17 Public Health Specialist Interview Questions and Answers

Public health is a growing field that is always in need of skilled professionals who can help communities develop policies and programs to improve the health of their residents. If you’re interested in a career in public health, you will need to know how to answer public health interview questions so you can stand out from the other candidates.

Your interviewer will want to know if you have the skills and experience necessary to be successful in the role. They will also want to know if you have a passion for public health and if you’re familiar with the challenges and opportunities in the field. To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of sample public health interview questions and answers.

Are you familiar with the most recent public health laws and regulations?

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your knowledge of the most recent public health laws and regulations. This can help them determine if you are up-to-date on current events in the field. To answer, you can list some of the most important laws and regulations that have been released recently.

Example: “I am very familiar with the most recent public health laws and regulations. In fact, I keep a notebook where I write down any new information about these topics as soon as it is released. For example, last year there was a new regulation regarding how much caffeine could be in energy drinks before they were considered unsafe for consumption by minors. There was also a law passed requiring all restaurants to post their sanitation scores online.”

What are the most important skills for a public health specialist to have?

This question helps the interviewer determine if you have the skills and abilities to succeed in this role. Use your answer to highlight your communication, problem-solving, teamwork and leadership skills. These are all important skills for public health specialists to have.

Example: “The most important skills for a public health specialist include excellent communication skills, critical thinking skills, problem-solving skills and strong interpersonal skills. As a public health specialist, I am often working with other professionals who may be from different backgrounds or areas of expertise. Having strong communication skills allows me to work effectively with these individuals. Critical thinking skills allow me to analyze situations and make informed decisions about how to proceed. Problem-solving skills help me find solutions to problems that arise during my workday.”

How do you handle working long hours and overtime?

Working in public health can be a demanding job, especially when you’re working with clients who may have urgent needs. Employers ask this question to make sure that you are willing to work long hours and overtime if necessary. In your answer, explain that you understand the demands of the position and how you plan to meet them.

Example: “I know that working as a public health specialist can involve long hours and even some overtime. I am prepared for this type of schedule because I enjoy my work and feel passionate about helping others. I also find that I am able to stay focused on tasks longer than most people due to my attention to detail. This helps me get through large projects quickly so I can spend more time with my family.”

What is your experience with working in a team setting?

Working in a team setting is an important part of the public health specialist role. Employers ask this question to make sure you have experience working with others and collaborating on projects. Use your answer to explain that you enjoy teamwork and collaboration. Explain that you are willing to take on leadership roles when necessary.

Example: “I’ve always enjoyed teamwork, which is why I chose to pursue a career in public health. In my previous position as a community outreach coordinator, I worked alongside two other specialists to develop outreach programs for our county’s youth. We each had different strengths, so we were able to collaborate effectively. I am happy to take on more responsibility if needed.”

Provide an example of a time when you identified a public health issue and how you addressed it.

An interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your problem-solving skills and how you apply them in the workplace. When answering, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation where you used your critical thinking skills to identify an issue and develop a plan of action.

Example: “In my last role as a public health specialist, I noticed that there were many cases of foodborne illness reported at one restaurant. After investigating further, I found that the restaurant was not properly storing their food, which led to contamination. I worked with the restaurant owner to create a new storage system so they could prevent these issues from happening again.”

If hired, what area of public health would you like to focus on?

This question helps employers determine what your interests are and how you might fit into their organization. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention an area of public health that is important to you and why. It can also be beneficial to explain how you would use your skills to help the department or organization achieve its goals in that area.

Example: “I am passionate about mental health because I believe everyone should have access to quality care. If hired, I would like to focus on improving our county’s mental health services by creating a more efficient system for identifying individuals who need support and ensuring they receive the resources they need.”

What would you do if you noticed a health issue in the community that you were unfamiliar with?

This question can help interviewers assess your problem-solving skills and ability to learn new information. Use examples from previous experience where you had to research a health issue or disease that was unfamiliar to you.

Example: “In my last role, I noticed an increase in the number of children with asthma. After researching this issue, I found out it was due to air pollution. I worked with local government officials to create more green spaces for residents to enjoy. This helped reduce the amount of air pollution in the area and lowered the number of children with asthma.”

How well do you communicate with people from all walks of life?

Public health specialists often work with people from all backgrounds and socioeconomic statuses. Employers ask this question to make sure you have the interpersonal skills necessary for working in public health. Use your answer to show that you can communicate effectively with a variety of people. Explain how you plan to adapt your communication style to meet the needs of each person you speak with.

Example: “I am passionate about helping everyone, regardless of their background or beliefs. I always try to approach every situation with an open mind. This helps me learn more about others’ perspectives and find common ground. In my previous role as a community outreach coordinator, I worked with many different types of people. I learned how to adjust my communication style to suit each individual’s unique needs.”

