A surgeon must develop a positive relationship with their patients by building rapport and trust. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's approach to patient interaction and professional relationships. What to look for in an answer:

• Interpersonal skills to develop a positive professional relationship with surgery patients
• Ability to adapt communication style and terminology to the audience they are addressing
• Interest in creating a strong patient relationship built on trust and expertise

A surgeon must prepare to have difficult conversations with their patients about the risks and potential surgery outcomes. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's ability to communicate effectively with empathy and compassion. What to look for in an answer:

• Communication skills for a positive bedside manner
• Ability to answer questions in a meaningful way that provides knowledge to the patient
• Interest in helping others with compassion, empathy, and understanding

A successful surgeon understands that they are part of a larger health care team supporting the wellbeing of their patients. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's experience in working with other health care professionals. What to look for in an answer:

• Interest in providing high-quality health care to all patients
• Interpersonal skills to work effectively with other medical professionals
• Networking and communication skills to develop professional relationships with other health care workers

There are times when two surgeons may disagree on the best course of action for a specific patient. The goal of the question is to determine the candidate's approach to handling a professional disagreement while keeping the patient's best interest in mind. What to look for in an answer:

• Solid foundational knowledge and expertise in their particular field of surgery
• Communication skills to conference with the other surgeon to discuss all possibilities
• Interest in providing the best medical care to the patient

A competent surgeon must stay updated with their knowledge and strive to improve their professional skills constantly. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's approach to professional development. What to look for in an answer:

• Interest in taking part in professional development opportunities
• Interpersonal and networking skills to build professional relationships
• Ability to adapt newly learned knowledge into their position

A surgeon must be competent at all aspects of surgery and typically finds certain areas to be more rewarding than others. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's professional preferences, strengths, and weaknesses. What to look for in an answer:

• Self-awareness to identify their professional strengths and weaknesses
• Commitment to providing high-quality care at all times
• Interest in being of service to others

A surgeon needs to handle a wide variety of patient issues and personalities. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's ability to relate to a patient and provide high-quality care, even with complex or challenging patients. What to look for in an answer:

• Solid foundational knowledge and expertise within their field
• Interpersonal skills to build positive patient relationships
• Communication skills to provide education and information to a patient

A successful surgeon needs to be both skilful in their surgical abilities and their patient interaction or bedside manner. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's ability to have positive patient interaction and communication. What to look for in an answer:

• Interest in providing exceptional patient care throughout the patient's experience
• Interpersonal skills to build rapport and relate to the patient
• Positive personality characteristics to make a patient feel heard and at ease

A surgeon needs to handle workplace stress positively and productively, especially while performing surgical procedures. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's ability to manage stress effectively without affecting performance. What to look for in an answer:

• Positive and productive stress management strategies
• Critical thinking and analytical skills to assess the situation
• Creative thinking and problem-solving abilities to develop viable solutions to challenges

During a surgeon's residency, they typically complete research in a particular area of medicine. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's area of study and how they've used the information to benefit their skills and knowledge as a surgeon. What to look for in an answer:

• Ability to adapt experience and knowledge to benefit the current situation
• Interest in continuing to improve their professional skills
• Enthusiastic about contributing to the field of medicine and surgery

A competent surgeon has many opportunities in their future that can include teaching, research, and writing. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's long-term professional goals and how they fit in with the position they are interviewing for. What to look for in an answer:

• Ability to set long-term goals and objectives for their career
• Interest in improving their professional skills and abilities
• Awareness of the various career paths available to them within their field

A surgeon needs to be well-versed in all forms of surgery but typically specialises in a particular area. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's professional preferences for surgery, what they enjoy most, and what they are skilled at. What to look for in an answer:

• Solid foundational knowledge and expertise in general surgery
• Self-awareness of professional strengths and weaknesses
• Ability to identify their preferred types of surgery

A surgeon needs to have the self-awareness to identify their professional strengths and weaknesses. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's opinion of their most significant weakness as a surgeon. What to look for in an answer:

• Awareness of the full scope of duties and responsibilities of the position
• Critical thinking and attention to identify strengths and weaknesses in their skills and knowledge
• Interest in continuing to develop their professional abilities

A successful surgeon ensures open communication with their patients and family members before and after surgery. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's approach to patient interaction and pre-operative care. What to look for in an answer:

• Interest in providing thorough knowledge and information to a patient before surgery
• Ability to communicate to a patient about what they can expect and to answer questions
• Interpersonal skills to be approachable and relatable to a patient

An interview candidate must understand the job description's duties and responsibilities, as well as understanding what your facility or company does and who you primarily serve. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's interview preparation and desire to contribute to your organisation. What to look for in an answer:

• Interest in researching the company and job position, as well as primary demographic served
• Ability to adapt their experience to benefit the current job position
• Enthusiastic about the company and position