How to Answer: How do you fill downtime in this job?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Paramedic job interview.
11. How do you fill downtime in this job?
How to Answer
Depending on your shift, you may need to rest or even sleep. If you want to stay alert during your calls, you'll need to find a calm headspace between calls. Express to your interviewer that you use your downtime wisely. Let your interviewer know that you understand how valuable your time is. You may only have a few minutes between calls, so take a few deep breaths and practice self-care to do an optimal job with the next patient. Also, besides taking care of yourself, the interviewer wants to hear that you are productive and have a strong work ethic. Describe how you ensure your rig is stocked, clean, and ready for the next call. The interviewer does not want to hear that you fill your downtime watching TV or playing video games.
Written by Krista Wenz on November 11th, 2022
Entry Level Example
"When I have downtime, I go over everything in the rig to ensure it is ready for the next call. I will then get a bite to eat if I have not eaten recently, clean the station, and read EMS articles to stay up on the current trends in the industry."
Written by Krista Wenz on November 11th, 2022
Answer Example
"I use my downtime to ensure the rig is fully stocked and ready for the next call. Once that is done, I will try to take a quick nap if we had a busy shift or read up on the latest news. In my past positions, we didn't have much downtime, so that is not something I am used to!"
Written by Krista Wenz on November 11th, 2022