getting overwhelmed by the stress she was dealing with on a daily basis. Instead of communicating with her team that she thought it was only fair for everyone to rotate at each station, she kept it to herself. When I observed that she was getting short with the customers and her work performance was declining, I spoke to her in private and she communicated what was bothering her. After this discussion, we put each technician on the schedule to rotate thru the respective stations so that no one will be assigned to one station every day of the week. This made it fair for everyone on the team and it helped boost morale and increase productivity."

Marcie's Feedback

Nice! This is a great example because it clearly shows how communication helped resolve an issue and also benefited your team. You come across as observant, caring, customer-focused, proactive, and a strong communicator. Excellent! Just be sure to give enough details about the job you're talking about so the interviewer understands the full context (like, for example, was this an RN position?)

Anonymous Answer

"For my behavioral health clinical rotation, I went to XYZ medical center. I was assigned a patient, she was an educated woman, but she was having marital issues with her husband. Because of that, she was frustrated and wasn't talking to other people. She didn't want to take her medications. So what I did as a student nurse was, I used my communication skills to make her open up with me and tried to understand the situation.

She did open up and told me what she was going through and I did understand why she was feeling like that. When we talked about it, I felt like she was calm and pleasant after the conversation and as a result, she ended up taking the medication that she was not taking earlier."

Amanda's Feedback

This example highlights your ability to empathize and communicate in ways that help others feel comfortable communicating with you. I also like that you shared the positive outcome, demonstrating how your skills benefited the patient. You can strengthen this answer by reviewing the requirements of the role you're applying to and sharing how your communication skills would benefit you in meeting the demands of the role. This helps show the hiring manager that you'd be a good fit for the position you want.

Anonymous Answer

"Communication is important in my previous role as a wraparound therapist to ensure that the treatment goal for the client is met. Being both facilitator and therapist I had to communicate to the team follow-ups on information from social workers, address concerns of the caregivers, and advocate for issues the client was feeling. Communicating all of these to the behavior specialist and parent partner makes it easier for them to formulate a plan on what they need to do in their role to reach the client’s treatment goal as a team."

Jaymie's Feedback

This is a great experience to share that would transfer well into the role at Kaiser Permanente. Can you also give more detail on the frequency of the communication and also specify if that communication took place verbally or electronically?

Anonymous Answer

"There was a situation at my current job where we were short-staffed so me and my colleagues had to take on more tasks than we normally have. I listed out all the tasks that needed to be done and delegated people to different roles. I effectively communicated to my colleagues how each task should be done so that we were being efficient on time. I made sure to inform everyone to call out when they finish their tasks that way they can help others or start them on a new task. This really helped us save time throughout the day and we were not behind on our work for the week."

Jaymie's Feedback

Great! You took the initiative to help coordinate and delegate assigned tasks and explained the expectations. Be sure to tie together how those skills will benefit you at Kaiser; then, you will have a well-rounded and complete answer.

Anonymous Answer

"During the first few weeks of the pandemic lockdown, we were only able to provide telemedicine encounters for our patients. I effectively communicated to the other members of the leadership team numerous alternative ways that we could still provide important treatments and medical tests for our patients. I explained in detail how each of these strategies could be implemented, and worked closely with the staff to make my ideas a reality."

Jaymie's Feedback

Excellent example! Don't forget to answer the second part of the question about how your skills will benefit the team and organization if offered the positive at Kaiser Permanente.

Operational

29. If hired for this role at Kaiser Permanente, what tools would you need to deliver excellent service?

How to Answer

In looking to hire you on their team, your interviewer would like to ensure that you are set up for success from the start at Kaiser Permanente. They are also looking to hear that you understand the greater role this job plays in providing excellent service to the patients and fellow colleagues that you would be serving in this role. Prior to your interview, it will be important for you to research the role you are interviewing for and put some thought into how you will be able to deliver the best service to those you will be working closely with. There are many tools that you could use to excel in your job but remember - the most significant tools you possess are an excellent attitude and a great team backing you. Discuss with the interviewer what you think you will need to deliver exceptional service in this role.

Written by Ryan Brunner

Entry Level Example

"To be able to provide excellent customer service, I will need the proper training and guidelines to follow so I know what is expected of me. I will also need to have resources available to self-help in the event that I need assistance answering a patient's question or finding general information. For example, a handbook, policy manual, FAQs, internal website, or other internal mechanisms that would allow me to research information if necessary. The other tools that I would need would be those that I already possess, like communication skills, compassion and empathy, a positive attitude, and a desire to truly serve others."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

Answer Example

"The main thing that I will require to deliver exceptional patient service here at Kaiser Permanente is great training. While I am confident that my skills and experience are a great fit for this role and for your patients, the better I know the procedures, policies, and systems within the organization, the more wholly I will be able to help the patients I would be working closely with."

