Top Medical Assistant Interview Questions with Example Answers [2022]

Prepare for your Medical Assistant interview by going through these most asked Medical Assistant interview questions. Additionally, get access to sample answers and interviewer's expectations.

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  • Question: Why are you leaving your current job?
  • Question Overview: This is a great question to ask to see if the candidate is honest and forthcoming. If they are leaving for a reason that is not positive, you may want to reconsider hiring them.

    Sample Answer: I'm leaving my current job because I'm looking for a new challenge. I've been working in the same office for the past three years and I'm ready for a change. I'm looking for a company that will challenge me and allow me to grow professionally.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Honesty
    • - Positive attitude
    • - Good fit for your company

  • Question: What was the biggest challenge you faced?
  • Question Overview: This question is a great way to find out what challenges the candidate faced in their past jobs and how they dealt with them.

    Sample Answer: The biggest challenge I faced was when I was placed on a new team at my internship. I had to learn how to work with new people and adapt to a new environment. I was able to overcome this challenge by working hard and being open to learning from my coworkers.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Problem solving skills
    • - Ability to work under pressure
    • - Ability to work with others

  • Question: What is your biggest weakness?
  • Question Overview: This is a classic interview question, but it's important to know what a candidate's biggest weakness is. It's important to know if they are aware of their weaknesses and how they plan to improve upon them.

    Sample Answer: My biggest weakness is my ability to multi-task. I'm a very focused individual and can get easily distracted when I have too many things going on at once. I've learned to be more aware of my surroundings and how I can better manage my time.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Weakness
    • - Plan to improve
    • - How they handle weakness

  • Question: How do you feel about working on a team?
  • Question Overview: This question will give you a good idea of how the candidate feels about working with others.

    Sample Answer: I have always been a team player. I have worked with groups in my training program, and I have worked on teams in my internship. I believe teamwork is the best way to get a job done.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Teamwork skills
    • - Ability to work with others
    • - Comfort level with team work

  • Question: How do you build trust with your managers and coworkers?
  • Question Overview: Trust is a very important part of any working relationship. You want to know how a candidate builds trust with their managers and coworkers.

    Sample Answer: I'm a very open person and I like to be upfront with my coworkers. I think that's the best way to build trust. I also try to be a team player and work well with others. I'm always willing to help out and pitch in wherever needed.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Trust building skills
    • - Teamwork skills
    • - Ability to work well with others

  • Question: What are your strengths and weaknesses?
  • Question Overview: This is a classic interview question and can be a tricky one. You want to know what the candidate considers their strengths and weaknesses, but you don't want to hear them say they don't have any weaknesses.

    Sample Answer: I consider myself a hard worker and am always willing to go the extra mile to get the job done. I also consider myself a good listener and am able to communicate well with others. My only weakness is that I can be a bit of a perfectionist at times.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Strengths
    • - Weaknesses
    • - Ability to self-evaluate

  • Question: Tell me about your self.
  • Question Overview: This is a standard question that will give you a chance to get to know the candidate.

    Sample Answer: I'm a very outgoing person who loves to be around people. I'm very friendly and enjoy helping others. I'm a hard worker and will always do my best to get the job done.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Personality
    • - Communication skills
    • - Fit for your company

  • Question: What is customer service to you?
  • Question Overview: Customer service is a huge part of a medical assistant's job. You want to know how the candidate views customer service and what they think it means to be a good customer service representative.

    Sample Answer: Customer service is the ability to work with people and provide them with the best possible care. It's about making sure they are comfortable and have everything they need. It's about making sure they are satisfied with their visit and will come back again.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Customer service
    • - Ability to work with people
    • - Ability to work in a team

  • Question: Where are you interested in working?
  • Question Overview: It's important to know where the candidate is looking to work. If they are looking for a specific location, it's good to know if you have an office in that area.

    Sample Answer: I'm looking for a job in the area of my internship. I really enjoyed working with the pediatrician's office and would like to continue working with children.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Location
    • - Interest in working with your company

  • Question: Why do you want to work for us?
  • Question Overview: This is a great question to ask because it will give you an idea of how well the candidate knows your company.

    Sample Answer: I've been a fan of your company for years. I've always been impressed with the work you do and the way you treat your clients. I've been following your company for years and have always wanted to work for you.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Knowledge of company
    • - Interest in company
    • - Why they want to work for you

  • Question: Tell us about a time when you had to deal with a difficult co-worker or patient.
  • Question Overview: This is a great question to see how candidates deal with difficult situations. You want to see if they can remain calm and professional when dealing with a difficult person.

