What is your pet peeve?

"My pet peeve is when coworkers do not replace medical records where they should be, and I have to search for them. When this happens, I politely ask the coworker to please file the records when they are finished with them so I don't have to spend time tracking them down. Usually, they don't realize it's a problem until I talk to them about it. When something irritates or annoys me, I like to address and resolve the issue so that it doesn't become a bigger problem down the road."

The interviewer wants to know more about your personality and what makes you tick. When you respond with your pet peeve, it gives the interviewer insight into what kind of employee you will be and how you handle situations that annoy you. Describe your pet peeve and what you do to resolve the issue.

Do you enjoy working with detailed information?

"Yes, I do enjoy working with detailed information. I like going through the details in a medical record and extracting the most important information. This job is highly technical, which is what I enjoy about this work."

Medical Records Abstractors work with detailed information daily. To be working in this profession, you must be detail-oriented and have critical thinking and technical skills. The interviewer wants to hear that you have the skills and traits they are looking for. Describe why you enjoy working with detailed information.

Do you believe that you are an effective communicator? Give me an example.

"Yes, I believe I am an excellent communicator and have outstanding verbal and written communication skills. For example, I was in charge of transferring patient files into electronic files at my last job. The Nursing Manager asked me to train the staff to use the electronic medical records and write a quick guide showing the steps needed to complete the patient's electronic records. The staff quickly understood how to use the software and said my guide was helpful and concise."

Being an effective communicator is an essential trait to have as a Medical Records Abstractor. Your job requires excellent written and verbal communications skills, as you will be working with patients, internal and external staff, and insurance companies. Describe how you are an effective communicator by giving an example of your communication skills.

If hired, how soon could you start?

"I am currently working, so I need to give my supervisor two weeks' notice. My supervisor knows I am switching careers and looking for a job in this industry, so they are already looking for a replacement for me. They told me I could leave before two weeks if they found a replacement before then. So, at the most, it would be two weeks before I could start."

If you are currently working, you should give your supervisor two weeks' notice out of courtesy. Giving two weeks' notice shows the interviewer that you are respectful and have a good work ethic. If you do not have a job, you can explain to the interviewer that you can start immediately, which exudes enthusiasm and an eagerness to begin working for their company.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

"Yes, I would like to add that I am available to start immediately if hired. I appreciate your time today, and thank you for this opportunity."

If an interviewer asks this question, it is the perfect time to add anything about you that wasn't covered in the interview. You are trying to sell yourself as the best candidate for the job, so you should highlight any achievements or personal traits that weren't previously covered. At the end of your response, it is respectful to thank the interviewer for their time and the opportunity to interview.

Are you interviewing with other companies?

"I am not currently interviewing with other companies. While in college, I knew this was the only company I wanted to start my career with. Your mission statement and values align with my beliefs, and I want to work here more than the other companies that are hiring."

It is best to answer this question honestly. If you are interviewing with other companies, you can mention that you are doing so because you are keeping your options open in a tough job market. If this company is the only one you are interviewing with, explain why their company interests you more than others.

Why should we hire you over the other candidates?

"I am sure you have many qualified candidates who have applied to this position. You should hire me over the other candidates because I have all of the qualities you are looking for in your ideal employee. I have a bachelor's degree in Medical Coding with seven years of experience in the field. I have two years of experience as a clinical research coordinator and am incredibly organized, dependable, and detail-oriented."

There are likely many qualified candidates who have applied to the position. You need to let the interviewer understand that you have something unique that will benefit their organization if they hire you. Reread the job description and use keywords from the job description to describe why they should hire you. For example, if the job description says they are looking for a Medical Records Abstractor with a college degree who is dependable, organized, and detail-oriented, with five or more years of experience a plus, be sure to choose the keywords that describe you. You will stand out from other applicants because you are their ideal candidate!

After reading the job description, do you have any questions about the position?

"Yes, I do have a question about the position. What would my work schedule look like?"