Written by Ryan Brunner

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I have the basic procedural skills for this team position. I would need to be trained in the new procedures. I would also need a technologist to assist me who could adjust to my easy procedural style."

Amanda's Feedback

Consider strengthening this response by clearly stating which new procedures you'd require training for and what kind of workflow or procedural style you'd prefer a technologist be able to adapt to. This helps the interviewer evaluate how quickly you could assimilate into the team and how your approach to work would fit with the team.

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"Although I have acquired the basic skills in my role as a therapist such as initial intakes, biopsychosocial assessment, and applying interventions, I would need further training in Kaiser’s policy and procedures to ensure that I am successful in my role. I hope Kaiser will provide continuing education and evidence-based practice training in order to provide quality service to its members."

Jaymie's Feedback

This is a good start! Consider also any company-provided equipment, platforms, software, or applications you may need to deliver excellent service as well.

Anonymous Answer

"My positive attitude, empathy, excellent communication skills, and experience working in a collegial, collaborative team environment will be necessary to deliver excellent service to our patients at Kaiser Permanente. Empathy and excellent communication skills are critical both when interacting with the other medical staff, and with patients, as these improve team cohesion and patient care."

Jaymie's Feedback

Nice job! Consider what tools you would need from Kaiser Permanente. This could be functional equipment, advanced technology, user-friendly EMR systems, strong administrative staff, etc.

Situational

30. Is there any type of work environment that you dislike working in?

How to Answer

Kaiser Permanente takes great pride in having a very positive and nurturing environment. In asking this question, your interviewer wants you to talk openly and honestly about the types of work environments that you find hard to work in. No matter how you answer, your interviewer will be looking to hear that you can overcome any negative work environment and express your ability to do so by talking about a time you overcame a tough situation in the past.

Written by Ryan Brunner

1st Entry Level Example

"I'm a very easy-going person, so I do well both working in an individual setting as well as in a group setting. When I was in school, I equally enjoyed working on assignments alone and as part of larger group projects. I did some volunteering in the past at a local hospital and worked on a slower-paced administrative wing and also in a fast-paced environment in the kitchen, and I didn't dislike or struggle with either. I'm open to exploring various work environments, and I'm flexible working in whatever setting would be required."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

1st Answer Example

"I once worked in a very difficult environment and toxicity really started with our leader. To help myself on a day-to-day basis, I tried to stay as positive as possible with others and wouldn't be the person to pass along negativity. In fact, if a particular rumor or bad news was being passed along, I would simply squash it and move on. I don't like environments that are littered with negativity, but always do my best to remain positive in these situations."

Written by Ryan Brunner

2nd Answer Example

"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."

Written by Ryan Brunner

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I dislike when there's work politics. I also dislike when the morale of the lab is low."

Lauren's Feedback

Take this as an opportunity to market yourself as a positive employee who can enhance a work environment.

"I dislike working in a negative, low morale environment that is plagued with office politics. I am a very energetic, positive person who would like to contribute to a healthy, collaborative team."

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"I'm flexible to work in any environment. Companies hire a lot of people with a different way of thinking, and that could be a problem for some people. Still, as long you respect each other, do your job with a positive attitude, you can change any environment to a positive one."

Rachelle's Feedback

It sounds as though you embrace diversity and different opinions, which is great!

Anonymous Answer

"I do not like working with a toxic supervisor. Almost every interaction with the supervisor is negative. When I do interact, I use deep breathing techniques to keep myself calm. I continue to remind myself that this interaction is a small part of my job and I will be returning to patient care which I love very shortly."

Amanda's Feedback

This is a response you can build on. Consider explaining what makes a supervisor negative other than negative interaction. Is his or her communication poor or unclear? Are your tasks micromanaged? Is he or she trustworthy? You can also go beyond the scope of a supervisor to explain other environmental factors that you dislike around workplace aspects like leadership or management styles, training preferences, work-life balance options, your physical workspace layout, or how employee performance is managed or recognized.

Anonymous Answer

"I am able to work in any environment as long as communication is open. Usually, an issue can be resolved when expressing concern to the colleague in question or bringing it up to management whose role is to help maintain a healthy work environment. As long as everyone respects each other's differences and does their part as a team, the environment can be a positive place to work."

Jaymie's Feedback

You avoided speaking negatively about past work environments or team members, which is a good approach when answering this question. You were able to focus on the issues that may cause a challenge for you in the workplace but shared ways to overcome them. Great job!

