20 St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Interview Questions and Answers

When you go to an interview, you want to be prepared to answer any question the interviewer might throw at you. But what if the interviewer asks you a question about the company you’re interviewing for?

If you’re interviewing for a job at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, you might be asked a question about the company’s history, mission, or values. To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of sample questions and answers about St. Jude.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Interview Process

The interview process at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require at least one phone screen and one in-person interview. For some positions, you may be asked to complete a video interview. The interview process can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.

Overall, the interview experience is generally positive. Interviewers are typically friendly and interested in getting to know you and your work experience. However, some applicants have reported feeling “drained” after their interviews due to the number of people they had to meet with. Additionally, some applicants have found the interview questions to be difficult, particularly the behavioral questions.

1. What is your experience with grant writing?

St. Jude is a nonprofit organization that relies on grants to fund its research and treatment programs. As such, it’s important for the hospital to hire employees who can write successful grant proposals. When answering this question, be sure to highlight your experience with writing grant proposals or any other relevant professional experience you have in the field of grant writing.

Example: “I’ve worked as an administrative assistant at my current job for three years now, and I’ve been responsible for helping our department manager write several grant proposals over the past two years. We’ve had great success with these applications, and I feel confident that I could apply those skills to St. Jude.”

2. How would you approach a problem that you have not dealt with in the past?

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and how you would approach a new challenge. When answering this question, it can be helpful to discuss a time when you had to learn something new or develop a new skill in order to complete a task successfully.

Example: “When I first started working as a nurse at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, I was responsible for administering medications to patients. At the beginning of my career, I did not have much experience with giving injections, so I took some extra training on proper injection techniques. After completing the training, I felt more confident in my ability to administer medication to patients.”

3. Describe how you prioritize projects. What factors influence what comes first?

Interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your time management skills and how you plan out your day. When answering, it can be helpful to describe a specific example of how you prioritize projects in the past.

Example: “In my previous role as an administrative assistant, I had to manage many different tasks for my manager. She would often give me several assignments at once, which made prioritizing them important. I used her deadlines and urgency levels to help determine what needed to get done first. If there was something that could wait until later, I would put it on hold or move it to a task list.”

4. Why do you want to work at St Jude’s?

This question is a great opportunity to show your passion for the work you do. When answering this question, it can be helpful to talk about how you became interested in healthcare and why you want to help children who are suffering from life-threatening illnesses.

Example: “I have always been passionate about helping others, especially children. I remember when my younger brother was diagnosed with leukemia at age five, and I saw how hard my parents worked to make sure he got the best care possible. It inspired me to pursue a career in medicine so that I could help other families going through similar situations.”

5. How did you get into research?

This question can help interviewers learn more about your background and how you got to where you are today. If you have a degree in research, it’s helpful to mention that. However, if you don’t, you can talk about what led you to this career path.

Example: “I’ve always been interested in science and math, so I decided to pursue a degree in biology. While I was studying, I realized I wanted to work with children, so I took on an internship at the hospital here. After my internship, I knew I wanted to continue working here.”

6. Tell me about a time where you had to deal with difficult data and how you handled it.

Interviewers may ask this question to assess your ability to work with data and interpret it. When answering, consider describing a time when you had to analyze large amounts of data or information and how you used that information to make decisions or solve problems.

Example: “At my previous job, I was responsible for analyzing the hospital’s budget each month. This involved looking at all expenses and revenues from the previous month and comparing them to the same period in the prior year. It also required me to look at any changes in revenue streams or expenditures and determine if they were normal or unusual. By doing so, I could identify areas where we needed to adjust our spending.”

7. Which tools are you familiar with using for analyzing data?

Interviewers may ask this question to see if you have experience with the tools they use at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. If you don’t, it can be a good idea to mention that you’re willing to learn new ones.

Example: “I’ve used Microsoft Excel for analyzing data in previous positions and I’m familiar with Google Sheets as well. I also know how to use Tableau for creating visualizations of data.”

8. Do you prefer working as part of a large team or small team?

This question is designed to assess your ability to work in a team setting. It’s important for employees at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to be able to collaborate with their colleagues and support one another.

Example: “I prefer working as part of a small team, but I also enjoy collaborating with others on projects. At my last job, I worked primarily by myself, however, I would regularly meet with other members of the research team to discuss our findings and progress. This helped me learn how to communicate effectively with my coworkers.”

9. Can you describe some of the most important things to remember when working with children?

Interviewers may ask this question to see if you have experience working with children and how you interact with them. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific example of when you worked with children and what made the situation unique or challenging.

Example: “I think one of the most important things to remember when working with children is that they are still developing emotionally and cognitively. It’s important to always speak to them in a way that makes them feel comfortable and safe. I also find it helpful to use simple language so that they understand exactly what I’m saying.”

10. Are you experienced in dealing with medical emergencies such as seizures, cardiac arrest, asthma attack, etc.?

Interviewers may ask this question to assess your experience in dealing with medical emergencies and how you would respond if they occurred at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. If you have previous experience, explain what steps you took to ensure the patient received proper care. If you do not have any experience, describe what you would do if faced with a similar situation.

