20 Health Catalyst Interview Questions and Answers

Health Catalyst is a leading provider of data and analytics solutions to the healthcare industry. Their mission is to help healthcare organizations improve patient care and reduce costs.

If you’re interviewing for a job at Health Catalyst, you can expect to be asked a mix of questions about your qualifications, work history, and availability. In this guide, we’ve assembled a list of sample Health Catalyst interview questions and answers to help you prepare for your interview.

Health Catalyst Interview Process

The interview process at Health Catalyst is generally pretty straightforward, although it can vary depending on the position you’re applying for. For most positions, you can expect a phone screen with a recruiter, followed by one or more interviews with members of the team. In some cases, there may also be a technical skills assessment. The entire process usually takes 3-4 weeks.

1. What do you think is the most important thing to keep in mind when building a database?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of database management. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention the most important aspects of database management and how you would apply them in your role as a developer.

Example: “The most important thing to keep in mind when building a database is data integrity. This means that all of the information within the database should be accurate and consistent. I have found that there are several ways to ensure data integrity, including using referential constraints, triggers and check constraints. These methods help me make sure that any changes made to one piece of information will automatically update other pieces of information that depend on it.”

2. How would you go about creating a data warehouse for Health Catalyst?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the Health Catalyst platform. It also allows you to show how you would use the tools and features available in the system. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe each step you would take to create the data warehouse.

Example: “The first thing I would do is set up my project. Then, I would connect to the database server using JDBC. Next, I would create a new table by right-clicking on the project and selecting ‘New Table.’ After that, I would select the type of table I want to create, which in this case would be a fact table. Then, I would name the table and click ‘OK’ to finish creating it.”

3. Do you have experience working with any of our partners?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have experience working with their company’s partners. If they ask this, it is likely that your previous employer worked with Health Catalyst and you may be able to speak about how well you collaborated with them.

Example: “I have worked with several of our current partner companies in my past role as a health care consultant. I helped one hospital create an online portal for patients to access their medical records and communicate with doctors. This allowed the hospital to reduce costs by reducing staff hours spent on these tasks and increased patient satisfaction.”

4. Describe your experience using SQL, Python and R.

These are three of the most common programming languages used in healthcare. Your answer should show that you have experience using these languages and can explain how they apply to your work.

Example: “I’ve worked with SQL, Python and R for several years now. I use them daily at my current job where I am a data analyst. In this role, I use SQL to query databases and create reports. Python is also used to write scripts that automate tasks like extracting data from PDFs or creating graphs. Finally, R is used to analyze large datasets and perform statistical analysis.”

5. Why are you interested in working at Health Catalyst?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your personality and how you feel about working at Health Catalyst. Your answer should include specific details about why you are interested in this company, including what attracted you to it and what makes it unique.

Example: “I am very passionate about healthcare technology and I have been following Health Catalyst for quite some time now. I was impressed by the company’s mission statement of making healthcare data accessible to all patients and doctors. I think that this is an important step toward improving patient care and reducing costs.”

6. Tell me about a time where you were able to help someone else solve a problem they were having.

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and how you can help others with their problems. When answering this question, it’s important to focus on the steps you took to solve the problem and what the outcome was.

Example: “When I first started working as a nurse, I had a patient who was having trouble breathing. After checking his vitals, I realized that he needed an oxygen tank. However, we didn’t have any in stock at the time. So, I called my manager over and explained the situation. Together, we decided to call another hospital nearby to see if they had any extra tanks. Luckily, they did, so we were able to get one sent over right away.”

7. What was an obstacle that you had to overcome while working on a project?

This question is a great way to see how you handle challenges. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention an obstacle that you overcame and the steps you took to solve it.

Example: “When I was working on a project for my previous employer, we had a deadline coming up but one of our team members got sick. This meant that there were two projects due at once. I spoke with my manager about the situation and they agreed to let me work on both projects until my coworker felt better. We all worked together to get both projects done by the deadline.”

8. Can you tell me about a time when you disagreed with your manager? How did you handle it?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you handle conflict and disagreements. It can also show them your problem-solving skills, communication skills and ability to work with others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific example of when you disagreed with your manager but were able to resolve the issue in a positive way.

Example: “When I first started working for my previous employer, I disagreed with my manager about which software we should use. However, instead of just voicing my opinion, I researched other options and presented my manager with all of our options. He was impressed by my research and agreed that the new software would be best for us.”

9. How do you like to receive feedback from management?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you respond to positive and negative feedback. It can also show them your communication style with management. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific time when you received feedback from a manager or supervisor and how you responded positively to it.

Example: “I like receiving feedback in person whenever possible. I find that this allows me to ask questions about what my manager is thinking and helps me better understand their perspective. If they prefer to give feedback over email, I always make sure to reply back quickly so we can discuss any concerns.”

10. Have you worked with a team of engineers before?

This question can help the interviewer determine your experience working with a team of professionals. If you have, they may ask you to describe how you worked together and what made it successful. If you haven’t, they may ask you about your ability to work in a collaborative environment.