Anonymous Answer

"I do not enjoy working completely alone. When I am by myself working for long periods of time, I have lower energy and I do not work that efficiently. If I am working individually, but there are still people around me, then I am okay with that because I enjoy being in the presence of other people. My work ethic is more efficient in that type of work environment."

Jaymie's Feedback

As long as you are not applying for a remote job or other position requiring you to be alone for long periods, this is a perfectly acceptable answer.

Anonymous Answer

"I have an optimistic attitude, especially at work, and prefer to work in a happy, collegial, and collaborative team environment. I worked in a very negative environment in which some of the team members had very negative attitudes, some of the staff consistently arrived late, and there was a lot of office gossip and backstabbing. I maintained a cheery, upbeat attitude, and this helped to improve the attitude of the other staff and the work environment in general. I worked with the office manager to eliminate late arrivals."

Jaymie's Feedback

Good job sharing your ideal environment and sharing ways that you overcome working in tough environments like you mentioned here with negativity and late staff.

Situational

31. Have you ever made a critical mistake while on the job? How did you handle the situation?

How to Answer

At Kaiser Permanente, integrity is held in the highest regard. While we are all human and make mistakes, the key to this question for your interviewer is how you handle the aftermath of a mistake to make things right. Your interviewer will be looking for you to own up to your mistake and do what it takes to correct it. Use a specific example and describe how you handled the situation and any lessons that you learned moving forward to prevent it from happening again. In the end, you want to ensure your interviewer that you would join the team at Kaiser Permanente with the utmost integrity and accountability in your work.

Written by Ryan Brunner

1st Entry Level Example

"My first job was working at a local gas station while in school, and I was closing out the night shift one evening, and my cash register was short. I instantly knew what had happened; I had been scammed. A woman came in and handed me the money for her items and gas, and I handed her back the change. She told me she had actually handed me a fifty-dollar bill, not a twenty-dollar bill, and that I had not given her enough change. I was confident she had only given me a twenty, but I had put the money immediately in the drawer; the store was super busy, and we didn't have surveillance cameras, so instead of pausing to count the drawer, I took her word and handed her the difference. I called my manager to explain what I thought had happened and why my drawer was short. My manager let me know that was a common scheme and that going forward, I should always lay the bill on top of my drawer until I hand the change back; that way, a customer can't say that wasn't the bill they gave me. I apologized for the mistake, and even though they told me I didn't have to replace the money, I did so anyway. From then on, I never immediately put the bill in my drawer and took her advice to avoid such a situation again. I also made sure to teach that best practice to all new hires."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

1st Answer Example

"Early in my career, I was working a night shift with minimal staffing on our unit. In the early morning hours, I was tending to a patient that was still wide awake and we ended up conversing for some time. When I went to continue my rounds, another patient had tried to get out of bed to make it to the bathroom and had suffered a fall. The patient, staying because of back surgery, was unable to hit the call button. I called for one of our CNAs to come and help me get the patient to the bathroom and back to his bed. While there was no injury, I was required to report the fall to our safety team and I did so immediately. Looking back, had I not stopped to talk so long with the other patient the fall may have been able to be prevented. Now, I make sure that I find that healthy mix of providing friendly care to my patients while being timely on my rounds."

Written by Ryan Brunner

2nd Answer Example

"In my current role as the lead scheduler, I am responsible for making the schedules for the schedulers in three different departments. Not long ago, I received a call on a Friday morning when I was scheduled to be off work and was told that an employee hadn't reported for their shift. Immediately, I logged on to our email system to find out that the employee in question had requested the day off and I had totally missed their communication to me. In owning up to my mistake, I quickly changed my plans for the day and reported to work to cover the shift. Looking back, I now make time in my calendar every day to review all emails that have come in and take action on any that are required so that nothing gets missed."

Written by Ryan Brunner

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"Once I was filling a prescription for 90 days 90 tablets. I didn't notice we have new 90 tablet bottles instead of the 30 tablet bottles, and I filled 3 of 90 tablets bottle instead of 3 of 30 tablets. When the pharmacist noticed I fix my mistake, and from that day, I double-check the quantity in the bottles in case the quantity changes."

Rachelle's Feedback

Great work giving your example and then highlighting how you corrected the error. You also made sure to take action so that this did not happen again. These are exactly the steps that an interviewer would be looking for.

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"Early in my career, I injected 1.5 ccs of lidocaine intrathecally instead of 12 ccs of contrast, because I did not look at the bottle label the technologist was holding. I was filled with dread, but quickly put the patient in reverse Trendelenburg, called anesthesia because this is a spinal anesthesia injection. I continually reassured the patient she was ok and transferred care to anesthesia. Every time I draw a medication now, the technologist will show me the label and I label all my syringes. I have put in place a safety measure to prevent this from happening again."

