Think about a difficult boss, professor, or coworker you've had in the past. What made them difficult, and how did you successfully interact with this person?

"I once worked at a small company where the GM was very demanding. When he would walk into the facility, employees would quietly announce that he was in the building, so that everyone could be prepared for his arrival. This GM had great intentions; however, his people skills were a little rough. I could see that he meant well, and I recognized that he wanted to do a lot of good things. When we interacted, I always took his feedback with the understanding that he didn't mean things as harshly as he might say them."

Teamwork and collaboration shine at athenahealth; if you take the time to study their corporate culture before your interview, it'll become clear that being a team player leads to excellent customer service. Knowing that you will likely work with some strong personalities, the organization needs to understand that you can make the best out of difficult situations where you clash with the personality of a colleague or customer.

In your answer, show the interviewer that you work well with most personalities even though you recognize some folks are difficult to please. While being open and honest about a difficult work relationship you've had in the past, focus on the steps you took to ensure cohesion without sacrificing your integrity. If possible, avoid speaking poorly of anyone, and be sure to end your response on a positive note.

"In my previous position, I did have a coworker who didn't pull their weight. This unmotivated coworker created more work for the rest of the team by being slow and unresponsive. Our team started to complete most of the tasks for our group projects. It didn't take much time before our department head noticed this individual was slacking. I feel like, in most instances, the underachievers will weed themselves out over time, and it's rarely worth making a fuss over."

"I had an employee (driver) that felt she was being disrespected by another employee. I feel it was more of the employee having a strong personality and my driver not understanding quite how to deal with this difficult person. It took time and some talking for this employee to understand how she is coming off towards other employees and it is not appreciated in the office setting, basically, I told her it’s toxic. She understood and is much better towards all employees now."

State of the art technology is important to us. Tell me about how you learn new technologies.

"In my current role, we use a database that is new to me. I went straight to YouTube to watch demos and then dug into the tool, exploring all the different features. I know the manual is there also, but I learn by watching and doing, so this approach allowed me to learn it quickly."

Athenahealth provides a wide array of tech solutions to healthcare institutions worldwide. They've remained at the top of their game by adapting to and innovating new technologies. The organization expects new staff members to embrace and even promote new technologies in their work.

Before your interview with athenahealth, consider how you've learned and adapted to new technologies throughout your career or educational path. The example you share will hopefully demonstrate how you kept an open and positive mindset when the new technology was presented. Highlight how you went the extra mile to learn the new technology and implement it in your work.

"I love learning new systems by practicing right away. If somebody is teaching me, and I'm supposed to be watching them, I ask if I can be the driver, so the concepts sink in faster. I also like the teach-back approach. When I learn a new concept in the software, I teach it back to my colleague. Repeating it back to them helps me to learn it better myself."

"I know that technology is constantly changing and as a software development engineer staying up to date with the latest technologies which are relevant to my line of work is very important. I am very interested in web technologies and hence I always push myself to seek out all the advancements in that field. When I started out learning and expanding my knowledge in web technologies I was able to learn HTML, CSS, and JS fairly quickly and have learned React.js in about 2 months and have worked on a lot of projects using these technologies. I am currently learning Redux and GraphQL and expect to do even more projects using all of my skills."

"Working in the current healthcare field there is ever-changing technology. Usually, it is always for the better. So I am OK with new technology, it just takes time to learn a new way, but it is usually always like I said for the better."

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

"Early in my career, my facility came under new management, and many new methods and policies came into place. I noticed many of my close colleagues were very down about the upcoming change and failed to try and look at the positives that were coming. My approach throughout the process was to see the entire picture of things happening and be a positive influence on others. I learned some exciting new approaches to our challenges in customer management. I quite enjoyed and learned a lot from this process so early in my career."

According to their website, advances in technology are reshaping every aspect of healthcare. As a key supplier of EHR, client-facing, and other healthcare-related software, the organization needs to be open to embracing new ideas and ways of doing business to ensure they stay at the top of their game. All staff at athenahealth must have this same mindset as well.

Openly discuss your ability to approach a problem using new and creative methods by highlighting a recent example. As you talk about a time you did just this, make sure to emphasize that you focused on the resolution and why being adaptable on your end was the right thing to do. To tie this back to athenahealth, make it clear that you were ready and willing to make a positive difference and strive for excellence in doing things a new way.

"I’m always willing to learn a new method, the world is ever-changing, and if you are not willing to make changes to your workday, then that could become a problem. I don’t have issues with new approaches if it helps to solve problems. I also am fine if someone gives me an idea on how to approach solving a problem."

When have you shown integrity in your work?

"Early in my career, I was responsible for the cash deposit every day. There was never a discrepancy in the four years I worked in that position. I best show my integrity by being a consistently reliable employee, team member, and asset to the customers that I work with. I have a strong moral compass and don't hesitate to fight for what I feel is right."

According to athenahealth's career site, acting with integrity in all that they do is one of the top values that they seek from their athenistas. To get a sense of the integrity you will bring to work, the team wants to hear you discuss, in detail, a time you had to adhere to your strong values and principles in your work, even when it may have been difficult to do the right thing.

Openly talk to the interviewer about how you have shown your integrity in the workplace. If you can relate it to customer service, you will surely win over the respect of the athenahealth team, as that is what they are looking for with all new team members.

"In my current role as a manager, in a durable medical company, I show integrity every day. We have many policies and procedures to follow having integrity at a business is very important."

Give me an example of a time you used data to add value to the business.

"During my internship, I had to work on a case study of a business. I took sales data from the prior year and sliced and diced it to see what I could learn from it. I noticed that one region of the country was performing very high in the last quarter and one wasn't. After some research, I learned that a new software platform was still being rolled out, and the areas that didn't have it yet were underperforming. I brought this to the attention of leaders who decided to roll out that new software faster than they were planning to increase sales."

Take the time before your interview to review the data insights section of their website. It will become abundantly clear that their cloud-based software relies heavily on data analysis. Chances are strong that the role you are interviewing for at the organization will involve at least some sort of data analysis. Your interviewers want to gauge if you've been involved with direct data on the job.