Do you have any experience giving presentations or teaching others about public health topics?

Public health specialists often need to educate others about public health topics. Employers ask this question to see if you have experience doing so and how comfortable you are with it. If you do, share a specific example of when you did this and what your audience learned from the presentation. If you don’t have any experience giving presentations, explain that you’re willing to learn how to do so.

Example: “I’ve given several presentations in my previous role as a public health specialist. I started by leading small group discussions on various public health topics. Eventually, I was able to give solo presentations to larger groups. In one instance, I gave a presentation at a local high school about the importance of getting enough sleep. The students were very engaged during my talk, and many teachers asked me for more information after the presentation.”

When working with large amounts of data, what is your process for analyzing it and drawing conclusions?

The interviewer may ask you a question like this to assess your critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Your answer should demonstrate that you can analyze data, identify patterns and make decisions based on the information you collect.

Example: “I use several different software programs for analyzing large amounts of data. I find it helpful to start by organizing the data into categories so I can compare them more easily. Then, I look at each category individually to see if there are any trends or patterns. If I notice something unusual, I will investigate further to determine whether it’s an actual issue or just random variation in the data. After looking at all the data, I draw conclusions about what I’ve found.”

We want to improve community health in an area that has high rates of a certain disease. What disease would you choose and why?

This question can help an interviewer understand your knowledge of public health and how you would apply it to a specific community. When answering this question, consider the types of diseases that are prevalent in your area and explain why you chose them.

Example: “In my last position as a public health specialist, I worked with a community that had high rates of diabetes. In order to improve their health, we implemented programs that educated residents on healthy eating habits and physical activity. We also provided free blood glucose testing at local pharmacies so people could test themselves regularly and learn about ways they could manage their disease.”

Describe your process for conducting research and gathering data.

Interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your research and data-gathering skills. They want to know how you use the information you find to make decisions that benefit public health. In your answer, describe a time when you used research and data to solve a problem or help someone.

Example: “I start my research by identifying what I need to know. Then, I search for resources online and in libraries. If I can’t find the answers I’m looking for, I will contact experts in the field to see if they have any advice. Once I’ve gathered all of the relevant information, I organize it into an easy-to-read format so I can understand it better. From there, I create reports and presentations that I can share with others.”

What makes you the best candidate for this public health specialist position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you feel you are the best candidate for their open position. When answering this question, it can be helpful to highlight a few of your strongest skills or experiences that relate to the job description.

Example: “I am passionate about public health and have been working in this field for five years now. I believe my experience is what makes me the best candidate for this role because I understand the importance of upholding high standards when it comes to protecting the community from disease outbreaks. In my previous role, I helped create an effective plan to educate residents on proper hygiene practices to prevent the spread of illness.”

Which public health areas do you need to develop more experience in?

This question can help the interviewer determine how much experience you have in public health and whether you are open to learning more about it. Use your answer to highlight any areas where you need to develop more skills or knowledge, such as budgeting, community outreach or data analysis.

Example: “I am very experienced with disease prevention and control but would like to gain more expertise in environmental health issues. I think this could be beneficial because I could use my existing knowledge of disease prevention to implement solutions for environmental problems that lead to poor health outcomes.”

What do you think is the most important aspect of public health?

This question is a great way to show your passion for public health and the field as a whole. When answering, it can be helpful to mention something specific about public health that you find interesting or exciting.

Example: “I think the most important aspect of public health is education. If people are educated on how to stay healthy, they’re more likely to do so. I’ve seen this in my previous role where we implemented an educational program at our local high school. We taught students about different diseases and what they could do to prevent them. After the program was over, we saw a decrease in cases of some illnesses.”

How often do you check on the public health of your community?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you use your skills to benefit others. Use examples from your previous experience that show how you used public health information to make decisions and improve communities.

Example: “I check on my community’s public health at least once a week, usually more often than that. I find it important to stay up-to-date with current events so I can respond quickly if there is an outbreak or other emergency. In my last position, I noticed a rise in flu cases during the winter months. I contacted local hospitals and doctors to see if they were seeing similar numbers of patients. They confirmed this was happening, so we worked together to create a plan for educating the public about ways to prevent getting sick.”

There is a disease outbreak in your community. What is your immediate response?

This question is a great way to assess your problem-solving skills and ability to act quickly in emergency situations. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe the steps you would take to respond to an outbreak and how you would ensure that everyone was safe.

Example: “If there were a disease outbreak in my community, I would first make sure that all of my coworkers are aware of the situation so we could work together to find solutions. Next, I would contact local hospitals and medical facilities to see if they have any supplies or medications that we may need to treat patients. Finally, I would meet with public health officials to discuss our options for containing the outbreak.”