Amanda's Feedback

This is a great example! You've not only shared a critical mistake, but illustrated that you took corrective action immediately, reassured the patient, and put measures in place to prevent the mistake from occurring again. The only thing I would add is to confirm that this mistake - nor one like it with another injection - has occurred since. This more clearly shows that you learned from the mistake and that the corrective action you took is effective.

Anonymous Answer

"While working in my previous job, we had to be careful as we had to review transactions for possible fraud. Being talkative in nature, I was having a conversation with a customer who did not bank with _____, and being distracted by the conversation I cashed a fraudulent check. Realizing what happened, I immediately called the account owner, froze the account, and had the banker properly file a claim. The amount wasn’t enough to put me on a written notice, but moving forward I paid more attention to the transaction and went a step further to calling the maker of the check to confirm the amount and name of the person it was written to."

Jaymie's Feedback

You effectively used the STAR method here in your response to help the interviewer understand the situation. You took ownership of your mistake, took immediate steps to rectify the situation, and put a plan in place to avoid making the same mistake in the future. Excellent job!

Anonymous Answer

"Yes, I made an error in my current job where the food in the work orders I made was not measured out correctly. There was a specific amount of food that went into our work orders and I weighed them out incorrectly. When I realized this, I immediately told my manager and told her how it was my mistake. I redid all the work orders that were messed up so they wouldn't be sent out wrong. I apologized for my error and made sure to double-check all work orders after that day to ensure it would not happen again."

Jaymie's Feedback

Perfect! This question is less about the actual mistake and more about how you handled it. You took ownership, reported it to your manager, and immediately remedied the error. It's also important to demonstrate that you learned from your mistake and have grown as a result, just as you did here.

Anonymous Answer

"Before EMRs and electronic prescriptions were available, I saw a patient whose name was very similar to a celebrity's name. We joked about this, and the patient said that the name similarity sometimes led to confusing and humorous interactions with people. I wrote two prescriptions and was about to hand them to him. But first I double-checked the prescriptions, as usual, and noticed that I had written the celebrity's name instead of his. I apologized, and said, "Whoops, sorry about that. This is a perfect example of what we were just talking about." The patient was very understanding and laughed."

Jaymie's Feedback

Good example! You took ownership, apologized, and quickly corrected the situation.

Situational

32. How would you handle working with a patient or coworker at Kaiser Permanente that had a difficult personality?

How to Answer

Working closely with colleagues and/or patients in the healthcare world will eventually put you in close contact with someone who is very difficult to work with. Stress can often be high on the job at Kaiser Permanente and your interviewer wants to know how well you work with others despite differences in personality. Your ability to adapt to various people, regardless of a positive personality match, shows that you are mature and professional, even when factors are not entirely ideal. As you answer this question, try to talk about a specific time you had to work with an extremely difficult person during your career. If possible, avoid extreme responses that include speaking negatively of others or naming people. Also, avoid telling the interviewer that you get along with everyone all the time. Most interviewers will interpret a cliche response like that as dodging the question. In a positive tone, discuss how you made the situation work!

Written by Ryan Brunner

Entry Level Example

"In my last semester of school, we had several assignments that were group projects, and I worked with a diverse team of students at that time. From that experience, I learned that we all perceive people differently, and what may seem like a difficult person to me may be no bother at all to someone else on the team. First, understanding that it's okay to be different, that we have our own imperfections, then accepting each other for who they are, flaws and all can be helpful. If it were a situation where the person was being rude or disrespectful, that might be a little different. In that case, I would treat them with kindness and respect, and once they demonstrated those unwanted behaviors, I would have an honest conversation with them one on one about the situation to help them better understand my feelings, where I was coming from, and solutions on how to resolve the conflict. I always try to resolve conflict with the person directly, but if things escalated or continued, I would speak with my supervisor or HR for guidance."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

Answer Example

"In my current job, I had a team member who would scoff at other co-workers' ideas in meetings. As the manager, I knew I could not let this behavior continue. The HR Partner and I approached this person to discuss our company culture and how his behavior disrupted the environment. We wanted to create a resolution with this person. It turned out that he did not want to work in our division as he felt the projects were too 'junior' for his experience. He ended up requesting and receiving a transfer. By initiating an open conversation with this person, we were able to uncover his need. We also met the needs of our team by protecting the positive culture we had worked so hard to create. I learned a lot from this situation that I think I can bring to the Kaiser Permanente team."

Written by Ryan Brunner

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"When you work in a diverse team and with patients, you will encounter difficult personalities. My approach is to tune out the negativity and try to figure out why the personality is difficult. While working with patients, the difficulty usually stems from fear of the unknown about their health, I try to be more empathetic and talk to them truthfully about the procedure. If I am unable to understand a team member's personality, I try to be professional and interact in a courteous manner."

Amanda's Feedback

Well done! With this question, the interviewer is trying to get an idea of how you interact with challenging people, such as a coworker who is hard to please or has a tendency to intimidate others. Your answer shows the interviewer that you can work well with almost anyone. Because this is a situational question, consider using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to provide a story-based example. This ensures that you give the right amount of information and detail to create a compelling and memorable answer. Make sure to avoid speaking negatively of anyone, and be sure to end your response with a positive. Using a real-life example of how you improved a relationship with a difficult coworker or patient gives the interviewer a glimpse of how your strategy pays off in real-life situations.

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"The way that I have handled a difficult personality is the best of my ability is to have an understanding that I am going to encounter people who have different values and work ethics than I do and that some are taking out their frustration due to some unknown struggles. In these situations, I always try to offer some type of support or keep the interaction professional when paths need to cross."

Jaymie's Feedback

Great job. Demonstrating your ability to accept others for who they are and finding ways to coexist and work together is exactly what the interviewer will want to hear.

Anonymous Answer

"If a patient or coworker I was with had a difficult personality, I would try my best to be patient and kind to them. If they were being rude or disrespectful to me I would still treat them with kindness. This is how I would handle the situation so it doesn't escalate. It isn't wise to treat them the same way because it would only cause more problems. If they don't change their behavior and it creates a big issue in the work environment, I would talk to them first about it to communicate how it is affecting the workplace. If their behavior continues I would talk to HR or management to get the issue resolved."

Jaymie's Feedback

Perfect! Your answer demonstrates your professional maturity and ability to resolve conflict. Good job!

Anonymous Answer

"Unfortunately, there will be times when we have to work with a patient or coworker who has a difficult personality. When I first joined a practice, one of the senior partners had a very negative attitude and often insulted the other physicians. I maintained a friendly and positive attitude towards her and over time she gradually opened up about some of her issues at home. Her negativity and insults decreased significantly over the next year, and while she wasn't the most positive person, she became much more collegial towards the rest of the team."

Jaymie's Feedback

Good approach! Consider also sharing how you might handle a situation like this that didn't improve on its own. For example, discussing and addressing the behavior with the person directly to help them understand the impacts of their actions will help the interviewer better understand your interpersonal, communication, and conflict-resolution skills.

Situational

33. Talk about a time you had to diffuse a situation with an angry colleague or patient. What was critical for you to consider in your attempt to make the situation better?

How to Answer

At Kaiser Permanente, there may come a time when you have to calm down a situation with an angered patient, family member, or colleague. Your interviewer would like to hear a story regarding how you were able to take an uncomfortable, or hostile situation, and turn things around into a positive experience. Avoid speaking negatively about any patients or colleagues and use a recent example from your current role. No matter what example you use, make sure that your interviewer walks away from your time together knowing that you have the skills to diffuse a difficult situation and that you realize this is a requirement for the job.

Written by Ryan Brunner

Entry Level Example

"When I worked in retail during college, I had a colleague who was very negative and constantly complained during team meetings and floor display projects. It was affecting the team's morale, and others began joining in with having negative attitudes. I felt like I had a good relationship with this colleague, for the most part, so I asked him to have coffee together one day. I asked him how things were going at home and work, and he shared a lot of frustrations and problems he was having. I was gentle but honest with him about how others perceived him and his impact on the other employees. I let him know that as a senior employee on the team, others look up to him and often follow his lead and attitude. I wasn't sure how he would take it, but I felt like I had to have an open conversation with him and give him an opportunity to digest the feedback and make changes before going to my manager. I think he appreciated me coming to him one-off and having the courage to have the tough conversation by talking about it openly and in a non-confrontational way. He quickly changed his behavior and attitude, and you could really tell a difference in our team's productivity, collaboration, and morale."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

Answer Example

"I recently worked with a patient over the phone who was incredibly upset when they believed that we overcharged the services we provided. Upon first taking the call, the patient was name calling and yelling. Upon using my reflective listening skills to calm them down, I took the extra time required to walk the customer through every line item on their billing statement until they fully understood each item. The call was almost one hour in length, but it was worth the time to smooth over an important customer-related situation."

