Sample Medical Assistant Interview Questions and Answers
Want to nail your interview for a medical assistant job? Familiarize yourself with these medical assistant interview questions and answers.
Doctors are often revered as the medical heroes we turn to when we’re sick or injured. But every hero needs a sidekick. If you’re looking for a job as a medical assistant, that sidekick could be you. There’s currently a high demand for medical assistants, with an 18% increase in new jobs expected over the next decade. But landing a job in this growing field requires you to ace your medical assistant interview questions and answers.
Employers in the healthcare industry look for medical assistants who are trustworthy, detail-oriented, friendly, technical, and analytical. Learn how to demonstrate these key skills and qualities by familiarizing yourself with the medical assistant interview questions and answers outlined below.
Medical Assistant Interview Questions and Answers
- Why do you want to be a medical assistant?
- Tell me about your previous experience as a medical assistant.
- What do you think makes a good medical assistant?
- Describe a time when you solved a problem involving a patient.
- What experience do you have with medical technology?
- How familiar are you with HIPAA protocol, and how will you protect patients’ confidentiality?
Medical Assistant Interview Question #1: Why do you want to be a medical assistant?
The “Why do you want this job?” question may seem simple, but your answer could dictate the course of your interview. In your answer to this medical assistant interview question, show that you’re dedicated to the job and passionate about helping patients.
Here are a few other things to consider when forming your answer:
- Your goals as a medical assistant.
- What you like about being a medical assistant.
- What led you to pursue a career as a medical assistant.
How You Could Answer
“I was drawn to the medical field because I find satisfaction in helping others. Plus, I have a natural inclination for it—I’m an intuitive and empathetic person. I feel like being a medical assistant is a good start to my medical career. I would like to continue growing in my career and eventually move into a more advanced position. In the meantime, I enjoy working in a fast-paced healthcare environment, assisting doctors and other medical professionals, and providing patients with the right care and information.”
Medical Assistant Interview Question #2: Tell me about your previous experience as a medical assistant.
You likely listed your previous professional experience on your medical assistant resume, but hiring managers will want to know more during an interview. When answering this question, discuss your duties in depth and provide good examples of your previous work.
Focus on the following when creating your answer:
- Your key duties.
- Notable achievements.
- Learning curves.
How You Could Answer
“I have worked in a hospital setting for the past three years, assisting doctors with basic medical tasks. My day-to-day responsibilities typically include checking patients’ blood pressure and other vital signs, recording patients’ personal information and medical history, assisting with physical exams, scheduling medical appointments, preparing blood samples for laboratory testing, and issuing physician-directed injections and medications. Some skills I’ve gained on the job include specimen collection, electronic medical recording, and administrative follow-up.”
Medical Assistant Interview Question #3: What do you think makes a good medical assistant?
Providing your perspective on what makes a medical assistant effective shows employers what qualities you bring to the table. Your answer could include soft skills (e.g., organization and problem-solving) and personal attributes such as empathy for patients who may be physically, emotionally, and mentally vulnerable.
Ask yourself the following questions when creating your answer to this medical assistant interview question:
- Which qualities do you think are most important for the job?
- Which soft skills do you possess?
- What strengths do you possess as a medical assistant?
How You Could Answer
“From my experience, empathy is one of the key qualities of medical assistants. You must be able to understand someone else’s perspective, especially when you’re working with patients from diverse backgrounds. Plus, you must practice compassion when working with patients. Additionally, medical assistants should possess excellent communication, problem-solving, time-management, and interpersonal skills. Lastly, medical assistants should be dependable, open to constructive criticism, and able to learn.”
Medical Assistant Interview Question #4: Describe a time when you solved a problem involving a patient.
As a medical assistant, you’ve likely encountered moments when things didn’t go according to plan. Employers want to know how well you can work with these challenges, and especially with unhappy patients.
Questions that ask you to describe a problem and how you solved it are known as behavioral interview questions. For medical assistants, this means you need to demonstrate your ability to solve problems while remaining calm.
Think about a problem you encountered on the job, and describe the following details when providing an answer:
- The patient’s circumstances.
- What you did to solve the patient’s problem.
- The outcome of your actions.
How You Could Answer
“The most challenging situation I experienced as a medical assistant happened on a day our facility was short-staffed. I had to attend to several patients at the same time, some of whom became impatient and irritable. I focused on one patient at a time, while communicating the circumstances with the remaining patients and their families. As a result, I was able to help the doctor meet each of the patients’ needs. While it was a stressful situation, I remained as calm as possible under pressure.”
Medical Assistant Interview Question #5: What experience do you have with medical technology?
Medical assistants often work with electronic medical records software, EKG machines, computerized blood chemistry analyzers, and laboratory technology. Since technology is usually part of the job, many employers will only hire candidates who have some technical experience.
Provide the following details when answering this medical assistant interview question:
- Medical technology you have used in previous jobs.
- Technology you have received training on.
- Technology you’re familiar with.
How You Could Answer
“When I first entered the medical assistant field, I had no formal training with medical technology. Most of the training I received was on the job. I was first trained in how to record patient information and update medical records. As I progressed in my career, I received training on EKG machines, laboratory testing equipment, and computerized blood chemistry analyzers.”
Medical Assistant Interview Question #6: How familiar are you with HIPAA protocol, and how will you protect patients’ confidentiality?
A full understanding of HIPAA regulations is critical for anyone entering the healthcare industry. A lack of understanding can create liability issues for medical facilities and companies. Employers may only consider you for a job as a medical assistant if you’re familiar with HIPAA protocols and patient confidentiality.
Be sure to provide the following details when creating your answer:
- What you know about HIPAA.
- HIPAA training you received.
- How you would apply HIPAA protocol to your job.
How You Could Answer
“From what I understand, HIPAA is a federal law that protects sensitive patient information from being disclosed without patients’ knowledge or consent. I received HIPAA training during my medical assistant training and internship and during my certificate program. When meeting with patients, I ensure that any conversations involving sensitive information are conducted in enclosed rooms, and I never discuss any sensitive patient information with anyone other than doctors.”
12 More Common Medical Assistant Interview Questions
- What were your primary responsibilities as a medical assistant?
- What type of responsibilities did you have with patients and visitors?
- Did you assist with any medical office procedures?
- Did you counsel patients?
- How did you add value to the patient experience?
- Were you responsible for oversight of equipment and supplies?
- Tell me about your computer skills.
- What have you done at your current/last company to increase revenue, reduce costs, or save time?
- What have you done recently to become a better medical assistant?
- What makes you a great fit for this position?
- What type of work schedule are you looking for?
- Would you be available to work extra hours if needed?
Ready to Put These Medical Assistant Interview Questions and Answers to the Test?
Once you’re confident that you can answer any medical assistant interview question that comes your way, upload your resume to Monster and start applying to medical assistant jobs that interest you. Plus, when you upload your resume, we’ll make it searchable for job recruiters in the medical industry—so they can reach out to you whenever new medical assistant opportunities open up.