20 STERIS Interview Questions and Answers

When it comes to infection prevention and contamination control, STERIS Corporation is a world leader. STERIS provides customized solutions for a variety of environments, and their products are used in hospitals, laboratories, and other critical care settings around the globe.

If you’re lucky enough to land an interview with STERIS, you can expect to be asked some tough questions about your experience and qualifications. In this article, we’ll give you a head start by providing some sample STERIS interview questions and answers.

STERIS Interview Process

The interview process at STERIS can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require at least two rounds of interviews, often including a phone screen and an in-person interview. The length of the hiring process can also vary, but it is typically fairly lengthy, taking several weeks or even months to complete.

Overall, reviewers generally had positive things to say about their experience interviewing with STERIS. Many found the people they interviewed with to be friendly and helpful. However, there were some complaints about the length of the process and the lack of communication from the company during the hiring process.

1. What is your experience with equipment maintenance?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your experience with sterilization equipment and how you maintain it. Use examples from your previous job to show the interviewer that you can work independently and follow instructions when maintaining equipment.

Example: “In my last position, I was responsible for cleaning all of our sterilization equipment on a daily basis. This included washing, disinfecting and sanitizing each piece of equipment before putting it back in its proper place. I also performed weekly maintenance checks on all of the equipment to ensure that everything was working properly.”

2. How would you handle a customer complaint via email?

The interviewer may ask you a question like this to assess your customer service skills. Use examples from past experiences where you were able to resolve an issue with a customer and maintain positive relationships.

Example: “I once had a customer who was upset because they didn’t receive their order on time. I apologized for the inconvenience and explained that we had been experiencing technical issues with our shipping software. The customer understood, and I offered them a discount on their next purchase as an apology.”

3. Describe a time when you had to deal with an upset or angry customer.

An interviewer may ask this question to assess your customer service skills. They want to know how you would handle a situation where a customer was upset or angry with the company and how you would use your communication skills to resolve the issue.

Example: “I once had a customer who called me because they were unhappy with their purchase. I listened carefully to what they said, asked them questions about their concerns and apologized for any inconvenience we caused. We resolved the issue by offering them a refund on the product and giving them a discount on future purchases.”

4. Are you prepared for extensive traveling as a field service technician?

Traveling is a common part of the job for field service technicians. The interviewer wants to know if you have any concerns about this aspect of the position and how you would handle it.

Example: “I am prepared for extensive traveling as a field service technician, and I enjoy getting out into different environments. In my previous role, I was responsible for maintaining equipment in several hospitals across the state. I enjoyed meeting new people and learning more about their facilities. I think that working with STERIS will allow me to continue doing these things.”

5. Tell me about a time where you worked in a team environment, what was your role?

Working in a team environment is an important part of working at STERIS. The company wants to know that you are able to work well with others and collaborate on projects. When answering this question, try to highlight your communication skills and teamwork abilities.

Example: “In my previous role as a nurse, I worked in a team environment every day. My primary role was to provide medical care for patients, but I also had to work alongside other nurses and doctors to ensure the best patient care possible. I am used to communicating effectively with others and collaborating on projects.”

6. Can you tell me about a project that went well and one that did not go so well?

This question is a great way to learn more about your potential new employer and how they operate. It also gives you the opportunity to show that you can take constructive criticism and use it to improve yourself as an employee.

Example: “At my previous job, I was tasked with creating a sterile environment for a patient who had undergone surgery. The procedure went well, but when we opened up the operating room after the operation, there were some areas where the sterility wasn’t quite right. We discussed this in our team meeting, and I learned from my mistake. In my next procedure, I made sure to double-check all of my work before closing up the OR.”

7. Do you have any problem working outside of normal business hours?

This question is a good way to assess your willingness to work overtime when necessary. It can also help the interviewer determine if you have any family commitments that might prevent you from working outside of normal business hours.

Example: “I am happy to work outside of normal business hours, however I do have two children at home who require my attention after school and during the evenings. If there were an emergency situation where I was needed for overtime, I would make arrangements with my partner to ensure they could care for our children until I returned.”

8. What do you think the most important part of being a field service representative is?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you understand what it means to be a field service representative. You can use this question as an opportunity to explain your own personal values and how they align with those of STERIS, or you can discuss some specific qualities that make up a good field service representative.

Example: “I think the most important part of being a field service representative is having excellent communication skills. It’s essential for me to be able to clearly communicate information about our products and services to customers so that I can help them solve their problems. In my last position, I was often called upon to speak in front of large groups of people, which helped me develop my public speaking abilities.”

9. How comfortable are you talking on the phone?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your communication skills. If you have experience talking on the phone, describe a time when you had to talk with customers or clients and how you handled it.

Example: “I enjoy speaking on the phone because I find it easier than writing emails. In my previous role as an infection prevention specialist, I often spoke with hospital staff members over the phone to answer questions about our products. I always made sure to be friendly and helpful so that they would feel comfortable asking me questions in the future.”

10. Have you ever processed surgical instruments before? How would you sterilize them?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the company’s products and services. If you have experience with STERIS, share it in your answer. If not, research their products and services before the interview so that you can discuss them confidently during the conversation.