Written by Ryan Brunner

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"A patient scheduled for an Intrathecal Chemotherapy injection was delayed several hours. The reason was a computer glitz that held the release of his chemotherapy. The patient was angry and threatened to leave AMA. I used the facts and not emotions to explain the reason for his delay. Chemotherapy is a very controlled substance, and the pharmacist needs to have the proper paperwork in place to release the drug. Ultimately the patient understood and the procedure was finally completed."

Amanda's Feedback

This is an impactful example that you can make even stronger by more thoroughly explaining what you considered when working to diffuse the situation. Did you consider that the patient's physical pain or feeling ill would make his temper short? Did you consider how leaving AMA would impact his health and well-being?

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"In my previous role, I had to diffuse a conflict that my client had with her caregiver who felt was purposely making stuff up to get her out of the home. My client denied being disrespectful and acting out. With permission from my client, I was able to educate the caregiver on being trauma-informed and adolescents' developmental stage which can be difficult to understand. The caregiver was defensive at first but agreed to have an open dialogue with my client and listened to her needs to come to a common understanding of house rules. In this situation, I had to be mindful of my client's concern and at the same time empathize with the caregiver in order for open communication to start."

Jaymie's Feedback

This is a great example to share in response to this question. You did a nice job walking through your de-escalation process and were able to highlight your communication and interpersonal skills nicely.

Anonymous Answer

"- In a previous job, I had a coworker whose energy would be reflected on the rest of the team. They had positive energy most of the time, but when they were having a bad day they couldn’t hide it. So their attitude would change and didn’t have a good work ethic these days and it would be shown by the rest of the team. After I saw the negativity affecting the team spirit, I wanted to stop it from getting worse. I talked with them about it to understand their feelings in these situations at work. I communicated to them how it was affecting the work environment and advised them on how to not let their emotions dictate their attitude and work ethic. After that conversation, this issue did not come up again."

Jaymie's Feedback

This is a great example that shows your ability to identify an issue that was negatively impacting your team and to take the initiative to approach the person directly to address the issue. It also showcases your ability to communicate effectively, which will transfer well into this role. Good job!

Anonymous Answer

"One morning two nurses said that a new patient was complaining because she had been waiting a few minutes and had to leave in 45 minutes. I looked at the schedule and noticed that the patient had arrived an hour early for her appointment. I was able to see her right away, introduced myself, and apologized for any inconvenience. I apologized again and explained that sometimes we make scheduling errors, but that our schedule lists her appointment to be at 10:00, and it's now 9:10. She said that her appointment was for 9 am. I said, let me check the schedule again. I explained that we indeed had her listed at 10 am, and explained that the 9 am time slot is for follow-up patients. I said we don't schedule new patients at 9 unless we made a mistake, and I again apologized and reiterated that we may have made a scheduling error. She was no longer upset, thanked us for being professional, and realized that she may have written down the wrong time."

Jaymie's Feedback

You handled the situation calmly and professionally, which are two core skills the interviewer will be listening for. You were accommodating and used effective communication skills to identify the root cause of the issue. You also acknowledged that the practice could have made a mistake, and ultimately, your goal was to make sure she received care that day. Good job!

Situational

34. Kaiser Permanente seeks to hire those with strong problem-solving skills. When were you able to successfully resolve a problem in the workplace?

How to Answer

Problem-solving and dispute resolution are critical skills to possess on the team at Kaiser Permanente. Display to the interviewer that you are capable of problem-solving within the workplace by talking about a specific time when you were creative, proactive, and displayed the leadership qualities required to resolve a workplace issue. In your answer, your interviewer will be looking to hear that you are confident in your ability to be a problem-solver on their team.

Written by Ryan Brunner

1st Entry Level Example

"During my first semester of college, I took a communications class that required several group projects. I had two students in my group who could not get along, and they were constantly arguing and causing disruptions to our assignments. Other group members were frustrated, so I took the initiative to have one-on-one conversations with the two team members experiencing conflict. I was upfront and honest with them about how their behavior and attitudes toward one another were causing hardship for the group and gave examples of how it negatively impacted our team's productivity and morale. I tried to get to the root cause of the issues, and from those conversations, there had been some personal conflict between them stemming from an incident a few years back. In talking with them, they agreed to set aside their personal feelings. We came up with a solution that meant they could complete their tasks independently, and the rest of the group would review their contributions. We all agreed to use a group chat; that way, there was less tension than in one-on-one texts and relaying information, reducing the likelihood that an argument would break out between the two. We completed the assignments together and built some conflict resolution skills along the way."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

1st Answer Example

"In my most recent position, we had a consistent problem with employees showing up late for their shifts or calling in sick at the very last moment. Rather than the typical documenting and reprimanding style that management usually takes, I decided to track the results of an accountability reward system. For 180 days, my employees were rewarded for coming to work 10 minutes early. Also, for every month with zero sick days, a bonus was added. In the end, we awarded those with perfect attendance a $600 bonus. The bonus' cost us less money, in the end than the cost of lowered productivity due to absent employees. The program was a success, and upper management chose to keep it implemented for another six months. We will re-assess in December, but it seems to be working very well."

