37 Kaiser Permanente Interview Questions & Answers

Below is a list of our Kaiser Permanente interview questions. Click on any interview question to view our answer advice and answer examples. You may view 5 answer examples before our paywall loads. Afterwards, you'll be asked to upgrade to view the rest of our answers.

Table of Contents

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

Adaptability

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

How to Answer

With over 212,000 employees providing care to 12.7 million members, change is inevitable for the team at Kaiser Permanente. On top of that, technology, policy, and healthcare practice will continue to evolve into the future at a rapid rate and 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. Ensure that the example that you use displays your ability to live Kaiser's vision of embracing what truly matters, the patients and communities they serve, even in the face of change.

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 22nd, 2024

Answer Example

"As I've worked in both small clinics and large academic hospitals throughout my career, the one constant in any setting has been change. A person has to embrace it by understanding why change is happening and be a champion of it moving forward, something I look forward to doing as part of the Kaiser Permanente team. Just a few years ago, my institution made a paradigm shift to outpatient care and hospital care at home. While the data was there to support this shift from the patient's point of view, many of my colleagues just didn't understand the need. Knowing that our inpatient units would now be filled with patients who truly needed inpatient care and patients in need wouldn't be diverted, I saw this as a great opportunity for us to truly change lives and I have these conversations with my colleagues. This care model also opened up great new opportunities for staffing in ambulatory settings and is exciting. I know that the members and patients of Kaiser will always expect this institution to be flexible in meeting their needs, and I'd be proud to bring that attitude to work here every day."

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 22nd, 2024

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?

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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. How will you handle the day-to-day stresses that come with this position?

How to Answer

When Dr. Sidney Garfield founded the early stages of Kaiser Permanente during the Great Depression era in southern California, he was the sole physician providing care to thousands of workers building the Colorado River Aqueduct. The hard work through stressful times is what built the organization and made it what it is today and the large volume of members and providing excellent care means challenging times for any staff member at Kaiser. Your interviewer wants to ensure that you understand all of the duties of the job you're being considered for and which ones can be stressful. On top of this, they're looking to hear your overall assessment of your ability to handle those stresses. Use your past experiences to talk about how you take care of your physical and mental stress to ensure a job well done all of the time.

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 23rd, 2024

Answer Example

"I've worked long 10-12 hours shifts on a busy Med Tele unit for the last five years and know too well the stressors that come with it. From being understaffed at times to having a unit that is full for weeks on end, I realized early in my career that taking care of myself outside of work keeps my work shifts as stress-free as possible. For me, this starts with a good diet, plenty of rest, and quality time with my family to unwind and let my mind relax. I also want you to know that if I'm fortunate enough to join this team at Kaiser Permanente, my new colleagues will quickly learn that I'm able to handle any workload thrown my way by my ability to triage, prioritize and plan my work, my communication skills, and my ability to streamline and improve processes to ensure patient safety and quality of care are always the focus."

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 23rd, 2024

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.

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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

3. What aspect of your work brings you the most stress?

How to Answer

Kaiser Permanente is one of the largest not-for-profit health plans in the country and services heavily populated metro areas like Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno, Denver, Baltimore, and Portland. The sheer number of members can make for a large workload, depending on the job you are interviewing for, and ensuring that you can manage work stress in a healthy and productive manner will be important to your interviewer. The best way to answer a question like this is to discuss the types of work stress you have faced in the past and the tactics that you used to communicate clearly and ensure that no tasks were left undone. Then, to seal your answer, make sure to highlight how your methods will help you in this role with Kaiser.

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 23rd, 2024

Answer Example

"I like to consider myself a very stress-free person, both in my professional and personal life, but I'd have to say that the times that cause me the most anxiety are the days when the clinic is full and I worry about keeping clinical schedules on time. The last thing I want is for a patient's reading to start more than 10 minutes past their scheduled time because I know a lot of patients are taking time away from work or their families to make an appointment. In these situations, I find it most important to remain focused on each patient I am with and be as efficient as I can with each. Ensuring that my team stays in communication when the clinic is full is very important to ensure that we remain on schedule and I never hesitate to lead these conversations. I certainly wouldn't in the future as part of the amazing Kaiser Permanente team!"

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 23rd, 2024

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.

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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!

Behavioral

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

How to Answer

As pioneers in preventative medicine and leading groundbreaking medical research, Kaiser Permanente knows compassionate and personalized care is important to the patients they care for and the nonprofit health plan members they insure. Your interviewer needs to be assured that you will bring a high level of compassion. Talk to the interviewer about the compassionate qualities that you possess and that you'd bring to this role by giving a real-life example or two from your work history.

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 22nd, 2024

Answer Example

"Yes, I absolutely do and know that your integrated care and coverage model is built upon meeting and exceeding the needs of your members. Even on the longest and most strenuous shifts, keeping a smile on my face and remaining focused on each patient interaction is a top priority for me. With compassion in the form of providing kindness and empathy in caring for patients and colleagues being one of Kaiser Permanente's core values, I look forward to bringing a compassionate approach to this role by being an active listener at all times, being a servant to those that I'm caring for, and being fully engaged in the work I'm performing directly with patients."

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 23rd, 2024

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.

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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

5. What would you say is the greatest weakness you would bring to this role?

How to Answer

With over 618 medical facilities spanning across the country and a unique model of care that combines both health care and coverage into one experience, your interviewer knows that any candidate they consider will come to their team with their own unique shortcomings. The Kaiser Permanente team needs to know that you are aware of what your biggest weakness would be in joining and that you have put some serious thought into how you will tackle this weakness from day one. Be sure to thoroughly read through the job description and think about both where your prior experiences will give you a leg up and where you will have some things to learn. Talk openly and honestly with your interviewer as you answer to show your genuine and human side here.

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 23rd, 2024

Answer Example

"As you can see from my resume, the 12 years of experience I would bring to Kaiser Permanente are in the community medicine setting and I know the one weakness I would have is joining a practice that incorporates medical students, residents, fellows, and other learners into the patient care atmosphere. I'm very excited about this opportunity because I feel that I have a lot to give when it comes to teaching tomorrow's medical leaders, but know I have a lot to learn when it comes to formal precepting I would come here as a very observant and astute learner from my new peers in this realm."

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 23rd, 2024

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.

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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

6. 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

Kaiser Permanente is never satisfied with the status-quo as lived every day in its core value of innovation and using creativity to drive continuous improvement each day. Their work in the heavily populated areas of southern California, northern California, urban Maryland/ Washington D.C., and the Atlanta area has grown significantly due to their ability to meet and exceed the expectations of their members. Your interviewer will expect you to continue helping this trend, so they pose this question to hear you discuss how you were willing to go the extra mile on the job. As you give your example, try to give your best pitch on how you'll continue to go above and beyond in the job you are interviewing for as well.

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 23rd, 2024

Answer Example

"From both personal experience with care here and the fact that you've grown to 12.5 million members, it is quite evident that Kaiser Permanente is always willing to do what is necessary to exceed the expectations of those that you are caring for. I want you to know that I'm ready to do that in this role by working diligently in performing and reporting test results in a timely manner so patients and providers can get results faster. This can mean the critical difference between life and death for some patients. I've always been willing to take part in hospital-wide committees and quality improvement initiatives in my work, as evidenced by my current committee seats in my current position. With Kaiser Permanente, I want you to be assured that I'm always willing to go beyond my duties to improve care for individual patients and for the betterment of future care."

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 23rd, 2024

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.

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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

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

How to Answer

Kaiser Permanente's model of care involves both the non-profit insurance coverage and frontline clinical care of patients which is certainly unique, and this connected system of care is important for any new employee to understand and embrace. In hoping to hear that you'll prioritize a well-rounded model of care, your interviewer asks to hear you discuss your personal patient care philosophy if you are being considered for a patient-facing role there. Knowing that their care is founded on cutting-edge technology, evidence-based care, and a compassionate approach, try to exude these philosophies in your approach to working closely with patients. Hopefully, you have a real-life story you can share that further enforces your philosophy.

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 23rd, 2024

Answer Example

"The one thing that has always drawn me to a career at Kaiser Permanente is your streamlined approach to making care accessible, affordable, hassle-free, and personalized for your patients. It's a model I would love to be a part of. My approach to patient care is treating them as I would treat my own family, listening to their needs, answering their questions, and ensuring they walk away from our time together more knowledgeable about their health and well-being. With a personal touch, patients are more apt to being engaged in their own outcomes and that has such a positive impact down the road for them."

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 23rd, 2024

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?

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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

8. 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

As a medical industry giant with the nation's largest non-profit health plan and 40 large hospitals across the western and southern United States, the team at Kaiser Permanente handles many different situations that patients and members can experience. Depending on the role you are interviewing for, this can include things like coverage being denied on claims and a bad diagnosis to great things like a successful operation that saves a life. Your interviewer wants to her that you will come to the Kaiser Permanente team with the ability to handle all of the highs and lows you will experience there. A key to answering this question is making sure you fully understand all of the duties you will be performing and having some foresight into what could be the highs and lows of the job. Since they ask, make sure to discuss how you've handled challenging emotions on the job in the past to give the sense you'll do well in this role.

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 23rd, 2024

Answer Example

"Even though I've been in many emotionally difficult situations throughout my career in physical therapy, I've simply never let those emotions get in the way of my work, my production, or providing great care to a patient. From what I've learned from the team today, this Sacramento clinic is very busy and I will be evaluating many patients per day. Some will have some very debilitating injuries and have their personal lives impacted negatively. Rather than focusing on their current state, I'm a forward thinker and would help them refocus their injury to the rehab and what it will take to become fully functional again."

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 23rd, 2024

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!

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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!

Compatibility

9. Why should we hire you?

How to Answer

As one of the pioneering leaders in healthcare in the United States, open positions at Kaiser Permanente can attract some of the best talent in the industry. If your interviewer faces a tough decision following the interviewing process, they'll give you the chance to give your best sales pitch on yourself and what makes you the best candidate for the position. Make sure to prepare your brief, yet effective pitch on why you are the best person for the job. Your response here should mesh the hands-on experience you would bring to the role you are being considered for and the long-term commitment and difference you will make to Kaiser Permanente and its members.

