What makes you the best candidate for this position?

"I am the best candidate for the position because I meet and exceed your job qualifications. I have over seven years of experience working with diverse groups and cultures in this industry. I am empathetic, compassionate, level-headed, and work well under pressure. I have exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, and I look forward to bringing my skills and experience to your wonderful organization."

The interviewer asks this question to hear what qualities you will bring to LifeLabs and how you will benefit them if hired. Now is your chance to highlight your best characteristics and experience, showing the interviewer you have all the qualifications they require.

Review the job announcement before your interview and highlight the qualities, experience, and education LifeLabs seeks in an employee. Then, focus on using those keywords in your response. When describing how you meet their job requirements, the interviewer will see that you are a highly qualified candidate and place you high on the candidate list.

"I understand many qualified candidates are interviewing for this position. I believe I am the best candidate for the job because I exceed all of your job qualifications. I have strong analytical, critical thinking, and leadership skills and work well under pressure. I also have exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, and I look forward to bringing my skills and expertise to your wonderful company."

Why do you want to work for LifeLabs?

"I want to work for LifeLabs because your values align with mine. I want to work for a company that is committed to its patients and employees and is motivated to ensure its patients receive the very best. I want to prepare for a leadership position and am excited you offer and encourage professional growth to everyone you employ."

The interviewer wants to understand why you chose LifeLabs over other companies to work for. They want to see that you have done your research and can give solid reasons for choosing LifeLabs. Respond with enthusiasm and passion in your voice to show the interviewer you are excited about the opportunity to work for their company.

Focus on showing the interviewer you have done your homework. Review the company website, online reviews, and job description so you can give unique reasons why you want to work for LifeLabs. For example, suppose you review the job description and find specific duties you would be responsible for if hired. Then, when you mention those particular duties in your interview, the interviewer will see you were diligent in reading the job description, showing an attention to detail.

"I was introduced to LifeLabs from my phlebotomy professor, who worked for your organization for 25 years. He told me wonderful things about the company, management, and culture. I spent time researching LifeLabs and speaking with staff, and I am convinced my professor was telling me the truth when he said it was the best place to work! I want to work for LifeLabs because you value your employees as much as you do your patients. I want to be part of a team with the same core values and principles as I do, which I know I will find with your company."

Here at LifeLabs, we are continually seeking innovation in our business and we rely on our employees to be the innovative minds. Have you ever sought new or innovative ways to perform your job?

"A few years ago, when I was hired at my current employer, the only downside to the job that I found very quickly was the lack of a triaging system for incoming samples or a process written around prioritizing our work. Having had the experience of writing a process with a previous employer, I approached my director to do the same. I came from the view that work requests were being completed and triaged differently, depending on the individual, and high-priority requests did not have a timeline. She agreed to let me and another coworker write a new procedure and develop a triage system. It is still working well to this day."

Innovation is imperative in the clinical laboratory setting. Whether it is a simple change in a process to make it more efficient or a large-scale update in a new piece of equipment, being innovative separates LifeLabs from their competition. Talk about a time when you noticed a new process, technique, or something else could benefit from a change, and discuss what you did to implement it. On top of your example, stress to your interviewer that being complacent in your work is never an option for you.

Focus on showing the interviewer how you are creative and think outside the box. Even if your suggestion was not implemented, the interviewer wants to ensure that you are not a complacent person and seek ways to improve your job.

"Two years ago, I attended a great CME event for Cytotechnologists, and one seminar I attended was on new technology in the field. While there, I learned how new technology in digital microscopes was changing the field and simultaneously making our jobs more efficient and accurate. Upon returning from the conference, I approached my director about the idea of purchasing one of the units. He and I made a capital budget request for the following year, which was approved. I'm still loving using the new equipment to this day."

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

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

There are many facets of health care. The interviewer asks what other areas interest you to gain insight into your personality and strengths. They will also see what patient populations you will be the best working with. For example, if you say you would like to expand your knowledge in pediatrics, the interviewer will see that you enjoy working with children.

Be sure your answer aligns with the services LifeLabs offers or the patient population. If you say you would like to expand your knowledge in brain surgery, the interviewer may think you will be a short-term employee because you want to become a surgeon. It is better to say you want to become more knowledgeable about the geriatric or pediatric side of healthcare as you will work with patients in both age groups.

"I have various interests within the healthcare industry, so that is a tough question for me! If I had to narrow it to just one area of expertise, I would say pediatric care interests me the most. I have two children of my own and love working and being around kids."

"If there is an opportunity to choose a specific aspect of health care, I will select the pediatric department. Because I have kids, I have good experiences on how to deal with them and what they need. Plus, I would be happy to gain more knowledge related to kids."

What is your impact goal if LifeLabs hired you today?

"When we spoke earlier, you mentioned that you urgently sought to improve the level of patient care and compassion at this facility. I want to offer my strong skills in building patient rapport and help enhance the satisfaction of everyone using the services of LifeLabs. I plan to make a positive impact very quickly if chosen for the position."

When you start a new position, it is essential to set a goal on how you will make a positive impact quickly after being hired. Tell the interviewer what your impact goal is, should you be the successful candidate. If you want to make an impact with your answer, refer to the immediate needs of the company such as increasing budgets, or improving patient care, for instance.

This question is delicate, and you need to show respect for the onboarding process, then give a moderately ambitious project that you could execute. This concept is often called your 'value proposition' in marketing. "Hire me because I'll do X." But remember, this is your campaign promise. If hired, it will likely be your first target to hit; depending on the environment, it could make or break you. The best approach is to give a functional analysis of the employers' needs and your skills.

"If hired today, my impact goal is to meet my coworkers and managers and offer my exceptional customer service skills to every patient I see. If there is something that needs improving upon in my unit, I will make suggestions to my manager with an action plan to make that improvement. I like to get a feel for the company, my managers, and coworkers before making suggestions for change or improvement."

