Mock CST Interview

are you planning on having children?

Questions about your family status, gender ("How would you handle managing a team of all men?"), nationality ("Where were you born?"), religion, or age, are illegal—but they still get asked (and frequently). Of course, not always with ill intent—the interviewer might just be trying to make conversation—but you should definitely tie any questions about your personal life (or anything else you think might be inappropriate) back to the job at hand. For this question, think: You know, I'm not quite there yet. But I am very interested in the career paths at your company. Can you tell me more about that?"

Why do you want this job?

Again, companies want to hire people who are passionate about the job, so you should have a great answer about why you want the position. (And if you don't? You probably should apply elsewhere.) First, identify a couple of key factors that make the role a great fit for you (e.g., "I love customer support because I love the constant human interaction and the satisfaction that comes from helping someone solve a problem"), then share why you love the company (e.g., "I've always been passionate about education, and I think you guys are doing great things, so I want to be a part of it"). I love the surgical setting and working with high intellectual personnel in a fast paced environment where every move is critical toward saving the patient's life. It would give me me great satisfaction knowing that i was part of the team that was able to do that on an everyday basis. I think you guys have a great team here at this facility and i want to be part of it.

What's your dream job?

Along similar lines, the interviewer wants to uncover whether this position is really in line with your ultimate career goals. While "an NBA star" might get you a few laughs, a better bet is to talk about your goals and ambitions—and why this job will get you closer to them. What I look for in a job, and what I love about being a surgical tech is the opportunity to be part of a team that saves lifes. I love interacting with my co-workers quickly, effectively and problem-solving with them. Down the road, after becoming an expert and developing strong relationships, I would love to teach my expertise.

do you have any questions for us?

Be prepared for this and have thoughtful questions. Never ask about salary or benefits. Try to get them talking about what it is like to work there. This is your chance to find out what the job would really be like.

what's a time you exercised leadership?

Depending on what's more important for the the role, you'll want to choose an example that showcases your project management skills (spearheading a project from end to end, juggling multiple moving parts) or one that shows your ability to confidently and effectively rally a team. And remember: "The best stories include enough detail to be believable and memorable," says Skillings. "Show how you were a leader in this situation and how it represents your overall leadership experience and potential." In the food industry a "Re-call" is taken very serious because this can cause harm to the public. We had a Mock Recall as part of our yearly SQF (Safe Quality Food) audit, we are given 2 hours to complete the exercise 3 departments are involved in this exercise, CS-to recall sold product, Warehouse-to physically locate the product, and Inventory-to run all inventory reports, that would be me. CS supervisor was not in that day and the ladies in the department didn't know how to do this. I went to that department and walked 2 ladies through it, meanwhile i had one of my assistants run the inventory reports. We were able to complete the exercise in 1:45 min with a 100% recovery.

can you explain why you changed career paths?

Don't be thrown off by this question—just take a deep breath and explain to the hiring manager why you've made the career decisions you have. More importantly, give a few examples of how your past experience is transferrable to the new role. This doesn't have to be a direct connection; in fact, it's often more impressive when a candidate can make seemingly irrelevant experience seem very relevant to the role.

What would your first 30, 60, or 90 days look like in this role?

During the First 30 Days: You want to stress that you want to complete any necessary company specific training, meet all key business partners (internal and external), and review company processes. • During the First 60 Days: The next plan obviously builds upon what you did in the first thirty days. In this section, stress your commitment to learning the necessary details of the industry and company in order to be successful. • During the First 90 Days: The goal at the end of ninety days is to be fully integrated into the job and the company.

How would your boss and co-workers describe you?

First of all, be honest (remember, if you get this job, the hiring manager will be calling your former bosses and co-workers!). Then, try to pull out strengths and traits you haven't discussed in other aspects of the interview, such as your strong work ethic or your willingness to pitch in on other projects when needed. Actually, in my most recent performance review in August, my direct supervisor described me as someone who takes initiative and doesn't shy away from hard problems. My role involves a lot of on-site implementation, and when things go wrong, it's usually up to me to fix it. Rather than punting the problem back to the team, I always try to do what I can first. I know he appreciates that about me.If you were to ask my colleagues, I'm confident they'd describe me as patient, organized, and meticulous.

