20 California Department of Public Health Interview Questions and Answers

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is responsible for protecting the health and safety of all Californians. The department does this by promoting healthy lifestyles, preventing injuries, and preparing for and responding to public health emergencies.

If you’re hoping to land a job at the CDPH, you can expect to be asked a variety of questions about your qualifications, experience, and knowledge of public health. To help you prepare, we’ve gathered a list of sample CDPH interview questions and answers.

California Department of Public Health Interview Process

The interview process at California Department of Public Health can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require at least one in-person interview with a panel of employees. For some positions, like the Research Scientist position, you may be asked to take an exam as part of the hiring process.

Overall, the interview process is generally fair and straightforward. However, some applicants have found the process to be excessively long, with it taking several months to receive a final offer. Additionally, some applicants have found the questions asked during the interview to be difficult.

1. Tell me about a time when you had to meet a very tight deadline.

This question can help an interviewer get a better idea of how you handle pressure and time constraints. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific example from your past experience that highlights your ability to work under pressure.

Example: “In my last role as a public health nurse, I had to meet a very tight deadline for submitting reports on the state’s flu outbreak. The department was short-staffed due to illness, so I volunteered to stay late every night for two weeks to ensure all of our reports were submitted on time. It was challenging, but I managed to submit all of our reports before the deadline.”

2. What would you do if a coworker was not pulling their weight?

This question is an opportunity to show your leadership skills and ability to work with a team. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think of a time when you had to help a coworker or employee complete their tasks or projects.

Example: “If I noticed that a coworker was not pulling their weight, I would first try to speak with them about the issue in private. If they were aware of the problem but unable to fix it, I would offer to help them find resources or people who could assist them. If they were unaware of the problem, I would explain how their lack of effort affects the entire department and our ability to do our jobs.”

3. How well do you work in a team environment?

The California Department of Public Health is a large organization that requires employees to work together. The hiring manager may ask this question to learn more about your teamwork skills and how you might fit into their department. To answer, think about a time when you worked well with others on a project or task. Explain what made the experience successful for you.

Example: “I have always enjoyed working in teams because it allows me to share my ideas and opinions while also learning from other people’s perspectives. In my last role as an emergency room nurse, I was part of a team that developed new protocols for treating patients who came in with minor injuries. We all had different experiences and knowledge, so we were able to come up with some unique solutions.”

4. Are you comfortable working with patients and/or families of patients?

The California Department of Public Health works with patients and their families on a daily basis. The interviewer wants to make sure you are comfortable working in this environment. Use your answer to highlight your interpersonal skills, communication skills and compassion for others.

Example: “I have worked as a nurse for the past five years, so I am very familiar with working with patients and their families. In my current role, I work primarily with children who have cancer. Many of these kids are scared or nervous about their treatment plans. My goal is always to put them at ease and help them understand what they need to do to get better. I find that by being compassionate and empathetic, I can help many of these kids feel more confident.”

5. Why are you interested in this position at the California Department of Public Health?

This question is an opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the role and why you are a good fit. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention specific aspects of the job that appeal to you or how your skills and experience make you qualified for the position.

Example: “I am interested in working at the California Department of Public Health because I believe public health is important work. I want to help people stay healthy and prevent disease outbreaks. In my previous roles, I have worked with many different populations and understand the importance of providing culturally competent care. I also think my background in epidemiology makes me well-suited for this role.”

6. Have you ever worked for another government agency before?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your experience working in government. If you have, be sure to talk about what made that job so special and how it prepared you for this role. If you haven’t worked for another government agency before, you can still answer this question by talking about any other public service work you’ve done.

Example: “I actually haven’t worked for another government agency before, but I did do some volunteer work at my local library when I was in high school. I helped children find books they would enjoy reading and assisted with story time. That experience taught me how much I love working with kids and inspired me to pursue a career in pediatric nursing.”

7. Do you have any experience working with databases?

The California Department of Public Health uses a variety of databases to store information about the state’s residents. Your interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your experience with databases and how you might use them in your new role. If you have worked with databases before, share an example of what you did and how it helped your organization. If you don’t have any experience working with databases, consider explaining why that is and what other computer skills you do have.

Example: “I’ve never worked specifically with databases, but I am familiar with database management software like Access and SQL. In my last position, I was responsible for creating reports using Microsoft Excel. I would be happy to learn more about the specific database system used by the California Department of Public Health.”

8. Describe your experience working with Microsoft Excel.

The California Department of Public Health uses Microsoft Excel to create and manage spreadsheets, databases and charts. Your interviewer may ask this question to learn about your experience with the program and how you use it in your current or previous job. To answer this question, describe a time when you used Excel to complete a task successfully.

Example: “I have extensive experience using Microsoft Excel at my current job as an epidemiologist. I use Excel to organize data into tables, graphs and charts that help me analyze information and make predictions. In my last role, I worked on a team of epidemiologists who all used Excel regularly. We would collaborate on projects by sharing our workbooks so we could review each other’s findings.”

9. The California Department of Public Health is an organization that emphasizes teamwork, how did you contribute to your last team project?

The California Department of Public Health is a large organization that requires employees to work together. The interviewer wants to know how you will contribute to the team and ensure your coworkers are successful. Use examples from previous experiences where you helped others succeed in their projects or goals.

Example: “In my last position, I was part of a small team tasked with creating a new marketing campaign for our company’s product. We all had different ideas about what we wanted to do, but we were able to come together as a group and create an effective campaign that increased sales by 20%.”

10. Give an example of a time where you had to explain something technical to someone who didn’t understand it. How did you approach it?