"I am planning to build a good impression by enhancing lab productivity, and patients care by offering help, compassion, and being a good listener to their needs."

How do you handle a dispute with a coworker or supervisor?

"Fortunately, I have only had one dispute with a coworker. I handled it by recognizing we had an issue and asked my coworker to speak in private. I calmly asked him why he thought we had a conflict and what we could do to resolve the issue. It turns out there was a misunderstanding in our respective job duties, and my coworker thought I was trying to undermine his position. Once we cleared up who was responsible for each job duty, we never had an issue again."

It is not uncommon for coworkers or supervisors to have a dispute or disagreement with someone they work with. The interviewer knows this and wants to see how you have handled disputes in the past. How you respond gives the interviewer insight into your problem-solving, communication, and conflict resolution skills, which are essential skills to possess in any profession.

Focus on giving a detailed explanation of how you handled a past disagreement with a supervisor or coworker. You do not necessarily need to describe the reason for the dispute, just how you dealt with it. The interviewer wants to hear that you dealt with the conflict privately, calmly, and professionally and that there was a resolution.

"Luckily, I have had good coworkers and supervisors in the past with minimal conflict. If an issue arises with a colleague, I like to nip it in the bud. I ask them to speak privately, address the issue, and devise a resolution that makes us both happy."

When you work as part of a large team, what role do you find yourself taking on? Do you have flexibility in how you work with others?

"When working as part of a large team, I consider myself a worker bee that brings my area of expertise to the situation. Recently, I worked as part of an executive team that was solving our patient flow issues, and I represented the lab from our facility. In the first brainstorming and learning sessions, I listened to others to gain a perspective and willingly spoke up for issues and processes that my department had underway. When it came time to brainstorm changes and write new policies, I didn't hesitate to take a leadership role with my great administrative skills."

Teamwork and collaboration are the backbones of the business at LifeLabs, and your interviewer will be looking to gain insight into how you work as part of a larger team. There are no right or wrong answers to this question as long as you highlight why your method of teamwork is effective and that you show respect and an attitude of trust towards your teammates. Demonstrating how you work as a team through a recent example will also go a long way with your interviewer on this question.

Describe how you like to actively participate when working on a team and are flexible when working with others. The interviewer wants to hear about your interpersonal and leadership skills. If your role is to sit back and take notes instead of taking the lead on a project, the interviewer may feel that you are on the meek side and may pass you over for another candidate. The interviewer will form that conclusion even if that is not your personality.

"I would say that I am a natural leader in a team-based setting. I lead by example through my hard work and dedication to the craft, and the teams I work on find me easy to collaborate with because of this ability. My communication skills and knowledge of the medical laboratory instill trust in the teams I work with. When needed, I can also take direction very well and work with leaders above me."

LifeLabs prides itself on providing excellent customer service. How do you provide excellent customer service?

"I provide excellent customer service by introducing myself, shaking the patient's hand while smiling at them, and explaining what service I will provide. I answer any questions they may have and give them my business card after the procedure so they can reach me if they have further questions. I received an employee of the month award three times at my last job, highlighting the excellent customer service I provided."

Companies that provide excellent customer service greet customers with a smile and a greeting, listen to them, know their customer's preferences, and go above and beyond to make them happy. The interviewer asks this question to determine if your values align with theirs. The interviewer wants to hear how you provide excellent customer service to see if you will be a good fit for their team.

Think of how you like to be treated as a customer. Then, think of how you provide excellent customer service, treating your patients how you want to be treated. Describe your actions to provide excellent customer service to all, showing the interviewer you will be an asset to their team if hired. If you have received an award or recognition for the customer service you provide, be sure to include that in your response.

"I value excellent customer service when I am the customer and provide the same service to my patients and their families. I greet everyone with a smile; I introduce myself, ask their name, and how they are doing. I listen to their needs and provide a solution to their problem. I ask them if they have questions and clarify anything they do not understand. I thank them for choosing our company and provide a business card so they can contact me at any time if they have questions."

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

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

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

Describe several traits that make you a great problem solver. If you review the job description before your interview, you can see if there are any keywords you could use to strengthen your response. For example, suppose the job description says LifeLabs is looking for a lab technician who solves problems using critical thinking skills and innovative solutions. In that case, you should use those buzzwords in your answer to show the interviewer you have the skills they seek.

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

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

"I find that it's pretty simple to balance life and work with the right company. It doesn't feel like a chore when I enjoy what I do. I take time on the weekends to do things for myself and ensure that I regenerate before the work week begins. I am always sure that when at home, my family gets my attention first. We enjoy camping, dirt bike riding, hiking, and kayaking. After spending time with my family, I am more energized and productive at work."

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

Describe what you do in your personal life that energizes and rejuvenates you for your next shift. Team members with healthy ways to destress on their days off are more energetic, productive, and happier than those who do not have that balance.

"I make a strong effort to keep a healthy balance by spending my free time away from my cell phone and having more face-to-face time with my friends and family. I indulge in the things that make me happy on my days off. I enjoy paddleboarding, volunteering at my daughter's school, and going for long runs with my dog. I can give even more energy at work by consistently rejuvenating in this way."

"I always separate between my work and my private life. During the job, I only focus on my duties. When I finish my shift, I leave everything related to work at the workplace and go home to start my other life, which is my husband and my kids. During the weekend, I do different activities with my family and friends, so I gain enough energy to start my new week positively."

Here at LifeLabs, we take great pride in a sustainable environment through recycling resources and green initiatives. Why are these things important to you and have you taken part in any of these types of initiatives?