What's a time you disagreed with a decision that was made at work?

I once disagreed with my boss over how to best schedule production. Rather than question his authority in front of everyone, I talked to him off of the floor. I was open and honest about the problems I had with the way he wanted to do things. It turned out that there was just a simple misunderstanding in product availability. That disagreement we had showed me the importance of communicating with all of the updated information to make sure that something obsolete doesn't become a bigger problem than it needs to be.

How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations?

I stay motivated by thinking about the end result. I've found that even in the midst of a challenging situation, reminding myself of my goals helps me take a step back and stay positive.

what are you looking for in a new position?

Ideally the same things that this position has to offer. Be specific. I'm looking for a role that will allow me to learn from the ground up and build a career in this industry. But I do understand that in order to do that, I have to get the basics right and learn more about the organization. I'd love a position where I can use my skills and apply the knowledge I've acquired, to make an impact that I can see with my own eyes everyday. Of course, the position is only part of the equation. Being at a facility where I can grow and work toward something I care about matters, too.

Tell me about a challenge or conflict you've faced at work, and how you dealt with it?

In my present job there has to be constant communication between departments for different reasons: Customer Service request product to be processed from the Processing department, CS request product to be purchased from PD and everything has to be in writing, so this created so many emails, back-and forth. People would get frustrated because emails were missed and in the end customer wasn't happy. So i created a Master Excel Spreadsheet, where CS will put in a request to the respective department and wait for a reply. this way everything is documented and dated. Each department column was protected to avoid tampering. this made communication better between the departments with prompt responses.

what do you like to do outside of work?

Interviewers ask personal questions in an interview to "see if candidates will fit in with the culture [and] give them the opportunity to open up and display their personality, too," says longtime hiring manager Mitch Fortner. "In other words, if someone asks about your hobbies outside of work, it's totally OK to open up and share what really makes you tick. (Do keep it semi-professional, though: Saying you like to have a few beers at the local hot spot on Saturday night is fine. Telling them that Monday is usually a rough day for you because you're always hungover is not.)" Family is very important to me, so in my free time i like to spend with them as much as i can, i am a new auntie.

what is your greatest professional achievement?

Nothing says "hire me" better than a track record of achieving amazing results in past jobs, so don't be shy when answering this interview question! A great way to do so is by using the S-T-A-R method: Set up the situation and the task that you were required to complete to provide the interviewer with background context (e.g., "In my last job as a junior analyst, it was my role to manage the invoicing process"), but spend the bulk of your time describing what you actually did (the action) and what you achieved (the result). For example, "In one month, I streamlined the process, which saved my group 10 man-hours each month and reduced errors on invoices by 25%." In my present job I was able to save the company thousand of dollars by completing a year-end inventory in 2 days as opposed to 5, using 20 employees as opposed to the entire company. I accomplish this by writing new procedures and improving inventory organization.

what are your salary requirements?

The #1 rule of answering this question is doing your research on what you should be paid by using sites like Payscale and Glassdoor. You'll likely come up with a range, and we recommend stating the highest number in that range that applies, based on your experience, education, and skills. Then, make sure the hiring manager knows that you're flexible. My skills are valuable, i want the position and i am willing to negotiate.

What's your management style?

The best managers are strong but flexible, and that's exactly what you want to show off in your answer. (Think something like, "While every situation and every team member requires a bit of a different strategy, I tend to approach my employee relationships as a coach...") Then, share a couple of your best managerial moments, like when you grew your team from five to 15 or coached an underperforming employee to become the company's top salesperson. Management style is so hard to put your finger on, but I think in general a good manager gives clear directions and actually stays pretty hands-off, but is ready and available to jump in to offer guidance, expertise, and help when needed. While every situation and every team member requires a bit of a different strategy, I tend to approach my employee relationships as a coach I have

Why should we hire you?

