Common Interview Questions

Any Interview
1. Be prepared to answer any question related to anything listed on your resume, curriculum vitae, or the application
that was filled out when you applied to the position.
2. Be prepared to explain gaps in employment or education.
3. Be prepared to answer a question related to global and/or cultural awareness and the U.S.’s role within the
context of the world.
4. Be prepared to answer questions related to self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship
management.
5. What are your strengths/weaknesses related to this position?
6. What are your short-term and long-term professional goals?
7. Describe your ideal working environment.
8. Describe a difficult work experience and what you learned from it.
9. Describe a positive work experience and what you learned from it.
10. What are ways you deal with stress, challenges, or negative situations at work?
11. Describe your ideal supervisor.
12. What do you do for fun?
13. Why do you believe you would be a good fit for this position?
14. Why are you leaving your current position (if you’re currently employed elsewhere)?
15. Describe a time when you set a goal and achieved it.
16. Tell me about a time when you faced an ethical dilemma and how you handled it.
17. Please discuss an important written document you were required to complete.
18. Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond in order to get a job done.
19. Give me an example of a time when you had to make a split-second decision.
20. What is your typical way of dealing with conflict? Give me an example.
21. Tell me about a time you were able to successfully deal with another person even when that individual may not
have personally liked you (or vice versa).
22. Tell me about a difficult decision you've made in the last year.
23. What did you like or dislike about previous positions you’ve held?
24. Give me an example of a time when something you tried to accomplish failed.
25. Give me an example of when you showed initiative and took the lead.
26. If you belong(ed) to a student or professional organization, describe your role in it.
27. Tell me about a recent situation in which you had to deal with a very upset customer/patient or co-worker.
28. Give me an example of a time when you motivated others.
29. Tell me about a time when you delegated a project or task effectively.
30. Give me an example of a time when you used your fact-finding skills to solve a problem.

31. Tell me about a time when you missed an obvious solution to a problem.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy | Student & Academic Affairs Office
2220 Rennebohm Hall, 722 Highland Ave. | 608.263.6234
32. Describe a time when you anticipated potential problems and developed preventive measures.
33. Tell me about a time when you were forced to make an unpopular decision.
34. Describe a time when you set your sights too high (or too low) and how did that turn out?
35. Do you prefer to work individually or as part of a team and why?
36. Where do you see the future of pharmacy going? Where do you see the pharmacy profession five or ten years down
the round?
37. Describe a time you demonstrated creativity or innovation.
38. Do you have any outside commitments that would prohibit a flexible or rotating schedule?

Jobs in Academia
1. Why are you interested in our institution/department? What interests you about this position?
2. What are your research and/or teaching interests?
3. Describe previous research and/or teaching projects and experiences.
4. What is your personal philosophy of teaching/research/service/being a faculty member?
5. What gives you the most satisfaction as a professional?
6. What are some characteristics of a good faculty member/researcher/teacher that you admire?

Residencies
Reflective Questions
1. Why do you want to do a residency? Why are you interviewing for a residency here specifically?
2. Where do you see yourself after a pharmacy practice residency? What is your ideal position in 5 years if all barriers
are removed?
3. What areas of pharmacy most interest you?
4. What qualities do you possess that would make you a good resident?
5. What are your worst qualities?
6. Are you considering a specialty residency or fellowship?
7. Why did you attend pharmacy school?
8. What is your definition of pharmaceutical care?
9. What do you think are the greatest barriers to the growth of the pharmacy profession today?
10. Describe a situation where you received constructive feedback on your work.
11. What is your experience with research? What are your thoughts about completing a research project during your
residency?
12. What are your expectations of your pharmacy preceptors?
13. Describe a time when you were responsible for helping a group of people understand a new way of thinking about
problems and opportunities.
14. Describe a time when you feel you made a difference in a patient’s care.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy | Student & Academic Affairs Office
2220 Rennebohm Hall, 722 Highland Ave. | 608.263.6234
Experiential Questions
1. What was your favorite rotation?
2. Describe the most significant contribution you made to a patient’s care this past year.
3. What was your least favorite rotation?
4. Describe your most memorable experience from clerkship rotations.
5. If I were to ask preceptor X to describe you, what words would he or she use?
6. Describe your favorite or most memorable patient.
7. Who was your favorite preceptor?
8. Describe or discuss the most interesting medical journal article you have recently read.
9. Describe a conflict with a preceptor or attending physician.
10. What is your definition of a clinical pharmacist?

Doctor of Pharmacy
1. What have you done to prepare for pharmacy school? (experience, education, qualifications)
2. What factors influenced your decision to attend pharmacy school? (influences, motivation)
3. Why do you want to attend pharmacy school? (motivations and personal awareness)
4. Why do you want to be a pharmacist? (intent and purpose)
5. Tell me about yourself. (self-awareness, your story related to preparing for pharmacy)
6. Describe your related experience. (volunteer, community, clinical, research experience)
7. Why will you be a good pharmacy student?
8. What will you do if you do not get into pharmacy school? What is your second career choice?
9. What challenges do you anticipate arising during pharmacy school? During your career?
10. What changes would you like to see made in the current healthcare delivery system?
11. What other schools have you applied to? What’s your first choice and why?
12. Why do you want to go here? (your specific criteria for evaluating pharmacy programs)
13. What do you know about this pharmacy school? (provide specific criteria and reasons)
14. What criteria are you using to evaluate potential schools?
15. What type of pharmacist do you want to be? (career goals, types of practice interested in)
16. How did the pharmacists you volunteered/shadowed/worked with influence your outlook on the field of pharmacy?
17. Explain the discrepancy between your grades and PCAT scores. (qualifications)
18. How has your undergraduate education prepared you for pharmacy school?
19. Tell me about a time you believe you made a difference with a patient, or describe your most effective interaction
with a patient in a hospital setting?
20. What do you see as the most critical issues in pharmacy today?
21. What is your opinion on ____________? (a current issue in pharmacy and healthcare so try to stay up-to-date on
current events)

The University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy | Student & Academic Affairs Office
2220 Rennebohm Hall, 722 Highland Ave. | 608.263.6234
[Some sample questions were taken from University of Arizona Career Services and Ohio State University Career
Services]

The University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy | Student & Academic Affairs Office
2220 Rennebohm Hall, 722 Highland Ave. | 608.263.6234