Written by Ryan Brunner on March 22nd, 2024

Answer Example

"Kaiser Permanente's vision of being trusted partners in health and its strong commitment to making lives better requires passion, energy, and empathy and I'm happy to say that I would bring all of these values to work here. I know you are looking to hire a candidate who has hands-on experience in labor and delivery. Having spent the last six years in one of the metro area's largest hospitals, I would come to Kaiser with years of experience in working with mothers in labor and assisting them through the delivery process, their hospital stay, and caring for newborns before being discharged. I would be able to jump right in with the team here and hit the ground running and it sounds like this is important to you as well. I'm looking to make my last career move with this change. If I'm fortunate enough to be offered this position, your team would be getting the prime years of my career where I can help mentor and coach the healthcare leaders of tomorrow."

Written by Ryan Brunner on March 22nd, 2024

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Direct

10. 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

According to their career site, Kaiser Permanente requires all external hires to pass a background check and pre-employment drug screen. They also state that applications with arrest or conviction records can still be considered. Since the institution operates in many states, including California, Oregon, Georgia, and Maryland, make sure to familiarize yourself with those states' medical background check requirements before your interview. Now is the time to be honest about anything that would show up on a background check because interviewers will be much more lenient during the onboarding process if it was disclosed during the interview.

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 23rd, 2024

Answer Example

"Yes, I would consent to a full background check. I have been subjected to criminal and caregiver background checks in all positions I have held up to this point in my career. During my undergraduate program, I do have a conviction for distracted driving on my record that I would be more than happy to discuss if needed. If I'm offered this position, I'd be happy to get the process started right away."

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 23rd, 2024

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!

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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

11. Why do you think you will be successful in this role?

How to Answer

With a wide variety of services, departments, clinics, hospitals, and roles within Kaiser Permanente, your interviewer wants to know that you will be confident stepping into the job with success. This is your chance to highlight your exact experiences and skills that make you the perfect fit for the job. If you can, take your answer further by highlighting your ability to help live Kaiser's mission of providing high-quality services to the members you will work with and the communities you will be helping to serve there.

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 23rd, 2024

Answer Example

"First and foremost, this role with Kaiser Permanente really spoke to me because of my nine years of experience in the operating room setting, working side by side with surgeons in the prep, and actual procedures with patients. I have the leadership skills to bring a positive and professional attitude while getting to know my team enough to delegate responsibilities around the OR. As I applied and interviewed today, I've gotten the chance to learn so much more about the rich history of Kaiser Permanente. Coming to work for a managed care organization is something I would take great pride in and I can definitely see myself as part of this team for many years to come."

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 23rd, 2024

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.

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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

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

How to Answer

Kaiser Permanente has the philosophy that they are many, working together as one, and each employee with the institution is essential to achieving the collective mission. Because teamwork is so vital to the success of providing great service and results to their members, your interviewer wants to hear you discuss how you play and work as part of a larger team. Some key things to focus on as you answer this question are your ability to communicate, listen, delegate, and perform many different roles within a team setting. If you have examples of times you've led others and have taken direction with ease, make sure to discuss those.

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 29th, 2024

Answer Example

"Throughout my career as a LCSW, being the ultimate team player has been a big key to my success. If I'm fortunate enough to join the Kaiser Permanente team, I will be a collaborator who knows my role and has expertise in the overall care of patients. I'm always open and ready to work with other medical professionals on care plans for patients because I know that it takes the expertise of many to help patients through the toughest of times. I would come here with the ability to take charge when necessary. My colleagues will quickly say that I lead in a dignified and professional manner and that people are always willing to listen to and respect me."

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 29th, 2024

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.

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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

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

How to Answer

Kaiser Permanente's mission, vision, and core values are all built around one thing: their members. Just take a look at their mission of providing high-quality and affordable heathcare services to improve the health of their members. No matter what position you are being considered for there, your interviewer will want to see that you understand how it impacts providing the best service possible to their members. Come prepared to discuss your skills and knowledge that will help continue Kaiser's excellent customer service.

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 28th, 2024

Answer Example

"The fact that Kaiser Permanente serves 12.5 million members across the country is a true testament to the great service that you provide and I'm hopeful to help continue that rich tradition in this role. I know that this position will put me in rooms with patients in the hospital. Greeting them with a smile on my face and clear instructions of my job will help them feel more at ease and comfortable. Of course, I will always listen to any immediate needs that they have and be sure to escalate any concerns they have to the nursing team. Great service will also come in my ability to be thorough and timely in my work, which you find I will always do in this role."

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 28th, 2024

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.

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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. Why do you want to work for Kaiser Permanente?

How to Answer

The recruitment process for Kaiser Permanente is a two-way street, where the organization looks to find the right candidate that fits their need while ensuring that their organization is a great long-term fit for the candidate. In hoping to gain more clarification on that second point, your interviewer wants to hear you talk more about why you want to come work for Kaiser Permanente. Your goal as you answer this question is to speak passionately about what about the organization speaks to you the most. Whether you talk about the fact that they are spread throughout the greatest part of the country or you are drawn to helping promote their core values of excellence, creativity, innovation, and connection, make sure to speak from the heart as you sell your interviewer on the fact that coming to Kaiser Permanente is the right move for you.

