17 Chief Wellness Officer Interview Questions and Answers

As the baby boomer generation ages, the healthcare industry is booming. With an aging population comes an increased demand for preventative care and treatments for chronic conditions. And with the Affordable Care Act, more people than ever have access to health insurance.

One of the fastest-growing positions in the healthcare industry is the chief wellness officer, or CWO. The CWO is responsible for developing and implementing wellness programs that promote healthy lifestyles and prevent disease.

If you’re interested in becoming a CWO, you’ll need to know how to answer common interview questions about your experience, your qualifications, and your vision for a wellness program. We’ve put together a list of sample questions and answers to help you prepare for your interview.

Are you familiar with the Healthy People 2020 initiative?

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has a program called Healthy People 2020, which is an initiative that aims to improve the health of Americans by setting goals for improving specific areas such as disease prevention, healthy behaviors and access to healthcare. The interviewer may ask this question to see if you are familiar with the program and how it can help you achieve your objectives as chief wellness officer. In your answer, try to show that you understand the importance of the program and how it relates to your job responsibilities.

Example: “I am very familiar with the Healthy People 2020 initiative. I have been working in the field of public health for over 10 years now, so I’ve seen many different programs come and go. However, Healthy People 2020 is one of the most effective initiatives I’ve ever worked on because it focuses on measurable outcomes rather than just general ideas. This makes it easier to determine what we need to do to reach our goals.”

What are some of the most effective wellness programs you’ve implemented in the past?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your experience with wellness programs. They want to know what you’ve done in the past that has been successful and how it helped improve employee health. When answering this question, think of a few examples of the most effective wellness programs you’ve implemented. Explain why they were so successful and how they benefited employees.

Example: “At my last job, I was responsible for creating our company’s annual wellness calendar. This included monthly events such as blood pressure screenings, healthy cooking classes and yoga sessions. I also created an online portal where employees could track their exercise goals and monitor their progress. The calendar was very popular among employees because it gave them something fun to look forward to each month. It also motivated them to be healthier by tracking their fitness goals.”

How would you promote healthy eating and active lifestyles among employees?

The interviewer may ask you this question to assess your ability to promote wellness in the workplace. Use examples from past experiences where you helped employees make healthy choices and encouraged them to participate in physical activities.

Example: “I would start by creating a company-wide wellness program that includes both physical and mental health initiatives. I would also encourage my team members to eat nutritious meals at work, such as providing free fruit baskets or smoothie machines for everyone to use. In addition, I would organize monthly events like walking clubs and yoga classes so people can get active together.”

What is your process for identifying and addressing workplace stressors?

As a chief wellness officer, you may be responsible for identifying and addressing workplace stressors. Employers ask this question to learn more about your process for doing so. In your answer, explain how you would use your skills and experience to identify potential sources of workplace stress. Explain that you would then develop strategies to reduce the effects of these stressors on employees’ health and productivity.

Example: “I believe that it’s important to regularly assess the factors that contribute to employee stress. I would first meet with each department head to discuss their team members’ strengths and challenges. Then, I would conduct an anonymous survey to get feedback from all employees about what they find most stressful at work. From there, I would create a plan to address the top stressors in the workplace.”

Provide an example of how you would use data to inform your decisions.

The interviewer may ask you this question to learn more about your analytical skills and how they can help you make decisions in the workplace. To answer this question, think of a time when you used data to inform your decision-making process.

Example: “In my previous role as chief wellness officer for a large corporation, I noticed that many employees were experiencing back pain. After looking at our company’s employee health records, I found that most people who experienced back pain also had poor posture. I decided to implement a program that would teach employees proper posture techniques. The program was so successful that it reduced the number of workers’ compensation claims by 20%.”

If an employee was resistant to your wellness initiatives, how would you approach them?

An interviewer may ask this question to assess your interpersonal skills and how you handle conflict. In your answer, try to show that you can be empathetic while also being firm in your approach.

Example: “I would first make sure I understood why they were resistant. If it was because of a personal health issue or disability, for example, I would work with them to find ways to accommodate their needs without compromising the wellness program. If they were resistant because they didn’t like the idea of having to track their health metrics, I would explain the benefits of the program and encourage them to give it a chance. I would also emphasize that there are many different ways to participate in the program, so they could choose one that works best for them.”

What would you do if you noticed a high number of employees taking time off due to illness?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you would handle a situation that could affect the company’s productivity. In your answer, explain what steps you would take to ensure employees are healthy and able to work.

Example: “If I noticed a high number of employees taking time off due to illness, I would first want to make sure they’re getting the care they need. If it seems like there is an underlying issue causing them to be ill frequently, I would hold a meeting with all employees to discuss ways we can improve our health and wellness. For example, if many people are experiencing back pain, I may suggest we start doing yoga or pilates classes during lunchtime.”

How well do you communicate with both upper management and frontline staff?

The chief wellness officer is often the primary liaison between senior management and frontline staff. The hiring manager may ask this question to see if you can effectively communicate with both groups of people. Use your answer to show that you are a strong communicator who values collaboration.

