When considering a career as a medical assistant, take inventory of your strengths and weaknesses, skills and abilities, to ensure that this type of work will suit you. Are you interested in helping others? Do you have a desire to work with patients? Are you interested in medicine, and do you desire to work in a doctor’s office or clinical environment? If you can answer “yes” to all of these questions, then a career as a medical assistant may be right for you.
How Do I Prepare for a Medical Assistant Interview?
A job interview helps do what a resume can’t—it puts your face on a list of qualifications. It’s an opportunity to showcase your skills, experience, education, and professionalism.
Learn about the Employer
Training is expensive, so employers want to hire medical assistants who fit into their organization. The right candidate is more likely to get along with coworkers and positively impact the workplace.
Take the time to research the employer’s website. This will allow you to highlight the experiences that best align with their needs.
Review the Medical Assistant Job Description
Understanding the responsibilities of the job allows you to clarify your expectations and highlight essential skills. Review the interview questions and prepare a suitable response don’t. Don’t memorize your responses; have talking points with specific examples and accomplishments.
How Can I Stand Out in a Medical Assistant Interview?
One of the best ways to stand out in any job interview is to remain relaxed and let employers get to know you. You can also prepare for your interview by doing a mock interview.
Dress for Success
What you wear to an interview demonstrates your professionalism. Wear clean, wrinkle-free business casual attire. The companies photos on their LinkedIn page will let you know what the dress code may be.
Arrive on Time
Being on time for a job interview is the easiest way to make a positive first impression. Take your time if you need to get more familiar with the location. Plan the route in advance, allowing extra time for bad weather, and unexpected traffic.
Be Prepared
Bring your resume, a list of references, and letters of recommendation. Know the name of the interviewer and be prepared to ask questions that demonstrate your interest in the medical assistant role.
Basic Manners
You will be on display from the moment you see your potential workplace. Watch your posture. Walk confidently and keep your expression pleasant. Be polite to everyone you meet. For all you know, your interviewer will ask those with whom you come into contact for their opinions. Thank the interviewer at the end of your session.
Make a Good First Impression
Smile, be confident, and shake the hiring manager’s hand while looking into their eyes. Making a good first impression is essential during the interview process and sets the tone for the overall decision to hire you.
Ask the Right Questions
A hiring manager will want you to ask insightful questions during the interview. This will show the hiring manager that you researched the company, the medical assisting industry, and competitors.
Close with a Thank You & Request for a Next Step
The first thing you want to do when you get home after a medical assistant job interview is to prepare an intelligent thank you email. Take the time to re-iterate why you are a good candidate for the medical assisting position. Ask any questions you still need to ask in the interview. Finally, close with a request to further the process, whether you need to meet a colleague or supply references.
What are Some of the Interview Questions You Should Expect?
Most skilled interviewers will ask a lot of open-ended questions. These are the sort of questions that cannot be answered with a simple “yes” or” “no.” Take time to listen carefully and clarify anything about which you are unsure. Practice ahead of time, either in front of a mirror or with a trusted friend. Review the job description several times and target your answers to those expectations. The questions below are typical of what you can expect during a medical assistant interview.
Question #1: Tell me about yourself.
The interviewer is looking for a broad overview. If you’re a new graduate, talk about your education in general terms and note the areas in which you excelled. Briefly, bring up any previous work experience that might have transferable skills. Those with experience can talk about previous jobs and how those have made them a good candidate for the medical assistant role.
Question #2: Why are you applying for this particular job?
The interviewer is asking why you want to work as a medical assistant and why you want to work for this particular medical facility. Address both parts of these questions. Do your research ahead of time and be honest. You aim to show that you would be a good fit, not just that you’ll get any job.
Question #3: What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses?
The job description will tell you what kind of person they seek. Ask your answers along those terms. Don’t boast or be arrogant, but explain your strengths and how they will help you successfully perform your duties as a medical assistant. When you mention a weakness, address how you will compensate for that issue. Also, you can pick a weakness that could be a positive for the employer.
Question #4: Do you like being around people?
Since people skills are essential for medical assistants, candidates should show that they love interacting with others and truly enjoy helping them.
Question #5: Have you dealt with an emergency? What did you do to resolve it correctly?
If you’re a new graduate, your answer may be” no.” In this case, discuss how your training prepared you to handle an emergency. If you’ve had experience, be brief but comprehensive. Explain the situation step-by-step and offer the solution that worked. This will show the employer that you can organize your thoughts.
Question #6: Tell me about your customer service skills. Have you ever dealt with an unhappy customer?
People who access the health care system are often frightened; sometimes, they become angry or have unreasonable expectations. A medical assistant must develop rapport and empathize with patients, even when they can’t give the patient exactly what they want.
Question #7: Are you certified?
Although this is a yes/no question, don’t stop there. You can expand on it to give the interviewer a better picture of yourself. You may be certified in CPR. Let the employer know so they see that you have prepared for this medical assistant position and can learn new skills.
Question #8: Why did you leave your last job?
While you should be honest, this is not the time to bad-mouth a former employer. Stay professional and upbeat. Talk about the positives that the new job will bring. The latest job may be less of a commute, offer room to grow your career, or be more in line with your career path.
Question #9: What are your career goals?
Give a short-term answer here, not your 20-year plan. Ensure your answer helps explain how you expect this job to advance those goals.
Question #10: How do you handle stress and working under pressure?
The interviewer is looking at whether you can self-manage stress and stay healthy to continue to be a productive employee. Address these issues in your answer. Stress comes with every job, and knowing how to handle stress is an excellent skill.
Question #11: What schedule do you hope to work? Do you have any scheduling restrictions?
Candidates can agree to work whenever needed, hoping they can adjust their schedule once they get the job. They may, however, refuse to work late hours, overtime, or weekends, citing genuine unavoidable reasons.
Question #12: Do you have any questions for me/us?
If you answer no, the employer may think you are not interested in the medical assistant position.
Usually, interviewers close the interview by asking you if you have any questions for them. The answer should always be a” yes,” followed by at least one question—maybe about the possibility of future advancements or training. However, interviewers can ask a general question about the working atmosphere or locality if they have already covered everything.
Final Thoughts
Remember, the key to a good medical assistant interview is preparation. Every question and tip in this article will help you get ready. Even if you don’t get this particular job, what you learn from this process can be applied throughout your career as a medical assistant. CyberTex will continue to be your partner post-graduation, offering career services to help you find a job and advance in your career.
Want to Learn More?
The Medical Assistant Training Program at CyberTex Institute of Technology takes excellent care of you by providing hands-on training, practical experience, and the support it takes to get started in a medical assisting career without spending years in school. You will learn clinical and administrative skills and prepare to work in physician’s offices, hospitals, and other medical facilities.
Contact us today to learn more about our Austin and Killeen campuses.