If an interviewer asks if you have any questions for them, it is always good to respond with an affirmative. Asking questions shows that you are eager to learn all that you can about the company. Be sure to ask a question that was not in the job description, such as what your first 30 days on the job entails, the work hours, or if there is a probationary or training period.

What is your greatest strength?

"My greatest strength is my ability to work independently. I am a motivated individual who is a self-starter, and I require very little supervision to complete my work."

This is a very common interview question, so you should be prepared to answer with what you consider your greatest strength to be. Make sure to respond with a strength relevant to the position, such as attention to detail, ability to work independently, excellent communication skills, analytical thinking, or above-average computer skills. It is recommended to reread the job description before your interview so you can use a keyword that the company used to describe their ideal candidate.

What do you like to do in your free time?

"After sitting inside on my workdays, I enjoy spending as much time as I can outdoors on my days off. I like mountain biking, river rafting, and camping with my family. We have a travel trailer and spend most weekends camping by a lake. I recently took an acrylic painting class and enjoy painting when I have the time."

The interviewer wants to get to know you personally and see what activities and hobbies you enjoy on your days off. They want to see that you take time to destress, which will make you a more effective and efficient employee. Describe a few activities or hobbies you enjoy participating in when you have free time.

How would you describe your previous supervisor?

"I would describe my previous supervisor as a compassionate leader who genuinely cared about her staff. She was calm, patient, and easy to get along with."

When answering questions about your previous supervisor or coworkers, you should always respond positively. If you describe your supervisor negatively, it shows that you do not respect them and that you may be challenging to work with. Even if you had an issue with your previous supervisor, describe their good qualities.

Who is the CEO of our company?

"The CEO of your company is Edward Bartlett. He became CEO five years ago after Beverly Warner retired."

Before any job interview, you must do your research on the company and learn all that you can. Interviewers will ask questions about their company that you must be prepared to answer. When doing your research, learn who the CEO is, who you will report to, the company's size, who founded the organization, and any other pertinent information you feel is essential to know. Show the interviewer that you have done your homework by correctly answering the question.

If hired, are you available to work overtime if needed?

"Yes, I am available to work overtime if needed. I understand there are times it is necessary to work overtime, and I do not have any outside obligations that will keep me from doing so."

In any profession, there will be times that it is necessary to work overtime to complete a project or cover a coworker's shift. The interviewer wants to hear that you are flexible with your schedule and do not have other obligations that will prohibit you from working overtime if needed.

What are your five-year professional goals?

"My five-year professional goals are to gain experience with your company while finishing my bachelor's degree in health information management. I have two more years to complete my bachelor's degree and am enrolled in an online course through Western Governors University. After obtaining my bachelor's degree, I see myself interviewing and promoting to a managerial position in your organization."

The interviewer wants to know if you have set five-year professional goals and if they align with the company's values and vision. They want to know if you see yourself working and growing within this company or if you have another professional goal. Describe where you see yourself in five years and how you plan to achieve your goals.

Why did you choose a career as a Medical Records Abstractor?

"I chose a career as a Medical Records Abstractor after volunteering at a hospital while in high school. I knew I wanted to pursue a career in healthcare, but I did not know what types of jobs were available. I was advised by a guidance counselor to volunteer to get an idea of the different healthcare jobs and choose something that looked interesting. I shadowed a Medical Records Abstractor and found her job to be fascinating. I am a detail-oriented person who is very analytical and likes technical work. I felt this job would be a perfect fit for my interests and skills."

The interviewer wants to hear what made you decide on a career as a Medical Records Abstractor to see how enthusiastic you seem about your job. They also want to learn more about your personality and what motivates you to succeed. It might be that a friend or family member recommended this field or that you worked in healthcare and learned about the job along the way. Explain how you chose a career as a Medical Records Abstractor.

What is your greatest weakness?

"My greatest weakness is public speaking. I can speak well in a meeting or conference where I know the people I am speaking to, but I get nervous when speaking in front of people I do not know. At my last job, I recognized this as a weakness when my supervisor asked me to put together a presentation about abstracting medical information to present to a medical facility. Even though I knew my job inside and out, I froze at the podium. I was able to present the materials with the help of my supervisor, but I knew that I had to address the situation for future presentations. I enrolled in an adult education public speaking class at the community college and have been perfecting my public speaking skills. I have three months left in the class and already feel that my skills are improving."