Written by Ryan Brunner on March 22nd, 2024

Answer Example

"As I've progressed and advanced over the first nine years of my career, coming to work for Kaiser Permanente has always been a dream for me! Some colleagues on your team that I've known for years say so many great things about the quality of care that you provide and the impact you have on improving the lives of all patients who walk through your doors. Over the last year or so, I've been keeping an open eye for exactly this role to open up and was so glad when I received the notification through your career site. This is exactly what I've pictured my dream job to look like and it's something I've been training, learning, and working hard to achieve."

Written by Ryan Brunner on March 22nd, 2024

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Discovery

15. What do you know about Kaiser Permanente?

How to Answer

Knowing that you've done your homework on Kaiser Permanente will be important to your interviewer because it shows both dedication and passion on your end as a candidate. With over 235,000 employees and locations on the West Coast, East Coast, and places in between, there are plenty of unique qualities to discuss. No matter how you answer, the first thing you want to do as you answer is ensure that your answer is memorable long after your interview concludes. To do this, speak with passion as you take facts about Kaiser Permanente and go further to discuss why these are attractive and meaningful to you.

Written by Ryan Brunner on March 22nd, 2024

Answer Example

"First and foremost, Kaiser Permanente's unique model of care that encapsulates the health coverage and care for patients across the country is remarkable. It is something that many have tried to model after, but none have found the success that you have and this is awe-inspiring. What speaks to me the most about Kaiser Permanente is your rich history of innovating the way that care is provided. You were among the first to pioneer mobile medicine back in the 1970s and this has had such a great impact on care for Americans across the country. In more recent years, Kaiser's launch of one of the largest and most diverse research banks is bound to help find cures and pathways for healing for millions of people. You clearly have so many exciting things happening here, which makes the prospect of joining this amazing team so great."

Written by Ryan Brunner on March 22nd, 2024

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Discovery

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

How to Answer

The members of Kaiser Permanente rely on the institution and staff to help them solve some of the greatest issues they are facing with their health and well-being. No matter if you are being considered for a direct patient care role or a support role, it will be important for your interviewer to assess your problem-solving skills as they relate to the job itself. This is a great time to talk about a time or two when you were faced with a problem that needed to be solved and talk through how you worked your way through it. Remember that communication is key in these situations, so make sure to reiterate that you would always let this be your guide on staff here.

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 28th, 2024

Answer Example

"Thinking on my feet, using available resources, and talking with colleagues has always been my approach to help solve patient care issues throughout my career. I'm confident that my years of experience in both inpatient and outpatient settings would bode me well on this team at Kaiser Permanente. A few months ago, we were facing a staffing crisis over a weekend on my inpatient unit. We had several staff members that were ill and others away on vacation. I quickly acted to work with our unit manager on contacting all available nurses and worked with other department leaders on providing help with cross-coverage. Rather than letting worry take over, buckling down and making a plan of action was very important. This is something I would always be willing to do as part of the Kaiser Permanente team."

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 29th, 2024

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!

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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

17. If you were hired today, what would you accomplish first on the job?

How to Answer

Keeping in mind that one of Kaiser Permanente's core values is excellence in delivering the highest quality care and service possible, this question lets your interviewer see that you know which aspects of the role matter the most. Their career site does a very good job of outlining the specific duties of the job, so be sure to thoroughly read through the job description and think about what your first major accomplishment will be if hired. If the job is very dependent on working inter-departmentally, don't hesitate to talk about your desire to meet and know all of your new colleagues. With no right or wrong answer here, make sure your response is memorable to your interviewer long after your time together.

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 28th, 2024

Answer Example

"In the outpatient setting here at Kaiser Permanente, I know I'll be working with a wide variety of prescribing physicians and collaborating with many pharmacy colleagues. Because success in this setting depends on communication and teamwork, the first thing that I would want to accomplish is to spend one-on-one time with my new colleagues and the physicians I would be collaborating with. I want to give them the chance to know me and my communication style so we can have immediate success moving forward."

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 28th, 2024

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!

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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

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

How to Answer

Kaiser Permanente's career site goes into great detail about their commitment to helping provide a great work-life balance for their staff. Some examples include work-from-home/remote work opportunities, mental wellness tools, flexible scheduling, access to discounted recreational activities outside of work, and many more benefits. Knowing that it is so important to the success of their team, your interviewer wants to hear how you personally maintain a healthy and flourishing work-life balance. Talk about your tactics honestly, while reiterating that you do what is necessary on your off time to come to work mentally and physically ready to succeed.

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 28th, 2024

Answer Example

"A healthy balance between my career and my home life starts with my family and the quality time we can spend together. We are avid sports fans and travel throughout California to watch our A's, 49ers, and Warriors teams compete. Our kids also keep us very busy with their sports and school activities. I'm also a very firm believer that a healthy lifestyle involving diet and exercise is vital to ensuring that my mental and physical health is in order at all times. I find that my time at work is greatly benefitted by my healthy and active lifestyle. I know that this role with Kaiser Permanente will come with some very pressure-packed days. Your team will quickly see that I'm able to handle these with ease."

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 28th, 2024

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!

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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

19. Tell me about yourself.

How to Answer

From being co-founded in 1945 as a revolutionary healthcare model to growing into the industry giant they are today, the success and growth of Kaiser Permanente was built by the people making it operate every day. It will be important for your interviewer to get to know just who you are and what motivates you during your time together, so they give you the opportunity here to talk about yourself and your interests. This question allows you the chance to open up and give a full snapshot of yourself, so be sure to take advantage of it. Any way that you can provide your ability to help live Kaiser's vision of being trusted partners to their members will benefit you.