Written by Ryan Brunner

2nd Answer Example

"I was working in a clinic where the primary population was low income. We had a lot of concerns with patients not showing up for appointments when expected. The staff wanted to start double-booking patient time slots. Instead, I got permission to spend a day in a highly-rated clinic serving the same population. Instead of scheduling, they had these 'drop-in mornings' with a common waiting room. I took these methods and incorporated them into our setting. We did that twice a week, and it completely solved our scheduling problem."

Written by Ryan Brunner

3rd Answer Example

"In my current position, we were running into several issues about a year ago that involved the inventory and stocking of supplies in patient rooms. After communicating the issue with my director, we realized that there wasn't an efficient inventory tracking system and supply ordering system in place for our clinic. I was tasked with spearheading a task force. In leading this project, I gathered a diverse team around our clinic that went through a rigorous process of defining the problems and creating solutions to those issues. In the end, we developed a user-friendly inventory and ordering system and we defined what roles in our clinic would be responsible for those duties."

Written by Ryan Brunner

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I was helping a customer once who came to pick up her injectable prescription. We told her we were going to order it and it was supposed to be there that day. But her prescription was on troubleshoot, and no one order it. The lady said she needed the medicine that day, and if she didn't have it that day, she will go to a hospital and send the bill to us. I called McKesson and ask them for a specialty same-day delivery and explained the situation to them, I told the patient we will receive it that night and apologized when she came to pick it up, and I make sure we always have it on stock for her."

Rachelle's Feedback

It sounds like you handled this matter with utmost urgency and great customer care. This is a very good example of your problem resolution skills.

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"In my current position, there was no process to train a new hire who did not have IR experience. I discussed the problem with the credentialing department and we developed a system to credential APPs as proctors. I became the first proctor in our health system."

Amanda's Feedback

This is a strong example, but you can make it more impactful by sharing more detail. Explain why the lack of an IR training process was problematic, and what role you played when partnering with credentialing. What process did you go through to create the new hire training program? Finally, share how this has enhanced the way new hires become productive members of the team or the way your health system functions.

Anonymous Answer

"- When I worked in the food industry, my manager came to me and a few coworkers with an issue we were having with customer reviews and it was about wait time. She told us that we were getting multiple complaints about orders taking too long and asked how we could change this. I suggested that we set the clock where we keep the orders a few minutes ahead of the real-time so that they were never made or brought out late. I also suggested calling out the order time when we got them to ensure it was communicated to everyone when it should be ready. My manager implemented both of these suggestions into our workplace and it worked in minimizing those reviews."

Jaymie's Feedback

Excellent! You gave a good balance of information for the interviewer to understand the situation, your role on the team, your problem-solving skills, and the positive outcome resulting from your ideas.

Anonymous Answer

"My first practice used an older method for providing treatment injections to patients. Most patients received two injections at a time, but some needed a third injection, for which the practice did not charge. While it may sound noble to provide a medical service free of charge, which I sometimes do, it is financially irresponsible to systematically do this. I asked the other physicians about charging for the third injection and was told that we don't receive payment for a third injection. I proposed that I would do a pilot project in one of the offices, and charge for the third injection. Over the next few months, an analysis of payment collections revealed that we did indeed receive payment for the third injection, so the practice adjusted its billing protocol accordingly."

Jaymie's Feedback

You recognized a problem and took the initiative to investigate and find a solution! This is a good example to share with the interviewer. If you know the positive financial impact, be sure to share that as well.

Teamwork

35. At Kaiser Permanente, we take pride in our great relationships with vendors, coworkers, and patients. Do you consider yourself to be a strong relationship builder?

How to Answer

The most successful healthcare institutions in the world pride themselves on the trusting relationships that they build with their patients and vendors and this is no different at Kaiser Permanente. In asking this question, your interviewer wants to get a sense that you will bring the ability to build strong relationships to Kaiser Permanente. Assure the interviewer that you would treat everyone at Kaiser Permanente with great respect and a positive attitude. Discuss the ways that you would build strong and healthy relationships if hired.