Give an example, even from an internship or during your schooling, of a time you analyzed data and explain how you told the story behind the data to influence a decision. Keep in mind that this can be on a very large or small scale, as long as you can discuss the data that was presented and how you used it in your work.

"In my current role as a manager, I am responsible for growing our business. I take data from our patient base and find areas that will help our patients' quality of life plus make revenue for my center."

If we hired you today, what would you accomplish first?

"For me, It is important to understand the business inside and out here at athenahealth. To accomplish this, I would want to meet with people in all the departments I would be collaborating with. Through one-on-one and group conversations, I'd be able to start laying the foundation for a great working relationship and finding out where I can help others out."

As a recruiter, hearing that a candidate has considered what their initial 30, 60, and 90 days on the job will look like shows that their invested and committed to the job. The team at athenahealth will also be looking to hear that you have done your homework on the job and that you have one or two goals that you'd like to check off your list if you were to land the job.

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 your impact goal should you emerge as their top candidate. You ideally want to make sure that the accomplishment you lay out pertains to the job, is attainable, and doesn't show that you have a far-fetched view of what the job entails.

"I will learn the Business starting from day one. I am huge on teamwork and making a healthy environment for employees to work in."

What is your process of explaining technical information to people who aren't technical?

"In my current role, I work closely with customers on new product releases, and ensuring they know the ins and outs of new products is very important. I allow them to explore things and ask questions as I'm explaining things. If I get the sense that they aren't understanding, I always explain things at a level that's easy for them to understand."

Athenahealth has many different cloud-based solutions for frontline healthcare providers and institutions. Given the rapid pace at which technology evolves, the staff there are expected to be able to educate and inform others on how things work in the simplest of terms.

Describe in detail how you break down complicated procedures and ideas into their simplest terms to ensure your audience comprehends what you are explaining. If you have a real-life example where you did just this, explain how you have effectively communicated technical info so they can understand it. Some great things to discuss are how you provide education and reflectively listen to ensure your audience understands.

"I speak in the simplest terms possible. If I get more technical questions from the group, I will up my game a bit and speak more technically, but then re-phrase for all those folks who aren't at that level."

"I prefer to keep conversations very simple yet make a point. Everyone is different in how they comprehend things."

At athenahealth, we work with international colleagues in India. Tell me about a time you've worked with global partners and how you maintained solid communication.

"The company I work with is only based in the US, but we do have a very diverse group of workers. Some of the internal customers I work with are Spanish-speaking. Sometimes I need to ask for clarification to make sure we understand each other. Also, I will follow up with written communication so we are on the same page. It seems to have worked well so far, and we've been able to finish our projects. I know this role at athenahealth will put me working closely with new colleagues in India, and I look forward to that opportunity. I'm curious how the time differential between sites impacts productivity here. Can you elaborate on that?"

With athenahealth having six locations in the United States and three locations in India, there is no doubt that you will collaborate with your new colleagues in both countries. Knowing that cultural and language barriers can be an issue for some new staff, the hiring manager needs to be assured that you will be able to team up with your colleagues effortlessly if you are hired for the job.

If you have experience working in a multi-site, multinational setting, this is the time to discuss that experience and what tools and technologies you used to ensure effortless collaboration over thousands of miles. Focus on how you ensured solid communication. If you haven't worked in this type of environment yet, highlight your ability to accept those from other cultures and your ability to be an effective written and verbal communicator.

"As I do not have any professional experience I may not have worked with international colleagues in a professional workspace but I have worked on projects in my masters with people of different nationalities. Initially, I had trouble expressing my ideas to people, but eventually learned how we can break down a large idea to communicate in pieces and constantly receive feedback from them to make sure they are on the same page as me."

"In my place of work now we have several departments that are outsourced to other countries. I talk to them on a daily basis I do not have an issue with having to do so. You can actually learn about other cultures while talking to them."

How do you connect with a customer or colleague you are working with virtually?

"I've embraced working in a virtual environment over the last ten years as technology has advanced and customer bases have expanded. I currently work with a team, both local and abroad, and we have regular meetings through Zoom. Even if we are having a virtual conversation, I try to be as personable as possible. Small talk helps teams learn about each other, and I always love chatting with colleagues I've never even met face-to-face. Where some struggle to build relationships in this environment, I think my personality is approachable for anyone I work with in the virtual environment, which makes others trust and respect me."

With offices throughout the United States and abroad in India, coupled with customers all across the globe, staff at athenahealth need to be able to connect with and communicate effectively with colleagues and customers daily. Your interview is hopeful that you have experience in doing this productively and efficiently.

Talk about the methods you use to connect with those you work closely with. If you are familiar with certain programs or applications, don't hesitate to discuss the features and benefits you've found in those systems. As you answer, don't forget the importance of discussing how you grow and foster remote relationships.

"In my current role, we do a lot of training virtual. If someone needs help doing something, we jump on teams and share our screens and help each other. After Covid, this has become a normal activity for a lot of employees."

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

"I would love to start learning how to code to get to know your business better down the road. My ultimate goal is to work my way up to a sales role where I'm actually selling your solutions to clients. I'll take every opportunity to learn and present at team meetings to work on my communication skills."

The hiring manager will get a feel for your skills and abilities while reviewing your application materials and during your interview. With a question like this, the team at athenahealth is looking to hear that you have the motivation to learn and grow to expand your career with their organization.

Talk to the interviewer about some areas you would like to expand your knowledge in. If you can, focus on the business of athenahealth to show that you are ready and willing to grow your career with their organization. This will require some in-depth research before your interview.

"I love data. Eventually, I want to be doing data analysis that can help business leaders make the best decisions possible about the future of athenahealth. I have more to learn about the technology that can clean and sort the data, so I'd love to take more courses and expand my capabilities there."

"I enjoy training people. I would become a trainer all of the time if I could. I love to see how people learn things and expand their careers by what you have taught them."

