Common Physician Assistant Job Interview Questions

As a physician assistant, you’re prepared for many things, from challenging patients and complicated disease management to hectic schedules and a challenging work/life balance. But when it comes to interviewing for a new placement or position, a little extra prep-work goes a long way! 

This overview of some of the most common physician assistant interview questions will have you walking into your next interview with confidence!

Typically, interview questions fall under several general categories, including: 

  • Get-to-know-you questions
  • Personality questions
  • Off-the-wall questions
  • Skills and clinical questions

You can count on a few easy questions to begin with. These you can certainly script beforehand and rehearse before the big day. Show off your best features/skills and the things that are most interesting about you. Show them you’re someone they’d like to have as part of the team. For instance, be ready to discuss questions such as: 

  • Tell me about yourself.
  • How would your friends describe you?
  • Why did you become a PA?
  • What are your career goals?

Be honest, not boring! Sure, you can talk about where you’re from, or tell them about your family. But make sure you share something that helps the interviewer connect to you on a personal level. Talk about the most recent road trip or a unique hobby – something they wouldn’t have learned from your CV, LinkedIn page or references. 

Next, you’ll want to prepare for the personality questions. These can include anything from describing your strengths and weaknesses to explaining a recent situation where you had to manage a difficult situation. Though these may seem a little more difficult, relax! This is where  you show the interviewer how well you interact with people and that you have the personality traits you need to succeed. Some sample questions you may want to think about could include: 

  • How would you describe your work ethic?
  • What would you bring to the team?
  • What is the last book you read?
  • What is something people get wrong about you?

Now, on to the part of the interview that can really bring on the nerves – Off-the-Wall Questions. This is where you would include one of those, “If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be,” kind of questions. The good news is, you can prep for those, too!  

The purpose here is to get a glimpse of your real personality, but since the questions are less-than-traditional, you have to think on your feet, which often causes some candidates to stumble. The sky is the limit. The trick here is to not try to choose the actual tree or animal you might be, but think about what you want the interviewer to know about you. Don’t be afraid to think out loud. Verbalizing your thoughts helps avoid awkward silences and helps showcase your thought process. 

And, finally, questions about your skills and clinical expertise. These questions help your interviewer get an idea of how much experience you’re bringing to the table and how you will perform in this specific role. If you’re new to the profession, remind yourself, they couldn’t have called you in for an interview if they weren’t interested! Show them that you’re eager to learn and highlight your work ethic. 

There is a chance you’ll be asked about procedures, guidelines or specific clinical situations. This is where it helps to do a little brainstorming before the interview and prep a list of the most interesting cases or techniques you’ve encountered so far. Some of these questions may include: 

  • How would you handle an influx of patients?
  • What are your favorite patients to work up?
  • What screenings would you recommend for a 60-year-old male patient?
  • What are you comfortable doing/not doing?

Once the questions are done, it’s time to wrap it up. Interviewers will often ask if you have any questions. Here, you can address concerns or specifics not covered previously. But be prepared to respond if your questions open a door to a conversation you weren’t prepared for.  

The goal is to make sure your interviewer knows you are a hard worker who is willing to learn and who will be a valuable member of the team. Happy interviewing – and good luck!

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