Example: “I’ve worked as an infection prevention specialist for several years now, and I’ve processed surgical instruments at hospitals and medical facilities across the country. At my last job, we used STERIS steam sterilizers to clean and disinfect surgical tools after each use. The process was very effective, and I’m excited to bring this knowledge to your team.”

11. STERIS prides itself in its strong attention to detail. When was a time where you displayed strong attention to detail?

Attention to detail is a key skill for anyone working in the medical industry. The interviewer may ask this question to assess your attention to detail and how it can benefit their organization. In your answer, try to describe an instance where you displayed strong attention to detail and what the results were.

Example: “In my previous role as a surgical technician, I was responsible for cleaning operating rooms after surgeries. This required me to clean each surface of the room thoroughly, including underneath equipment and inside drawers. One day, I noticed that one drawer had some blood on it. When I opened the drawer, I found a small piece of gauze with blood on it. I immediately reported this to my supervisor so they could report it to the surgeon.”

12. If we were to hire you as a sterile processing technician, how long do you see yourself staying at this position?

This question is a great way for employers to learn more about your career goals. When answering this question, it can be beneficial to mention any skills you hope to develop or how long you think it will take to master them. This can show the employer that you are committed to growing in your role and developing professionally.

Example: “I see myself staying at this position for quite some time. I am very passionate about sterile processing and would love to continue learning new techniques and procedures. I feel like there is so much more I could do to improve my skills as a sterile processing technician.”

13. What kind of training programs do you offer employees?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about the company’s training programs and how they can help you develop your skills. Use examples from your past experience of what kind of training programs were available, and explain how these helped you grow professionally.

Example: “In my previous role as a lab technician, I was able to take advantage of several different training programs that helped me advance in my career. For example, STERIS offers an extensive online training program where employees can learn new techniques for sterilization and infection prevention. The company also has on-site training facilities where employees can attend seminars and workshops to further their knowledge.”

14. Why are you interested in working at STERIS?

This question can help the interviewer learn more about your motivations for applying to their company. Use this opportunity to show that you have done research on STERIS and understand what makes it a desirable place to work.

Example: “I am interested in working at STERIS because of its reputation as an industry leader in infection prevention and contamination control solutions. I find the idea of helping hospitals, clinics and other healthcare facilities reduce infections among patients very rewarding. In my last role, I helped implement new sterilization procedures that reduced hospital-acquired infections by 20%. This is something I would love to do again.”

15. How will our company benefit from hiring you?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you have done your research on their company and can see how your skills would be a good fit. When answering this question, try to highlight some of the company’s values or goals and explain how you could help achieve them.

Example: “I am impressed by STERIS Corporation’s commitment to providing quality healthcare products and services. I believe my experience in infection prevention and control will benefit the company because it will allow me to provide solutions for hospitals and other facilities that are looking for ways to improve patient safety and reduce costs.”

16. What do you enjoy most about servicing customers?

This question can help interviewers understand your motivation for working in the healthcare industry. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific customer you helped and how their experience with STERIS influenced your career choice.

Example: “I enjoy helping customers find solutions that work best for them. I’ve had many opportunities to do this at my previous job, where I worked as an account manager. One of my favorite projects was when we were able to reduce our client’s infection rates by 50% after implementing new sterilization procedures.”

17. Tell us about a time you made a mistake while working in the field. How did you overcome it?

This question is a great way to show your ability to learn from mistakes and grow as an employee. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific mistake you made and how you overcame the situation.

Example: “While working in the emergency room of my previous hospital, I accidentally left a patient’s chart on top of a contaminated surface. This resulted in me having to re-sterilize all of the equipment that was used during that patient’s procedure. While this was certainly embarrassing, I learned to always double check that I have put away all of my materials before leaving the operating room.”

18. We like to work collaboratively here at STERIS, can you provide an example of having a good relationship with coworkers?

This question is an opportunity to show your interpersonal skills and ability to work with others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific example of how you worked well with someone else in the past.

Example: “I have always enjoyed working with my coworkers because I find that we all bring different perspectives and ideas to the table. In my last position as a nurse, I had a coworker who was very knowledgeable about patient care. Whenever I had a question or concern about a patient’s treatment plan, I would ask her for advice. She was happy to help me learn more about infection prevention and control.”

19. Do you have any special certifications related to maintaining medical equipment?

The interviewer may ask this question to see if you have any certifications that relate to the job description. If you do, share them with the interviewer and explain how they helped you in your previous roles.

Example: “I am a Certified Sterile Processing Technician through the National Service Center for Infection Control and Prevention. This certification has helped me understand infection prevention protocols and maintain sterile conditions within healthcare facilities.”

20. In your opinion, which piece of equipment requires the most care/maintenance?

This question is a great way to determine how much experience the candidate has with STERIS equipment. It also allows you to see if they are willing to take on additional responsibilities and tasks that may not be in their job description.

Example: “In my opinion, the most important piece of equipment to maintain is the autoclave. This machine sterilizes instruments by heating them to 250 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 15 minutes. If this process isn’t done correctly, it can lead to serious health risks for patients and staff members. I have been working as an assistant technician for two years now, so I am very familiar with all of our sterilization processes.”