20 Partners in Health Interview Questions and Answers

Partners in Health is a global health organization that works to bring quality medical care to some of the world’s poorest communities. The organization was founded in 1987 by Dr. Paul Farmer, Dr. Ophelia Dahl, and Thomas J. White, and has since grown to include a staff of over 13,000 people working in more than 10 countries.

If you’re hoping to join the Partners in Health team, you can expect to be asked a variety of questions about your qualifications, experience, and motivation for wanting to work for the organization. To help you prepare, we’ve gathered a list of sample Partners in Health interview questions and answers.

Partners in Health Interview Process

The interview process at Partners in Health can vary depending on the position you are applying for. For some positions, like the Covid-19 Contact Tracer, there is no formal interview process and you may be hired based on your resume and a phone screening. For other positions, like the Manager or Supervisor role, the interview process may be more extensive and include multiple rounds of interviews. Overall, the interview process is generally quick and efficient, although some candidates have reported feeling rushed during their interviews.

1. What do you know about Partners in Health?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to assess your knowledge of the organization and how you might fit in. If you have done research on Partners in Health, share what you know about their mission, values or recent news.

Example: “I am familiar with Partners in Health’s work in Haiti. I read an article about the organization’s efforts after the 2010 earthquake there. The organization has been working in Haiti since then, providing medical care to those who need it most. I also know that Partners in Health was founded by Paul Farmer, who is a physician and anthropologist. He is known for his work in treating patients with HIV/AIDS.”

2. How would you describe your communication style?

Partners in health need to be able to communicate effectively with each other and their patients. This question helps the interviewer assess your communication skills, including how you listen and respond to others. Use examples from past experiences where you’ve demonstrated strong communication skills.

Example: “I consider myself a very empathetic communicator. I always try to put myself in my patient’s shoes when they’re sharing information about their symptoms or concerns. When working as a nurse practitioner at a small clinic, I once had a patient who was experiencing severe pain. She told me that she hadn’t been taking her medication regularly because of its side effects. I listened carefully to her concerns and explained why it was important for her to take her medication as prescribed. She agreed to continue taking her medication.”

3. Tell me about a time when you had to work with someone who was difficult, how did you handle it?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you handle conflict and whether you have any experience working with a difficult person. Use your answer to highlight your problem-solving skills, communication abilities and ability to work in a team environment.

Example: “In my last role as an RN, I worked with a physician who was very demanding of our staff. He would often make comments about our performance that were unprofessional and made us feel uncomfortable. Instead of responding to his behavior, I decided to focus on improving our performance so he wouldn’t have anything negative to say. This helped me avoid confrontation while also helping my coworkers improve their performance.”

4. Describe a time where you worked well on a team.

Working as a team is an important part of being a physician. The interviewer wants to know that you can work well with others and collaborate on projects. Use examples from your experience where you worked together to solve problems or achieve goals.

Example: “I once worked in a hospital setting where we had to treat patients who were experiencing both mental health issues and physical ailments. I was working with two other physicians, one who specialized in mental health and the other who specialized in physical ailments. We all met regularly to discuss our patients and how we could best help them. By collaborating, we were able to provide better care for our patients.”

5. Do you have any experience working remotely?

Working remotely is a common practice in the healthcare industry. Employers ask this question to make sure you have experience working from home or another remote location. They want to know that you can be productive and work well independently. In your answer, explain how you managed to stay on top of your responsibilities while working away from the office.

Example: “I’ve worked remotely for two years now. I find it’s important to set up a routine so I’m able to get my work done without any distractions. I usually wake up early and start working before my family wakes up. This way, I can get all of my work done by the time they need me. I also try to take breaks throughout the day to stretch and walk around. It helps me clear my mind and refocus.”

6. Why are you interested in this position?

This question can help the interviewer learn more about your motivations for applying to this position. Use your answer to highlight your interest in working with a specific population or helping people overcome health issues.

Example: “I’m interested in this position because I want to work with underserved populations and provide them with quality healthcare. In my last role, I worked as an emergency room nurse, and I saw many patients who didn’t have access to primary care physicians. I would love to be part of a team that provides free medical services to those who need it most.”

7. Are you comfortable using online platforms for remote meetings and collaboration?

This question is a good way to assess your comfort level with technology and how you might use it in the workplace. If you have experience using online platforms, describe what they are and how you’ve used them in the past. If you don’t have any experience, consider asking for more information about the specific platform or software that Partners in Health uses.

Example: “I am very comfortable using online collaboration tools because I’ve had to do so at my last two jobs. At my previous job, we were required to use an online platform called Slack to communicate with each other during work hours. We also used this platform to collaborate on projects and share files. In my current position, we use Zoom as our primary remote meeting tool. It’s much easier than having to download large files.”

8. Have you ever been involved in contact tracing before?

Contact tracing is a process that involves identifying people who may have been exposed to an infectious disease and then monitoring them for symptoms. This question can help the interviewer determine your experience with contact tracing, which can be important in this role. If you haven’t had any experience with contact tracing, consider describing another similar process you’ve used before.

Example: “I worked as part of a team that helped identify patients who were at risk of contracting Ebola during my time working in Liberia. We would go through each patient’s medical records to see if they had come into contact with anyone who was infected with Ebola. Then we would monitor those patients for signs of infection.”

9. Do you feel comfortable talking to people over the phone?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your communication skills. They want to know if you can talk with patients and their families over the phone, as well as how comfortable you are doing so. Use this opportunity to show that you have strong communication skills and enjoy talking on the phone.

Example: “I feel very comfortable talking to people over the phone. I find it easier than having a face-to-face conversation because I don’t have to worry about reading someone’s body language or facial expressions. It also allows me to focus more on what they’re saying without worrying about my own reactions. I’ve found that many of our patients prefer speaking to us over the phone rather than in person.”

10. What is your availability like?

This question is a way for the interviewer to learn more about your availability and how you plan your schedule. When answering this question, be honest about what your availability looks like and explain why it’s that way.

Example: “I am available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but I can work some evenings and weekends if needed. My husband works as an accountant, so he has regular hours during the week. We have two children who are in school all day, so my time is flexible after they get home. I’m also available by phone or email at any point throughout the day.”

11. Are you comfortable sharing personal information with people over the phone?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your communication skills. They want to know if you can effectively communicate with patients and their families over the phone, as well as in person.

Example: “Yes, I am comfortable sharing personal information with people over the phone. In my previous role, I was responsible for answering all incoming calls from patients and their families. I would answer questions about appointments, billing and other general inquiries. I found that it helped build rapport with our patients when they knew who they were speaking to on the phone.”

12. What languages can you speak fluently?

Fluency in a foreign language can be an asset for healthcare professionals. It allows them to communicate with patients who speak that language and understand medical terminology. If you have experience working with multilingual patients, mention it in your answer.

Example: “I am fluent in Spanish and French. I learned both languages in high school and college, respectively. In my last position as a nurse practitioner, I worked with many bilingual patients. I found that being able to speak their native language made them feel more comfortable during treatment.”

13. How would you keep track of multiple projects at one time?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you prioritize your work and manage multiple projects. Use examples from past experiences to explain how you keep track of tasks, organize files and meet deadlines.

Example: “I use a project management software that allows me to create different folders for each client I’m working with. This helps me stay organized and ensures I don’t lose important documents or information about my clients. In addition to this, I also use an online calendar to schedule meetings and appointments with my clients so I know when I need to be available to them.”

14. Are you willing to travel if needed?

Traveling is a common part of working in the medical field. Employers ask this question to make sure you are aware that you may need to travel for work and can handle it. If you have experience traveling, share your favorite story about a time when you traveled for work. If you don’t have any experience with travel, explain how you would feel if you had to do so.

Example: “I am willing to travel as needed. I actually love to travel, so I find it exciting to see new places. In my previous position, I was often asked to go on business trips. I always packed light and enjoyed exploring the area where we were staying.”

15. Can you tell us about a time that you were not successful at something?

This question is a great way to learn more about the applicant’s self-reflection skills. It can also show how they respond to failure and what they do to improve themselves.

Example: “When I first started working in healthcare, I was very confident that I could diagnose any patient with ease. However, when I encountered my first difficult case, I became overwhelmed and unsure of myself. I asked for help from other doctors and nurses who had experience diagnosing similar cases. They helped me understand the symptoms and gave me advice on how to approach future patients with similar conditions. After this experience, I learned that it’s okay to ask for help when you need it.”

16. What type of training will be required for this job?

This question is a great way to determine what type of training you will receive and how much time it will take. It also shows the interviewer that you are willing to put in the work necessary to succeed in this role. When answering, be sure to mention any specific skills or certifications you may need to complete before starting your job.

Example: “I have my nursing degree but am still working on getting my certification as an emergency nurse. I plan to finish this certification within six months of being hired so I can start helping patients right away.”

17. What kind of personality traits do you think are important for working in healthcare?

This question can help the interviewer get a better sense of your personality and how it might fit in with their organization. When answering this question, you can discuss what traits you have that make you a good healthcare professional. You can also talk about any specific traits you think are important for working in healthcare.

Example: “I think empathy is one of the most important traits to have when working in healthcare. I’ve always been naturally empathetic, so I find it easy to put myself in my patients’ shoes. This helps me understand them better and provide more compassionate care. Another trait I think is important is being able to remain calm under pressure. Working in healthcare means there will be many challenging situations where you need to stay calm and focused.”

18. What is your biggest strength?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you have the skills and abilities necessary for this role. When answering, think about what you are most proud of in your career so far. Consider mentioning soft skills like communication or teamwork as well as hard skills like medical knowledge or computer skills.

Example: “My biggest strength is my ability to work with others. I am always looking for ways to help my colleagues succeed. In my last position, I noticed one of my coworkers was having trouble understanding some of the more complex aspects of their job. I offered to tutor them on those topics after hours, which helped both of us learn new information. This also allowed me to build a stronger relationship with my coworker.”

19. What would you say is your greatest weakness?

This question is a common one in interviews, and it’s often asked to see how you respond to criticism. When answering this question, try to choose something that isn’t too negative or controversial. You can also use this as an opportunity to show your sense of humor if you have one.

Example: “I would say my greatest weakness is that I’m always willing to help others. Sometimes I find myself taking on more work than I should because I want to make sure everyone else is doing their job well. I’ve learned to set boundaries with my coworkers so they know when to ask for help and when not to.”

20. Have you ever worked in a fast-paced environment?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you are comfortable with a busy work environment. If you have experience working in a fast-paced setting, share your thoughts on how it helped you succeed and what skills you developed from that experience.

Example: “I worked as an emergency room nurse for five years before I became a registered nurse. Working in the ER was definitely a fast-paced environment, but I enjoyed it because of the challenge. It taught me to multitask quickly and efficiently while still providing quality care to my patients. In this role, I also learned how to communicate effectively with other medical professionals.”