Helpful tips for medical assistant interviews

With an aging population and more patients seeking care than ever, there’s growing demand for medical assistants across the United States – meaning there are a lot of job opportunities available. If you want to stand out from other applicants as you apply to these positions, knowing how to make the best impression during job interviews is important.

Medical assistants have a wide range of administrative duties, but they’re also expected to be capable clinicians. It’s key to present yourself as the total package. Keep reading for advice on preparing for your interview, questions to expect and ask, and considerations to keep in mind throughout the process.

Tips for your medical assistant interview

There are a few types of preparation that can set you up for success during a medical assistant interview. It’s important to consider what kinds of interview questions you may be asked, what your answers might be and what you’ll want to ask in return. This will reduce your risk of getting surprised by a question and give you solid ideas of how to respond.

It’s also worth investigating the company’s online presence so you can incorporate their core values, vision and mission into your answers. Interviewers want to see that you aren’t treating their company as simply a name on a list.

As for the actual interview day, you want to present an image of yourself that conveys accountability and professionalism. You can make a good first impression by showing up 5-10 minutes early in business casual attire – dress pants, khakis, or a professional dress or skirt with a button-down shirt, cardigan, sweater or blouse. When planning your outfit, make sure to avoid jeans, sneakers, flashy jewelry and strong scents, which can be distracting. It can also help to bring clean copies of your resume so that everyone in the room has one to reference.

Common interview questions for medical assistants

When it comes down to it, interviewers want to know about your experience with the administrative and clinical duties of a medical assistant, your mindset, personality and how you get along with peers and patients.

However, the questions that interviewers use to get at this information can vary. They may ask you more general questions that give you a lot of room for your answers, but they may also ask questions about very specific areas of knowledge. The following are some of the most common interview questions that you can expect to be asked in some form.

What experience do you have as a medical assistant?

One of the first things you’re likely to be asked in an interview is what experience you have in the role. If you’re applying to your first medical assistant position, make sure to address the full scope of experience you’ve gained in clinical training and externships, as well as any notable accomplishments. Interviewers may ask about particular duties, such as:

• Answering phones and scheduling appointments
• Administering medication
• Drawing blood and recording vital signs
• Insurance forms
• Taking echocardiograms
• Taking medical histories
• Wound care

Why do you want to work here?

Interviewers want to know what motivates you. They may ask you why you want to work for them and why you want to work as a medical assistant generally. This is where it pays to have done your research on the company – framing your motivations in terms of their values shows that you’re trying to be a good fit for them, rather than treating them like any other practice.

What’s your greatest strength? How about an area where you’re looking to improve?

Interviewers want to get a sense of how you assess your own skillset. If you’re asked questions about your strengths and weaknesses, remember to keep your answers limited to the job duties. In the context of an interview, a strength would be an area of your job where you excel. For medical assistants, this could be something like your rapport with patients or your ability to perform procedures.

An area for improvement, on the other hand, would be an area of the job that you can handle, but aren’t as strong in. Maybe you have more experience with clinical duties than administrative responsibilities, or have limited experience with specific procedures. Whatever the case may be, make it clear that you’re ready and able to grow in that area. Interviewers are looking for people who are eager to learn and better themselves without needing to be asked.

How do you work with patients going through a tough situation?

Patients can have a range of experiences when they come in for an appointment. They may be in pain, get bad news or find the appointment process frustrating. Your interviewer will want to know what you’ll do if you need to work through a challenging time with a patient.

This is an opportunity to demonstrate your empathy and interpersonal skills, as well as your knowledge of protocol. Showing genuine understanding and concern may be enough to help some patients, but there may be times where you’ll need to bring in a supervisor.

Can you give an example of a problem or challenge you solved in a previous role?

Medical practices don’t always run smoothly. Being a team player who can reach compromises and find solutions is valuable.

To prepare for this question, look for examples from your past work or training. Did you resolve a conflict with a peer in a way that benefitted a patient’s experience? Did you come up with a strategy to make a process more efficient? Be specific about the nature of the challenge and what the solution meant in the larger context of the practice.

What questions to ask your interviewer

Interviews usually include an opportunity for you to ask your own questions, and there’s an art to making them effective. Having questions prepared helps you engage positively with your interviewers. However, you want to make sure you’re asking questions that get you useful information without communicating a lack of knowledge. Here are some examples:

What do your most successful medical assistants have in common?

Every medical practice is different. Although medical assistants have a general set of duties, some practices may put more of an emphasis on certain responsibilities than others. Asking this question is a way to find out which qualities and skills will be most valuable at the practice where you’re interviewing.

What challenges do new medical assistants at this practice typically face?

Every new job comes with challenges, but knowing what they are ahead of time means that you can be prepared for them. It gives you the opportunity to work on the corresponding areas of your skillset, which can be especially important if these are areas that you aren’t as comfortable in.

What kinds of opportunities are there for advancement?

You may not want to remain a medical assistant forever, and moving to other areas like nursing generally requires additional education and training. You’ll need flexibility and support from your employer to keep working while you pursue that kind of advancement. This question helps you get a sense for the future opportunities that may be available to you at this practice and if you’ll have the support you need to grow in your career.

What do you like about working here?

Even if everything else about the job is a good match, it still helps to like the place you work. This question can give you an initial sense of what the office culture is like, how close the team is and how the practice is structured.

What else to consider when applying for medical assistant positions

As you prepare for interviews, you’ll be thinking a lot about how to present yourself as a good fit. However, you should also think about what makes a potential employer a good fit for you. Serving patients is rewarding, and a good employer should also have a culture and structure that helps you do your best.

At HealthPartners, we know that a positive, supportive work environment isn’t a matter of chance – and we put in the effort to be a place where people want to work. Our team members are given opportunities to advance their careers through flexible working hours and reimbursements for continuing education. You can also expect comprehensive medical and dental insurance, generous PTO and a 401k. We don’t just work for the health and well-being of our patients – if you join us, we’ll be working for yours, too.