MCQ Quiz: Interviewing Skills

A successful interview is the crucial final step in securing a residency, fellowship, or career position. Strong interviewing skills go beyond just answering questions; they involve meticulous preparation, professionalism, and strategic communication. As highlighted in the Personal and Professional Development curriculum “, the ability to effectively articulate your skills and experiences is a core professional competency. This quiz will test you on all phases of the interview process, from pre-interview research and the STAR method to professional follow-up.

1. An interviewer asks, “Tell me about a time you had to handle a conflict with a coworker.” This is an example of what type of interview question?

• a. A situational question
• b. A behavioral question
• c. A technical question
• d. A closed-ended question

Answer: b. A behavioral question

2. The STAR method is a structured way to answer behavioral interview questions. The “R” stands for:

• a. Rationale
• b. Result
• c. Reference
• d. Repeat

Answer: b. Result

3. What is the most important step to take before any job or residency interview?

• a. Pick out your outfit.
• b. Research the organization, its mission, and the specific position.
• c. Prepare a list of salary demands.
• d. Memorize your CV.

Answer: b. Research the organization, its mission, and the specific position.

4. The question “What would you do if you received a prescription that you believed contained a serious error?” is a(n):

• a. Behavioral question
• b. Situational question
• c. Illegal question
• d. Personal question

Answer: b. Situational question

5. Which of the following is an illegal question for an interviewer to ask?

• a. “What are your greatest strengths?”
• b. “Are you planning on having children soon?”
• c. “Why are you interested in this position?”
• d. “Describe your experience working in a team.”

Answer: b. “Are you planning on having children soon?”

6. The “refine their interviewing skills” is a specific objective in which course?

• a. PHA5024C Personal and Professional Development 4
• b. PHA5104 Sterile Compounding
• c. PHA5703 Pharmacy Law and Ethics
• d. PHA5784C Patient Care 4

Answer: a. PHA5024C Personal and Professional Development 4

7. When using the STAR method to describe a situation, the “A” or “Action” step should focus on:

• a. What the team did.
• b. What the situation was.
• c. What the outcome was.
• d. What specific actions you took.

Answer: d. What specific actions you took.

8. What is the best way to answer the common interview question, “What is your greatest weakness?”

• a. State that you have no weaknesses.
• b. State a genuine weakness, but show self-awareness and explain the steps you are taking to improve upon it.
• c. State a weakness that is actually a strength in disguise (e.g., “I’m a perfectionist”).
• d. Blame a former professor or preceptor for your weakness.

Answer: b. State a genuine weakness, but show self-awareness and explain the steps you are taking to improve upon it.

9. At the end of an interview, when asked, “Do you have any questions for us?”, the strongest response is:

• a. “No, you’ve covered everything.”
• b. To ask questions about salary and vacation time only.
• c. To ask thoughtful questions about the role, team dynamics, and the organization’s goals.
• d. To say nothing.

Answer: c. To ask thoughtful questions about the role, team dynamics, and the organization’s goals.

10. After an interview, sending a personalized thank-you note or email is:

• a. An outdated and unnecessary practice.
• b. A professional courtesy that reinforces your interest in the position.
• c. Only necessary if you think the interview went poorly.
• d. A sign of desperation.

Answer: b. A professional courtesy that reinforces your interest in the position.

11. The PPD 4 course covers career development topics like CVs and interviewing.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

12. For a virtual interview, professional attire is:

• a. Not necessary, since they can only see your face.
• b. Recommended for the top half only.
• c. Still expected, and you should dress as you would for an in-person interview.
• d. A casual t-shirt is acceptable.

Answer: c. Still expected, and you should dress as you would for an in-person interview.

13. A key skill for answering interview questions is:

• a. To give very long, rambling answers.
• b. To interrupt the interviewer frequently.
• c. To provide concise, relevant, and structured answers.
• d. To answer every question with a simple “yes” or “no”.

Answer: c. To provide concise, relevant, and structured answers.

14. An “elevator pitch” is a career development tool that is a:

• a. A long, detailed presentation about your life story.
• b. A quick, 30-60 second summary of who you are, what you do, and what you are looking for.
• c. A method for answering situational questions.
• d. A type of interview.

Answer: b. A quick, 30-60 second summary of who you are, what you do, and what you are looking for.

15. The communication skills learned in the Professional Skills Lab courses are directly applicable to interviewing.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

16. Which of the following is an example of a good question to ask an interviewer?

• a. “What does a typical day in this role look like?”
• b. “What are the biggest challenges facing the department right now?”
• c. “What are the opportunities for professional growth in this position?”
• d. All of the above.

Answer: d. All of the above.

17. “Explore career pathways” is an objective in the PPD curriculum.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

18. If you are asked a question and do not know the answer, the best course of action is to:

• a. Make up an answer and hope it is correct.
• b. Honestly state that you do not know the answer, but explain how you would go about finding it.
• c. Ignore the question and change the subject.
• d. End the interview.

Answer: b. Honestly state that you do not know the answer, but explain how you would go about finding it.

19. What is the “S” in the STAR method?

• a. Strengths
• b. Skills
• c. Situation
• d. Solution

Answer: c. