Physician Assistant Mock Interview
Master 40 Physician Assistant interview questions covering clinical scenarios, patient care, and medical decision-making.
Question 19 of 40
How do you feel when a physician criticizes your work?
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Community Answers
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
The interviewer is asking this question for a few different reasons. They want to hear how well you handle criticism, if you name-drop or speak poorly of the one that challenged you and if you seem to hold a grudge over the situation. If you choose to give an example, be sure it allows you to demonstrate your ability to handle criticism with style.
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
"It is never easy to be criticized or to receive unfavorable feedback. However, I believe that I can learn from each experience and constructively move forward. For example, a physician recently mentioned that my notes in the database were not as detailed as she would prefer. I had to take a minute and breathe because I spent extra time on those notes and felt frustrated by the feedback. However, I knew this physician could be tough to please, so I asked her to show me exactly how she preferred the notes in the system so that next time, as a team, we could be more efficient."
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
"I am newer to my career as a PA, and with that information sometimes comes additional critiques from physicians. I take every critique as a learning opportunity. I am thankful for any feedback that helps me to become a better healthcare practitioner."
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
"It depends on how the criticism is delivered. I am thankful for the learning opportunity if it's given in the sense of constructive feedback. If the feedback comes to me as rude or unforgiving, that can be tough to swallow. I am always prepared to defend my work because I know it's good, but I would never be unprofessional to save face."
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Anonymous Answer
While it is never easy to receive criticism as a new provider, I expect to receive a lot of feedback. I have found that when I can take a step back from criticism or feedback, I can usually grow and become a better provider.
Rachelle's Feedback
Perfect response!
Anonymous Answer
I appreciate constructive feedback; it is an opportunity to learn from your mistakes. I am thankful for it. I usually don t hold any grudges against anybody, but if I believe that I have done a good job, I will definitely, politely and calmly, defend my position and work.
Rachelle's Feedback
It's great that you are open to feedback and the learning opportunities that come from criticism. It's also awesome that you defend your work when you know that you are right :) I have offered a slight tweak to ensure that your wording remains personal (eliminating 'royal you' language). I have provided an example below of some ways that you can strengthen your response.
"I appreciate constructive feedback as it is an opportunity to learn from my mistakes. I am thankful for feedback, but if I believe that I have done a good job, I will politely and calmly defend my position and work. For instance...(include an example of when you received helpful feedback and another example of when you politely defended your work)."
Anonymous Answer
I consider criticism as learning opportunities and additions to professional experience. For example, a physician once criticized my patient notes, telling me it was very brief. I was frustrated because I always do my best to write informative notes. I was able to control my frustration and learn from her how to write a good note. As a result, there was a marked improvement in my patient notes.
Stephanie's Feedback
Great response! This really shows a "growth mindset" and your own commitment to receiving feedback and using that as a tool to better yourself.
Anonymous Answer
As I am a new graduate, I will use criticism to improve my work. I will use it as a learning opportunity to better myself as the provider.
Stephanie's Feedback
It's great that you're open to constructive feedback. To strengthen this response, I suggest including a specific example of a time when a physician provided constructive criticism. What did you learn? How did you use that feedback to improve?
Anonymous Answer
I think so long as it's presented in a respectful manner, I take criticism well. I recognize as a new graduate PA, I will have a lot to learn and I look at every critique as a learning opportunity.
Jaymie's Feedback
Great start! The interviewer wants to know that you are coachable and can take feedback and improve and grow from it. Consider adding to your answer by giving an example of a time you've received constructive feedback in the workplace, how you responded, and what action you took from it. If you don't have an example, consider speaking more about how collaboration and communication through feedback can improve patient experiences and outcomes.
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