We encourage professional curiosity and an entrepreneurial mindset in our workplace. If you could start your own business, what would you do?

"I love teaching yoga and have dreamed of opening my own studio. I have a plan put together on how I could achieve this from the space element, to how many classes per week we would want, to how many workers I would need. I still need a bit more capital to get it off the ground, but hope to have this side business one day. Yoga is amazing for health and wellness and it has helped me greatly in my own life."

Making a difference and striving for excellence are two core values at athenahealth. To gauge your creative spirit and how you will bring this to the job every day, your interview is attempting to get a glimpse into your passion and creativity outside of work.

It is okay to be creative in your answer, as long as you show that you would use your creativity and entrepreneurial skills. Have fun with your answer here as you describe your plan for success in detail and give some insight into who exactly athenahealth would be getting if they hire you.

"If I could start any business, I would want to do photography professionally. I love taking pictures and experimenting with lenses, angles, and technology. I have taken pictures for friends and family and they seem really happy with what I'm doing."

"I would open an online shop such as Etsy and sell items I would make. I love doing crafts and being creative with barn wood."

Is there any type of work environment that you dislike working in?

"I can be productive in most work environments, so long as the mentality is positive and teamwork is encouraged. I cannot work in an environment that feels negative or toxic, but I feel confident in what I've learned from you is that the entire vibe here at athenahealth is positive and rewarding."

As an HR professional and recruiter that has worked with many hiring managers, getting a feel for a candidate's cultural and environmental fit is equally important as an on-the-job fit. If athenahealth is going to put the time, money, and effort into training you, they want to ensure that you will fit in well with their environment.

Ideally, you want to reiterate that you are pretty flexible and work effectively in most environments. But if you ever experienced a position where the atmosphere wasn't conducive to your productivity, you want to ensure you are open and honest about why this didn't mesh with you and your style. Knowing that this organization prides itself on its collegial atmosphere and customer focus, it doesn't hurt to point out an environment you were a part of that was the complete opposite of these.

"I prefer to focus on the positive, so if it's okay, I would like to share what my ideal work environment looks like. My ideal environment is organized, collaborative, positive, energetic, and encouraging. I love working with like-minded people who set challenging goals for themselves and work with a customer focus. I thrive when I work for supervisors who encourage curiosity and creativity in problem-solving."

"I can work in many types of environments. I do not like drama or favoritism. This is not a healthy work environment. If that does happen and it is out of my control I would learn how to deal with it and just get my work done."

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 here at athenahealth."

A question like this is often asked for the hiring manager to learn about a candidate's preference for how they like to work. Athenahealth will want to get a feel for if you work best in an individual or team-based setting if you emerge as their top candidate for the job.

Before your interview, consider this question and reflect on which scenario you are the happiest and most productive in. While it is okay to talk about your personal preference, you need to make sure you don't give the impression that you can't work solo or in a team effort. This is especially true at athenahealth, where team-based work is vital to the success of any job there. Your interviewer will appreciate your candidness in your answer here.

"I have found throughout my career that I work well in an individually driven environment. I have the accountability needed to keep myself on task and deliver quality work. But I can also be productive in a team-based setting, and any of my references are more than willing to attest to that."

"I can work with groups of people or by myself. I enjoy both. I will always make sure the job gets done in whatever work setting I am given."

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

"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. I know that your mission to strive for excellence in meeting and exceeding the needs of your customers requires new and innovative ideas, and I will never be hesitant to express my professional opinion at athenahealth."

The team at athenahealth knows that challenging the status quo is necessary to live their values of striving for excellence and making a difference for their customers. They believe in new and vibrant ideas and letting their teams be heard, so your interviewer will be looking to hear that you can respectfully disagree with them if you are hired for the job.

As you answer, you want to show the interviewer that you can be a good team member at athenahealth, yet disagree with them from time to time. Explain that you believe everyone is entitled to their own professional opinion yet capable of maintaining respect for each other. If you have an example of a time when you respectfully challenged your leader with a great result, now is the best time to fully explain that situation and how you handled it with professionalism. In the end, highlight that even if you disagree with the final decision they make, you support the direction the team is heading.

"I believe that being a good team member is more about attitude than compatibility. You do not need to agree with everyone 100% of the time to be effective in your job. By maintaining a positive attitude at all times, my former colleagues wouldn't hesitate to say that my ability to bring new ideas into play and even disagree at times was done in a safe, productive, and respectful manner."

"Yes, I feel that anyone can be a good team member even when disagreeing with your leader. I believe one should be able to discuss your own ideas with your leader using respect."

How do you stay current with changing HIPAA rules and regulations?

"I joined the local chapter of AHIMA, so I get notifications from the chapter leadership anytime there is a change we need to know about. Then I educate my colleagues so that we are all learning."

While the staff at athenahealth don't work directly with patients and their personal health information, the organization provides EHR, point of care mobile apps, and practice management software that houses private patient personal and health information. Because of this fact, being aware of HIPAA regulations is important for most of the staff at athenahealth from a security standpoint.

First, you need to understand if the role you are interviewing for at athenahealth will be directly involved with the safety and security of information in the products. If it is, reiterate to your interviewer that you understand the protection and security of the products you will work with will always be important to you. If your prior work has involved HIPAA compliance, talk about how you have stayed up to date and will continue to do so in this role.

"I subscribe to a few blogs and newsletters and read them weekly. I bring case studies to my team so we can see how changes play out in real life. Our clients trust that we know everything that is going on, so I block time in my calendar to do this."

"Since the HIPAA rules are about the patient's privacy and transparency of the information being collected and used, it is really important for and SDE to stay up to date on the new rules. Since there can be many misleading sources online it's always best to research government websites for the latest rules set. I would make it a habit to regularly check up on these websites about these rules since this needs to be the utmost priority."

"Reading articles online is very helpful. Any time trainings are available and offered I try my best to attend them. In my current job, we have HIPPA to follow and corporate is great at sending notifications through emails for any changes that we need to become aware of."

In our industry, the only real constant is change. In your career, how do you keep your knowledge current?

