Personal Care Assistant

This scenario question is testing your emotional ability to deal with unexpected situations, as well as your practical ability - both key areas in any career as a care assistant. The need to remain calm, without being confrontational, is as essential as any first-aid assistance that you can suggest.

One of the most useful interview tactics is to remain positive about your work and achievements. This question lets the candidate draw on their own personal history to show how they have been positive and successful in the face of difficulties. Choose a specific occasion to describe, rather than dealing with generic platitudes.

This is an important healthcare assistant interview question. It is asking you why you have decided that an assistant role is the most appropriate for your skills and interests, over a position such as a nurse or technician. Are you considering using it as a stepping stone to gain enough experience to advance onto a more skilled position? Have you had a personal experience within the healthcare system whereby you appreciated the care of an assistant? Or do you like the variety and flexibility that the role offers? Think carefully about how to answer this question, and remember to emphasize your passion for this role specifically, rather than healthcare in general.

With this question, your hiring manager wants to understand what drives you and if you will likely be an enthusiastic employee in the future. Do not give a curt or overly simple answer. Avoid any talk of benefits or salary. Instead, give an answer that reflects your dedication to your patient’s care and the company’s success.

Often, interviewers will ask questions to find out the level of technical knowledge that a candidate has concerning the duties of a care assistant. In a question such as this, there is an opportunity to demonstrate professional knowledge and awareness. The confidentiality of a person’s medical records is an important factor for a care assistant to bear in mind.

Start with a broad question that encompasses more than in-home health work to give you a general sense of the person. Try to identify patterns or trends that show experience in caregiving, companionship, and working with people, even if it isn't specifically with older adults. Look for experience that indicates an ability to work independently, without close supervision.

Medical knowledge is important in a care assistant role, and a question like this is designed to find out how extensive that knowledge is. It is not necessary to have the same level of knowledge as a doctor or a nurse, but outline the basic care approach to the situation. Focus on dealing with inappropriate behaviour, for example.