In this presentation, we offer tips for moving from student to professional medical assistant with basic interview skills.

1. Medical Assistant Programs at
Interviewing for a Medical
Assistant Job

2. Moving from Training to
Employment
• Once you have completed your
medical assistant training, you’ll want to put your
hard-earned skills to work. But first, you will have to
land a job.
• Here, we offer tips for how to go from student to
professional medical assistant with the basic interview
skills you’ll have in order to find your first job.
• We’ll also discuss advanced interview skills including
interview prep advice.

3. Basic Medical Assistant
Interviewing Skills
• It’s important to remember that the things that made
you a good student will make you an excellent job
candidate. These include:
– Punctuality
– Positive attitude
• Everest College’s Career Services coaches are
available to help students refine important job
interview skills, including:
– Making a good first Impression
– Knowing your strengths and weaknesses
– Learning from mistakes

4. Punctuality
• As with any type of job interview, arriving to
the interview early shows the employer that
you are responsible and take the opportunity
seriously.
• Punctuality is especially important in the
medical field because doctors, patients, lab
technicians, and other medical staff
members are all very busy.
– Arriving at an interview early shows respect for
their time.

5. Positive Attitude
• Medical assistants deal with many people on
a day-to-day basis.
– When interviewing candidates, employers are
looking for personable individuals with positive
attitudes.
• The medical field can be stressful, so a
sunny outlook is preferred in most offices.
– If you have a positive attitude, you may have a
better chance at finding a job.

6. First Impressions
• “First impressions are lasting impressions.”
– A job interview is like one extended first
impression.
• To make the best impression:
– Dress professionally
– Smile
– Use eye contact
– Be prepared to answer questions
– Use your positive attitude!

7. Know Your Strengths &
Weaknesses
• When you know your strengths and weaknesses,
you’ll be able to demonstrate your value as a medical
assistant and how you’ll fit into the work environment.
– This is exactly what the interviewer wants to know!
• Feel free to explain all your best strengths. You
should also have one weakness prepared – it’s okay,
everyone has weaknesses.
– When discussing your weakness, be sure to focus on
how you are working to overcome it. Provide examples if
available.

8. Learn from Your Mistakes
• An interview may not always lead to a job,
but it is always a valuable learning
experience.
• Review the areas where you think you fell
short and work on improving them before
your next interview.
– If possible, contact the person who interviewed
you and ask for some brief guidance as to where
you can improve for future interviews.

9. Advanced Interviewing
Techniques
• In addition to basic interviewing techniques,
you can impress the interviewer and increase
your chances of getting the job by doing the
following:
– Anticipating interview questions and coming
prepared with thoughtful answers.
– Demonstrating knowledge of specific jobs tasks.
– Preparing questions for the employer. Research
the employer and know in advance what you want
to ask about.

10. Anticipating Interview
Questions
• The best way to get ready for an interview is
to prepare thoughtful answers to common
interview questions.
– Google the company you’re interviewing with to
see if there are standard questions they ask
prospective employees.
– Once you’ve prepared your responses, have a
friend ask you some standard interview questions
so you can practice your answers.

11. Standard Interview
Questions
• Standard interview questions include:
– Tell me about yourself.
– Why did you choose this career path?
– Describe your ideal job.
– Describe a time you had to deal with a difficult
situation at work. How did you handle it?
– How would your instructors describe you?
– What are your career goals?
– Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
– Why do you want to work here?

12. Demonstrating Knowledge of
Specific Jobs Tasks
• During your interview, it’s important to
demonstrate your knowledge of the
job. You can do this by using
examples in your answers.
– Discuss experience gained during your
medical assistance externship.
– Discuss clinical knowledge gained during
your medical assistance training.

13. Preparing Questions for the
Employer
• At the end of the interview, you will have a
chance to ask the interviewer any questions
you may have about the job.
• Preparing questions before hand:
– Demonstrates your enthusiasm for the job.
– Demonstrates your critical thinking skills.
– Ends the interview on a positive note.

14. Everest College Career
Placement Services
• Medical Assistant students at Everest College can
benefit from expert job placement coaching from
Everest’s professional Career Services team.
• The Career Services team helps students with:
- Resume writing
- Setting up interviews
- Arranging externships
- Fine-turning interview skills
- Mastering job search tools

15. Join Everest College’s Medical
Assisting Community
• Visit the Everest College Facebook page to hear from
medical assistants and current or prospective
students.

16. About Us
• Corinthian Colleges, Inc. offers medical
assistant training and education
through its Everest College, Everest
University, and Everest Institute
campuses nationwide.
• We are the largest educator of medical
assistants in the United States.

17. Request More Information
• Please call 1-(866) 210-6524 or visit
the Everest College Website to
request more information about
becoming a medical assistant.
• We look forward to hearing from you!