Physician Assistant Mock Interview
Master 40 Physician Assistant interview questions covering clinical scenarios, patient care, and medical decision-making.
Question 10 of 40
What are your weaknesses as a physician assistant?
How to Answer
General
Entry Level
Experienced
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.
Today's physician assistants are as overwhelmed as ever with ever-growing patient loads, demanding administrative duties, and fast-paced technology changes. As healthcare organizations consider great pools of applicants with their PA recruitment efforts, they know that no candidate is perfect. The important factor they are looking to hear is that their top candidate is aware of any potential shortcoming they would have upon hire and that the candidate has a distinct plan for addressing that shortcoming upon hire. Before your physician assistant interview, put some thought into what aspect of the role you are interviewing for would be difficult for you from the start and come to your interview prepared to openly discuss the weakness and how you would plan to attack it if hired.
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 tend to be a people-pleaser on the job as a physician assistant, particularly with the physicians I collaborate with, and it has gotten me in trouble when I have taken on more than I can handle at times. I'm continuously learning my limitations and how to say 'no' or 'let me check my schedule' before saying yes to anything, and I know this would be vital for me here in my initial weeks and months on the job as your next physician assistant."
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.
"While I did have a great endocrinology rotation last year during my schooling, I realize that I would have so much to learn if I'm fortunate enough to be offered this position. But, I'm confident that my excellent PA program and other rotations in family practice, ENT and infectious disease have prepared me for a practice like this. From my first day on the job here, I plan on being a full student of the practice, soaking up as much knowledge as possible from my new APP colleagues, physician staff and nurses here."
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.
"Knowing that your organization utilizes the EPIC EMR system, I know that would be an initial deficiency for me, and I'm willing to put in the time and training to become proficient from the start. I have first-hand experience in the PrognoCIS, ChartLogic, and MD Connection systems, and it would take time for me to connect the dots on their similarities and differences to EPIC. I have watched a lot of online tutorials already and will seek the advice of my new colleagues from my first day in orientation here."
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Anonymous Answer
As a new provider, I am still learning how to maximize the EHR. I plan on continuing to grow my knowledge with tutorials and any available resources from the practice.
Rachelle's Feedback
Perfect response! You show that you seek growth while also being confident in your abilities.
Anonymous Answer
My biggest weakness is that I tend to become emotionally attached and affected by patients' medical outcomes. It is hard for me not to show great empathy when talking to a patient about catastrophic medical conditions.
Rachelle's Feedback
It certainly would be very challenging to avoid emotional attachment with patients and outcomes. Next, be sure to include what you plan to do to improve on this perceived weakness. If you would like further resources, you can check out the answer advice in this article (Question 3): https://www.mockquestions.com/articles/How to Answer 5 of The Most Common Interview Questions/
Anonymous Answer
My greatest weakness as a physician assistant is that I am an over worker. I tend to accept all types of shifts on any day of the week. I have to learn how to have a break and say no when shifts are offered to me.
Stephanie's Feedback
It's clear that you're a very hard worker! You do a good job of highlighting a weakness that could also be viewed as a strength, however, the wording could be a bit clearer, so I have included a suggested way to restate this in the "Revised Answer" box below.
I am an extremely hard worker! While I consider this a professional strength, it can also present as a weakness, as I tend to accept all types of shifts on any day of the week. I have had to learn how to take a break and say no to shifts that are offered to me. While I am passionate about the profession, I am also learning the importance of balance and self-care.
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