1. "Tell me about yourself."

Answer this icebreaker by talking about the experiences that led to you applying for this job. Cover the highlights with enough detail to create the opportunity for follow-up questions. 

Giving the interviewer information they are interested in hearing more about is the easiest way to turn the interview into a conversation instead of an interrogation. Keep your response under three minutes.

2. "What made you choose family medicine?"

Telling your family medicine story in a way that is humanizing and personal is a powerful way to help an employer understand your passion for your work. Look for a way to connect the things that brought you to the specialty to your interest in the position you’re seeking.  

3. "Tell me about a time you were asked to do something you disagreed with. Describe a situation in which you had to compromise or help others to compromise."

Health care organizations frequently face changes in the form of acquisitions, new leadership structures, updates to organizational direction, and turnover. How you answer this question will help the interviewer understand your ability to be flexible and work on a team. 

When you’re describing a situation when you disagreed with or questioned a decision, make sure you talk about:

• How you went about sharing your opinion

• The manner and appropriateness of your feedback or questioning

• How your questioning or feedback was met

• How you showed support for the decision once it was made 

4. "Could you please tell me about a time you had to deliver a message or feedback that you found especially difficult, or how you navigated a difficult situation with a patient or patient’s family?"

Showcase your ability to communicate and empathize in your response. Sharing difficult news is an unfortunate part of the job, and being able to put yourself in a frame of mind to empathize with the patient is critical to approaching these moments appropriately.

If you’ve given unfortunate news to a patient or patient’s family and have been met with anger or inconsolable sadness, talk about how you managed the situation and helped get the patient or family to a place of acceptance. Focus on how you delivered the news, not the unfortunate situation that led to you needing to give the news. 

5. "Please tell me about a time when you made a mistake that affected another person."

The worst answer to this question is "I can't think of one." Employers want to know that you can admit and learn from your mistakes, so be honest about a situation where the outcome didn't go as expected.

Talk about reflecting on the experience, and most importantly, talk about what process or plan you put in place to ensure that mistake would not be repeated. Don’t just say, "I resolved never to do that again" or to "try harder." Most mistakes happen despite effort or will to avoid them. Talk about the guardrails you put in place for yourself or a change you made to ensure a different outcome if presented with that situation again. 

6. "What do you consider your biggest strength?"

Your best strategy is to identify a strength that you know is a quality the employer is seeking. If it's a clinic that emphasizes patient experience, mention how much you like to help people, and although they can be challenging at times, you enjoy being able to make someone else's life easier. 

Be genuine or the employer will see through the answer, but, if possible, take this opportunity to further show them that you are a strong fit for their organization.

7. "What do you consider your biggest weakness or opportunity for development?"

The key to answering this question correctly is to provide a weakness and discuss how you’ve overcome it or are working to overcome it. Avoid weaknesses that could seriously cast doubt on your work ethic or personality. 

Never discuss coming into work late, personality conflicts, or give the quintessential "I work too hard" as a weakness. Employers may be afraid to take a chance on you if you have the first two weaknesses, and nobody believes the third one.

8. "Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?"

Employers want stability. They hope to hear that the role they’re considering you for is where you want to be over time. 

A good response is to go over how much you’re looking forward to a role like the one you’re interviewing for and how you see yourself there for the foreseeable future. Point out specific aspects of the role that will allow you to provide the type of care you want to provide or how the mission of the organization aligns with your core beliefs.

9. "Why do you want to work here?"

This question tests how much you know about the employer and the opportunity. In your answer, demonstrate the research you did prior to your interview. 

If you’d be relocating for this job, the question might also ask about what is drawing you to that location. Answers that involve family or friends in the area or having previously lived in the area are the answers that will provide the most comfort to the employer.

10. "What’s one thing that would make you want to leave a position?" or "What do you need from us to be successful?"

These questions are two sides of the same coin. The employer is trying to ensure the environment they offer will help you be happy and successful. Employers don’t want to be back in the position of hiring again any time soon, and turnover of physicians in a practice is disruptive to patient panels. 

Things you might point to as needs or dealbreakers if they weren’t available are mentorship, dedicated support staff, administrative time, etc.