"Every morning, I listen to X Podcast because I find the information fresh and valuable. In addition to this podcast, I also subscribe to a couple of industry blogs. One is ABC, and the other is XYZ. I greatly value the information shared among fellow professionals. What resources do you prefer to stay on top of industry trends and changes?"

For athenahealth to live their values of obsessing over their customers and striving for excellence in what they provide, the organization needs to always be learning, growing, and fluid in the products they produce. To do this, staff must be willing and ready to learn, grow and adapt in their work. Your interviewer needs to hear that you already look to take strides in improving your on-the-job knowledge base.

List several ways you stay on top of new trends, technology advancements, or research. If you belong to any clubs or organizations related to your field, now is a great time to talk about those memberships and the benefits you get from them. As well, actively pursuing CE credits and other forms of bettering yourself will go a long way with your interviewer. This may also be a great time to ask the interviewer what resources they refer to for industry trends to help drum up more conversation.

"I currently am a member of the HRMA and have found this group helpful when it comes to receiving new industry news and setting up continuing education credits for my current position. If I'm fortunate enough to join athenahealth, this will continue to be a great resource for me on the job."

"Healthcare is ever-changing is a true fact. Training, reading articles, and podcasts are helpful to keep up with. Another great asset to gain knowledge is through your own peers at work. In my current job, we use Microsoft Chat and learn from each other and share questions with each other."

In order to work for us, you must be able to pass a full criminal background check. Do you consent to a full background check?

"I have a clean criminal record and am happy to comply with any background checks you require of me."

According to their applicant and candidate privacy policy, athenahealth does require a criminal background check, employment verification, and education verification for new staff. Hiring managers will often ask this question to ensure that candidates know this fact and to hear if any blemishes will show up on a background check process.

Assure the interviewer that you are able and willing to comply with any of athenahealth's background and education verification if you emerge as their top candidate. If you have any gaps in employment or things that will show up on your background check, now is the best time to honestly disclose that information, as the organization will be more lenient if you have minor things that show up and you are honest about them.

"No problem. I understand that it's part of the job. But I want to be up-front, I have done a full background check before, and there is a possibility you will see a charge for possession of marijuana in the check. It was several years ago, and it's no longer an issue for me because I've made significant changes in my life to pursue this career. But I don't want you to be surprised by the information. I'm happy to answer any questions you have."

"I have a clean background and have no issues with a background check. I will be happy to comply with this."

We were initially looking for someone with five years of experience in a similar role. Considering you have just two 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 at athenahealth 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 I emerge as your top candidate."

In my time working with hiring managers on posting and recruiting for a variety of positions, the minimum requirements for a job can often be flexible for the right candidate. If you don't meet the desired qualifications in the job posting yet are invited to interview, you can expect a question like this because compensation scales are typically based on years of relevant experience at athenahealth.

While compensation questions can be difficult to maneuver during an interview, this is an easy one. If asked a question like this, you can be sure that compensation is determined based on a standard scale where years of experience come into play. You want to ensure athenahealth that you are ready and willing to accept an offer based on your experience level and work hard to get the relevant experience for subsequent pay increases.

"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 athenahealth, Inc. in hopes of being considered for the median salary for the role down the road."

"I am okay with that, I am a quick learner and I look forward to proving my worth to athenahealth. I set goals for myself and that includes learning my job and moving up in a company. You have to start somewhere and I completely understand."

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

"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 patient-facing, cloud-based software and what patients look for in their use. Also, I have my updated certifications as outlined in your job description. I am well-prepared for this next step in my career at athenahealth."

As an experienced recruiter who has worked with a wide array of hiring managers, I know that they all love to allow candidates to give their best sales pitch for themselves for the job they're interviewing for. If the team at athenahealth asks a question like this, you now have the ball in your court to sell yourself for the position.

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 athenahealth, Inc. Discuss the reasons you will be great at this job and relate your specific skills and experiences to the job you will be handling.

"I believe my success with athenahealth, Inc. will come from having all of the hard skills you are looking for, whether learned in school or gained through work experience. I'm also confident that I'm the most dedicated candidate you'll discuss this position with, and I would come to your team willing to put in the sweat equity required to be up and running quickly on my own in short order."

"I have worked in the healthcare field for almost 20 years now. I understand the ever-changing world of healthcare. I am a dedicated employee who gives 110% to my job."

What is your greatest weakness coming into this role?

"I believe I could improve on some technical skills in Excel and Word, as you mentioned that those programs are a part of this job. Currently, I am at a beginner to intermediate level; however, I would be more comfortable at an advanced level. If I'm fortunate enough to be offered this role at athenahealth, I wouldn't hesitate to enroll in an evening/weekend workshop to brush up on my skills."

I've had the opportunity to work closely with hiring managers on many recruitment efforts, and they ask questions like this to ensure that a candidate is aware of their shortcomings and ready to take action to improve. Athenahealth knows that any candidate they hire will need to be brought up to speed on their business and process, so they want to hear where you think you will need to focus the most if hired.

As you answer a question like this on your biggest weakness, make sure to pick a weakness that is not a core skill for this position at athenahealth. You can be candid in your answer, recognizing that you aren't great at something and acknowledging your need to improve. Be sure to have an action plan to improve this weakness if you emerge as the top candidate for this job.

"I know this will come off as cliche, but it's truthful. My weakness is not delegating. I know what I want to be done and how I want it done, so it's often easier to do it myself. However, it can inhibit my ability to grow. I cannot take on every step of a project; I need to be able to give the task or a portion of it to another team member or direct report, let go of the control and know it will be taken care of. I've spoken with my current manager about it, and we've developed a system where he can call me out on the behavior since often I'm not aware of it. By bringing awareness to it at the moment, I find my propensity to hold onto control has decreased, so I'm certainly moving in the right direction."

"My weakness is not delegating work to others. I like knowing it gets done and I know doing it myself it will happen. My current boss tells me this and I have got somewhat better."

What appeals to you the most about coming to work for us?

