Kaiser Permanente Mock Interview

Practice 37 Kaiser Permanente interview questions covering integrated care, patient-centered values, and healthcare teamwork.

Question 22 of 37

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

How to Answer
Example Answer
Community Answers

Ryan Brunner

Ryan Brunner has over ten years of experience recruiting, interviewing, and hiring candidates in the healthcare, public service, and private manufacturing/distribution industries.

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.

Ryan Brunner

Ryan Brunner has over ten years of experience recruiting, interviewing, and hiring candidates in the healthcare, public service, and private manufacturing/distribution industries.

"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."

Interview Coach

Jaymie

A real coach, not AI. I read every answer myself and write back with personalized feedback.

Typically responds within 24 hours.

0 - Character Count

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

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!

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.

Discovery

35.Why do you want to work for Kaiser Permanente?

Discovery

36.What do you know about Kaiser Permanente?

Compatibility

Kaiser Permanente Mock Interview

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

37Kaiser Permanente Interview Questions & Answers

1.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?

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

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

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

5.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?

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

7.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?

8.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?

9.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?

10.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?

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

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

13.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?

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

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

16.Tell me about yourself.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

26.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?

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

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

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

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

31.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?

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

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

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

35.Why do you want to work for Kaiser Permanente?

36.What do you know about Kaiser Permanente?

37.Why should we hire you?