This question is commonly asked during interviews. Your answer should demonstrate honesty by recognizing your weakness and your problem-solving skills by describing the steps you are taking to turn your weakness into a strength. Identify a weakness that is relevant to the job but will not make you look like a poor candidate. Describe how you have identified the weakness and what you are doing to improve it. End on a positive note by explaining how your fault is turning into a strength.

What do you like most about working as a Medical Records Abstractor?

"What I like most about working as a Medical Records Abstractor is that I get to work independently and most often remotely. While I do enjoy working with a team, I like that I can set my schedule and work from home, where it is quiet, and I can focus on my work."

The interviewer wants to hear that you love working as a Medical Records Abstractor and why. It might be that you are a detail-oriented person, you love abstracting information, or you like working independently. Describe your favorite part of your job.

What three words would you use to describe yourself?

"I would describe myself as an excellent communicator who is dependable and responsible. I communicate clearly in both verbal and written form, and I can be counted on to show up to work on time and complete tasks with little to no supervision. When I say I will do something, I keep my word."

When describing yourself, you should use keywords that are in the job description to show the interviewer that you are the ideal candidate. Reread the job description, look for those keywords, and use them in your response with examples for each. If the job posting says they are looking for a reliable, dependable, and responsible candidate with excellent communication skills and attention to detail, be sure to choose three of those keywords when you respond.

What do you know about our company?

"Your company was founded in 1902 and is one of the premier nonprofit health systems in the United States. You have over 10,000 employees with a revenue of over 100 million dollars annually, which your CEO Judith Baker manages. Your mission is to provide compassionate, personalized care to every patient and include their family members in the process. Your work environment believes in nurturing relationships, providing the tools to grow and advance, and cultivating talent. You have a very low turnover rate with an employee satisfaction of 92%, which is one of the reasons I am excited to be interviewing with you."

When applying for a job, it is essential to research the company and learn all you can. You can check online reviews, read the company website, visit the organization, talk to the staff, and read the job description very closely to gain insight into what they are looking for in their employees. Show the interviewer that you have done your homework by telling them what you have found in your research.

How did you hear about this position?

"I have wanted to work for your company ever since I received my medical coding degree. After graduating, I went to your company website and found the job opening under your careers section."

There are many ways for an employer to advertise their job announcement, and they want to see what methods work the best. You could have heard about the job from a friend, on an online job board, or from the company's website. Tell the interviewer how you were notified of this job.

What is one thing your previous supervisor critiqued you on?

"My previous supervisor critiqued the time it took me to abstract a medical record when I first started. The employee before me could do the same work in half the time that it took me. He mentioned that I needed to speed things up and learn how to read faster. I explained that I was new to the profession and it would take me more time at first to read a medical record, but that once I had more experience, I would be faster. In just a few months, I was much faster than when I started, and he never criticized me again."

The interviewer wants to hear that you can accept constructive feedback and learn from that feedback. Accepting feedback is an excellent quality to have and shows that you can take criticism and compliments. Describe one area your previous supervisor said you could improve and how you handled the criticism. Be truthful when responding, and be sure not to speak poorly of your supervisor.

Why did you leave, or why are you leaving, your previous job?

"I left my previous job two weeks ago to pursue a career as a Medical Records Abstractor. I worked as a server at my previous job for five years and felt that I could not work both jobs when hired full-time in my new profession. I left on good terms and enjoyed working with my coworkers and managers."

The interviewer wants to know why you left, or are leaving, your previous job. You may have been working in a different industry and decided on a career change, or you may be working as a Medical Records Abstractor and wanted a position that offered more work or room for advancement. If you are leaving because you do not get along with your manager or coworkers, do not say anything negative about them, as it can make you look poorly. You can explain that you applied to this particular company because they have an excellent reputation with growth opportunities.

