Describe your experience working with a diverse clientele.
It’s an interview for the medical field. I know I have to reflect on my own experience but how can integrate my own diversity and empathetic understanding into my answer, what kind of examples or scenarios are a worthy answer?
Re: How would you answer this question at a job interview...
When you are dealing with multilingual , diverse culture patients , you are clearly using a very different skill set to communicate effectively with them. This shows that you are capable of understanding and explaining to them, at their level , what ever needs to be asked or explained to them.
Similarly, someone who is just sensitive , comes with a smaller medical issue v/s someone who has a terminal illness , how you deal with both these cases will demand your diverse expertise , you cant be dealing with them the same way, right?
So what kind of specialist skills do you use to deal with the situation? Communication, working under pressure, ability to keep the patient motivated etc ..
Now, when you are being asked a question about diverse clientele, approach it in this manner :
Give example of situation where you dealt with two completely opposite situations , as suggested above , and then explain what skills you used to effectively deal with the situation.
That should get you through the toughest of interviews .
Re: How would you answer this question at a job interview...
Thanks chicken biryani, I guess I will have to write on a scenario in which treatment or interventions were culture based to show my cultural knowledge.
Re: How would you answer this question at a job interview...
I hope you are not confusing culture with diversity. Because diversity could be examples from your local culture too.. you will have to look at the depth of the problem to ensure you are giving the right kind of examples of your diverse experience
Re: How would you answer this question at a job interview...
No I'm not confusing these terms, the question is specified towards one ethnicity, so I have to provide what competency I have working with that population. :)
I suggest that you don't bring your own ethnicity in the picture. That way you can bring the example from the people of India, Pakistan, Muslim - without appearing as one of them
I'm just hypothetically speaking, but let's say you are discussing an ob gyn patient. You can mention that how you are sensitive towards their expectation of having no male presence inside the examination room. Adding that you are also from that culture would be an unnecessary info, and one thing I learned in interviews that I never volunteer any info that they did not ask for.
Re: How would you answer this question at a job interview...
Thanks TLK, but I'm wondering if the question was orientated towards my experience in working with Middle Eastern and Asian communities, do I mention my own ethnicity to show my cultural knowledge?
They want to know how you deal with other cultures, not how you deal with your own culture, so keep yourself neutral and ethnic free, so you can bring in middle eastern example.
Re: How would you answer this question at a job interview...
^ exactly what TLK said .. its important to focus on the diverse cultural clientele you deal with , irrespective of your own culture. If need be, and , If asked what gives you success at it , only then you can mention that you can relate better with that clientele since you come from a similar culture .
Re: How would you answer this question at a job interview...
Thanks. I'll have to draft something and see if I have more questions after that. Hopefully I have my application sent in by Monday and off my mind.
Re: How would you answer this question at a job interview...
Good luck Polished , hope all goes well for you
Re: How would you answer this question at a job interview...
Thanks, I sent in the application yesterday let's see how this goes, it took me a while answering all those supplementary questions regarding different scenarios, and drafting a new improved cover letter but I'm glad it's done with. Keep me in your prayers I find out my application status in mid January 2014 :).
Re: How would you answer this question at a job interview...
When you are dealing with multilingual , diverse culture patients , you are clearly using a very different skill set to communicate effectively with them. This shows that you are capable of understanding and explaining to them, at their level , what ever needs to be asked or explained to them.
Similarly, someone who is just sensitive , comes with a smaller medical issue v/s someone who has a terminal illness , how you deal with both these cases will demand your diverse expertise , you cant be dealing with them the same way, right?
So what kind of specialist skills do you use to deal with the situation? Communication, working under pressure, ability to keep the patient motivated etc ..
Now, when you are being asked a question about diverse clientele, approach it in this manner : Give example of situation where you dealt with two completely opposite situations , as suggested above , and then explain what skills you used to effectively deal with the situation.
That should get you through the toughest of interviews .
Good stuff CB !!!