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 28th, 2024

Answer Example

"Kaiser Permanente would be hiring a highly motivated person who knows how to have fun and loves thriving in a team-based atmosphere. Outside of work, my priorities are my family and our hobby farm that we own. We raise chickens, goats, and horses. On top of this, we also own and breed golden retrievers. We love the slower life our homestead provides. We are also very avid outdoorspeople and spend as much time as possible canoeing and fishing as many small rivers as we can."

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 28th, 2024

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.

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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.

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Discovery

20. Do you believe it's important to integrate yourself into the community in which you practice medicine? How would you effectively do this?

How to Answer

Kaiser Permanente believes that improving health is about more than just providing high-quality health care. They firmly believe that good health starts in the communities they serve. Be sure to check out and read up on the Kaiser site that focuses on their commitment to helping build healthier communities, providing access to care, and focusing on social health within their communities. As you answer, your interviewer wants to hear that you see the importance of a large healthcare organization doing more for the greater good of the people they serve and how you will help live this mission if you were to join their team.

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 28th, 2024

Answer Example

"Over the course of my career, I've been very involved in activities within the community and this is both from a personal and professional level. My family currently participates in food drives and helps to build homes for the less fortunate, activities we love to do together to help our neighbors. I've also volunteered my time to help out at free vaccination clinics to ensure that members of my community had access to care they normally wouldn't. I love that Kaiser Permanente puts so much effort into the betterment of the communities you serve. One thing that really jumped out to me is your effort to help people with things like the SNAP program and getting access to community benefits and resources provided by the state."

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 28th, 2024

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?

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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

21. Do you prefer to work in a team-based or individual position?

How to Answer

While the role you are interviewing for at Kaiser Permanente may be a job that requires a great deal of independence, their career site makes it abundantly clear that the power of a team effort is what truly makes the difference for the hundreds of thousands of members and patients they care for each year. They expect their staff to be proud of working with other medical professionals and to understand the importance of everyone's role in the bigger picture. As you answer this question from the heart, make sure your interviewer walks away knowing that you would come to their team with the ability to work independently and that you have a true passion for being involved with a larger team effort.

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 28th, 2024

Answer Example

"Nothing is more satisfying to me in my work than coming together as a team of experts in different areas to solve a very complicated patient-related issue. As you hopefully learned today, I would come to Kaiser Permanente with the ability to hit the ground running in this role on my own. But more important to me is working side by side with some of the top physicians and medical experts on the West Coast and having the ability to collaborate with them."

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 28th, 2024

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.

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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

22. 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

With over 235,000 employees across the country, Kaiser Permanente provides many great opportunities for its staff to grow and develop their careers with the organization. Per the career planning section of their website, Kaiser is dedicated to providing excellent tools and resources like career assessments, career counseling, skill development, and tuition reimbursement for furthering education. In looking to hire a great long-term fit, your interviewer curiously wants to know what your goals are throughout your career. Talk openly and honestly about your goals and, if possible, try to highlight how a future with Kaiser Permanente will help you fulfill your career dreams.

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 28th, 2024

Answer Example

"I have been working towards building my skills and knowledge in clinical leadership over the last few years, particularly by shadowing with shift leaders in my current imaging department. I've also contemplated going back to school part-time for my MHA, but that is in the thinking stages for now. If I am fortunate enough to join the amazing team here, I'd love to continue working my way toward a Sonography Manager position by demonstrating my ability to lead others and be an organized individual. Your team will quickly find that I am a great team player and leader who can help make a big difference for your patients and business processes well into the future."

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 28th, 2024

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?

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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.

Discovery

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

How to Answer

As one of the country's largest not-for-profit health plans and healthcare providers, the entire organization is very diverse and full of unique and passionate individuals providing great care to people. Determining that you will be a solid overall fit with the team you will be joining will be key for your interviewer to understand, so they pose this question to give you time to elaborate on your personality. If you take the time to research KP's core values prior to your interview, you'll find that excellence, creativity, play, innovation, connection, and knowledge are what drive the organization to achieve its mission. If you can, try to display these values as you discuss your personality.

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 28th, 2024

Answer Example

"I am a very motivated and driven professional who relies on communication, a patient-centered approach, and the ability to have fun on the job to create a great team atmosphere on the job. I am very easy going and all of my colleagues in the past have let me know that I'm easy to get along with. They've also been very open about my ability to be a solid team player, which I know is so essential for success in this role from what I've learned from you and your team today."

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 28th, 2024

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.

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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!

Diversity

24. How do you feel you would fit in with the cultural values and diverse team at Kaiser Permanente?

How to Answer

On their career site, Kaiser Permanente publicly puts out some very descriptive statistics on the diversity of their organization of over 230,000 employees. Thriving in such culturally rich places like Los Angeles and other major metro areas across the country, knowing that you will embrace the cultural values and diversity strategies will help your interviewer see that you will fit in well there. Make sure to review Kaiser's commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion on their website and come ready to discuss how you are excited to work for an organization that is rich in employing staff of Asian, Hispanic, African American, and other ethnicities. Make sure to also talk about your experience working in culturally diverse environments in the past.