Tell me about the training you have received and how it has prepared you for this role.

"I just graduated from college with an associate's degree in medical coding. While going to school, I volunteered at a medical office on the weekends and was mentored by a Medical Records Abstractor who had been coding for fifteen years. I received a lot of hands-on knowledge in my courses and through volunteering for two years, which has prepared me for this role."

The interviewer wants to hear about any training that has prepared you for a Medical Records Abstractor position to ensure that you have the experience and knowledge they are looking for. Talk about any relevant training related to the position and describe your knowledge and experience concerning the role.

Tell me about your previous work experience and what brought you here today.

"I previously worked for three years as a Medical Assistant at a busy urgent care clinic. While working as a Medical Assistant, I became interested in becoming a Medical Records Abstractor after a friend pursued this career. I received my associate's degree in medical coding and applied to this position because my friend works for your company and highly recommends you. I want to work for your company and start my career as a Medical Records Abstractor."

To have made it to the interview, you must have the qualifications and experience the interviewer is looking for. Describe your past work experience relevant to the position and why you applied to their company. If you are new to the field and have no prior work experience as a Medical Records Abstractor, explain what previous work experience you have, what made you decide to pursue this career, and how excited you are to gain experience working for their company.

What medical records experience do you have?

"While in my last year of high school, I worked with my father, who is a psychiatrist, extracting information from his patient's medical records. I would extract certain information and write a summary for him to take to court cases involving child placement after a divorce. That job led me to achieve my associate's degree in medical coding, and I gained two more years of experience with medical records during my training and internship."

There are many ways to gain experience working with medical records. You may have worked as a healthcare professional or a medical records clerk, performed volunteer work, or had an internship. The interviewer wants to see if you have the experience they are looking for in a candidate or if you will require on-the-job training if hired. Describe your experience and the number of months or years you have worked with medical records.

How do you like to be managed?

"I like to have a manager that leads by example and trusts their staff to work independently. Allowing their staff to do their job with minimal supervision shows they have trained their employees well and have confidence in their abilities. I prefer managers who have open communication, listen to their staff, and offer constructive feedback."

The interviewer may ask this question to gain insight into your ideal work environment to ensure your preferences align with the company culture. During your research, try to find out what their company's management style is so you can come up with the correct response. If you are unsure what the company's management style is, describe how past supervisors have effectively managed you.

Do you have the ability to work independently? When have you done so?

"Yes, I do have the ability to work independently, and most of my past work as a Medical Records Abstractor has been done remotely with very little supervision. For the past three years, I have been working for a public health agency from home. While I do enjoy working with a team, I like working independently to stay focused on the task at hand. This work is very detail-oriented, and when working alone, I can focus better."

Medical Records Abstractors work in physician's offices, medical facilities, public health agencies, and remotely. No matter where you work, you must be able to work independently and with little direction or supervision. The job description should specify that one of the essential functions is to work independently. Describe to the interviewer how you work independently and give an example when you have done so.

How do you stay focused while reviewing medical documents?

"When I review medical documents, I need to do it in a place that is free from distractions. Being in a quiet place helps keep me focused on the task at hand. Also, I take frequent, short breaks to have a fresh set of eyes to avoid missing important details. If I am unable to be in a place free of distractions while reviewing medical documents, I tune out my surroundings to stay focused."

It is essential to stay focused when reviewing medical documents as they are very detailed, and it could be easy to miss something important that could negatively affect the patient. The interviewer wants to see that you are focused, detail-oriented, and not easily distracted. Describe your methods to stay focused while reviewing medical documents.

Have you ever had conflict with a coworker? If so, how did you handle the situation?

"Yes, I had a conflict with a coworker once. We had a new employee who I had worked with at a previous company, and we had become friends. During her first week on the job, a coworker was talking about my friend behind her back and saying false things about her. I asked my coworker if we could speak privately, and I asked her why she was saying untrue things about our new coworker. I explained that we were friends and had worked together before and that she was spreading false information. I explained that what she was saying could jeopardize her career and family. My coworker said she was unaware that what she was saying was false, apologized, and said it would not happen again. I asked her if she would please inform our other coworkers that what she had said was incorrect, and she said she would. We never had an issue after that."

