Interview Information and Tips

Interviews on the Mayo Clinic campus in Rochester, Minnesota can range from 30 minutes to full-day events. You will also have the opportunity to tour the downtown Rochester area if time permits. Offers are generally made to successful candidates within 2-3 weeks of the on-site interview, but can take longer due to certain circumstances.

Interview Tips

To prepare for your interview, we suggest that you learn as much as you can about Mayo Clinic. Almost everything you want to know is available on this Web site. Next, make a list of questions you would ask if you were the interviewer.

Examples:

• What would I do in this position?
• What is a day like at Mayo Clinic and in the department?
• What are the growth opportunities?

Practice
During your interview, you will be asked technical questions that are specific to the position as well as behavioral. Practicing questions and answers is an excellent way to prepare. A useful hint is to review the job posting for skills that may be listed (i.e., communication skills, organization).

Job Specific Questions

• Expect questions that relate to your coursework and/or work experience.
• List your strong points from your resume on a piece of paper and prepare working examples for each.
• Talk through examples prior to your interview. We recommend that you practice your answers out loud.

Behavioral Questions

• These questions try to determine how you would work/act in certain situations. The interviewers are looking for examples from your past work or personal history that demonstrates how you responded in a similar situation. Past performance is the best predictor of future behavior. Examples of questions could include.
  
  
• Tell me about a time when you've had to cope with strict time demands or deadlines. Give a specific example.
• Give me an example that demonstrates your ability to organize and maintain a system of records to facilitate your work.
• Tell me about a team you've worked on and what your role was.
• Practice relating specific examples which demonstrate your skills in Mayo's Core Competencies:
• Supports our primary principle that the needs of the patient come first by continuously improving processes and services that support patient care, education and research.
• Fosters mutual respect and supports Mayo's commitment to diversity.
• Maintains and enhances professional competency and skills.
• Fosters teamwork, personal responsibility, integrity, innovation, trust and communication.

You may also want to list other relevant performance skills and experience with specific examples for these as well.

Here are some additional tips for the interview.

• You should dress in business attire (unless specifically directed otherwise).
• Be prepared for job-specific and behavioral questions:
• Your approach in answering questions is very important. Think through your response before answering. It's all right to take a moment to determine how you will answer. Silence is okay.
• Make sure you understand what is being asked. Ask clarifying questions.
• Be specific in your answers.
• Volunteer information when appropriate.
• Bring sufficient copies of your current resume, transcript (if necessary), and any relevant publications.
• Bring and ask your prepared questions about Mayo Clinic.
• Be professional and be relaxed. Be yourself.