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.
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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."
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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
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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
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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
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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."
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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