How to Answer: How would you handle a situation that could cause you to miss work?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Respiratory Therapists job interview.
18. How would you handle a situation that could cause you to miss work?
How to Answer
Proper planning will get you far, but sometimes life happens, and you'll need a plan B. Think about some of the variables in your life that could affect your attendance at work. Sick children, traffic, car breakdowns... the list goes on. Most likely, one of these issues has affected you before. Your interviewer is looking to see that you are proactive and that you can handle the stress of unexpected situations that can arise.
Written by Ryan Brunner on June 3rd, 2021
Entry Level
"If I knew that it would be inevitable that I would be late or miss a shift at work, I would contact my supervisor or manager as soon as possible and follow any other protocols that were required immediately. In my job working through college, a major winter snowstorm that occurred overnight caused me to delay getting to work in time for one of my weekend shifts, and I had to find coverage right away. My team was always there to have each other's backs in an emergency, so I called around to my coworkers to find coverage for the first couple of hours of my shift that day."
Written by Ryan Brunner on June 3rd, 2021
Answer Example
"I stay calm and composed when issues arise. I slept through my alarm one time and knew I would be late for work. I called my boss immediately and then got ready as quickly as I could. I understand that my tardiness could affect both my coworkers and my patients."
Written by Ryan Brunner on June 3rd, 2021
Experienced
"If I ever needed to miss work in an emergency situation, I would first follow the proper protocol set forth by the organization for notifying the proper people. In my current job, this entails calling in to HR within two hours of my shift and contacting my manager directly through their pager number. My department has the added step of trying to contact another therapist to try and provide coverage. I have always been a very reliable employee and the only times through my career where I had to miss a shift were when my children were young and experiencing a major illness."
Written by Ryan Brunner on June 3rd, 2021