Example: “I believe communication is one of the most important aspects of any job, but especially in healthcare. I have always strived to make sure everyone understands what’s going on at all times. In my last role as chief wellness officer, I held weekly meetings where I discussed new initiatives and answered questions from frontline staff. I also met with upper management once per month to discuss how things were progressing.”

Do you have any experience working with vendors or outside organizations to develop new programs?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your ability to collaborate with others and develop new programs or initiatives. Use examples from past experience that highlight your communication skills, teamwork abilities and problem-solving skills.

Example: “In my current role as chief wellness officer, I work closely with vendors and outside organizations to create new health and wellness programs for our company. For example, we recently partnered with a local yoga studio to offer free classes to employees on Fridays. This program has been very popular among employees, and it helps the company save money while providing an additional service.”

When making decisions, how do you balance the needs of the company with the needs of employees?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your decision-making process and how you balance the needs of different stakeholders. Use examples from past experiences to explain how you make decisions that benefit everyone involved.

Example: “In my last role, I was responsible for creating a wellness program for employees. We had many different departments with unique needs, so when developing our wellness plan, I met with each department to discuss their goals and objectives. This helped me create a comprehensive wellness program that addressed all employee needs while also meeting company objectives.”

We want to improve our employee retention rates. What strategies would you use to do this?

This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of employee retention and how you can help improve it. When answering this question, consider the company’s goals for employee retention and what strategies you would use to achieve them.

Example: “I think one of the best ways to increase employee retention is by offering a comprehensive wellness program that employees actually want to participate in. I would start by surveying current employees about their thoughts on the wellness program and what they would like to see changed or improved. Then, I would work with management to implement changes based on employee feedback. This strategy has helped me at my previous employer where we implemented new programs and activities each quarter.”

Describe your experience with data analysis and reporting.

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your experience with analyzing data and reporting the results. Use examples from past projects that highlight your ability to collect, analyze and report on data.

Example: “In my last role as chief wellness officer for a large company, I was responsible for creating monthly reports of employee health and wellness metrics. These included information like how many employees were participating in various programs, what types of food they ordered at work and their overall satisfaction with our wellness initiatives. I also used these reports to identify areas where we could improve our wellness initiatives or increase participation.”

What makes you qualified for this position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your background and how it relates to the position. Before your interview, make a list of all your relevant experience and education. Use these details to explain why you are qualified for the role.

Example: “I have over five years of experience in wellness programs at my current company. I started as an intern but quickly became a full-time employee. My internship was unpaid, so I worked part time while going to school. During that time, I learned everything there is to know about health and wellness. I also earned my bachelor’s degree in public health with a minor in business management. This combination of work and school prepared me for my current role.”

Which wellness areas do you have the most experience with?

This question can help the interviewer determine your level of expertise in the role. It’s important to highlight any experience you have with the company’s wellness program, but it’s also beneficial to mention other areas that may be relevant to the position.

Example: “I’ve worked as a health coach for five years now and I’m very familiar with how to create effective programs. In my previous role, I helped implement a new wellness program that focused on employee education about healthy eating and exercise. We had monthly seminars where employees could learn more about different topics like nutrition and stress management. The program was so successful that we were able to reduce our healthcare costs by 10%.”

What do you think is the most important aspect of a wellness program?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your priorities and how you would approach a wellness program. Your answer should reflect the importance of employee health in the workplace, but it can also show that you understand the value of other aspects of a wellness program such as productivity or morale.

Example: “I think the most important aspect of a wellness program is employee health. If employees are healthy, they will be able to work at their full capacity and contribute to the company’s success. I believe that if we focus on improving our employees’ health, we’ll see improvements in other areas like productivity and morale.”

How often do you recommend employees visit the doctor?

Employers ask this question to make sure you’re not too strict about when employees can take time off. They want to know that you’ll allow your team members to visit the doctor if they need to, but also encourage them to stay healthy and avoid unnecessary trips to the office. Your answer should show that you understand how important it is for employees to feel comfortable taking care of their health while still being productive at work.

Example: “I believe in allowing my employees to go to the doctor as often as they need to. I think it’s more important that they get better rather than trying to tough out a cold or flu. However, I do recommend annual checkups so we can catch any issues before they become serious.”

There is a new trend in the wellness community that you don’t agree with. How do you handle it?

This question is a great way to see how you handle conflict and disagreement. It also shows the interviewer that you are willing to stand up for your beliefs, even if they differ from those of others. When answering this question, it’s important to be respectful of other people’s opinions while still showing that you have strong convictions about what you believe in.

Example: “I think there is a lot of value in taking time each day to disconnect from technology. However, I don’t agree with the idea that we should completely unplug from our devices at night. I think it’s healthy to use social media as a tool to connect with friends and family, but I do think it’s important to set boundaries on when we can check our phones. For example, I would encourage my team members to put their phones away during meals or after work hours.”