"Working towards a greater good and a mission that helps impact lives is very important to me. In your mission to help serve your customers and help build products that impact patient care daily, I'm confident I found this environment here at athenahealth. Becoming an athenista would be a great honor, and I'd love to bring passion and commitment every day to this role."

As a recruiter that has collaborated with hiring managers, I have witnessed the importance that they place on passion and commitment to the organization. Even if a candidate has top-level skills and experience for the position they are hiring for, they still need to be assured that their top candidate is excited and passionate about the work and mission of their organization to ensure a long-term fit. With athenahealth's commitment and dedication to their customers, it is also vital that they do the same.

When considering your response to a question like this, remember that the interviewer wants to see evidence of a few factors. First, they want to know that you are enthusiastic about and interested in the role and coming to work for athenahealth. They also want to hear that you have a personal stake and believe in their mission and values. Your tone of voice and body language are critical when answering a question like this, so be sure to speak with passion.

"As I've been casually looking at new opportunities, I've sought a workplace culture centered around achievement, growth, and accountability. It's been easy to see that the energy here at athenahealth is contagious, which makes me even more excited about this opportunity."

"There is room to expand your career with athenahealth. Also reading about the company and its culture and values is a huge plus for me."

We support a healthy work/life balance for all employees. How do you balance life and work?

"I find that, with the right company, it's pretty simple to balance life and work. When I enjoy what I do, it doesn't feel like a chore. I am always sure that when at home, my family gets my attention first. I take time on the weekends to do things for myself and ensure that I regenerate before the work week begins."

Athenahealth has won many employer awards for being rated a great place to work and a great mid-sized employer because of the fantastic salary, benefits package, and work/life balance the organization provides. They take a true interest in the health and well-being of their staff. Your interviewer wants to know how you balance your work life and your home life. This ensures that you are clear of mind, body, and soul on the job.

Talk openly with your interviewer about how you maintain that balance. This is a great chance to shed some light on the things that keep you engaged and refreshed outside of work, so don't hesitate to give some insight into your personal life as you answer this question.

"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 time off. By consistently rejuvenating in this way, I can give even more energy at work."

"Balancing work and life is very important. On the weekends we enjoy getting out and riding our quad runners or just taking a drive in the country. This rejuvenates me to be ready for my work week."

What do you love about your current job?

"I love my current colleagues, and it will be hard to leave them if I'm fortunate enough to land here at athenahealth. We have a profound respect for each other, but I know they want me to learn and grow in my career."

If a hiring manager is considering a candidate with years of work experience, they need to gauge the personal motivating factors of the candidate's decision to change jobs. They want to hear that you are engaged and successful in your work and that you see their opportunity as a new step in a better direction for your career.

To impress the team at athenahealth with your answer, speak passionately about the aspects of your current job that you love. Don't hesitate to talk about the great team you work with and the successes you have while highlighting that there are aspects of it you will miss. Seal your answer to this question by highlighting the exact pieces of this role at athenahealth that appeal to you and your career goals.

"Because my company is small, I love the impact I can make on the bottom line. If I have a big sale or find a way to save money, I can see the positive changes in the business it brings. I also love that it has taught me many things that will help me succeed in an advancement like this here at athenahealth."

"My employees and all my other regular peers I talk to on a daily basis are like family to me. I enjoy going to work knowing that we are a close-knit group. It would be hard leaving them but if I am fortunate to go to work for athenahealth I will be given an opportunity to build this same type of atmosphere."

Tell me about yourself and the type of person we'd be hiring.

"I love to travel, read, and conduct research. I am a recent grad from Columbia University and have spent the past 12 months traveling the world. It was the best experience I could have given myself; I learned so much from seeing how the rest of the world lives. I returned to the US last month and have been actively looking for work for the past couple of weeks. I am looking forward to getting into the routine of a career again here at athenahealth."

Athenistas, the term the organization uses to refer to its employees according to their career site, take great pride in being a harmonious, humble, and welcoming team of individuals. During your interview, they'll ask personal questions like this to gain insight into your interests, motivations, and ability to fit in culturally at athenahealth.

Take a few minutes to tell the interviewer a few things about yourself. You can begin with your recent education, family life, and volunteer work or discuss your favorite hobbies. Bring up anything that is interesting and highlights your ability to be a responsible, reliable, and bright individual.

"Outside work, I fuel my competitive fire by participating in sports like softball, volleyball, and bike racing. These activities keep me physically fit, which helps me after a long, hard day in the office. I'm also a father of four, and our kids keep us very active throughout the year. My on-the-go personality doesn't see much room for rest, but I wouldn't have it any other way."

"You would be getting a dedicated person who gives all I have to my job, outside of work I am an outgoing person, love the outdoors and the mountains. I have 5 kids all grown up and on their own. Our 2nd oldest son is going to be able to retire from the Army before he is 40! So I am a proud Army mom too."

How would you describe your personality?

"I would describe my personality as approachable, light-hearted, and positive. I believe my current colleagues and supervisor would say the same about me and vouch that these traits would benefit your team here at athenahealth."

Recruiting new staff to a team in healthcare is equal parts on the job skills and personal/cultural fit with the team. And while athenahealth will get a good feel for your personality and what type of team player you will be throughout your interview, they allow you to self-describe your personality.

First, you want to ensure that your personality proves you will be a good cultural and team fit at athenahealth. To do this, think back to the values and behaviors that define who they are as an organization and use things that discuss your ability to work well with customers and be the ultimate team player. Use specific buzzwords about yourself, such as introverted, energetic, or confident, that will stand out to your interviewer after your time together.

"I'm genuinely easy-going, probably from all the international travel I experienced in my 20's. I like to do the right thing, and sometimes I get stressed trying to reach that goal, but I think it's a worthwhile endeavor. I can be funny, but my sense of humor is pretty dry, so people don't always know that about me when they first meet me."

"I feel like I am a team player with my personality. I’m easy to get along with and easy to talk to and I feel my peers would say the same. They would also tell you that I would be an asset to your company if given that opportunity."

