MD Anderson Cancer Center Mock Interview

Practice 30 MD Anderson interview questions covering clinical excellence, patient care, and mission-driven values.

Question 3 of 30

How long have you worked oncology, and what is the most stressful part of this job?

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Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.

Any job that requires one to care for others, especially others who may be terminally ill, has times that are more stressful than others. The interviewer does not expect you to be some super hero with no emotional connection or who does not feel overwhelmed at times. This is the time to show your 'human nature side.' A good way to respond would be to share what is most stressful for you and briefly add how you deal with the stress.

Rachelle Enns

Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.

"I have worked with oncology patients for almost (X) years. I would have to say that the most stressful part of this job is the 'not knowing.' What I mean by that is, every patient is different. They each respond to treatment in their own unique ways. I try to stay positive and encouraging despite the fact that I do not always know the 'perfect answer.' I have found that simply being an ear to listen or a shoulder to cry on not only relieves the patient's stress, but it often helps relieve my own, as well."

Rachelle Enns

Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.

"The most stressful part of working oncology is having to acknowledge that not everyone I care for from day to day is going to beat cancer. There are days when I feel like my patients are more resilient to the reality of their prognosis than I am. I am a 'fixer' and knowing that I can't always fix things or make them better is the hardest part for me."

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30University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Interview Questions & Answers

1.Not all cancer patients will go into remission. How do you deal emotionally knowing that you are caring for someone who probably will not survive their illness?

2.What are some ways that you feel are beneficial in resolving work-related tension among co-workers?

3.How long have you worked oncology, and what is the most stressful part of this job?

4.Have you ever been responsible for providing education to chemotherapy patients regarding changes that may occur in their bodies due to treatment?

5.Chemotherapy often affects a patient's immune system. What are some things you would suggest to these patients to help prevent complications during chemotherapy treatment?

6.Please share one of your most difficult cases and how you dealt with it.

7.If you could choose a specialty area other than oncology, what would you choose, and why?

8.At University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, we actively participate in clinical trials. What are your thoughts regarding cancer patients being involved in clinical trials?

9.Cancer is the leading cause of death from disease among children and adolescents in the United States. Have you ever worked with pediatric oncology patients?

10.Do you know how to perform a breast self-exam and how to instruct others to perform the exam?

11.Would you say that you agree or disagree with using complimentary or alternative medicine in place of or in addition to standard medical treatment for cancer?

12.One common diagnosis weamong cancer patients is Altered Body Image. Have you ever had a patient with this diagnosis?

13.At University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, we like to provide holistic care which includes spiritual care. What are your thoughts about this?

14.At University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center we encourage a healthy balance between our work and personal lives. What are some things that you do to help create a healthy work/life balance?

15.Statistics have shown that healthcare providers who work in high stress areas such as oncology or emergency rooms are more likely to abuse drugs. Have you or anyone you know ever experienced an issue with drug abuse?

16.Many times healthcare providers who work with critical patients, such as cancer victims, tend to distance themselves from others. Why do you think this is, and do you think it is beneficial?

17.At University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, we encourage growth and advancement. Have you ever worked as a team leader or in another supervisory position?

18.What made you choose a career in healthcare?

19.At University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, we try to accommodate employees by offering different options for shifts or schedules, when possible. Is there a specific shift or schedule that would fit best with your family life and schedule?

20.At University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center we want to give everyone a fair chance. However, salary is often commensurate with experience. How do you feel about someone with the same job title as you having a higher salary based on experience?

21.We like to have a community presence and like to work with community leaders to identify needs of people in the areas we serve. Have you ever done any volunteer work within the community?

22.At University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, we encourage growth and development with regard to education and specialty skills. Have you ever considered going back to college or getting a certification in a specialty area?

23.If you were the person responsible for hiring :Cnew employees, what qualities would you be looking for during the interview? Do you feel that you display those qualities yourself?

24.Has there ever been a time that you felt singled out for your personal convictions? If so, what did you learn from that experience that allows you to feel empathy towards your patients and/or co-workers?