"Working with chemicals in a lab setting is extremely important when disposing of the chemicals when done with them. I loved reading about your efforts to distill and recapture used methanol to avoid purchasing more and disposing more with each given use. I would love to be a part of this initiative because it is so important to reduce the carbon footprint on the earth. In my personal life, I am very aware of certain products' effects on the environment, and I consistently recycle and reuse as much as possible."

LifeLabs fosters a culture of innovation in creating solutions to environmental issues like waste, recycling, resource management, climate change, and other green initiatives. For this question, your interviewer will be looking to get a sense that you believe in these initiatives and are ready from day one to take part in them as well. Be sure to research the programs that the company has in place and talk about the importance your role would play in them. As well, touch on any environmental programs you have taken part in the past on the job or personally.

The interviewer wants to hear that your values and concerns about the environment align with LifeLabs. Describe how you practice recycling and reusing in your personal and professional life.

"Both personally and professionally, I do my part to recycle materials properly and reuse items as best as possible. The reuse not only saves on costs for me personally and for my organization, but it also helps reduce the amount of materials filling our landfills, and every little bit each person can do really helps. Can you elaborate on the recycle and reuse programs that are in place in the materials management department here at LifeLabs?"

Why do you think you will be successful in this role with LifeLabs?

"I know I will succeed in this role because I have worked in this industry for five years with great training and mentorship. I have a solid understanding of X, Y, and Z (skills listed in the job description). Also, I have my updated certifications as outlined in your job description. I am well-prepared for this next step in my career."

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

If not mentioned in the interview before, now is an excellent time to describe the skills, knowledge, and expertise that will help you succeed in this role. The interviewer wants to see that you have the confidence, skills, and training to be successful in this position.

"I believe my success with LifeLabs will come from having all the hard and soft skills you are looking for, whether learned in school or gained through work experience. I have a strong work ethic, work well under pressure, and have exceptional communication and leadership skills. My references can attest to this fact, and I have copies of past performance reviews if you would like a copy for your records."

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

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

The interviewer wants to know that you can be diplomatic in the workplace, even when you may disagree with your leader. Show the interviewer that you can be a good team member yet disagree with the leader occasionally. Explain that you believe everyone is entitled to their professional opinion yet capable of simultaneously maintaining respect for each other. Show that even if you disagree with the final decision they make, you support the direction the team is heading.

The interviewer understands that people will not always agree with their leader or superior. For this question, they want to see how you handle disagreements and that you are diplomatic, mature, and professional when doing so.

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

"In my opinion, disagreement is not a big obstacle as long as we respect each other and follow the rules to achieve the primary target, which is the patient's satisfaction and high productivity. If I was in this situation, I will try to pass my idea and listen to the other ideas and then we can choose the best one. It doesn't matter whose idea it is. I am an easy-going person."

LifeLabs was initially looking for someone with 5 years' experience in a similar role. Considering you have just 2 years' experience, would you be willing to accept this position at a lower salary?

"I would be happy to earn my way to the top compensation level if required. I assure you that, despite my being shy of experience by a couple of years, I am a top performer, and you would not be disappointed in my performance if chosen for the position."

The interviewer asks this question to see if you are willing to earn your way up if they do not offer you top compensation. Discuss with the interviewer what you would expect for compensation if offered this position.

You want the interviewer to know that you are flexible and willing to work your way up the ladder. However, you need to be firm in your expectations for compensation based on your experience and training.

"I understand I do not quite meet the qualifications of experience you are looking for and am willing to be compensated in adjustment to that fact. However, I look forward to proving my worth to LifeLabs in hopes of being considered for the median salary for the role."

"I would love to take this opportunity to be a part of the LifeLabs Company. Share my experience and learn from the others in this company. For me working in LifLabs is more important than getting paid more. I am sure when you see how dedicated and trustworthy I am, you will increase my rate."

How would your references describe you?

"I have an excellent list of references who will say that I am a hard worker who always brings a positive, compassionate attitude to the workplace. I have a strong work ethic and moral compass and seek opportunities to help others. I have three copies of performance reviews and letters of recommendation for your file if you would like them."

The interviewer wants to hear that your references will positively describe you. Think about the constructive things your references have said about you in the past. Be complimentary of yourself - now is not the time to be super humble.

If you have past performance reviews or letters of recommendation from your references, review them before your interview. You will be better prepared to answer the question if what they wrote is fresh in your mind. It is also good to have copies for the interviewer if they would like a copy for their file.

"I have two copies of letters of recommendation if you want them for your file. My references describe me as honest, dependable, energetic, and compassionate. They mentioned that I have not missed a day of work the entire time I worked for them and that I demonstrate strong leadership skills even when not working in a leadership position."

Why should we not hire you?

"There is no reason why you should not hire me. I meet and exceed your requirements and have the knowledge and experience you are looking for. I am energetic, dependable, compassionate, and have a strong work ethic. If you hire me for the position, you will not be disappointed in my performance."

The interviewer hopes to hear that there is no reason not to hire you! Tell the interviewer you would be a great employee, and confidently share that there is no reason not to hire you. You might wrap it up by sharing that you are patient-focused, have a proven employment record, and have excellent references.

Focus on describing the attributes that make you a great employee and how they will benefit LifeLabs if hired. Assure the interviewer there is no reason why they shouldn't hire you.

"I understand that I come from one of your competitors, so I hope you can see why it would be a benefit to LifeLabs versus a hindrance if you hired me. I know how to deliver amazing customer service, have excellent interpersonal skills, and have been the top phlebotomist for the past six months in my current role. There is no reason why you should not hire me."

What do you like to do in your free time?

"In my free time, I enjoy outdoor activities that keep me in shape. My favorite activities are surfing, trail running, and kayaking. I also enjoy volunteer work in my son's classroom, gardening, and reading."