There may be times when coworkers have a disagreement or do not get along for some reason. The interviewer wants to see your approach to handling a dispute and what your conflict-resolution skills look like. It is always best to acknowledge a disagreement and privately speak with the person and reach a mutually agreeable resolution. Describe a time when you had a dispute with another employee and how you resolved the conflict.

When have you made a mistake because you failed to pay attention to a small detail?

"I made a mistake early in my career as a Medical Assistant when I inadvertently wrote a patient's blood pressure down as 182/70 instead of 128/70. When the physician saw the chart, they ordered a referral to a cardiologist for further evaluation. I thought that was odd since the patient had normal vital signs and was not complaining of chest pain. I asked why the physician ordered a referral, and they said because the patient's blood pressure was so high. I was confused as to why 128/70 was high, so I looked at the chart again. I realized my mistake and immediately told the physician that I had transposed the numbers. They had me retake the patient's blood pressure, which was within normal limits. The physician laughed it off and told me to be more careful in the future."

Everyone makes mistakes, and the interviewer wants to hear that you have the integrity to admit to a mistake and learn from it. Since the Medical Records Abstractor position requires attention to detail, the interviewer wants to see that you realize how important it is to pay attention to minor details so mistakes don't happen in the future. Start by explaining the mistake. Then describe the actions you took to resolve the error. Be sure you emphasize the positive aspects of the situation and how your actions after recognizing the mistake affected the outcome positively.

When have you combed through large amounts of data in order to identify a specific set of information?

"Recently, I was hired to search through thousands of patients' medical records to find a correlation between cardiovascular disease and a particular virus. I had to determine if there was an increase in heart attacks and strokes in those patients who had been infected with the virus. It was a long and very detailed job that took over six months to complete."

The job of a Medical Records Abstractor involves sorting through large amounts of data to identify specific sets of information. The interviewer wants to hear that you have the skills and experience that are required for the position. Describe a job you had during which you had to search through data to find a specific set of information, whether it was for a physician, insurance company, or patient.

Tell me about a time when you used good judgement and logic to solve a problem.

"As a Medical Records Abstractor, one of my duties is to extract and prepare data for a requester. I had a patient who was in a dispute with an insurance company over their bill, and I was hired to retrieve the information from the patient's file. I noticed some charges that did not seem consistent with the patient's medical diagnosis and treatment. I carefully reviewed the file using logic and good judgment and noticed that some codes were added incorrectly. This produced hefty charges for the patient. The insurance did not cover the procedure that was added incorrectly, but it did cover the patient's actual procedure. Finding that error saved the patient a lot of money, and they were delighted with my work."

The interviewer wants to see what process you use to solve problems. They will evaluate if you have the critical-thinking skills that are essential for this position. Give an example of a time you had to use logic and good judgment to solve a problem.

Our company uses the Epic electronic health records software. Are you familiar with this software?

"Yes, I am familiar with Epic software. I like how easy it is to use and how it has an integrated data management system in a single data warehouse. I have been using the software for three years and cannot find any flaws in the system."

There are many different types of electronic health records software on the market. You are not expected to be familiar with all of them, but the interviewer wants to see if you are familiar with the software they use. If you are, that's great. Explain how long you have been using the software and what you like about it. If you don't have experience with the software, explain that you are unfamiliar with it, but you learn quickly.

How long have you been familiarizing yourself with medical terminology?

"I have been familiarizing myself with medical terminology for the past seven years. I started reading medical books when I was a sophomore in high school because I knew I wanted a healthcare career. I started reading anatomy and physiology and familiarizing myself with the human body. Then, I discovered an emergency medical technician textbook where I learned more medical terminology, which helped prepare me for my medical coding courses in college."

A Medical Records Abstractor must be familiar with medical terminology as it is a requirement for the job. Knowing medical terminology helps you identify which details in a patient's medical records are crucial to patient care and should be included in your abstracts. Describe your experience when you first started familiarizing yourself with medical terminology.

