If you were responsible for hiring new employees for our hospital's project, what qualities would you look for in a candidate, and do you think you possess those qualities?

"We all possess different strengths, and that is what makes a great team. Being willing to grow together makes us a better team and helps future patients who will benefit from our careful work. If I were responsible for interviewing and hiring new employees, I would look for someone who has a genuine interest in the healthcare field and a desire to grow and learn. In this healthcare PM role, you will quickly see my passion for the healthcare industry shine through, as well as my desire for continued learning."

"If I were hiring someone to work on my project management team, I would look for someone dependable, organized, and passionate about the job and patient care. Also, I feel that being approachable and willing to learn is very important. Lastly, honesty is essential no matter what job title a person holds. I have found that being honest with people creates an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect. Those qualities are essential when building rapport with patient care coordinators and healthcare executives."

The interviewer wants to hear that you look for and possess the same qualities in an employee as the organization is looking for. If you review the job announcement, you can determine what qualities they are looking for in their ideal candidates. You want to avoid describing qualities you look for in a new employee as ones that do not align with the organization. Suppose the job announcement describes they are looking for employees who are dependable, organized, and work well on a team. You would then want to use those keywords in your response and avoid using qualities that contradict what the organization seeks.