The interviewer asks this question to see what interests you and if you have healthy avenues to decompress. They want to hear what hobbies and activities you enjoy and know that you spend time away from work destressing from the pressures of the job.

Focus on describing three or four activities you enjoy. The interviewer wants to see what you are interested in and determine how well you will get along with other team members based on your interests.

"On my days off, I like going for long motorcycle rides with my husband, trying new restaurants, and doing yoga and pilates. These activities take my mind off work and rejuvenate me for my next shift."

How did you hear about this position?

"I heard about this position from a recruiter named Jerry Bolden. He contacted me on LinkedIn and suggested I apply with your agency due to my experience in the industry."

Companies invest a lot of money advertising their job openings. The interviewer wants to hear what methods are effective and which are not. They also want to hear if an employee of their agency referred you. Describe how you heard about the position, and be sure to give the name of the employee or recruiter who referred you if applicable. Some companies offer their employees a referral fee when referring a candidate, while others hire recruiters to seek out qualified candidates.

The interviewer wants to briefly hear how you heard about the position. Be concise in your response, describing the recruiter's name, the website where the agency posted the job, the agency website, or an employee referral.

"I found out about the position by searching your website. I knew I wanted to work for LifeLabs after my professor recommended your company, so I did a search and saw there was an opening in my field."

Give an example of a time that changing technology significantly impacted your work. How did you react to this?

"Last year, my employer purchased an Accuvein device to help phlebotomists find the veins of patients we would normally have a hard stick on. I can't explain enough how great of a device this has been. While I consider myself a great Phlebotomist with an excellent ability to have successful sticks, the times when I would struggle with a patient would eat at me. After quickly training on the Accuvein, I became very adept at working with all patients, and the device has made me quicker in my work and provided many patients with much more comfort. It was a true win-win for all!"

In the clinical laboratory setting, innovation in the field is causing technology to change rapidly. LifeLabs wants to be at the forefront of those technological changes to benefit the patients and customers they work with. For this question, no matter your experiences in working with evolving technology, your interviewer will be looking to hear that you keep an open mind to changes in technology and that you can learn and be functional on new equipment. In your example, be sure to point these qualities out to your interviewer.

To be considered for the job, you want to react positively to technological changes. Describe a recent technology that positively impacted the way you work.

"A career in business communications has required me to be ever-changing and flexible when faced with evolving technology. I am a very computer-literate person, and I have prided myself up to this point in my career on my ability always to seek new technologies and programs that make me better in my work. A recent example is the Slack app for the team I lead with my current healthcare organization. Since we are on the road a lot and working remotely, this app allows up-to-date communication and messaging among my team using their cellphone rather than needing to connect to the internet via their laptops. Things like Slack have made my job leading a team much more efficient and enabled our work to be more productive."

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

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

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

The interviewer wants to ensure that you plan on being a long-term employee if hired. LifeLabs invests a lot of time and money into hiring and training its employees. The interviewer wants to determine if you would be a good investment or not based on your response.

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

"For sure, I am addicted to this field. It was my profession before I came to Canada. I have a full idea about all the details in this job and what kind of difficulties I might face. And was insisting on studying the same field again and working in it. I am sure that this is the place that I have to be."

What would you do if a coworker asked you to help steal?

"If a coworker asked me to help steal, I would be appalled. I do not condone theft of any kind, and I would let my coworker know that. I would report the incident to my immediate supervisor and document the encounter."

The interviewer would like to know how you would react if put in an awkward or potentially harmful situation like being asked by a coworker to steal with them. Theft can occur in many ways in the workplace and is not necessarily reserved to blatantly taking a product. Ensure that you know the different ways a coworker may try to pass stealing off as 'no big deal.' Some examples include:- Timecard fabrication, also known as 'buddy punching,' where you punch in for a coworker who is not present - 'Borrowing' money from the cash register - Falsifying vendor or expense accounts - Taking items from the lost and found - Stealing data or documents containing trade secrets - Taking expensive office supplies like ink or adding personal items to supply orders - Billing insurance companies for tests that were not performedOf course, you already know how to answer this question! Express that you would never engage in this type of behavior and discuss how you would go about reporting this type of situation. If this has happened to you in the past, you can talk about the case without providing your coworker's name.

Focus on letting the interviewer know that you are an honest person with morals and ethics. Make sure they understand that you would never condone or participate in this type of behavior and would report it to your supervisor.

"If a coworker asked me to help them steal anything from the company, I would tell them no and immediately report them to my supervisor. I cannot tolerate people who think it is okay to steal from others."

Why do your skills suit our clinical lab environment here at LifeLabs?

"While I don't have direct experience working in a lab setting, I think my experience working as a courier for FedEx has helped me develop some great skills that would benefit me in the role here at LifeLabs. I can work on a strict schedule while also being flexible for additional emergent duties. On top of that, I have an impeccable driving record. The final thing from my past work experience that would benefit LifeLabs is my professional demeanor on the job. I work daily with a smile on my face and treat customers as I want to be treated."

If you have direct experience working in the lab setting, talk about your experiences and the skills that can help you and the organization in the job you are interviewing for. If you don't have direct experience in the clinical lab setting, review the job description and highlight the skills and experiences you would bring to the table if hired. While your interviewer can see the experiences you have in your career and draw on some of your skills, they will be looking to hear from you what skills you can bring to the team at LifeLabs.

Focus on providing several skills mentioned in the job description and give examples of how those skills will benefit LifeLabs if offered the position. Companies always want to see how an employee will help them succeed.

"Having worked as a Phlebotomist with a large healthcare organization, I do have experience with blood draws and working in a clinical lab setting. Seeing the job description for the Lab Patient Tech here at LifeLabs, I think that I can bring my great customer service skills from my experience in working retail through technical college to use well in this role."

How do you put your customers or patients first in the work that you do?