Written by Ryan Brunner

1st Entry Level Example

"I am very much a people person and excel at building and maintaining relationships with others. I volunteered at a homeless shelter for two years, and to succeed as a house supervisor, I had to build relationships and trust with those I served. I was able to do that but showing genuine empathy and compassion for each person, regardless of what led them to their current circumstances. It was important for me to communicate in a professional and respectful way and through active listening and frequent check-ins. Many of those in the shelter relied on me to help them with certain tasks, so it was critical to building trust that I followed through and followed up on my commitments to each person. I believe all of these skills and experiences would translate well into this role at Kaiser Permanente."

Written by Jaymie Payne on March 5th, 2023

1st Answer Example

"I have often been complimented on my relationship-building skills. I like to get to know people and ask them questions about themselves. Most people love to talk about themselves, and I find it's a great and simple way to start building rapport with others. I consider myself to be a strong relationship builder and take pride in my people skills. Rest assured, I would be a great ambassador of positive relationships for Kaiser Permanente."

Written by Ryan Brunner

2nd Answer Example

"My desire to become a nurse stemmed from my passion for helping people when they are most vulnerable. As a successful nurse, at this point in my career, I got to where I am at today by providing the best customer service in the clinical environment by building great relationships with my patients. These relationships are created from the ground up. I start this by building trust in my patients with my clinical expertise and my interpersonal skills. I am an attentive listener and a compassionate caregiver. Once this trust is developed, my patients can fully trust me and recommend my services to future patients."

Written by Ryan Brunner

3rd Answer Example

"I am happy to hear that Kaiser Permanente values long-term relationships. This fact is a bonus for me, and it's one of the reasons I chose to work in the medical field. I like working in an industry where genuine care is valued. Healthcare is not a place for gimmicks because health is precious and irreplaceable. I've had a lot of success by focusing on building a reputation for consistency and follow-up. What you describe is a good fit for me, reputable vendors value these skills, and I'd like to represent a company that wants to create long-term sustainable partnerships."

Written by Ryan Brunner

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I believe I have good customer service with my patients, and coworkers because I treat them with respect, ask them how are they doing. I even talk about what they are going through. I'm a good listener, and my coworkers and patients like that about me."

Kevin's Feedback

It sounds as though you have exceptional patient service skills! Any hiring authority should feel comfortable putting you in front of their valued customer base. I've cleaned up your answer slightly to more successfully deliver your message.

"My customer service skills with my patients are definitely one of my strengths. I am a people person and build relationships with my coworkers and patients alike. I treat everyone with respect, am a great listener, frequently check in on how everyone is doing, and pride myself on my communication skills. People feel pretty comfortable with me and often open up about what they’re going through or share their personal lives with me. I listen, mirror, validate, and empathize. If they want help, I’ll help any way I can."

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"I pride myself on the strong work relationships I have and continue to build. My attention to detail and consistent follow-through of tasks have built long and lasting relationships with my co-workers, vendors, and especially my patients. My goal is to build relationships that are based on trust and commitment. I would be happy to work for Kaiser, which would appreciate these relationships."

Amanda's Feedback

Well done! You've confirmed that you're a great relationship builder and explained what kind of task-oriented skills help you nurture lasting relationships. You can improve this answer further by explaining what interpersonal skills you possess that make you a valuable team member and provider such as active listening, cultural sensitivity, patience, and adaptability. These softer skills can be vital to show others that you value them and their contributions, which helps build strong, reciprocal relationships.

Anonymous Answer

"It is part of our role as a clinician to build strong relationships with our clients during the therapeutic process so this process comes naturally to me when it comes to others who are not my client. Building a strong relationship makes a healthier work environment, coordinating care is more successful, and building a great relationship with peers makes the work day more enjoyable."

Jaymie's Feedback

Great! If you can include a couple of techniques you use to build trust and relationships, feel free to share those as well.

Anonymous Answer

"- For the time that I’ve been working in customer service, I have been successful in creating strong relationships between coworkers and customers. I can connect on a more personable level with my coworkers and that helps create an efficient working environment. I can easily build a relationship based on trust and compassion with new people. I know that I can give customers a memorable experience where they will want to come back. I am very passionate about helping people in a healthcare setting because caring for a person’s health and well-being needs a lot of attention and I am willing to provide."

Jaymie's Feedback

Perfect! These are all skills and traits that will transfer well into healthcare.

Anonymous Answer

"Yes, I am definitely a strong relationship builder. I am genuinely curious about other people, have empathy for others, treat everyone like family, and have excellent communication skills. Learning about each other, finding common ground, and communicating openly helps to build and maintain strong relationships with coworkers and patients."

Jaymie's Feedback

Throughout your answers, it's evident that you prioritize treating patients like your family and building relationships with those you care for. These skills and abilities will transfer well into the role at Kaiser Permanente.