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 29th, 2024

Answer Example

"What really impresses me about Kaiser Permanente is that you not only embrace diversity and inclusion among your staff, but this organization is a big advocate for amplifying the voices of the unheard. I was reading about your commitment to building inclusion through anti-bias training among your staff and I want you to know that I've been formally trained on unconscious bias in both patient care and hiring new staff members. If I were to be offered this position, I feel like I can really thrive among a very diverse team and know firsthand how we can work together more cohesively. Our unique backgrounds all give us perspectives and ways of doing things that we can learn from each other and bring our best to the patients every day."

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 29th, 2024

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.

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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

25. 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

Kaiser Permanente was founded on the simple idea that everyone deserves the chance to live a healthy life. Where they practice in California, Hawaii, Colorado, Oregon, and beyond, the company is committed to reflecting and embracing the diverse communities they serve. Knowing that you'd join a very diverse team, your interviewer wants to hear how you will complement their staff. Think of an environment that you've been a part of in the past that was culturally rich and come to your interview ready to discuss how you thrived in this environment. Highlight that you are excited to join this culture into the future.

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 29th, 2024

Answer Example

"The current team that I've been a part of for the last seven years is full of all ages, from new graduates to experienced professionals nearing retirement. We also have a very solid representation of many different races and genders, which I feel makes the team more dynamic, fun, and productive. When I started on this team, a seasoned colleague took me under her wing. Being from China and having trained there for many years, I learned so much about new ways of doing and thinking about things in my work from her that I continue to bring with me today. I would look forward to the chance to join the very diverse team here at Kaiser Permanente and continue to embrace it into the future."

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 29th, 2024

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!

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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

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

How to Answer

In the healthcare industry, keeping up with CME credits and other learning opportunities are important within any field in the industry. Kaiser Permanente also offers their staff many CME opportunities and changes to further develop their careers. Discuss the ways that you stay updated and informed in your line of work. This is your chance to talk about all of the societies/organizations you belong to, the journals you read, the conferences you attend, and the continuing education you regularly pursue. No matter how you answer, ensure your interviewer walks away from your time together knowing that you will always be committed to furthering yourself as part of the Kaiser Permanente team.

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 29th, 2024

Answer Example

"First and foremost, I'm a very active member of both the ACHE and the AAHAM. I love the opportunity to attend both regional and national events with both organizations to hear keynote speakers and network with other administration professionals in the field. Through ACHE, I've gotten to meet several esteemed colleagues here at Kaiser Permanente and they've spoken so highly about working here. I'm also a very firm believer in continuing education for myself and my staff. Over the last few years, I've taken some great courses in managing conflict, optimization of ambulatory care in the 21st century, and the rise of healthcare analytics. I think all of these courses would be beneficial for me in this role."

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 29th, 2024

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?

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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

27. We were 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

Per their career site, Kaiser Permanente does its best to assure that the top candidates who apply for any role have the skills and experience that align with the job. If you were contacted for a formal interview, you can be assured that the team is confident in what you will bring to the job. While some of their positions have a salary range posted on their career site and others do not, the fact that Kaiser utilizes a pay scale based on experience is something your interviewer will want to ensure that you understand. If you have healthcare experience, you are likely familiar with similar type wage scales. You want to reiterate that you are open to a salary scale that is reflective of the education and experience you bring to the position as you answer this question.

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 29th, 2024

Answer Example

"Yes, I'm 100% onboard with a pay range that factors in years of experience and rewards individuals who come to a new organization with many years of experience and knowledge. Can you elaborate more on how new staff members at Kaiser Permanente work their way up the range throughout their career here?"

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 29th, 2024

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.

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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

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

How to Answer

Basic administrative duties can easily be overlooked on the job, but they are vital to any healthcare-related role. With Kaiser Permanente, you may be responsible for filing patient record notes for some of their over 12 million members. Failing to take this role seriously could lead to negative consequences down the road for the patient or the organization. The role you will be responsible for might include maintaining inventory and ordering medical supplies or other necessary patient care materials, and your interviewer needs to know that you will take these duties seriously. Talk about any administrative duties you've held throughout your career and discuss how you ensured that they were a priority and never overlooked.

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 29th, 2024

Answer Example

"In my current position, I'm a shift leader and am responsible for tracking the inventory of supplies in patient care rooms and overall supplies for the unit. I work very closely with our supply chain team in ordering supplies. I keep a daily checklist for patient rooms to ensure that they are all full of supplies at the end of each clinic day. Then, every Wednesday morning, I look at all available supplies for the unit and order new things as necessary. I know that failure to have simple items available such as latex gloves can put a big damper on a day, so I ensure that I never overlook my inventory duties. I'd love to hear more about the administrative duties you foresee in this role with Kaiser Permanente. Can you talk more about that?"

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 29th, 2024

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.

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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

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

How to Answer

Whether you are interviewing to join Kaiser Permanente's nationally ranked neurosurgery team or in claims processing on the insurance side of their business, the reality of the healthcare world is that their members will be delivered difficult information daily. If you are being considered for a patient-facing role there, your interviewer will need to be confident in your ability to be honest, empathetic, and professional in these situations. If you have direct experience delivering bad news to someone on the job, use your best discretion to talk about this while maintaining patient confidentiality. As you discuss how you will handle this with Kaiser Permanente, make sure to highlight how providing the right setting and speaking in the proper tone will be aspects you prioritize.

