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Interview Questions for Clinicians:

1. Why do you want to work in this industry?

The medical fields are taxing. Jobs in this field demand long hours, high stress, and are physically difficult. A good candidate will be able to demonstrate emotional and physical strength and a coherent and motivational story of how and why they entered the field.

2. What separates you from other CNAs?

You’re looking for a team player who expresses a desire to continue learning and advancing in their career. Passion, knowledge, and a specific example of a candidate’s strengths in action are great answers for this question.

3. How do you feel about your last boss?

Remember that someday, you will be the last boss this candidate had. How do you feel about their answer? It should be professional and honest. Watch out for would-be CNAs who talk bad about former employers and jobs.

4. Describe a time when you did not get along with a nurse.

Although this question centers around a negative scenario, a good candidate will know to avoid drama. Listen for an answer that accurately describes a situation, professionally analyzes the CNA’s role, and describes how their own actions improved (or could have improved) the outcome.

5. What moment as a CNA are you most proud of?

This is a chance for job candidates to show you their best achievements in a previous position. The right candidate will not be a lone wolf – they’ll exhibit gratitude towards team members in this example, while still showing off their own best attributes. Questions like this give you a good idea of who the candidate is, what they are passionate about, and what parts of the CNA position they view as most important. Listen carefully.

6. What motivates you?

Staying motivated in a high-stress, physically-demanding CNA position is a challenge. A good candidate will voice several factors and be able to draw attention to their own positive attributes as CNAs at the same time. Their answer should be specific. Simply liking the idea of helping others isn’t enough.

7. What would the nurses you worked with previously say about you if we asked them?

You’re doing two things with this question – asking about the candidate’s ability to empathize and to analyze their own actions. While the answer should be a positive one, trust your gut.

If it feels like the interviewee isn’t being entirely open in their answer, dig a little deeper. You want to make sure you don’t hire a liability.

Additional Interview Questions to Ask:

  1. What are some positive personality traits you feel good CNAs possess?
  2. Why did you leave your last job?
  3. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Find the right CNA for your institution by using Betterteam to post your job. We make it easy to post your job on multiple channels to make sure you find the perfect candidate.

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