8 real-life anesthesiologist interview questions and answers
An anesthesiologist is a crucial medical professional responsible for administering anesthesia to patients before surgery, monitoring their vital signs during the procedure, and ensuring their comfort and safety throughout the operation. This role requires extensive medical training and expertise, making the interview process highly important to evaluate candidates effectively.
These anesthesiologist interview questions are directly sourced from real hiring managers and they are ready to use.
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8 good anesthesiologist interview questions
- Where did you train?
- Did you obtain a fellowship?
- What are you looking for in your career? For example, are you looking for leadership roles (to be head of a department), teaching roles (fellows, residents, nurse anesthetists), and/or administrative responsibilities? If you are not looking for any of those roles, would you be comfortable if asked to get involved in any of those types of work?
- Are you currently involved/interested in clinical research? If so, which peer-reviewed journals have you been published in, and have you presented this research at any meetings?
- What professional societies are you a member of? Do you typically attend their annual conference?
- How much obstetrics have you done in your training? How many deliveries did your hospital have a year, and are you comfortable doing high-risk obstetrics?
- Are you comfortable doing regional anesthesia, cardiac cases, thoracic cases, and pediatric cases?
- Are you interested in taking call?
Here are 8 real-life interview questions with sample answers to help you identify the best candidates for this role.
1. Where did you train?
This question helps assess the candidate’s educational background and the institutions they received their medical training from.
Sample answer
“I completed my medical training at [University/Hospital Name], where I obtained my medical degree and specialized in anesthesiology.”
2. Did you obtain a fellowship?
Inquiring about a fellowship can reveal whether the candidate pursued additional specialized training in the field of anesthesiology.
Sample answer
“Yes, I completed a fellowship in [Specific Anesthesiology Subspecialty] at [Fellowship Program Name].”
3. What are you looking for in your career? For example, are you looking for leadership roles, teaching roles, and/or administrative responsibilities? If you are not looking for any of those roles, would you be comfortable if asked to get involved in any of those types of work?
This question helps understand the candidate’s career aspirations and willingness to take on various roles within anesthesiology.
Sample answer
“I’m open to a variety of roles in my career, including leadership, teaching, and administrative responsibilities. My primary goal is to contribute to patient care and the advancement of our field.”
4. Are you currently involved/interested in clinical research? If so, which peer-reviewed journals have you been published in, and have you presented this research at any meetings?
Assessing a candidate’s involvement in research and contributions to medical literature provides insights into their commitment to staying updated on advancements in anesthesiology.
Sample answer
“Yes, I have been actively involved in clinical research, and my work has been published in journals like [Journal Names]. I’ve also presented my research findings at several national and international medical meetings.”
5. What professional societies are you a member of? Do you typically attend their annual conference?
This question gauges the candidate’s engagement in the medical community and their commitment to professional development.
Sample answer
“I’m a member of organizations such as [Professional Society Names], and I regularly attend their annual conferences to stay informed about the latest developments in our field.”
6. How much obstetrics have you done in your training? How many deliveries did your hospital have a year, and are you comfortable doing high-risk obstetrics?
This question explores the candidate’s experience with obstetric anesthesia and their comfort level with high-risk cases.
Sample answer
“During my training, I had the opportunity to work extensively in obstetric anesthesia. I’ve been involved in [Number of Deliveries] deliveries per year, and I’m comfortable handling high-risk obstetric cases.”
7. Are you comfortable doing regional anesthesia, cardiac cases, thoracic cases, and pediatric cases?
Assessing the candidate’s willingness and capability to handle different types of cases is essential for a well-rounded anesthesiologist.
Sample answer
“Yes, I have experience and am comfortable with a wide range of cases, including regional anesthesia, cardiac procedures, thoracic surgeries, and pediatric cases.”
8. Are you interested in taking call?
This question evaluates the candidate’s availability and willingness to be on call, which is often necessary for anesthesiologists in healthcare settings.
Sample answer
“Yes, I understand the importance of being available for emergencies, and I’m willing to take call as needed to provide the best care for patients.”
What does a good anesthesiologist candidate look like?
A strong candidate for the role of an anesthesiologist should possess the following qualities:
- Extensive medical training and certification in anesthesiology.
- A commitment to ongoing education and staying current with advancements in the field.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills to work effectively with patients, surgical teams, and medical staff.
- A willingness to take on various responsibilities, including leadership, teaching, and administrative roles.
- The ability to adapt to changing situations in a fast-paced healthcare environment.
- Experience in various types of anesthesia procedures, including obstetrics, regional anesthesia, cardiac cases, thoracic cases, and pediatric cases.
Red flags
During the interview process, be cautious of red flags such as:
- Lack of relevant medical training or certification in anesthesiology.
- Limited interest in ongoing professional development or research.
- Inadequate experience in handling diverse anesthesia cases.
- Unwillingness to take on-call duties, which are essential for providing comprehensive patient care.