"Working as a Medical Lab Tech, it sometimes can be difficult to keep a focus on the patient because the reality is that we are only dealing with their blood work or tissue samples. Not seeing patients face to face can make it hard for some to put their work into the person they are helping to treat or diagnose. With that thought in mind, I always remind myself that my work could critically impact how a patient with cancer or another life-threatening disease could be diagnosed or treated, and I treat the samples I work on as an individual. When I can, I always follow up with Pathologists on patients down the road for personal closure."

At LifeLabs, patients are at the core of everything they do and are the driving force behind LifeLabs' pursuit of excellence. For this question, your interviewer will be looking to hear how you keep your focus on your customers/patients in your job. Depending on your career path, losing focus on patients/customers can sometimes be easy. Be sure to let your interviewer know that you keep the ultimate goal of your work in mind on a day-to-day basis and always factor them into decisions you make on the job. If you have an example of a time you thought outside the box or went above and beyond to keep them at the top of your mind, be sure to talk about that as well.

Be descriptive in your answer. The interviewer wants to be assured that your customers or patients always come first.

"Having worked in sales for my whole career, I have always been customer-focused because my goal is always to help my clients solve problems cost-effectively and efficiently. To do this, I need to be attentive to the customers' wants and needs of the services I offer. Once I know my customers' needs, I can provide solutions to them based on the knowledge of the products and services that I can offer them on behalf of my organization. If hired for this position, my first goal would be to become an expert on the services I sell and learn about my customer base. From there, my natural sales skills would take over to help my customers find solutions that work for them."

What is your patient care philosophy?

"My patient care philosophy is simple. I treat every patient with respect and dignity while putting their needs first."

It's always a great idea to research the company you are interviewing with before your interview. You want to get to know their care philosophy so that your answer can reflect what is important to them. The interviewer wants to hear about your patient care philosophy to see if your values align with LifeLabs. Keep your answer concise yet sincere.

When reviewing LifeLab's website, you will see that they care deeply about their patients and are customer-centered. Their employees listen to their patient's needs and expectations and strive to create value by exceeding those expectations. Be sure to formulate your response to tie in with LifeLab's values and culture.

"My philosophy is very similar to LifeLab's core values. I provide customer-centered care by actively listening to my patient's needs and expectations from their visit, and exceed those expectations by providing a positive, cheerful approach."

What do you do when you are given an assignment and you are unfamiliar with how to complete the task?

"It depends on the assignment. If it is something I believe I can research and figure out how to complete the task, I will go that route. Suppose the job is something particular to the company I work for and involves a specific way to complete it. In that case, I will tell the person giving me the assignment I am unfamiliar with how to do the task. I will ask them to show me or point me in the right direction so I complete the assignment correctly."

The interviewer asks this question to gain insight into your communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. They want to understand how you tackle unfamiliar assignments and know you will ask for help when needed.

Focus on showing how you approach a situation you are unfamiliar with. You want the interviewer to see that you have critical-thinking skills and can research how to complete an assignment. Still, you also want to show them you are unafraid to ask for clarification, so you do not complete the task incorrectly.

"I am the type of person that likes to figure things out on my own. I have impeccable research skills, so I can usually find the answer on how to complete a task online. If it is a time-sensitive task and I do not have time to research, I will ask for help on how to perform the assignment given."

Give me an example of a time when you had to be extra diligent in order to meet a deadline.

"I am always diligent when it comes to deadlines. Recently, I had a strict deadline at my current job. The clinic was audited, and we had to produce seven years of back paperwork to the auditors. I was the office manager and was given two weeks to produce the information. I knew it was a job that would take months to complete, so I hired temp staff to help me get the affairs in order. Even though I had staff, it was taking longer than expected. I stayed up until 2:00 in the morning and canceled social events for two weeks, and was able to meet the auditor's deadline."

Talk to the interviewer about your ability to act diligently on the job. The interviewer would like to know that you are a diligent individual regarding work-related deadlines. They want to hear if you are determined to complete your tasks on time or if you frequently miss deadlines.

Focus on providing a work-related example when you had to be extra diligent to meet a deadline. The interviewer wants to hear that you are organized and manage your time well to complete your tasks. Being a diligent employee shows you are a responsible team player who puts the company's needs first.

"I pride myself on being diligent when it comes to deadlines. I am organized and prioritize tasks to meet every deadline with ease. I recently had a situation where my supervisor asked me to prepare a company newsletter. She originally gave me three days to prepare the newsletter but moved the deadline to one day for an unspecified reason. I stayed up until four in the morning working on the newsletter to meet the deadline, which I did. My supervisor was very pleased with the work I did on such short notice."

Talk about a time you had to partner with an external partner or team to work as a cohesive unit. What steps did you take to ensure that you were as effective as could be in the partnership?

"During my career as a Materials Manager in several industries, I've had to partner with many customers to help develop excellent relationships to help my organizations find great solutions and pricing on goods. Five years ago, I entered the healthcare world of Materials Management, and right away, I began evaluating suppliers of some products that hadn't been evaluated in years. Based on research and input from department leaders, I began working on researching new suppliers for cleaning supplies around our facilities. My research showed that we were paying too high prices for our supplies. In contacting several competitors, I worked with sales staff from three suppliers in the end. On my end, talking about our needs and budgets to help negotiate was critical in helping my organization find the best products at the right price. My ability to be knowledgeable and to work with an internal team helped my ability to work with external clients through the decision process."

For this question, your interviewer will be looking to hear about your ability to work cohesively with others outside their organization. LifeLabs is an external laboratory service that provides lab testing to healthcare providers, corporate customers, and provincial healthcare organizations throughout Canada. Because of this, many positions within the organization must partner with people from outside the organization to ensure a great working relationship. If you have any experience doing this, discuss the situation and what you did to make it a success. Suppose you don't have any experience in this realm; there is no need to fret. Just talk about your ability to work as part of a team and expand that to working with others outside the organization.