How can we keep you motivated and engaged here, even when you feel your work goes unnoticed?

"I am an intrinsically motivated individual, and it does not take much to keep me engaged. I am fully aware that a job like this at athenahealth can seem thankless. Honestly, the best thanks I can get is a pat on the back now and then from the teams I support. The majority of my motivation comes from simply helping people and knowing that my work made a difference for a patient down the road."

Athenahealth lives by a code of values and behaviors that define their culture and the service they provide to their customers. To live their values of acting with integrity, being accountable for your actions, and striving for excellence in all you do, you must be engaged in the work. And though some days will be tough, your interviewer wants to understand what makes you tick on the job to ensure that you will always be motivated to perform if you emerge as their top candidate.

A question about personal motivators can be difficult to answer during an interview, but the interviewer simply wants to know how you like to be recognized and treated on the job. Explain that working for a greater cause, like the mission at athendahealth, would keep you engaged in your work and ready to bring your best every day. You can also talk about how your prior leaders motivated you in your previous roles.

"I love hearing little words of thanks now and then. I don't need public appreciation, but a small thank you or email is appreciated so I know I'm on the right track with my work. I also feel very grateful that my work throughout my career has involved companies making products that truly help people. I know this will continue to be the case here at athenahealth."

"I am motivated in my current job knowing that I have helped people have a better quality of life. It doesn’t take much for me to stay engaged in my work when I know my company appreciates me. Just a simple email showing appreciation or a shout-out on a Teams meeting will make me feel like I matter."

We have a diverse workforce. When have you worked amongst a diverse group of people?

"I have worked with diverse groups of people most of my career, including my time in college. I am most comfortable and happy in this type of environment because it offers me unique learning opportunities and the ability to work as part of a dynamic team. The greatest ideas and projects I've worked on have involved a diverse team."

According to their career site, athenahealth is committed to a workplace where everyone can bring their whole self to work and feel supported in reaching their full potential. They need to ensure that their top candidate will bring the same open mindset when it comes to diversity, equity & inclusion efforts.

Before your interview with athenahealth, ask yourself if you are accustomed to working with a very large or diverse team of individuals. Assure the interviewer that you can handle an environment that offers diversity. Even better, give an example of embracing diversity in the workplace.

"I am so glad you pointed out your need for diversity at athenahealth, Inc. I greatly value diversity. I grew up in a fairly homogeneous town in Montana. When I hit my 20s, it was so important to me to learn about other cultures. I worked with community volunteer organizations in Peru, inner-city Chicago, and Russia and feel I'm well prepared to join your diverse workforce here."

"In the company I work for now, we have close to 900 locations across the US and our main company is Linde based out of Germany. We interact with all types of diversity throughout the world."

Tell me about your related education and training for this role.

"I started out going to school for nursing, but discovered the hand's on patient care wasn't for me. I then decided to major in health information management so I could still work in the health care setting and impact lives, but not by stitching up injuries. My loves for patient care plus my courses and training have been great preparation for this role at athenahealth."

As a recruiter, it has always been my role to ensure that applicants meet the minimum education and experience requirements for a job I am hiring for. By the time hiring managers review candidates and invite them to interview, they're confident that these requirements are met and want to allow candidates to explain how their education and training have prepared them for this exact role at athenahealth.

Take a few minutes to walk the interviewer through your formal education, including your post-secondary education. Don't forget to discuss any on-the-job training that has prepared you well for the job at athenahealth. Talk about your most positive takeaway from your educational experience, and explain how that experience will help you succeed in this position.

"I have always loved numbers, so I started on the accounting path but realized I was missing the storytelling element. I decided to go into finance instead so I could predict the future of the business. I did an internship that showed the value finance has in an organization. All of these courses and internships have proved even further my true passion for this work."

"When I started with _______ many years ago I had no knowledge of the company. In my years with them, I feel I have been extremely lucky to accomplish and learn so much working in the healthcare field. I have been in some type of customer service this entire time, I have management skills, and I have built relationships with doctors’ offices and hospitals knowing that they can count on me for assistance."

Talk about the types of administrative duties you have held throughout your career. How do you feel that experience will help you in this role?

"I have experience ordering supplies and maintaining inventory in my current job. I fully understand that there is an art to being properly organized when it comes to the availability of supplies. I also have a lot of experience creating helpful Outlook, Word, and Excel templates for my team and would love to bring these skills to work at athenahealth."

Depending on the role you are interviewing for at athenahealth, there may be some administrative duties that come along with it that aren't the most desirable tasks. It is important for hiring managers to know that candidates won't take these tasks lightly, and they ask a question like this to ensure that their top candidate will take pride in all their responsibilities.

Before your interview with athenahealth, take some time to think about the various administrative functions you have held during your career, and come to your interview prepared to discuss how you took pride in that work. If you are struggling to think of administrative duties you've been involved in, they can include coordinating schedules, sending out communications, answering phones, ordering supplies, and compiling reports. Whatever your experience with these types of tasks, highlight how they'll be helpful in the role you are interviewing for.

"I have a lot of administrative experience and have always prided myself in ensuring my work here was thorough and detailed. I've made client phone calls and coordinated site visits for my team. I've organized office mail, distributed it to staff, and compiled financial reports each quarter for my current department. From what I learned today about this role at athenahealth, you are looking for someone who can take on these types of roles, and I'm confident that I'm your person for that work."

"I have experience ordering supplies and maintaining inventory in my current job. I also have a lot of experience in compiling reports, scheduling drivers' routes, assuring employees follow proper policy, answering phones, and filing. I have a lot of experience and would love to bring these skills to work at athenahealth."

Describe the leadership skills you would bring to our team.

"I have an open and enthusiastic style of leadership in the workplace. A leader should want to nurture others to their fullest potential, something I have done most of my career. I strive to be an example for others to follow and guide people to better themselves and improve their career trajectories. By emulating these leadership qualities, I have found that my teammates aren't afraid to bring me their questions or most significant challenges. They know I am here to help them and am always willing to collaborate to find a solution."

