Sample Medical Receptionist Interview Questions
For patients, a medical office can be a source for great stress but also for great healing. With all of the complexity and emotions that can surround a patient’s medical office experience, it’s important to make sure that the person they interact with at the front desk is up to the task.
From communicating with patients to all of the behind-the-scenes administrative demands that are a part of a medical office receptionist job description, the position comes with any number of challenges. That’s why it’s critical to make the right hiring decision when filling this position — your patients are counting on it.
As you prepare for your next interview, here are some sample medical receptionist interview questions to help guide you through the process.
Medical Receptionist Interview: Questions to Ask
Every interview you conduct provides an opportunity to improve your interview skills. Your initial contact with a prospective job candidate might involve a phone interview that later leads to an in-person panel interview. Regardless of the process, however, there are a few basic guidelines to follow.
As you map out your questions, consider breaking them out into the following categories.
Background Questions
- Tell me about your previous work experience as a medical office receptionist.
- What were your primary responsibilities in your prior positions?
- What additional responsibilities did you manage in your prior positions?
- What have you done at your present/last company to increase revenues, reduce costs, or save time?
Skills and Experience Questions
- What type of interactions did you have with patients and visitors?
- Did you schedule patient appointments?
- Did you maintain patient accounts? If so, what type of system did you use?
- Tell me about your computer and technology skills. What programs and platforms do you have experience with?
- Tell me about your familiarity and comfort with medical terminology.
- How would you describe your organizational skills?
- Do you have any other relevant training and experience?
Behavioral/Personality Questions
- Tell me about a challenging situation with a patient and how you handled it.
- Why do you feel that protecting patient’s rights and confidentiality is important? What steps do you take to do so?
- Do you enjoy interacting with people?
- What do you think is your strongest personality trait? What is your weakest personality trait?
- What makes you a great fit for this position?
Availability Questions
- What type of schedule are you looking to work?
- Would you be available to work extra hours if needed?
- Are there any days during the week that you are unable to work?
- What is the earliest date you could start working?
Medical Receptionist Interview: What to Observe
As you’re asking your questions and listening to the answers, there also a number of visual cues to be aware of, especially if you’re having doubts about an applicant’s honesty. For example, when asking about skills and experience, does the applicant cross their arms, compress their lips, or generally restrict their arm movements? If so, they may not be giving you a straight answer.
From body language to tone of voice, what you’re seeing during the interview may be just as important as what you’re hearing, so be sure you’re paying attention.
Get From Medical Receptionist Interview Questions to Your Next Hire
Your medical receptionist often gives the public its first impression of your business, so a lot is riding on the hiring process. It’s critical to ask the right questions and follow-ups to find that needle in the haystack. But what if you could get rid of the haystack? With decades of experience in matching candidates to employers, Monster’s ever-growing database can deliver quality candidates to your doorstep. Save yourself some time and find out how to post your next job for free today.