Now is a great time to talk about your ability to collaborate with others and be a team player. The interviewer wants to hear that you have the interpersonal, leadership, and communication skills to work with others effectively.

"Having only worked as an MLT in a large healthcare organization, I haven't had to work with external providers through this point in my career. But, I think my experience in a large organization would translate well to LifeLabs. My current lab setting is centrally located at our largest hospital, and I work on samples from many remotely located labs and hospitals. Conversations with providers often happen over the phone or through instant messaging versus in-person meetings. With these providers, I use effective and timely communication skills to build trust with them, and I think this ability would work well with the providers I would potentially work with at LifeLabs. What can you explain about the MLTs working with external providers here?"

How would you rate your ability to embrace change in the workplace?

"When I took my first position as a Medical Lab Tech out of college, the organization I worked with was merged with another organization locally. As the merger was announced, a sudden fear came over all of the people in my department that significant changes would be coming. Quickly, through great leadership in our department, announcements were made regarding changes in salary, benefits, and a few work process items. For actual things we did daily, the only major changes involved the computer tracking and patient record-keeping systems. When training on the new systems, I took the mindset of trying to see things from both a patient's and a tech's perspectives. It was obvious that the new systems were much more user-friendly and better for patient care. My openness was the opposite of many veteran colleagues on my team, and my director pointed out how happy he was about my approach."

As part of LifeLabs' values and culture statements, the ability to be agile on the job is a core value that the organization wants employees to have. Employees at LifeLabs should be ready and willing to take advantage of new opportunities and be open-minded to embracing and adapting to changes in the workplace. Your interviewer will want to hear that you are ready to do these things in your work.

In your answer, be sure to give an example or two of times you had to embrace significant changes in the workplace. Point out that you are flexible and can see changes from a very high level, knowing that change happens for a great reason, even though it may be hard to see with a narrow mindset.

"I consider myself very open to changes in the workplace. I take this mindset because my years of working in the clinical lab have taught me that change is inevitable and how I embrace change impacts how patients are cared for. Last year, we were required to train on and start using FISH tests for potentially cancerous cells. My colleague was resistant to the change because he felt that the tests we conducted were sufficient and found it useless to train on and use a new test. I advised him to keep an open mind in training to see how this would impact our patients and us. In training, we learned that the test could help patients and their diagnosis with much greater accuracy, and that point alone sold me. I embraced the opportunity to become a better Cytotechnologist just by learning the FISH test, and it has proven to be a handy tool in my arsenal."

"I believe that every workplace needs to be improved from time to time to keep up with work requirements. Employees should be flexible and welcome to practice these changes positively.I remember when the computers entered the lab system, I took some classes on the computer program to be able to participate in these changes."

Talk about a time you had to maintain your composure and show compassion in a highly stressful work environment. How did you go about maintaining your composure and showing compassion?

"In my current role as a Phlebotomist in a large hospital, we often work short staffed during times of peak census. These times can be stressful due to the number of draws each individual on our team has to perform. When these times occur, I find that staying organized with my work helps me to prioritize any high-priority draws that are ordered while still allowing time for regular inpatient draws from our units. I treat every patient with compassion, no matter how busy I am. I stay organized by making a plan at the beginning of my work day and altering the plan as new things come up. Without proper planning, the workday and patient blood draws could get away from me very quickly. At the end of the day and after realizing I did a great job, these days are often the most rewarding for me personally."

One of LifeLab's primary values is to care deeply for their patients, each other, and their communities through a standard of excellence. Often in the clinical lab setting, work can be stressful, and your interviewer will look to find that you can stay focused and compassionate in your career despite working under this pressure. For your answer, expand on your strategies to remain focused on your work without feeling overwhelmed and stressed by a significant workload or other external forces.

Talk about how you destress on your days off, so you are energized when you come to work. Also, mention how you are compassionate and care deeply for others, but your professionalism helps keep you focused and composed even on the most challenging days.

"As you can see from my resume, I have experience working in a busy retail setting. During busy weekend shifts and holiday seasons, I stayed focused on each customer while working with some urgency. Customers understood the urgency during these busy times because of the smile I kept on my face and the positive attitude I kept each shift. I think these traits would transfer well to the Mobile Lab Patient Tech role you are hiring for."

At LifeLabs, we seek to hire individuals who have ambitions of growing their career. Where do you see yourself in 3-5 years?

"In 3-5 years, I would like to see my career with LifeLabs include a path towards a leadership role. To achieve my goals, I will take a leadership course to enhance my leadership skills. I am keen on paving a long-term career in the healthcare services industry and would love the opportunity to do that here."

Every hiring manager would like to know that their investment of time and training will pay off. Assure the interviewer that you see this position as a long-term fit. Describe how this role with LifeLabs fits into your three to five-year goals and where you see yourself in the company in the future.

The interviewer wants to see if you have professional goals and if you are looking to grow with LifeLabs. Candidates with goals and ways to achieve them are generally hard workers with a strong work ethic.

"One of the attractive points of working for LifeLabs is that you care about the growth of your employees. I'm motivated to learn and am looking for a long-term fit. In 3-5 years, I'd like to be grounded in the lab and earn certifications that would help the unit advance. I want to get involved in some of the local volunteer organizations. I speak Spanish and am interested in urban outreach, so it would be nice to do something formal in that context, such as health education or fundraising."

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

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

Problem-solving, critical thinking, and dispute resolution are critical skills to possess. Display to the interviewer that you are capable of problem-solving within the workplace. Talk about a time when you were creative, proactive, and displayed the leadership qualities required to resolve a workplace issue.

