Our clinics are very busy and fast-paced. How well do you work under pressure?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Focus Your Answer On
1st Answer Example
2nd Answer Example

You must work well under pressure in whatever role you are interviewing for. Every workday will undoubtedly be stressful in a busy and fast-paced medical environment. Situations will come up that add stress to the work day, and you must be able to manage your stress for a successful outcome. The interviewer wants to hear that you work well under pressure and stay focused on the task at hand.

Focus on giving an example of working under pressure related to your role in the healthcare profession. You might have had a patient that went into cardiac arrest while you were assessing them or had a loved one come into the clinic who was injured while you were working. Using the STAR method is an excellent way to formulate your response to this question. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. Briefly describe the situation, explain your role, the measures you took to solve the issues, and the outcome. The interviewer wants to hear that you can effectively work under pressure as a healthcare professional.

"I work very well under pressure. I always remain calm and professional when faced with stressful situations. I find the best thing to do when there is a lot of pressure at work is to stay organized. I create a list, prioritize the most urgent assignments, and delegate work where I can. If I stay focused and know exactly what needs to be done, work stressors do not affect me."

"I work very well under pressure. As a full-time student with a full load, I am constantly pressured to do my homework and complete multiple assignments. I also work part-time, so I have developed a system that prioritizes the most urgent assignments and tasks I need to complete to stay on track. I find that being organized and remaining focused on the task at hand keeps stress from taking over, which allows me to stay calm while working under pressure."