Example: “I’ve never experienced a seizure or cardiac arrest during my time as a nurse, but I am prepared for these situations. During my training, I learned about different methods of handling seizures and cardiac arrests, including administering oxygen and performing chest compressions. I also understand that it is important to remain calm when responding to an emergency so that I can focus on providing the best care possible.”

11. St Jude’s is known for being an innovative company. How do you feel about innovation?

This question is an opportunity to show your interest in innovation and how you can contribute to the company’s culture of innovation.

Example: “I am passionate about innovation, especially when it comes to healthcare. I believe that we are at a time where technology has advanced enough for us to make real progress in finding cures for diseases like cancer. I would love to be part of a team that works together to find new ways to treat patients.”

12. Have you ever worked with animals before? If so, tell us about your experience.

This question is a great way to gauge your interest in working with animals. If you have experience, share what kind of work you did and how it helped the animal. If you don’t have any experience, talk about why you would like to get involved with this type of work.

Example: “I’ve always had an interest in helping animals. I volunteered at my local shelter for two years, where I cleaned kennels and fed the dogs and cats. It was rewarding to see them go home with their new families.”

13. Tell me about a time where you were able to make a difference in someone else’s life.

This question is a great way to show your passion for helping others and the impact you can have on those around you. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight how you helped someone else and what their life was like before and after your help.

Example: “When I first started working as a nurse at my current hospital, there was an older gentleman who would come in every week for chemotherapy treatment. He always had a smile on his face and was so positive about everything he was going through. One day, when he came into the hospital, he told me that he was feeling really tired and weak. I took him back to our medical unit where we did some tests and found out that he was severely dehydrated. We gave him fluids and checked his blood pressure and other vital signs. After that, he felt much better and went home.”

14. Do you have any experience training staff members?

This question can help interviewers understand your leadership skills and how you might fit into the organization. If you have experience training staff members, describe what motivated you to do so. If you don’t have direct experience training staff members, consider describing a time when you helped someone learn something new or developed a skill.

Example: “I’ve had several opportunities to train staff members in my previous positions. I enjoy helping others learn new things and find ways to improve their work processes. For example, at my last job, I noticed that one of my coworkers was having trouble with a specific task. I offered to help her practice until she felt comfortable performing it on her own.”

15. How comfortable are you making decisions independently?

This question is an opportunity to show your ability to make decisions and solve problems independently. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a time when you made a decision or solved a problem without the help of others.

Example: “I am comfortable making independent decisions because I have had many opportunities in my previous roles to do so. For example, at my last job, we were understaffed for several weeks due to some employees being out sick. During that time, I was responsible for scheduling appointments and delegating tasks to other staff members. This experience has helped me understand how important it is to take on more responsibility when needed.”

16. What are some challenges you see facing nurses today?

Interviewers may ask this question to gauge your awareness of the nursing industry and how it’s changing. They want to know that you’re aware of current issues in healthcare, so be sure to mention a few challenges nurses face today and what you think can help solve them.

Example: “I see two main challenges facing nurses today. The first is burnout. Nurses are often overworked and underappreciated, which leads to high turnover rates and difficulty finding qualified candidates. I believe one way to combat this would be to offer more training opportunities for nurses who want to advance their careers. Another solution could be implementing new technology into hospitals that frees up some time for nurses to spend with patients.”

17. Tell me about a time when there was a conflict between yourself and another member on the nursing staff. How did you handle the situation?

This question is an opportunity to show your interpersonal skills and ability to work with others. It also allows you to demonstrate how you can resolve conflict in a professional manner.

Example: “In my previous role, I had a disagreement with another nurse about the best way to care for a patient. We both wanted what was best for the child, but we disagreed on how to achieve that goal. Rather than argue or ignore each other, we talked through our disagreements and came up with a compromise that allowed us to provide excellent care while still allowing each of us to do things our own way.”

18. How well do you think you will be able to handle the emotional aspect of caring for terminally ill patients?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your emotional intelligence and ability to handle stressful situations. When answering this question, it can be helpful to discuss how you have handled similar situations in the past.

Example: “I think I will do well with this aspect of the job because I’ve worked as a pediatric nurse for five years now, and I’m used to seeing terminally ill children. In my previous position, I had one patient who was very sick but also very brave. She would always smile when she saw me, which helped me get through her treatments. I learned that even though these patients are facing difficult circumstances, they still deserve to be treated with kindness.”

19. What skills do you have that will allow you to succeed at St Jude’s?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you have the skills and experience necessary for success at St. Jude’s. When answering this question, it can be helpful to list specific skills or experiences that are relevant to the position.

Example: “I am a highly organized individual who has excellent time management skills. I also have strong communication skills and enjoy working with others. These skills will allow me to succeed in my role as a research assistant at St. Jude’s because they help me stay focused on my work and communicate effectively with my colleagues.”

20. Please share with us how you keep up-to-date with current trends in nursing.

Interviewers may ask this question to assess your commitment to professional development and how you stay current with the latest developments in healthcare. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific program or resource that helped you learn about new trends in nursing.

Example: “I am passionate about my career as a nurse and want to continue learning more about the field. I have taken several online courses on topics like pediatric care and emergency response training. These courses help me keep up-to-date with the latest research and best practices for patient care.”