Give me an example of a time you solved a problem in the workplace or a school environment.

"Many years ago, I worked in a clinic where the primary patient 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 shared waiting room. I took these methods and incorporated them into our setting. We implemented this program twice a week that completely solved our scheduling problem."

"I participated in many group projects during my schooling. I noticed a consistent problem with team members showing up late for meetings or messaging in sick at the very last moment. I often took the role of a team leader. Rather than getting upset, I proposed that when a team member disrespectfully dropped the ball, they would be asked to leave the group and find a new group or commit to an independent project. I felt this encouraged accountability and showed teamwork as a privilege rather than a right. Team member commitments increased, as did work ethic among the groups. This experience during my training helped me learn leadership skills that I can bring to the MediClinic team."

The interviewer recognizes that not all candidates will have worked in the healthcare industry and may be starting fresh from college. If you have a workplace example, that is preferred. However, you can also provide an example of when you solved a problem while receiving your higher education.