Advanced medical support assistant interview questions and answers

Medical Assistant Interview Questions (With Example Answers)

Job interviews are stressful. While you’ll never be able to remove all of that stress, you can cut it down by spending some time preparing for your meeting.

Research the company, go over your resume and note the highlights you want to hit, and, most importantly, run through some practice interview questions.

Even though there will always be a few questions you aren’t ready for, having an idea of how to answer most of them will help keep you from being blindsided throughout the entire interview.

In this article, you’ll find 25 of the most common questions you might encounter in an interview for a position as a medical assistant and some sample answers.

25 Common Medical Assistant Interview Questions and Answers

1. Tell me about yourself. This is a question that many interviewers use to break the ice. Just remember that while they do want to get to know you, your professional side is most important to them, so stick to talking about those aspects.

   Example Answer:

   I’ve been working as a medical assistant for four years now, and I absolutely love getting to work with patients and making doctors’ and nurses’ jobs easier. I enjoy building relationships with both my patients and my colleagues, because I believe that showing that you truly care about someone is a vital part of serving them.

2. Tell me about your experience as a medical assistant. When you answer this question, talk about your relevant jobs, volunteer work, and education. Be sure to describe what you learned from each one. This could be a hard skill like drawing blood or it could be a soft skill like communication.

   Example Answer:

   I graduated from Westview Tech early this year, and while I was there, I spent four weeks in a clinical setting where I practiced being a medical assistant.

   After that, I got a job at Stillwater Medical Center, where I worked for three years. I learned how to balance administrative and patient responsibilities by covering the front desk for a few hours every day, I got daily practice performing blood draws and EKG tests, and I was even able to help train a few employees.

3. What is your greatest strength as a medical assistant? Now is the time to tastefully toot your own horn. Recruiters truly want to know what makes you the best person for the job, so don’t be afraid to tell them that.

   Just make sure you can back it up and that you talk about how you’ve put your skills to use to better a company, not just how awesome you are.

   Example Answer:

   Thanks to some wonderful mentors and training, I’m able to keep my cool with difficult patients by seeing the situation from their perspective. Once they see I truly do understand and care, they’re much more likely to trust me as we work to find a solution or reach an understanding.

4. What is your greatest weakness as a medical assistant? Nobody’s perfect, and your interviewers know that. They just want to see that you know that and that you’re working on overcoming those imperfections.

   When you answer this question, be truthful and always end by talking about how you’re working to improve or systems you’ve put into place to cover for your weaknesses.

   Example Answer:

   I tend to get lost in whatever I’m doing at the moment, which is great for whoever I’m with right then, but it also means I easily lose track of time.

   Because of that, I’ve set a quiet alarm on my watch to go off every thirty minutes to keep me aware of how much time has passed and to remind me to think about what I need to do next. Since I started doing this, I’ve been able to complete all of my tasks on time and still be present with my patients and colleagues.

5. Tell me about a time when you dealt with a difficult patient. The best way to answer a behavioral interview question like this by using the STAR method. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result, and it serves as a guide for how to structure your answer.

   Example Answer:

   When I was volunteering on a humanitarian trip, we had a young patient who refused to let us take her vitals. I asked her if she had ever been to the doctor before, and she said she hadn’t, so I realized she must be frightened.

   I let her hold the blood pressure cuff and put it on me so that she could see it wouldn’t hurt her. Once she saw that, she allowed me to put it on her and take the rest of her vitals.

6. How do you balance your administrative tasks with your patient-centered tasks? Often, medical assistants need to wear more than one hat, so employers are going to want to see that you can successfully juggle a wide variety of responsibilities. Be specific when you answer and explain exactly how you keep track of everything.

   Example Answer:

   I keep a small notepad and pen in my pocket so that I can jot down to-do’s as I go. As soon as I have a break between patients, I move to knock out as many high-priority administrative tasks as possible so that I’m not behind and have room for unexpected assignments.

   I also try to come in a few minutes early so that I can get everything in order before I start working with patients.

7. Tell me about a mistake you made while working as a medical assistant. How did you handle it? Again, your interviewers know that no one is perfect, so there’s no need to pretend that you’ve never made a mistake.

   Saying you’ve never made a mistake is actually a red flag, because they’ll think you’re hiding something. Talk about what happened, how you responded, and what you’re doing now to prevent it from happening again.