How would you describe your computer skills?

"I would describe my computer skills as excellent. I have been using a computer since I was six years old and am proficient with both Mac and PC. I am Citrix and AWS Certified and have a strong command of all Microsoft Office and Adobe programs. My computer skills are one of my strongest qualities."

One of the main qualities of an excellent Medical Records Abstractor is to be highly proficient on the computer. There are many different programs and software you will be working with, and many jobs are done remotely through the computer. Describe how you would rate your computer skills and give an example of your computer experience. If you have any programming or developer-related certifications, be sure to mention that now.

Medical Records Abstractor Interview Questions

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1. What is your pet peeve?
2. Do you enjoy working with detailed information?
3. Do you believe that you are an effective communicator? Give me an example.
4. If hired, how soon could you start?
5. Is there anything else you would like to add?
6. Are you interviewing with other companies?
7. Why should we hire you over the other candidates?
8. After reading the job description, do you have any questions about the position?
9. What is your greatest strength?
10. What do you like to do in your free time?
11. How would you describe your previous supervisor?
12. Who is the CEO of our company?
13. If hired, are you available to work overtime if needed?
14. What are your five-year professional goals?
15. Why did you choose a career as a Medical Records Abstractor?
16. What is your greatest weakness?
17. What do you like most about working as a Medical Records Abstractor?
18. What three words would you use to describe yourself?
19. What do you know about our company?
20. How did you hear about this position?
21. What is one thing your previous supervisor critiqued you on?
22. Why did you leave, or why are you leaving, your previous job?
23. Tell me about the training you have received and how it has prepared you for this role.
24. Tell me about your previous work experience and what brought you here today.
25. What medical records experience do you have?
26. How do you like to be managed?
27. Do you have the ability to work independently? When have you done so?
28. How do you stay focused while reviewing medical documents?
29. Have you ever had conflict with a coworker? If so, how did you handle the situation?
30. When have you made a mistake because you failed to pay attention to a small detail?
31. When have you combed through large amounts of data in order to identify a specific set of information?
32. Tell me about a time when you used good judgement and logic to solve a problem.
33. Our company uses the Epic electronic health records software. Are you familiar with this software?
34. How long have you been familiarizing yourself with medical terminology?
35. How would you describe your computer skills?

Medical Records Abstractor Interview Questions

1. What is your pet peeve?

2. Do you enjoy working with detailed information?

3. Do you believe that you are an effective communicator? Give me an example.

4. If hired, how soon could you start?

5. Is there anything else you would like to add?

6. Are you interviewing with other companies?

7. Why should we hire you over the other candidates?

8. After reading the job description, do you have any questions about the position?

9. What is your greatest strength?

10. What do you like to do in your free time?

11. How would you describe your previous supervisor?

12. Who is the CEO of our company?

13. If hired, are you available to work overtime if needed?

14. What are your five-year professional goals?

15. Why did you choose a career as a Medical Records Abstractor?

16. What is your greatest weakness?

17. What do you like most about working as a Medical Records Abstractor?

18. What three words would you use to describe yourself?

19. What do you know about our company?

20. How did you hear about this position?

21. What is one thing your previous supervisor critiqued you on?

22. Why did you leave, or why are you leaving, your previous job?

23. Tell me about the training you have received and how it has prepared you for this role.

24. Tell me about your previous work experience and what brought you here today.

25. What medical records experience do you have?

26. How do you like to be managed?

27. Do you have the ability to work independently? When have you done so?

28. How do you stay focused while reviewing medical documents?

29. Have you ever had conflict with a coworker? If so, how did you handle the situation?

30. When have you made a mistake because you failed to pay attention to a small detail?

31. When have you combed through large amounts of data in order to identify a specific set of information?

32. Tell me about a time when you used good judgement and logic to solve a problem.

33. Our company uses the Epic electronic health records software. Are you familiar with this software?

34. How long have you been familiarizing yourself with medical terminology?

35. How would you describe your computer skills?