As a recruiter for jobs at multiple levels, from entry-level leadership, I understand how important a candidate's leadership skills are. Even if the role you are interviewing at athenahealth isn't managerial or supervisory, the team will look for a candidate who can take the lead in a team project or with a customer.

Before your interview with athenahealth, take some time to talk about your qualities, skills, and experiences that prove your ability to be a great leader in the workplace. Consider discussing your excellent communication skills, creativity in a team setting, ability to hold yourself and others accountable, decisiveness in challenging situations, and emotional intelligence on the job. This is also a great time to talk about any direct leadership types of experiences you have in the workplace.

"My leadership style can be described as creative, open, and encouraging. Throughout my career, I've always strived to do what I could to foster an environment conducive to my team members' learning and growth. I find that by leading this way, I retain staff much longer, and productivity increases. I'm excited to bring these leadership qualities to work at athenahealth."

"I would bring my leadership skills in how to build a healthy working environment and how to be a team player. My manager skills include the opportunity to show employees they are just as important as anyone in the company. I believe in making the culture in the office a top priority while at the same time building a great team that can accomplish great things. I have very little turnover as a manager."

This position requires strong organizational skills and attention to detail. How do you ensure that your work is properly organized and highly accurate?

"I am a highly detailed person, and I thrive on having a high level of organization in my day. This organization includes my scheduling, paperwork, and more. If I am offered a position with athenahealth, Inc. you will never find me to be disorganized! I utilize my Outlook calendar and set alerts for myself for deadlines and important activities. My documentation is strong as well."

From my years of supporting recruitment across the healthcare spectrum, I know that hiring managers always love to key in on a candidate's ability to pay attention to the minute details in their work and stay organized in a role that involves multiple tasks every day. With a distinct focus on their customers and providing them top-level service and products, organizational skills and fine attention to detail are vital for any staff member at athenahealth to display.

Talk openly and honestly to the interviewer about how you ensure accuracy and organization in your day-to-day activities. Perhaps you use a particular app or software. Maybe you are a pen-and-paper person. Whatever your method, highlight that you are successful in organizing your day. To effectively seal your answer to this question, try to relate how your style will fit well with the role you are interviewing for at athenahealth.

"I'm a bit of a nerd. I carry around my phone and type notes to myself as I go so I don't forget. I can then text or email them to myself so I can put them into action items."

"I am a highly detailed person, a hands-on person who writes everything down on a legal pad throughout the day. At the end of the day, I review it to make sure I have completed my task for that day. I believe it is chaos if you are not organized in your job. I love binders and having cheat sheets and reference material at my fingertips for quick access. I am OCD about a clean desk to start my day off."

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

"I have always been a great problem solver on the job 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. In this role at athenahealth, this will mean close attention to detail with the departments I would be collaborating with and the customer base we serve."

If you notice that effective problem-solving is a common theme of your interview with athenahealth, this is certainly intentional from your interviewers. In their pursuit of providing top-notch, excellent service to their customers, diagnosing and solving the most challenging of issues for them is a part of everyday life for their staff. In my experience working with hiring managers, they'll use several questions that get to the heart of a candidate's ability to solve problems efficiently and effectively.

In answering this question directly, consider the skills and qualities that help you successfully face problems on the job. 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.

"I believe I am a great problem solver because I am sure to gather as many facts as possible when a problem arises. I am not hasty in my action unless necessary for a situation. 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."

"I do not get overly excited about things. If a problem arises, I will gather all the facts before jumping to a conclusion. I will gather all the details to find the best solution to the problem and go from there."

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

"In my current role, we had a consistent problem with employees showing up 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. I also added a bonus for every month with zero sick days. In the end, we awarded those with perfect attendance a $600 bonus. The bonus cost us less money than the cost of lowered productivity due to absent employees. The program was a success, and upper management chose to keep it implemented for another six months. We will re-assess in December, but it seems to be working very well."

Through their desire to always strive for excellence for their customers, the need to be reliable problem solvers is critical for any team member at athenahealth. The hiring managers want to hear a real-world example of a time you effectively worked through the diagnosis and solution to a problem. This allows them to get a feel for how you will relate to similar problems in the job you are interviewing for.

Display to the team at athenahealth that you are capable of problem-solving within the workplace by discussing a time when you were creative and proactive and displayed the leadership qualities required to resolve a workplace issue. Walk through the situation so your interviewer can see that you are level-headed in your decision-making processes and not hesitant to include others in the brainstorming process when a problem arises.

"Early in my career, there was a weak link on my team. I think the person's confidence was low, and other internal customers didn't want to work with him. I asked him to go for a walk with me. Because I was new, I wanted to understand how he was feeling about his work and if there was anything I could do to help. I learned that he wasn't feeling great because some of his work had been moved to another person. Through our discovery, I felt like he opened up, and I spent extra time with him talking through the problems he was facing. He ran ideas past me, and I could see his confidence growing."

"When working for the same company I am with, I was asked to be an interim manager for a large branch that had been through several bosses and a lot of turnover. The employees had lost their desire to stay motivated. Everyone just wanted to complain and blame each other for jobs not getting done. I pulled all employees together quickly, showing support and gratitude for each of them. Soon everyone knew their roles and expectations and we had that center thriving. I built a culture of teamwork."

How do you typically handle stress on the job in a healthy and productive manner?

"I have always handled stress well on the job, and when you call my references, they will attest to this fact. When I am under pressure on the job, I focus on the task at hand and make sure not to get distracted. Staying on a deadline is very helpful, and I will delegate when necessary to alleviate some stress. I give a lot of credit to my ability to use tools and resources to keep my work organized and on track. Sometimes this means setting aside 20 minutes at the beginning and end of each day to set a plan of action."

With a customer base all over the globe and a robust product line, there is no doubt that the work at athenahealth can get stressful from time to time. Their team needs to know that the person they bring aboard can productively and safely work through the challenges.

Discuss in detail how you can thrive, even during the most stressful times, in this role at athenahealth. You can keep your answer brief. If you can, provide an example of a time you implemented a stress-management technique in your current role and describe how it will help you in the job you are interviewing for.