25.While we at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center seek to hire employees who have intentions of staying with us for the long-term, we understand that changes occur in life. What changes in your personal or professional life do you anticipate to occur within the next 3-5 years?

26.University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has several employees from different backgrounds. What are your thoughts on diversity in the workplace and can you share a personal experience ?

27.Everyone you meet has an individual personality. What is something you would like people who are meeting you to know about your personality?

28.A disagreement can be expected when large groups of people work together. Can you think of a time you had a disagreement with a co-worker and, if so, how did you resolve it?

29.At University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center we believe in rewarding good work. Have you ever received recognition for your job performance or contribution?

MD Anderson Cancer Center Mock Interview

How long have you worked oncology, and what is the most stressful part of this job?

30University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Interview Questions & Answers

1.Not all cancer patients will go into remission. How do you deal emotionally knowing that you are caring for someone who probably will not survive their illness?

2.What are some ways that you feel are beneficial in resolving work-related tension among co-workers?

3.How long have you worked oncology, and what is the most stressful part of this job?

4.Have you ever been responsible for providing education to chemotherapy patients regarding changes that may occur in their bodies due to treatment?

5.Chemotherapy often affects a patient's immune system. What are some things you would suggest to these patients to help prevent complications during chemotherapy treatment?

6.Please share one of your most difficult cases and how you dealt with it.

7.If you could choose a specialty area other than oncology, what would you choose, and why?

8.At University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, we actively participate in clinical trials. What are your thoughts regarding cancer patients being involved in clinical trials?

9.Cancer is the leading cause of death from disease among children and adolescents in the United States. Have you ever worked with pediatric oncology patients?

10.Do you know how to perform a breast self-exam and how to instruct others to perform the exam?

11.Would you say that you agree or disagree with using complimentary or alternative medicine in place of or in addition to standard medical treatment for cancer?

12.One common diagnosis weamong cancer patients is Altered Body Image. Have you ever had a patient with this diagnosis?

13.At University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, we like to provide holistic care which includes spiritual care. What are your thoughts about this?

14.At University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center we encourage a healthy balance between our work and personal lives. What are some things that you do to help create a healthy work/life balance?

15.Statistics have shown that healthcare providers who work in high stress areas such as oncology or emergency rooms are more likely to abuse drugs. Have you or anyone you know ever experienced an issue with drug abuse?

16.Many times healthcare providers who work with critical patients, such as cancer victims, tend to distance themselves from others. Why do you think this is, and do you think it is beneficial?

17.At University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, we encourage growth and advancement. Have you ever worked as a team leader or in another supervisory position?

18.What made you choose a career in healthcare?

19.At University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, we try to accommodate employees by offering different options for shifts or schedules, when possible. Is there a specific shift or schedule that would fit best with your family life and schedule?

20.At University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center we want to give everyone a fair chance. However, salary is often commensurate with experience. How do you feel about someone with the same job title as you having a higher salary based on experience?

21.We like to have a community presence and like to work with community leaders to identify needs of people in the areas we serve. Have you ever done any volunteer work within the community?

22.At University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, we encourage growth and development with regard to education and specialty skills. Have you ever considered going back to college or getting a certification in a specialty area?

23.If you were the person responsible for hiring :Cnew employees, what qualities would you be looking for during the interview? Do you feel that you display those qualities yourself?

24.Has there ever been a time that you felt singled out for your personal convictions? If so, what did you learn from that experience that allows you to feel empathy towards your patients and/or co-workers?

25.While we at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center seek to hire employees who have intentions of staying with us for the long-term, we understand that changes occur in life. What changes in your personal or professional life do you anticipate to occur within the next 3-5 years?

26.University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has several employees from different backgrounds. What are your thoughts on diversity in the workplace and can you share a personal experience ?

27.Everyone you meet has an individual personality. What is something you would like people who are meeting you to know about your personality?

28.A disagreement can be expected when large groups of people work together. Can you think of a time you had a disagreement with a co-worker and, if so, how did you resolve it?

29.At University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center we believe in rewarding good work. Have you ever received recognition for your job performance or contribution?

30.If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?