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 29th, 2024

Answer Example

"I've spent many years coordinating patient appointments and greeting patients in a clinic setting. There have been many times when a provider's schedule suddenly changes and I've had to make the call to patients to let them know their appointment would have to be rescheduled. This typically doesn't go over well with them with access being difficult, but I let them know of the situation and give them all options for rescheduling as soon as possible. I make sure to tell them that we are very sorry for the situation and that I'm willing to help them. With Kaiser Permanente, I think these skills I've developed will be key in my work with your members."

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 29th, 2024

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?

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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

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

How to Answer

As the pioneers in American medicine of integrated care models that include both the insurance coverage and actual care that members receive, Kaiser Permanente relies on a true team effort to support its 12.5 million members. Since they are asking about a specific time when your communication skills benefitted a team effort you were a part of, make sure to put some thought into a specific instance. The example you discuss should highlight your interpersonal skills and communication skills that make you the ideal candidate for the job.

Written by Ryan Brunner on March 1st, 2024

Answer Example

"This is a great question as I can think of so many times when my communication skills helped provide a great outcome for a patient or a project we were working on as a team. Probably the most vital situation was the time my unit had two individuals going into cardiac arrest at the same time in different rooms. I took the lead in being very vocal about which individuals from the response team should go to each patient. This was a frantic and new situation, but I didn't blink in the moment. I used my knowledge of the team and their skills and gave orders to every individual who responded. When teams were in place, I made my way between patient rooms to ensure that everyone was doing their job. I learned a lot about myself and my impromptu leadership skills that day, and these are skills I'd love to bring to the Kaiser Permanente patients."

Written by Ryan Brunner on March 1st, 2024

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?

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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

31. If hired for this role, what tools would you need to deliver excellent service?

How to Answer

As one of their primary core values, excellence in delivering the highest quality care and programs to their members is vital for Kaiser Permanente. To see that you are committed to providing this same level of service if you emerge as their top candidate, your interviewer is looking to hear your honest assessment of what you'll need to be successful. This is a great gauge for them to see that you understand the duties and responsibilities you will be taking on, so come prepared to discuss what you feel you need to be successful from day one on the job. With this being a pretty open-ended question, some things to consider discussing are equipment, resources, and training you foresee as being important for your success.

Written by Ryan Brunner on March 1st, 2024

Answer Example

"I appreciate this question so much! Delivering great service to the members I would be caring for here at Kaiser Permanente would be my top priority on the job. To do this, it starts with the right medical equipment in the patient care rooms and the most up-to-date software programs. From the tour I received earlier, it looks like your team is all set there. On top of this, some in-depth training on your customized EPIC program will be very essential for me in my initial weeks on the job. I've worked for a few years within that EMR program, but of course want to familiarize myself with how you have customized it to fit your needs and processes."

Written by Ryan Brunner on March 1st, 2024

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.

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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.

Operational

32. 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

Given the sheer volume of members that the 24,000 physicians, 73,000 nurses, and 75,000 allied health professionals work with in their 40 hospitals and 618 medical facilities, every single person that works for Kaiser Permanente needs to be highly detailed and organized in their work. In answering this question effectively, you should highlight roles and duties you've held in the past where displaying these qualities was vital to your success. To take your answer a step further, make sure to discuss the exact duties you will be taking on at Kaiser that will require this same level of organizational skills from you.

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 29th, 2024

Answer Example

"As you can see from my resume, I'd be coming to Kaiser Permanente from a very busy and demanding imaging practice. Over the last five years, I've honed my organizational skills to the point I'm at today where all patient results are charted, organized, and filed neatly for all future care providers to find things promptly and easily. I see it as my job to ensure that proper care isn't delayed after I work with a patient. On top of this, I'm very thorough with every patient under my care to ensure that their time in the department is not wasted. I listen to my patients and don't hesitate to take extra images to avoid a re-visit. If you were to contact my references I supplied following my interview, they wouldn't hesitate to talk about my attention to detail in my work."

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 29th, 2024

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?

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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.

Situational

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

How to Answer

Kaiser Permanente has a very thorough written code of conduct, titled "Principles of Responsibility." If you take the time to review this on their website prior to your interview, you'll see that acting with accountability and always doing the right thing are key to the industry reputation that they hold. Your interviewer will want to hear about your sense of accountability. Think about a mistake you made in the past and come ready to openly discuss the situation. What will be key in your answer is showing how you took all steps necessary to fix what went wrong and communicated clearly to all stakeholders involved.

Written by Ryan Brunner on March 1st, 2024

Answer Example

"Yes, but fortunately was able to learn some important lessons from one particular situation that I would bring to your team at Kaiser Permanente. As a patient scheduler, I currently work the phone lines and our online messaging portal for scheduling patients. In one of my first weeks on the job in my current role, I had a patient call to reschedule their appointment the day prior and I gave them other available options weeks out from there. The patient verified the appointment time they would like and we ended the call. Before changing their appointment in the system, I proceeded to answer some portal messages and went about my day. The next day, the patient that had called obviously didn't report to their appointment and my colleague on that day caught this and called the patient directly. My colleague found out that she had called and who she spoke to and we discussed the situation the next day. In addition to looking unprofessional and inconveniencing the patient, we also could have scheduled another patient that day. I learned that taking care of and finishing one task at a time was vital and will never forget this lesson."