Interviewers may ask this question to see how you interact with others and your communication skills. Use examples from previous jobs or school projects where you had to explain something technical to someone who didn’t understand it, such as a supervisor or client.

Example: “When I worked at my last job, I was tasked with explaining the results of our monthly reports to upper management. One month, we were having issues with one of our databases that affected some of our reporting. My manager asked me to explain what happened in layman’s terms so they could relay the information to other managers. I started by explaining the database issue and then explained how it impacted our report.”

11. What are some of the challenges you see facing public health today?

This question can help the interviewer get a sense of your critical thinking skills and how you approach challenges. Your answer should show that you are aware of current public health issues, but also highlight your ability to think critically about solutions.

Example: “One challenge I see facing public health today is the lack of funding for research and development. As a result, we don’t have enough data on many public health issues, which makes it difficult to develop effective policies and procedures. Another issue is the growing number of people who refuse vaccinations. This has led to outbreaks of preventable diseases like measles and mumps in communities where vaccination rates are low.”

12. The California Department of Public Health values customer service. Can you give an example of a time when you provided excellent customer service?

Customer service is an important part of working in the public health field. The California Department of Public Health wants to know that you can provide excellent customer service and help people with their needs. When answering this question, think about a time when you helped someone or solved a problem for them.

Example: “When I worked at my previous job, we had a lot of customers who called us with questions about our products. One day, I received a call from a woman who was looking for information on one of our supplements. She told me she wanted to use it to treat her son’s ADHD. I explained to her how the supplement could be used to treat his condition and answered all of her questions. She ended up purchasing the product.”

13. What kind of research experience do you have?

The California Department of Public Health may ask this question to learn more about your background and how it relates to the position. If you have research experience, share what kind of work you did and how it helped you develop skills that are relevant to this role. If you don’t have any research experience, consider sharing other experiences that relate to the job like working in a lab or volunteering with a healthcare organization.

Example: “I worked as a research assistant for my university’s psychology department last year. I assisted with several experiments on human behavior and learned valuable information that has helped me understand people better. This knowledge is especially helpful when interacting with patients.”

14. If hired, what would be your approach to finding solutions to problems related to public health?

This question is an opportunity to show your problem-solving skills and how you would apply them in a work environment. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe the steps you would take to find solutions to problems related to public health.

Example: “I believe that finding solutions to problems starts with asking questions. I would first want to understand what’s causing the issue and who might be affected by it. Then, I would look for ways to prevent the problem from happening again. For example, if there was a foodborne illness outbreak at a restaurant, I would want to know why it happened so we could make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

15. What is the most important thing to remember when dealing with sensitive information?

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your ability to handle confidential information. Your answer should show that you understand the importance of keeping private data secure and confidential. You can also use this opportunity to demonstrate your attention to detail by giving an example of how you would keep records organized and safe from unauthorized access.

Example: “The most important thing is to never leave documents unattended or in a place where others could find them. I always make sure to shred any documents with sensitive information before throwing them away, and I store my work files on password-protected computers so no one else can get into them without my permission.”

16. Tell us why you want to work at the California Department of Public Health.

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your interest in working at their organization. When you answer this question, it’s important to show that you have done some research on the department and understand what they do. You can also use this opportunity to highlight any personal connections you may have with the department or its employees.

Example: “I want to work at the California Department of Public Health because I am passionate about public health and wellness. I believe that everyone deserves access to healthcare, which is why I would love to be part of an organization that works toward providing quality care to all Californians. I know that the department has many programs that support people who are uninsured or underinsured, so I think my skills as a social worker would be beneficial here.”

17. What are some of the biggest issues facing public health today?

This question can help the interviewer get a sense of your knowledge about public health and how you approach challenges. Your answer should include two or three examples that show you understand the issues facing public health today and how you would address them.

Example: “The biggest issue facing public health is funding. The CDC budget has been cut in recent years, which means states have had to make up for it by cutting their own budgets. This leads to fewer resources for state departments of public health, which makes it more difficult to provide services like disease surveillance and immunization programs. I believe we need to find ways to increase funding so we can continue providing these important services.”

18. What do you think will be one of the biggest challenges facing public health in the next 5 years?

This question is an opportunity to show your critical thinking skills and how you can use them to help solve problems. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think about what issues are currently facing public health in California and the rest of the country.

Example: “One of the biggest challenges I see for public health is the lack of funding that many departments have access to. In my last role as a public health educator, I noticed that our department was struggling to find ways to fund our educational programs. We were able to get some grants, but they didn’t cover all of our costs. I started looking into other options, like applying for government funding or finding private donors. Eventually, we found a way to continue offering our educational programming without having to cut any of our services.”

19. Do you have any experience working with vulnerable populations?

The California Department of Public Health works with vulnerable populations, such as children and the elderly. Your answer should show that you understand what it means to work with these groups. You can mention a specific experience working with one or more of these groups.

Example: “I have worked in public health for five years now. In my last position, I was responsible for developing programs that helped seniors stay healthy. We offered free classes on nutrition and exercise. We also provided transportation services so they could attend appointments at our clinic. The program was very successful, and we saw an increase in senior wellness.”

20. What do you know about the mission of the California Department of Public Health?

The interviewer may ask this question to see if you have done your research on the department and its goals. Your answer should include a brief overview of what the department does, including some examples of how it helps Californians.

Example: “I know that the California Department of Public Health is responsible for protecting the health of all Californians by providing leadership, advocacy, resources and direction. The department works with local government agencies to provide services such as disease control, immunization programs, food safety inspections and emergency preparedness. I also know that the department has recently worked to reduce infant mortality rates in the state.”