    Sample Answer: I had a situation with a patient who was very upset. She was yelling at me and the other medical assistant in the room. I remained calm and did my best to help her understand what we were doing and why. I was able to get her to calm down and she was able to understand what we were doing.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to handle difficult situations
    • - Keeping cool under pressure
    • - Professionalism

  • Question: If we were to call your current manager, what is something negative they would say about you?
  • Question Overview: This question is a great way to see how candidates handle criticism. You want to see if they can take it in stride and learn from it, or if they get defensive and try to explain away the criticism.

    Sample Answer: I'm sure my manager would say that I'm a little too hard on myself sometimes. I know I can do better and I always strive to do my best. I think that's a good quality, but it can be frustrating when you're not satisfied with your work.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to take criticism
    • - Ability to learn from mistakes
    • - Professionalism

  • Question: What do you know about McLeod?
  • Question Overview: It's always good to know what a candidate knows about your company. This question will give you a chance to see if they've done their research and know about your company.

    Sample Answer: I know that McLeod is a large company that has been in business for over 50 years. I know that you have a large presence in the medical community and that you are well respected.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Company knowledge
    • - Research skills
    • - Ability to do research

  • Question: How would you describe your experience?
  • Question Overview: Candidates may have a lot of experience or they may be new to the field. Find out how much experience they have and what kind of work they've done.

    Sample Answer: I have a lot of experience in medical assisting. I completed my training program in June and have been working in a pediatrician's office since then. I've been doing everything from taking vital signs to assisting with physicals and immunizations. I've also had the chance to work with patients of all ages, so I'm comfortable working with children and adults alike.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Experience
    • - Job duties
    • - Work environment

  • Question: What was your biggest mistake in the previous externship and how did you try to fix it?
  • Question Overview: You want to know how the candidate handled a mistake. Did they own up to it? Did they try to fix it? Did they learn from it?

    Sample Answer: I was assigned to work with a physician who had a very specific way of doing things. I was not aware of his preferences and made the mistake of not asking him how he wanted his charts organized. He was very clear in his instructions, and I took the time to ask him how he wanted things done in the future.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Mistakes
    • - Ability to own up to mistake
    • - Ability to learn from mistake

  • Question: Why do you think you are a good fit for this position?
  • Question Overview: This is a great opportunity for the candidate to sell themselves. You want to hear how they can contribute to your company and what they can do for you.

    Sample Answer: I'm a very hard worker and I'm always looking for ways to improve my skills. I've been told that I'm a quick learner and that I'm very personable. I think I'd be a great fit for this position because I really enjoy working with people and I'm very dedicated to my work.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Why they are a good fit
    • - How they can contribute
    • - Why they want the job

  • Question: What would you do if the physician asked you to do something not in your job description and you are forbidded to do it?
  • Question Overview: This is a great question to ask to see how the candidate will handle a situation that may arise. You want to know if they will try to do the job anyway or if they will follow the rules.

    Sample Answer: I would ask the physician if I could help in some way. If he or she still wanted me to do the job, I would do it. If not, I would ask if there was another task I could help with.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Willingness to follow rules
    • - Willingness to do extra work
    • - Ability to work with others

  • Question: What are some commonly prescribed medications?
  • Question Overview: This is a great question to ask because it will help you gauge how much experience the candidate has with common medications.

    Sample Answer: Commonly prescribed medications include antibiotics, pain relievers and cold medicine. I've been trained on all of these medications and have experience with them in my internship. I was also trained on common illnesses and how to treat them.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Experience with commonly prescribed medications
    • - Experience with common illnesses
    • - Medical knowledge

  • Question: What is the most difficult obstacle you have encountered in your worklife and how did you overcome it?
  • Question Overview: This is a great question to ask candidates to see how they handle challenges. It's important to know how they respond to difficult situations and how they work through them.

    Sample Answer: I had a difficult time with my first patient at my internship. I was nervous and was not sure what to do. I was able to talk with my supervisor and she gave me some pointers on how to handle the situation. I was able to go back and complete the task successfully.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Problem solving skills
    • - Resilience
    • - Ability to overcome obstacles

  • Question: Why did you apply to this position?
  • Question Overview: This is a great question to ask because it will help you understand if the candidate is truly interested in the position or if they are just applying to every job they can find.

    Sample Answer: I really enjoy working with people and helping them. I feel that this position would allow me to do just that. I've been a medical assistant for two years and have learned a lot about the profession. I feel that my experience would make me a great fit for this position.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Why they applied
    • - Why they are a good fit for the position
    • - Why they would be a good fit for your company