Written by Ryan Brunner on March 1st, 2024

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.

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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

34. How would you handle working with a patient or coworker who had a difficult personality?

How to Answer

As you're interviewing to join a company of over 235,000 employees, odds are high that you will encounter a colleague who has a personality that conflicts with yours. On top of that with over 12.5 million members, your interviewer knows that any person they consider to work at Kaiser Permanente will see some sort of personality conflict during their time there. They pose this question question to hear you discuss how you will work effectively with someone who sees things differently than you or clashes with you. The key to answering this question is staying true to who you are while also taking a professional and respectful approach to anyone you are working with. If you use an example from your past, try to avoid speaking negatively of others and focus on the approach you used to make it a positive interaction.

Written by Ryan Brunner on March 1st, 2024

Answer Example

"As a person who is introverted and always tries to have fun and be happy on the job, I have struggled in the past with patients and colleagues who are loud, demanding, and intrusive. As I've gotten better throughout my career, my way of working effectively with people like this is to listen intently, repeat what I hear them say, and keep my nose to the grindstone in delivering results. I don't let things get to me because of my thick skin and this has really helped me in a busy clinical setting. I'm sure it will help me as part of the dynamic and passionate team here at Kaiser Permanente."

Written by Ryan Brunner on March 1st, 2024

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.

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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

35. 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

Whether you will be assisting an angry patient who is in pain, a frustrated member who is having issues with their coverage. or a colleague who is upset about something, the fact of the matter is that you need to have a plan in place for working with an angry person as part of the Kaiser Permanente team. As you think about situations like this you have faced, try to discuss a time when you used your interpersonal skills and ability to empathize with others to provide a great end result for the person you were working with.

Written by Ryan Brunner on March 1st, 2024

Answer Example

"Over the course of my career, I've perfected my ability to assess situations for potential risks with patients and always be cognizant of body language and other cues to nip things in the bud before they get out of hand. But a few months ago, I had a patient care situation go awry suddenly after they had been waiting for their appointment for what they felt like too long of a time. As I weighed the patient in our hallway, things seemed cordial. But when we entered a patient room and I began taking vitals, she really got upset at the wait time and was calling our staff names that really shouldn't be repeated. She threatened to take her care somewhere else if things weren't fixed. All the while, I simply listened, maintained eye contact, and nodded my head as I let her vent. When I knew she was done, my first move was to apologize and let her know that we were in the middle of a very busy clinic day. I thanked her for her patience and asked her to continue to give us a chance as the physician would be in shortly. Later that day, the attending came and discussed the situation with me and let me know the patient was very apologetic and wanted me to know."

Written by Ryan Brunner on March 1st, 2024

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?

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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

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

How to Answer

As you prepare for your interview with Kaiser Permanente, it's important to have an understanding of its workplace culture and environment that it provides to its staff. Knowing that the 235,000+ employees are what make their unique business model work, the organization values its employees and provides a supportive environment that encourages teamwork and personal growth. Your interviewer needs to be assured that you can thrive in this environment, so they ask this question to hear the opposite side and if there are any environments that you don't care to work in. Without speaking negatively to a particular organization or person, feel free to talk openly about workplace cultures or environments that you find to be unproductive or difficult to be in.

Written by Ryan Brunner on March 1st, 2024

Answer Example

"I feel very fortunate to have worked in many different workplace styles and atmospheres throughout my career and one thing you can be assured of if I were to join Kaiser Permanente is that I'm a very flexible and adaptable person. I'd have to say that the one environment that I disliked working in was a very siloed organization where working cross-functionally between departments was difficult and even frowned upon. Having to bring communications up through leaders really hindered progress in that situation and it was frustrating. From what I've gathered from you and the team here today, it is exactly the opposite here at Kaiser Permanente and I can really see me thriving in this environment."

Written by Ryan Brunner on March 1st, 2024

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."

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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.

Teamwork

37. 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

Kaiser Permanente's rise to prominence in the American healthcare landscape is due in large part to their ability to build strong and long-lasting relationships. From the 12.5 million members they cover to the thousands of vendors they work with in providing care, you will play an essential part of this and your interviewer wants to hear your honest assessment of your ability to build strong relationships. As you discuss any of the positive and beneficial relationships you have nurtured during your career, make sure to talk about your ability to be a great communicator, be a helper, keep your commitments, and collaboratively celebrate wins together as part of the Kaiser Permanente team.

Written by Ryan Brunner on March 1st, 2024

Answer Example

"This is obviously such a vital part of our work and something I would always take great pride in if I'm fortunate enough to join the Kaiser Permanente team. I do consider myself to be a great relationship builder because of my open communication skills and the respect that I show for all that I work with. The colleagues I've worked alongside and patients that I have cared for all appreciate my honest assessment of things and my ability to lend a helping hand when needed. If I make a commitment, I stick to it and discuss any hiccups I may overcome along the way. Outside of that, people always find that I am positive and having fun in my work and this leads to such a better working atmosphere."

Written by Ryan Brunner on March 1st, 2024

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."

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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.