"I don’t stress much but If I feel overwhelmed I will take a break for a few minutes and return when my mind has calmed. I understand my work is my work and once the day is over I can destress at home."

We take pride in our great relationships with clients, vendors, and coworkers. How do you build strong relationships on the job?

"I have often been complimented on my relationship-building skills. I like to get to know people and ask them questions about themselves. Most clients love to talk about themselves, and I find it's a great and simple way to start building rapport with others. I consider myself to be a strong relationship builder and take pride in my 'people skills'. Rest assured, I would be a great ambassador of positive relationships for athenahealth, Inc.."

If you take the time to look around on the athenahealth career site before your interview, you'll quickly see that their workplace culture emphasizes being a team player and customer-obsessed. These two values have helped build the organization into what it is today and rely heavily on building strong relationships.

Assure the interviewer that you would treat everyone at athenahealth with great respect and a positive attitude, no matter what role you would take with the company. Discuss how you would build strong and healthy relationships if hired, and try to relate your answer to the people you know you will be working with from day one on the job.

"Building a great relationship with customers, referral resources, your employees and everyone involved is what makes a company successful. This is such an important part of a job."

athenahealth Interview Questions

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1. Think about a difficult boss, professor, or coworker you've had in the past. What made them difficult, and how did you successfully interact with this person?
2. State of the art technology is important to us. Tell me about how you learn new technologies.
3. When have you shown a willingness to learn a new method or new approach to solving a problem?
4. When have you shown integrity in your work?
5. Give me an example of a time you used data to add value to the business.
6. If we hired you today, what would you accomplish first?
7. What is your process of explaining technical information to people who aren't technical?
8. At athenahealth, we work with international colleagues in India. Tell me about a time you've worked with global partners and how you maintained solid communication.
9. How do you connect with a customer or colleague you are working with virtually?
10. If you could expand your knowledge and expertise in any area of your work, which would you choose?
11. We encourage professional curiosity and an entrepreneurial mindset in our workplace. If you could start your own business, what would you do?
12. Is there any type of work environment that you dislike working in?
13. Do you prefer to work in a team-based position or individually?
14. Do you think it is possible to be a good team member yet disagree with the leader?
15. How do you stay current with changing HIPAA rules and regulations?
16. In our industry, the only real constant is change. In your career, how do you keep your knowledge current?
17. In order to work for us, you must be able to pass a full criminal background check. Do you consent to a full background check?
18. We were initially looking for someone with five years of experience in a similar role. Considering you have just two years' experience, would you be willing to accept this position at a lower salary?
19. Why do you think you will be successful in this role?
20. What is your greatest weakness coming into this role?
21. What appeals to you the most about coming to work for us?
22. We support a healthy work/life balance for all employees. How do you balance life and work?
23. What do you love about your current job?
24. Tell me about yourself and the type of person we'd be hiring.
25. How would you describe your personality?
26. How can we keep you motivated and engaged here, even when you feel your work goes unnoticed?
27. We have a diverse workforce. When have you worked amongst a diverse group of people?
28. Tell me about your related education and training for this role.
29. Talk about the types of administrative duties you have held throughout your career. How do you feel that experience will help you in this role?
30. Describe the leadership skills you would bring to our team.
31. This position requires strong organizational skills and attention to detail. How do you ensure that your work is properly organized and highly accurate?
32. In your opinion, what makes you a great problem solver?
33. We seek to hire those with strong problem solving skills. When were you able to successfully resolve a problem in the workplace?
34. How do you typically handle stress on the job in a healthy and productive manner?
35. We take pride in our great relationships with clients, vendors, and coworkers. How do you build strong relationships on the job?

athenahealth Interview Questions

1. Think about a difficult boss, professor, or coworker you've had in the past. What made them difficult, and how did you successfully interact with this person?

2. State of the art technology is important to us. Tell me about how you learn new technologies.

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

4. When have you shown integrity in your work?

5. Give me an example of a time you used data to add value to the business.

6. If we hired you today, what would you accomplish first?

7. What is your process of explaining technical information to people who aren't technical?

8. At athenahealth, we work with international colleagues in India. Tell me about a time you've worked with global partners and how you maintained solid communication.

9. How do you connect with a customer or colleague you are working with virtually?

10. If you could expand your knowledge and expertise in any area of your work, which would you choose?

11. We encourage professional curiosity and an entrepreneurial mindset in our workplace. If you could start your own business, what would you do?

12. Is there any type of work environment that you dislike working in?

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

14. Do you think it is possible to be a good team member yet disagree with the leader?

15. How do you stay current with changing HIPAA rules and regulations?

16. In our industry, the only real constant is change. In your career, how do you keep your knowledge current?

17. In order to work for us, you must be able to pass a full criminal background check. Do you consent to a full background check?

18. We were initially looking for someone with five years of experience in a similar role. Considering you have just two years' experience, would you be willing to accept this position at a lower salary?

19. Why do you think you will be successful in this role?

20. What is your greatest weakness coming into this role?

21. What appeals to you the most about coming to work for us?

22. We support a healthy work/life balance for all employees. How do you balance life and work?

23. What do you love about your current job?

24. Tell me about yourself and the type of person we'd be hiring.

25. How would you describe your personality?

26. How can we keep you motivated and engaged here, even when you feel your work goes unnoticed?

27. We have a diverse workforce. When have you worked amongst a diverse group of people?

28. Tell me about your related education and training for this role.

29. Talk about the types of administrative duties you have held throughout your career. How do you feel that experience will help you in this role?

30. Describe the leadership skills you would bring to our team.

31. This position requires strong organizational skills and attention to detail. How do you ensure that your work is properly organized and highly accurate?

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

33. We seek to hire those with strong problem solving skills. When were you able to successfully resolve a problem in the workplace?

34. How do you typically handle stress on the job in a healthy and productive manner?

35. We take pride in our great relationships with clients, vendors, and coworkers. How do you build strong relationships on the job?