Focus on providing a response that will stand out to the interviewer. Think of a time you resolved a workplace issue that benefitted the company somehow. The interviewer wants to hire someone who will bring value to the organization and can resolve workplace issues without consistently involving a supervisor or manager.

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

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

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

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

In the healthcare industry, technology is rapidly evolving. The interviewer wants to see that you are open to change and trying new methods of solving problems in the workplace.

"Recently, the lab I work at started using Cloud technology to record and store data. While it is not an entirely new concept, I had never used the technology and had to learn how to use the app and send and retrieve information from the Cloud. I found the technology very interesting and was surprised how secure the information is in the Cloud."

Talk about a work environment you were a part of where others weren't showing mutual respect to their teammates. How did you react to this situation?

"Early in my career as a Medical Lab Tech, one of the senior techs in my small department was very cold to me when I would ask questions or try to talk to her. Day after day, I didn't let this bother me, and I kept trying to build trust with her by picking up extra work and asking for her assistance when I needed it. Finally, after a few weeks, another colleague I had gotten to know told me that the senior tech was upset because I had been hired over a friend of hers that had applied for the position. In not wanting this issue to fester any further, I spoke with the senior tech late one evening when we were the only two left on the job. I told her I was sorry to hear about her situation but also stressed that I didn't want hard feelings between us because I wanted to work closely with her and learn from her while on the job. This simple approach opened the gates, and she apologized for acting as she did. To this day, we remain very close colleagues that work well together now."

One of LifeLab's core values is One Team, where they strive to work together with personal integrity, mutual respect, and trust towards a shared purpose. Knowing it is human nature for some friction among teams of people, your interviewer will be looking to hear how you handled the situation to help a great outcome among a group of individuals you were a part of. Whether there was a disagreement or a rift between yourself and someone else or between two others, talk to your interviewer about how you helped to resolve the issue. Make sure to stress the need to find a commonplace among a team for people to be able to work together towards one goal.

The interviewer wants to see that you have the interpersonal, communication, and conflict resolution skills they seek in a candidate. You can describe a situation you encountered with a teammate or one you witnessed. The interviewer wants to hear that you stand up for yourself and others and will be an excellent team player if hired for the position.

"In my previous job, I had a colleague who constantly talked poorly about other team members behind their backs. She would say things to our supervisor that I knew were a lie, and I think she would say these things because she was trying to get a promotion and make herself look better. It bothered me because we are supposed to be part of a team and look out for each other. I asked her to lunch one day to talk to her about this. I told her that I did not like her talking about my colleagues like she was and asked her what her motivation was for doing this. She was surprised to be called out on her behavior and acted like she didn't know what I was talking about. She said she was unaware of her behavior and asked me to point it out if she talked bad about someone in the future. After that, she was a lot better about talking negatively about others, and she actually started complimenting people on their work."

LifeLabs is a customer-driven organization that needs to listen and show interest in our customers. Talk about a time where your active listening skills really paid off to help a patient or a customer on the job.

"As a sales rep in the medical industry, my job boils down to helping customers find cost-effective solutions to their problems. To do this, upon my first call with a new client, I take an approach where I demonstrate concern over their problems to help provide a solution. About a month ago, I called on a potential new client that we had heard was struggling with losing patients out of their imaging services. Upon meeting the CEO, I demonstrated concern by saying we had the numbers of their losing customers to competitors for imaging services. Immediately, he started talking about how others in the area had better and cheaper services than the referring providers. Hearing this, I could talk about the new imaging machines that would greatly benefit them. The conversation went uphill from that point, and a great sale was finalized just two weeks later."

In a customer and patient-driven business like LifeLabs, listening to the needs of the individual is of utmost importance. In your answer, be sure to hit on these fine points of active listening: reflecting what the person is feeling, restating what they say, asking open-ended questions, and picking up on non-verbal cues like eye contact, hand usage, and tone of voice to read the person. In hitting on these points, talk about how you used active listening to get to the root issue that the person was experiencing and how you used the issue to help solve the problem for the customer or patient.

Show the interviewer that you have excellent active listening skills. Describe what you do to show a patient you are actively listening and hearing what they are saying and how these skills helped a patient or customer in the workplace.

"Last year, I performed routine blood draws on an inpatient Med/Surg unit of a hospital, and in talking to the patient, I noticed that his speech was slurred. I kept him talking to determine if he may be suffering a stroke at the time. As he kept talking, I noticed facial drooping, so I called the nurse's emergency pager, and a rapid response code was called immediately. The patient was rushed into surgery, and my supervisor later commended me for my quick thinking in conversing with the patient where others may have not."

"As an employee in a medical field, dealing with patients is a daily practice. For me listening and interacting with them is a significant skill we should give them the attention they need. I remember one of my patients wasn't looking normal while I was preparing for the venipuncture, so I started talking with him and asked him if he has any problem related to blood withdrawal. He said, "I just don't like the needle and some times faint during the procedure," so I suggested he go to the ECG room so I can take blood while he is lying down so he will feel more comfortable. He heartily agreed, and then after we were done, he thanked me and said that was really helpful. So by listening to the patient and caring about their concerns, we can protect them, help them with their fears, and improve our performance."

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

"I always give my best, whether I am doing an independent project or working in a team environment. I enjoy the camaraderie of working in a team, but I can also be successful working autonomously."

Talk to the interviewer about your preference for teamwork or working individually. The interviewer wants to know in which situation you are the happiest and most productive. Be sure to avoid pigeonholing yourself into one particular scenario (i.e., I only like to work alone). You may work well without needing much management or direction, or perhaps you are better driven in a collaborative and team-led environment. Either way, be honest with the interviewer about your preferences without leaning negatively either way.

You want the interviewer to understand that you work well in both environments. However, you want to tailor your response to the work environment you would work in if hired.

