Nationwide Permanent & Temporary Staffing for Pathology & Histology Labs
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The impression you make in your interview could be the difference between landing your dream pathologists’ assistant job and missing out on a great opportunity.
Most interviewers will eventually ask, “Do you have any questions for me?”
This is a great opportunity for you to demonstrate your interest in the position, prove you’ve done your homework, and show them a few reasons why you’re a great fit for the role.
The questions you ask in an interview do more than give you insights into the company and job. They give the interviewer a glimpse into what you care about most and how you think about the job, which allows them to imagine the kind of employee you’ll be.
For example, asking a general question about the job responsibilities when they are listed on the job post or website may imply that you didn’t care to spend time preparing for the interview and may not really be that interested in the position. Asking specific, well-informed questions shows that you are engaged, self-motivated, and can be trusted to do your due diligence.
Ask these questions the next time you’re in an interview and you’ll be sure to leave a great impression.
Ask this, not that
There’s no shortage of advice articles just like this one giving you lists of interview questions to ask and avoid. Some of the questions are just a little too generic, while others may give off the wrong impression or even offend the interviewer.
The best and easiest way to prep for your interview is to chat with your pathology lab recruiter. They can also help talk through your interview with you afterward and offer tips to improve your interview questions and answers. Nicklas Medical Staffing was founded by a pathologists’ assistant and we work with countless labs daily, so we have the inside scoop on what hiring managers for labs across the country are looking for.
Cut through the noise of the not-so-great tips with this simple guide:
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Ask this… |
Not that… |
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“What do you love about working here?” |
“What’s it like working here?” “Do you like working here?” “What are the benefits like?” |
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“What does success look like in this role?” |
“When will I get a promotion/raise?” “How often will I get a review?” “What skills are you looking for?” |
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“Who would I work most closely with and what do they look for in a teammate?” |
“Who would I report to?” “What is your management style?” “What are you looking for in an ideal candidate?” |
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“I’m excited about the opportunity to [describe something listed in the job description]. Are there any responsibilities you think I may be doing that weren’t listed in the job description?” |
“What are the job responsibilities?” “What is a typical day?” |
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“Based on our conversation, are there any areas you’d recommend that I brush up on to make myself a better candidate for the role?” |
“What’s the training like?” “How long does training last?” |
“What do you love about working here?”
This is a great question because it gives your interviewer a chance to share some great details about the pathology lab that they might not have otherwise mentioned. It’s a question you can ask across different types of pathology jobs - from permanent positions to travel opportunities to temporary placements. No matter the answer, you can show that you are flexible to different types of positions.
It can give you insights into the company culture and team dynamic, and you can follow up with a response that shows you’d fit into that environment.
The interviewer will appreciate this question because they’ll get to share the things about their job and team that make them happy to be there. It’ll show them that you care about more than just your own success and that you want to be part of a team that loves working together.
“What does success look like in this role?”
This question shows that you are interested in doing your very best work if hired. It also shows that you are flexible and want to achieve results that are not just best for you, but best for the company, too. Another positive implication of this question is that you are looking for longevity and want to be dedicated to the role long enough to achieve that success.
After the interviewer responds, you’ll have a great opportunity to speak about how your experience and skills would set you up to achieve that success. It’s also a way to ensure that you have a chance to highlight key areas of your resume and background that they may not have asked about directly in the interview.
Who would I work most closely with? What do they look for in a teammate?
This is a more engaging way to ask a couple of common but generic questions: “Who will I report to?” and “What are you looking for in an ideal candidate?” Whereas those typical questions make you the focus of conversation, this phrasing emphasizes that you’re a team player and want to enhance the team’s capabilities. It also helps the interviewer visualize you working side-by-side with their current team rather than focusing solely on you as an interviewee.
If you receive a response that raises a red flag about working with a difficult person, reach out to your recruiter for guidance. The goal of asking these questions is to both show that you’re a good fit for the role and that the lab is a good fit for you in return.
Make sure your resume answers their questions
Your resume is your real first impression and it’s often all they have to remember you by after you shake hands and parts ways after the interview. Make sure you highlight your skills, certifications, and accomplishments with a template specially crafted for pathologists’ assistants. Download your free pathologists’ assistant resume template here!
