What are a few traits you think a paramedic needs to have?
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In thinking about the nature of the job, try to focus on the key qualities that make a good paramedic. Sound judgement, passion for medicine and a love for helping people are all important qualities. Dedication, reliability and intelligence are also highly important. As you prepare for this interview, create a list of qualities that correspond to the responsibilities of the job description. For example, filling out patient care reports requires a person to be detail oriented and consistent. Assessing patients and identifying next steps requires knowledge and good judgement. What do you think are the most important traits from your experience?
How would you handle working with a teammate with less experience that caused you to carry the workload?
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It's likely that this situation will occur, especially considering the differing levels of experience between EMT's and Paramedics. You will have more varying types of responsibilities as a Paramedic and may be partnered with an EMT with much less experience. How will you handle it? How have you handled this type of scenario in the past? You'll be spending quite a bit of time with your partners on the job, so strategy will be important if you're faced with this type of challenge. You may want to see this as a teaching opportunity. If your partner is interested in learning more, perhaps you can help them advance in their knowledge. Communication will be vital. If your teammate is receptive, perhaps you can tell them what you observe to be happening and see how the two of you can remedy the situation.
Your interviewer wants to know that you are a team player, even if your teammate is dragging you down. So put on your thinking cap! How can you communicate effectively with your teammate to boost that relationship to build a power team?
What can you bring to the job that exceeds what other candidates can bring?
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What makes you stand out? You may have shown your knowledge and expertise through answering some tough questions about the types of scenarios you might anticipate. Now's the time to talk about your strengths, accomplishments and how you will do an outstanding job above the rest. The average paramedic might meet the responsibilities and basic qualifications, but you have more to offer than that! Talk about how you trained your partner on a new routine procedure or how you implemented a new system that improved the transport process, ultimately saving time and lives! You may have more meager accomplishments but even the little things like having a great attitude can make a huge difference.
"My experiences in this field have been invaluable. I have learned so many skills that I will be able to use when I work as a nurse in the ER. My goal is to complete nursing school in the next three years."
At the end of the day after you have seen car accidents, suicide attempts, and the most depressing sides of human nature, how do you keep yourself going? Many paramedics burn out or quit after experiencing the volume of trauma day after day. Tell the interviewer if you are you motivated by saving lives or working towards going to school to become a physician's assistant.
24/7 operations are like relay races where you take the baton, run with it and then pass it on smoothly. How do you make seamless transitions on shift changes?
How would you handle a situation where a patient has expired, and you have to cover their body and wheel them into the vehicle while a crowd of people watch.
Paramedics are healthcare workers who provide emergency medical aid to patients who are injured in an accident or who suffer some type of medical emergency. You are usually the first to arrive on the scene in case of an accident, emergency or any other crisis that requires immediate specialist medical treatment and care. At the scene of the emergency, you administer the appropriate emergency medical treatment after quickly evaluating the patient's condition. You are trained and certified to perform advanced life support (ALS), which includes administering IV fluids, injections, medications and performing advanced respiratory procedures. You may also treat wounds, perform CPR, deliver babies, and perform patient assessments.
As a Paramedic, you have completed approximately 150 hours of training, received your state certification as an EMT-B as well as an additional 1500 hours and a few years under your belt to be where you are at today. As a Paramedic, you are typically the lead member of a rescue team, with the most training and the most decision making power. This means that the requirements to be a paramedic include strong leadership skills and the ability to perform complex life-saving functions in extremely stressful crisis situations. You must keep a cool head and maintain authority amongst your team members in situations where a mistake can mean the difference between life and death.
To prepare for your interview you will want to brush up on your behavioral questions. Your interviewer can see your qualifications on your resume so they will want to know how you interact with your coworkers, patients and how well you work under pressure. Do your research on the company before interviewing. Being able to tell the interviewer how your goals and vision match up with the company will set you apart from the rest. Be prepared to speak to your past work history, education and views on various behavioral questions.