General questions

Interviewers usually ask general questions first to understand who you are and
what motivates you at work. Your answers to these questions can help them
assess if you're suitable to become a part of their team and the workplace. This
can be a great opportunity to demonstrate professionalism and passion for
your work. Here are some common general questions:

 'What are your long-term career goals?'

 'What experience do you hope to gain from this role?'
 'Can you describe what you consider to be your weaknesses?'
 'What are your strengths?'
 'Why do you want to work in this position?'
 'How does this role fit into your career path?'
 'Tell me about yourself.'
 'Why did you leave your previous role?'
 'What do you know about this organisation?'
 'Do you have any questions for us?'

Questions about experience

An interview is a time for a potential employer to learn about your experience

and qualifications beyond your CV. They may ask you to answer questions
related to your previous experience and what skill level you can bring to the
team. There may also be questions regarding specialist procedures and
techniques, such as these:

 'Can you tell me about your duties in your current role?'

 'What skills can you bring to this role?'
 'Why did you decide to become an HCA?'
 'How do you think that your experience relates to the role?'
 'What do you consider to be your area of specialism?'
 'What types of medical equipment and techniques are you comfortable
with?'
 'What experience with personal care do you have?'
 'What continuing professional development are you pursuing?'
 'Tell me about your prior experience.'
 'What are your educational aspirations or goals?'
 'Are there any areas where you feel you could benefit from further
training?'
 'What would say is the most challenging aspect of being an HCA?'
 'How do you approach patient confidentiality?'
 'How do you adapt your communication style for patients with extra
needs?'
Discussion questions

Some employers often ask questions that allow you to go into detail about your
skills and experience. These typically involve on-the-job scenarios or scenarios
from previous roles to show how you apply your skills. They usually give
employers a sense of how you work and how you respond to pressure or
problems. Here are some examples:

 'Tell me about a time that you faced a problem at work and how it turned
out.'
 'Tell me about a time that you dealt with a difficult patient. What was the
outcome?'
 'Tell me about a time that you took the initiative as an HCA. What was the
outcome? What did you learn?'
 'What has been the biggest challenge that you have faced professionally?'
 'What skills does an HCA require to succeed?'
 'What do you enjoy most about being an HCA?'
 'Tell me about a time that you communicated effectively with a patient's
family.'
 'Tell me about a time when you worked with other health care
professionals.'
 'Can you tell me about a situation where you reflected on how you would
have improved?'
 'How would you enter a patient's room?'
 'What steps do you take to respect patient privacy and dignity?'
 'Tell me about a time that you dealt with a high-pressure situation in the
workplace.'
 'Can you give me an example of a time that you collaborated with other
medical professionals?'
 'Can you describe how you would help a patient after a fall?'
 'How do you manage stressful or emotional aspects of this work?'

HCA interview questions with sample answers

Here are some interview questions and sample answers you can use to develop
responses and prepare for your HCA job interview:

How do you manage the stressful or emotional aspects of this work?

HCAs often perform their duties in high-pressure situations. Your answer could
address your behaviour under pressure and reference a past example where
applicable.
Example: 'I understand that working with patients in high-pressure situations can
make some parts of this role stressful. I think it's important to acknowledge that and
make time to relax in-between periods of work. I prefer to solve the problem at hand
before addressing my feelings on the situation. For example, I recently worked with
a patient who was agitated and physically resisting care. After solving the situation,
I found a quiet corner and took a few moments to breathe and relax. After work,
when I have more time, I practice mindfulness and make time for reflection.'

What skills does an HCA require to succeed?

Your potential employer may be looking to see what transferable skills you
have. This question can also demonstrate your values and how you approach
your work. You can consider sharing the most important skills and explaining
them in short.

Example: 'Because the patient is central to what we do, a health care assistant
communicates effectively and understands each patient's needs. We listen actively
and make decisions based on what we know and what we've heard. For example,
one patient may have different personal care capabilities than the next. I wouldn't
assume that one patient being unable to do a task meant that every patient couldn't
do it. Instead, I would ask where my help would benefit them and work accordingly.'

What continuing professional development are you pursuing?

Health care has plenty of opportunities to develop professionally and gain new
qualifications. Staying up-to-date on your knowledge can help you excel in your
interview. Continuing to update your skills can signal to employers that you're
committed to growing in your career.

Example: 'I look for opportunities to keep my skills up-to-date. It's for the benefit of
my patients as it helps me to understand their needs and respond to them
effectively. So, I have attended a series of lectures on the needs of care patients since
qualifying. For example, I attended a training course last month for advanced first
aid in a care setting. Alongside the technical skills and procedures, the course
covered how to respond to additional needs in care patients. We went into depth
about encouraging patients to take ownership of their care and how HCAs can assist
with that.'
Why did you leave your previous role?

This is a common question in some industries. It can help employers to

understand your career goals and how you hope to progress. It can also
indicate any unique challenges that you may have faced in a previous role.
Finally, this question can give you an opportunity to explain any difficult
circumstances around leaving a prior position.

Example: 'I enjoyed my time in my previous role and got a lot out of the challenges
and support there. I decided to seek a different role because I am looking to
progress my career and take on additional responsibilities. I applied to this role
because of the opportunity to take on responsibility for medical processes with
patients, where my previous role was focused more on personal care. I learned a lot
about communicating with patients and basic nursing skills from this position. I
hope to bring these skills to this role while putting my medical knowledge to good
use.'

Do you have any questions for us?

This can be an important part of the interview process, but candidates often
forget about it. Having questions prepared can show potential employers that
you're taking your job search seriously and are interested in the role. It's also
your chance to ask anything about the role that was unclear in the job listing or
that can help you to decide if it's the right role for you.

Example: 'I'd love to know a bit more about the scope there is for progression in
this role. I read through the job description and noticed that it mentioned the
potential to take on management responsibilities. What would this involve? I would
like to know more about the training opportunities in this position. I want to learn
more about urgent care in a care setting. Is this something that I could potentially
do as part of this role?'