How to Prepare for a Surgical Tech Job Interview

Choose Your Interview Clothing Carefully

Even though you will usually wear hospital scrubs after you get the job, you need to dress professionally for the interview. Plan to wear clothes that are well tailored, wrinkle free, and conservative in style and color. Do not wear an abundance of jewelry or makeup and avoid heavy perfumes or aftershaves.

Prepare Answers for "What If" Questions

Interviewers know that surgical technicians have to bear a lot of responsibility and be able to react prudently in stressful situations. They will probably ask you some hypothetical questions to gage your response to those types of circumstances. Consider your answer carefully before you respond. Help prepare yourself for those questions by planning answers to queries like these:

• What would you do if you observe a nurse behaving oddly during a critical procedure?

• If you believe an instrument was left in a patient, how would you handle the situation?

• Imagine an instrument isn’t working correctly during an operation and the surgeon is getting agitated. What would you do?

Be Ready to Ask Questions of Your Own

More than likely, you will be given an opportunity to ask the interviewer some questions. Be ready to respond with some job-related questions of your own. Refrain from asking about salary and other job benefits unless the interviewer brings up the subject, but do ask pertinent questions about the hospital itself, the job description, or other queries that display your strong desire to be a good employee and team member.

Be Prepared to Answer Personal Questions

An interviewer wants to get to know you and get a better idea of what kind of person you are. They may ask you questions like

• Why did you choose to become a surgical technician?

• What accomplishment in your life makes you the most proud?

• What kind of people would you most like to work with?

• What are your strengths and your weaknesses?

Be prepared to deliver a thoughtful, honest answer.

Do a Practice Interview

Try to get a friend or relative to do a mock interview with you. Use the interview to pinpoint areas where your replies may seem weak, then employ that experience to improve your answers.

Prepare a 2 Minute "Elevator" Speech

When the interviewer says “Tell me about yourself”, don’t answer by spewing out your age, marital status, or other trivia. This is an opportunity to highlight your professional and educational accomplishments. Use phrases like “I graduated in the top 5% of my class” or “I received an award”. This is the time to promote yourself and your professional accomplishments.

Get plenty of rest the night before the interview, allow plenty of time to get to the appointment, and believe in yourself and your abilities. Think positive and you’ll soon be a surgical technician with a good job of which you can be proud.