   Example Answer:

   My first clinical was supposed to start at 6:00 a.m., and I slept through my alarm and woke up at 6:05 a.m. I quickly called my instructor to apologize and let her know what had happened, and I got ready and went over as fast as possible.

   After the shift, I apologized again to my instructor and the hospital supervisor and asked if there was something I could do to make it up. They asked me to stay and do some extra filing, so I did.

   The next day I set several alarms, and I asked my friend to call me if she hadn’t heard from me by 5:30. I eventually figured out a system so that I didn’t need the back-up phone call, and I haven't been late for a shift since.

8. What do you like best about being a medical assistant? Interviewers want to hear what you’re passionate about in your work. Be honest about your answer, and don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through.

   Example Answer:

   I love the fast-paced environment. I thrive when I get to run from one thing to the next, and the days fly by for me. It’s even better that I get to be busy while helping people. I’ve had jobs before that kept me busy but didn’t have anything to do with people, and I find I enjoy my work a lot more when I get to improve others’ lives.

9. What is the most challenging part of being a medical assistant? Just as they know that you aren’t perfect, recruiters know that no job is all sunshine and rainbows.

   They want to know which parts are less enjoyable for you in order to get to know you better and to be able to help you grow. Again, be honest in your answer, but end on a positive note so that you don’t sound like you’re just complaining.

   Example Answer:

   Keeping up with my to-do list while dealing with difficult patients is challenging, especially on busy days. I’m getting faster at handling these situations, though, and I’m learning when to ask for help. If I were to work here, I’d also want to ask some more experienced medical assistants about how they handle this.

10. Where do you see yourself in five years? This is a common question for any position, and it’s your interviewers’ attempt to get a better understanding of your goals and dreams. They also want to see if you’re intending to use this position as a stepping stone or want to be in the same job for the long haul.

    Example Answer:

    In five years I’d love to be on my way to becoming an RN while still working as a medical assistant. I’ve been researching programs that would allow me to do that, and there are quite a few out there that are designed to pair with a full-time job.

11. Why do you want to work here? This is the time to put the research you did about the company to good use. Talk about the company’s values and how they align with yours or about something else you noticed that attracts you to the organization.

    Example Answer:

    The company’s values of integrity and collaboration resonated with me, and then when I started seeing testimonials from employees about how the company truly does live them out, I knew I wanted to be a part of this organization.

12. How do you ensure your patients are getting the best care day in and day out? Recruiters want to hear about your commitment to excellence and what philosophies you have for your work. Explain what you do each day to make sure you’re at your best, whether that’s a physical step or a mindset.

    Example Answer:

    My goal is to treat each and every patient as if they’re my only patient. While I don’t always do this perfectly, having this goal helps me stay focused, present, and thorough with every person I see throughout the day.

13. How do you make yourself a better medical assistant? Companies want employees who are always working to grow and improve in their work. Talk about classes you take, mentors you seek out, and other ways you continue learning.

    Example Answer:

    At each job I have, I try to find someone experienced to mentor me, and I regularly ask my supervisor and coworkers what I can do to improve my work or to make their jobs easier. I’m also signed up for a conflict resolution class, because that skill set will be highly beneficial when dealing with difficult patients.

14. What would you say is your primary responsibility as a medical assistant? Interviewers ask this to get a better understanding of how you prioritize your responsibilities and to see if you would fit well with their culture. Be honest, because if you don’t fit, chances are you wouldn’t have been happy in that environment either.

    Example Answer:

    My primary responsibility as a medical assistant is patient care. That means making them comfortable from the time they walk in and administering tests with the utmost quality and care.

    I believe that while the administrative side of things is also important, those tasks don’t matter if we aren’t treating our patients right.

15. Tell me about a time you were under a lot of pressure. How did you handle it? Sometimes work gets crazy, and your future employer wants to know how you’ll handle the stress. Again, be specific and use the STAR method to answer.

    Example Answer:

    One day at my first job, we had two of the three medical assistants who were supposed to be working with me call in sick. That meant I had to take on twice as much work for the day, which was a lot for someone who had only been in the position for six months.

    As soon as we heard the news, my colleague and I made a game plan for how we were going to cover everything, talked to our supervisor about what low-priority tasks we could drop for the day if need be, and got to it. It was a stressful day, but we saw all of the patients on time and still finished our necessary administrative tasks.