"I have found, in the past, that I work very well in an individually driven environment as I am self-motivated and have a strong work ethic. That is why this courier position appeals to me, as it is a more autonomous position. However, I also love the camaraderie and sharing experiences in a team-based environment and am a great team player."

"I love both of them. I enjoy working with others to share my experience and gain different skills. I believe that will positively support the work. I also have a high performance if I have to work independently."

LifeLabs Interview Questions

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1. What makes you the best candidate for this position?
2. Why do you want to work for LifeLabs?
3. Here at LifeLabs, we are continually seeking innovation in our business and we rely on our employees to be the innovative minds. Have you ever sought new or innovative ways to perform your job?
4. If you could expand your knowledge and expertise in any healthcare service area, which would you choose?
5. What is your impact goal if LifeLabs hired you today?
6. How do you handle a dispute with a coworker or supervisor?
7. When you work as part of a large team, what role do you find yourself taking on? Do you have flexibility in how you work with others?
8. LifeLabs prides itself on providing excellent customer service. How do you provide excellent customer service?
9. In your opinion, what makes you a great problem solver?
10. LifeLabs supports a healthy work/life balance for all employees. How do you balance life and work?
11. Here at LifeLabs, we take great pride in a sustainable environment through recycling resources and green initiatives. Why are these things important to you and have you taken part in any of these types of initiatives?
12. Why do you think you will be successful in this role with LifeLabs?
13. Do you think it is possible to be a good team member yet disagree with your leader occasionally?
14. LifeLabs was initially looking for someone with 5 years' experience in a similar role. Considering you have just 2 years' experience, would you be willing to accept this position at a lower salary?
15. How would your references describe you?
16. Why should we not hire you?
17. What do you like to do in your free time?
18. How did you hear about this position?
19. Give an example of a time that changing technology significantly impacted your work. How did you react to this?
20. At LifeLabs we seek to hire individuals who display a keen interest in the healthcare arena. Would you consider yourself dedicated to a career in healthcare services?
21. What would you do if a coworker asked you to help steal?
22. Why do your skills suit our clinical lab environment here at LifeLabs?
23. How do you put your customers or patients first in the work that you do?
24. What is your patient care philosophy?
25. What do you do when you are given an assignment and you are unfamiliar with how to complete the task?
26. Give me an example of a time when you had to be extra diligent in order to meet a deadline.
27. Talk about a time you had to partner with an external partner or team to work as a cohesive unit. What steps did you take to ensure that you were as effective as could be in the partnership?
28. How would you rate your ability to embrace change in the workplace?
29. Talk about a time you had to maintain your composure and show compassion in a highly stressful work environment. How did you go about maintaining your composure and showing compassion?
30. At LifeLabs, we seek to hire individuals who have ambitions of growing their career. Where do you see yourself in 3-5 years?
31. LifeLabs seeks to hire those with strong problem-solving skills. When were you able to successfully resolve a problem in the workplace?
32. When have you shown a willingness to learn a new method or new approach to solving a problem?
33. Talk about a work environment you were a part of where others weren't showing mutual respect to their teammates. How did you react to this situation?
34. LifeLabs is a customer-driven organization that needs to listen and show interest in our customers. Talk about a time where your active listening skills really paid off to help a patient or a customer on the job.
35. Do you prefer to work in a team-based position or individually?

LifeLabs Interview Questions

1. What makes you the best candidate for this position?

2. Why do you want to work for LifeLabs?

3. Here at LifeLabs, we are continually seeking innovation in our business and we rely on our employees to be the innovative minds. Have you ever sought new or innovative ways to perform your job?

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

5. What is your impact goal if LifeLabs hired you today?

6. How do you handle a dispute with a coworker or supervisor?

7. When you work as part of a large team, what role do you find yourself taking on? Do you have flexibility in how you work with others?

8. LifeLabs prides itself on providing excellent customer service. How do you provide excellent customer service?

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

10. LifeLabs supports a healthy work/life balance for all employees. How do you balance life and work?

11. Here at LifeLabs, we take great pride in a sustainable environment through recycling resources and green initiatives. Why are these things important to you and have you taken part in any of these types of initiatives?

12. Why do you think you will be successful in this role with LifeLabs?

13. Do you think it is possible to be a good team member yet disagree with your leader occasionally?

14. LifeLabs was initially looking for someone with 5 years' experience in a similar role. Considering you have just 2 years' experience, would you be willing to accept this position at a lower salary?

15. How would your references describe you?

16. Why should we not hire you?

17. What do you like to do in your free time?

18. How did you hear about this position?

19. Give an example of a time that changing technology significantly impacted your work. How did you react to this?

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

21. What would you do if a coworker asked you to help steal?

22. Why do your skills suit our clinical lab environment here at LifeLabs?

23. How do you put your customers or patients first in the work that you do?

24. What is your patient care philosophy?

25. What do you do when you are given an assignment and you are unfamiliar with how to complete the task?

26. Give me an example of a time when you had to be extra diligent in order to meet a deadline.

27. Talk about a time you had to partner with an external partner or team to work as a cohesive unit. What steps did you take to ensure that you were as effective as could be in the partnership?

28. How would you rate your ability to embrace change in the workplace?

29. Talk about a time you had to maintain your composure and show compassion in a highly stressful work environment. How did you go about maintaining your composure and showing compassion?

30. At LifeLabs, we seek to hire individuals who have ambitions of growing their career. Where do you see yourself in 3-5 years?

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

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

33. Talk about a work environment you were a part of where others weren't showing mutual respect to their teammates. How did you react to this situation?

34. LifeLabs is a customer-driven organization that needs to listen and show interest in our customers. Talk about a time where your active listening skills really paid off to help a patient or a customer on the job.

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