Example: “I’ve worked with several teams of engineers before, but my favorite was when I worked on a project for a hospital that needed an upgrade to their current software. We had a large group of people who all brought different ideas to the table, which helped us come up with new ways to improve the system. This ultimately led to our success.”

11. What is your philosophy when it comes to software development?

This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you have a strong understanding of the software development process and how it can impact the success of their organization. When answering this question, consider sharing a few key principles or values that guide your work as a developer.

Example: “I believe that every piece of software should be built with user experience in mind. I also think that developers should always strive to create solutions that are scalable and easy to maintain. In my last role, I worked on a team where we had a lot of turnover, so scalability was especially important. We needed to build our applications in a way that would allow new hires to easily learn our processes and contribute to the project.”

12. We want to hire people who will be committed to our company. Would you say you’re loyal?

This question is a great way to determine how committed you are to the company and its values. It’s also an opportunity for you to show that you’re willing to go above and beyond what’s expected of you.

Example: “I’m very loyal to my employer, especially when I find a company with such high standards as Health Catalyst. I would do everything in my power to ensure that I was meeting your expectations and upholding the company’s values. I’ve been working in healthcare IT for five years now, and I can honestly say that I haven’t found a better place to work.”

13. What is one quality that has helped you succeed as a software engineer?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you have soft skills beyond your technical abilities. Soft skills are personal qualities that help you succeed in a role, such as communication, organization and leadership. Choose one quality that you feel has helped you most in your career so far.

Example: “One quality that has helped me succeed as a software engineer is my ability to work well under pressure. I enjoy solving problems and finding solutions quickly, which helps me stay calm when there’s a tight deadline or a challenging problem to solve. In my last position, I was tasked with creating a new system for tracking patient information. The hospital wanted it up and running within two weeks, but I managed to get it done in just five days.”

14. Give us some examples of how you’ve used analytics to improve healthcare outcomes.

This question is a great way to show the interviewer how you can apply your analytical skills to improve healthcare outcomes. Use examples from previous roles that highlight your ability to use data and analytics to make decisions, solve problems or create solutions.

Example: “In my last role as a health care consultant, I worked with a hospital that was struggling to meet its patient satisfaction goals. After analyzing the hospital’s data, I found that patients were most dissatisfied with long wait times in the emergency room. We used this information to develop an action plan for improving wait times by hiring more staff and implementing new technology. The hospital saw a 10% increase in patient satisfaction after implementing our recommendations.”

15. When was the last time you learned something new?

This question can help the interviewer get an idea of your ability to learn new things and adapt to change. It also helps them determine if you’re likely to be able to keep up with the latest developments in healthcare IT. Your answer should include a specific example of something you learned recently, along with what steps you took to learn it.

Example: “I’ve been learning more about coding languages lately. I started by taking some online courses on different coding languages, but then I decided to take a course at my local community college that focused specifically on coding languages. This helped me understand the differences between various coding languages and gave me a deeper understanding of how they work.”

16. What kind of work environment do you feel is best suited for you?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your personality and preferences. It’s important that you are honest in your answer, but also consider how your response aligns with the company culture.

Example: “I prefer an environment where I can collaborate with others on projects and feel like my input matters. In previous positions, I have found that working independently was not as effective because it took longer to get feedback from other team members. I find that having a collaborative work environment allows me to learn more about different perspectives and ideas.”

17. What is your biggest weakness?

This question is a common one in interviews, and it’s often asked when the interviewer wants to know how you handle your weaknesses. When answering this question, be honest about what you perceive as your weakness but also explain how you’ve worked on improving it or plan to improve it.

Example: “I would say my biggest weakness is that I sometimes get so focused on getting work done that I forget to take breaks. This has led to me feeling overwhelmed at times, which can affect my productivity. However, I have started taking short breaks every hour to help me stay focused and energized throughout the day.”

18. Where would you like to be in your career five years from now?

This question is a great way to learn about the career goals of the candidate. It also gives you an idea of how long they plan on staying with your company. When answering this question, it’s important to be honest and realistic. If you’re not sure what you want to do in five years, it’s okay to say so.

Example: “I would like to have progressed through the ranks at my current job. I’m excited by the opportunity to work for such a forward-thinking organization. I hope that I can continue to grow as a professional and help Health Catalyst achieve its goals.”

19. In what ways do you think we can use technology to make healthcare more efficient?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the company and its products. It also allows you to discuss how you can use technology to improve processes in an organization.

Example: “I think that health care professionals should be able to access patient information from anywhere, which is why I love Health Catalyst’s platform. The ability to have all of this data at my fingertips while on-call or working with patients is invaluable. In addition, I believe that using technology to streamline processes within healthcare organizations will allow for more time spent with patients.”

20. What do you know about Health Catalyst’s mission?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the company’s values and goals. When answering, it can be helpful to mention how you align with these values and goals.

Example: “I know that Health Catalyst’s mission is to help healthcare organizations improve their patient care through technology. I believe this is an important goal because it helps people get better treatment while also saving money for hospitals. In my last role, I helped develop software that made it easier for doctors to communicate with each other about patients. This allowed them to share information more quickly and efficiently, which improved patient care.”