16. Are you trained in phlebotomy? It’s common for interviewers to ask about your technical skills in an interview, and this is one that will often come up for a medical assistant. When you answer, give them more than a “yes” or “no” answer, and go into detail about your training and experience.

    If the answer is “no,” then talk about how you’re willing to learn the skill and the steps you’d take to do so.

    Example Answer:

    I’m not, but I’d like to learn, and I’m actually planning to enroll in an evening phlebotomy program next month at Central Technology Center. Do you know much about their program, or do you have a different place you’d recommend?

17. Have you performed an EKG test before? This is another question that’s easy to answer with one word, but don’t do it. Expound on when you performed one or which job required you to do it on a regular basis. If you haven’t, explain why and that you’re willing to learn how to do it.

    Example Answer:

    Yes, at my first job at Mercy Hospital, I actually gave them nearly every day. I even became the person that other medical assistants came to for help with the tests.

18. Are your CPR, AED, and Emergency Treatment certifications up to date? It is more acceptable to give a short answer to this question. If the answer is “no,” though, make sure you explain your plan to renew them.

    Example Answer:

    Currently they are, but my CPR certification is set to expire in three months. I’m enrolled in a class in two weeks to renew it, though, and the others won’t expire for another year.

19. Tell me about your experience taking vitals and medical histories. Be specific when you answer this question, and try to incorporate something that you learned from your work in this area, a skill you have that sets you apart, or a quantifier that illustrates your expertise.

    Example Answer:

    I’ve taken vital signs and medical histories at each job I’ve had, and I’ve only gotten better at it over the years. I’ve probably taken over a thousand of each at this point.

20. What is your experience with medical billing and coding? Again, be as specific as possible to paint a picture of your skills for your interviewers.

    Example Answer:

    I didn’t do a lot of medical billing and coding until I started the job I currently have, but now I do both for about four hours every week. I actually took a class that my employer provided so that I could cover those roles as needed.

21. Tell me about your experience in office administration. Medical assistants often have more than a few administrative responsibilities, so recruiters want to make sure you’re willing and able to handle those as well.

    Example Answer:

    I actually worked as an administrative assistant for two years while I was in college. I scheduled appointments, booked flights, wrote and distributed memos, answered phones, and welcomed visitors. Because of that experience, the administrative side of being a medical assistant is like second nature to me.

22. How do you make sure that you’re following HIPAA guidelines? Protecting patient privacy is vital to being a successful medical assistant. When you answer this question, make sure you include specific steps you take to make sure you aren’t stepping out of bounds.

    Example Answer:

    To make sure I establish good habits, I never refer to patients by anything but their first names, and I only open patient records in my office or in the exam room with the patient to make sure I don’t get in the habit of working on them where others could see.

23. How do you handle patient complaints? No matter what industry you work in, you’re going to have customers who complain to you, and your employer wants to know that you’ll handle those appropriately. If you can, tell a story about a time you handled a situation like this, but at the very least lay out the steps you’d take if it did happen.

    Example Answer:

    While I was working at my last job, I had a patient who complained that I had badly hurt her during a blood draw. While I knew that I hadn’t done anything out of the ordinary and even had a nurse confirm that, I also knew that arguing wouldn’t solve anything.

    I apologized to the patient and asked if I could get him an ice pack to help with the pain. He said no, so after I left I went and talked to my supervisor to see what else I should do. She went in and also apologized and offered some ice and a topical medication. He accepted and was pleasant the rest of the time he was in the facility.

24. What is your ideal work schedule? Will you be available to work some nights and weekends? The medical field often requires some evening and weekend work, and your potential employer is going to want to know what you’re willing to commit to. Try to be as flexible as possible, but if you have something you need to work around, communicate that now to avoid future surprises.

    Example Answer:

    I’m willing to work any day, whether that’s weekdays or weekends. As far as nights go, I do have two children that I need to take care of in the evenings.

    I’m still willing to work night shifts, but I’ll need to find someone to watch them when I do, so I’d ask for at least two days’ notice, if possible, whenever you do need me to work during those times.

25. Why should we hire you Companies want to know what sets you apart as a candidate, and who better to tell them that than you? Hit one or two main points and communicate them confidently, but be sure to explain how your qualifications would benefit the company.

    Example Answer:

    My time as both a medical assistant and an administrative assistant has made me a well-rounded worker who can handle a wide variety of tasks at a moment’s notice, and believe that I could put that experience to work to help make this office as effective and successful as possible.

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