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

"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 shared waiting room. I took these methods and incorporated them into our setting. We did that twice weekly, which completely solved our scheduling problem."

"We had many group projects in university, and I noticed a consistent problem with team members showing up late for meetings or messaging in sick at the very last moment. As the 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."

Focus on providing a solution to a common problem seen in the healthcare industry. When the interviewer hears how you solved a problem they can relate to, they will know that you have the skills they seek in a candidate.