This interview question seems forward (not to mention intimidating!), but if you're asked it, you're in luck: There's no better setup for you to sell yourself and your skills to the hiring manager. Your job here is to craft an answer that covers three things: that you can not only do the work, you can deliver great results; that you'll really fit in with the team and culture; and that you'd be a better hire than any of the other candidates. -I am the candidate for this position because of my strong work ethic. I am disciplined, responsible, committed 100 percent everyday and will ensure patient safety fist above all. -I am also very adaptable to a new team and culture. I have an open-mined and self-motivated to always keep learning from others.

Why are you leaving your current job?

This is a toughie, but one you can be sure you'll be asked. Definitely keep things positive—you have nothing to gain by being negative about your past employers. Instead, frame things in a way that shows that you're eager to take on new opportunities and that the role you're interviewing for is a better fit for you than your current or last position. For example, "I'd really love to be part of product development from beginning to end, and I know I'd have that opportunity here." And if you were let go? Keep it simple: "Unfortunately, I was let go," is a totally OK answer. My current position at Pacific Spice has helped me grow no only professionally but personally but my passion has always been in the medical field. I was able to pursue my passion earlier for economic reasons but my current job gave me this opportunity and now i am pursuing my career.

Can you tell me a little about yourself?

This question seems simple, so many people fail to prepare for it, but it's crucial. Here's the deal: Don't give your complete employment (or personal) history. Instead give a pitch—one that's concise and compelling and that shows exactly why you're the right fit for the job. Start off with the 2-3 specific accomplishments or experiences that you most want the interviewer to know about, then wrap up talking about how that prior experience has positioned you for this specific role. -I currently hold a 4.0 GPA in the Surgical Technology Program at CBD College. -I have competed in over 15 competitive races, from half marathons, to marathons, to triathlons, and obstacle course races. Placing in the top ten in some, including 1st place in a 7 mile obstacle course race. - In my current employment, I was promoted form CS representative to Inventory/Production Manager These experiences have given me the opportunity to enhance many skills and qualities that will better position me to strive as a Surgical Technologist, such as: Leadership, Organization, Communication, Teamwork, and Work Ethic.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Well I'm really excited by this position because in five years, I'd like to be seen as someone with deep expertise in Surgical Technology, and I know that's something that I'll have an opportunity to do here. I'm also really excited to take on more responsibilities in the next few years and potentially even become a lead. I've been lucky enough to work with some amazing managers, and so developing into a great manager myself is something I'm really excited about.

What do you consider to be your weaknesses?

What your interviewer is really trying to do with this question—beyond identifying any major red flags—is to gauge your self-awareness and honesty. So, "I can't meet a deadline to save my life" is not an option—but neither is "Nothing! I'm perfect!" Strike a balance by thinking of something that you struggle with but that you're working to improve. For example, maybe you've never been strong at public speaking, but you've recently volunteered to run meetings to help you be more comfortable when addressing a crowd. I've never been strong at public speaking but managing year end inventory with my current employer made me comfortable addressing crows.

What are your greatest professional strengths?

When answering this question, interview coach Pamela Skillings recommends being accurate (share your true strengths, not those you think the interviewer wants to hear); relevant (choose your strengths that are most targeted to this particular position); and specific (for example, instead of "people skills," choose "persuasive communication" or "relationship building"). Then, follow up with an example of how you've demonstrated these traits in a professional setting. My professional strengths determination and resilience. When i was competing in the obstacle races, I saw girls in my age group pass me making me feel defeated. So i trained harder throughout the year and I placed 1st the following year. I am fully determined to be the best I can be in my practice because of my passion for this field.

What type of work environment do you prefer?

When you're being asked about work environments, your best bet is to say you're flexible, or something along those lines, because at this stage in the interview process, you don't know what it'll be like working for this company. I can be flexible when it comes to my work environment. I can adapt to whatever the environment shall be.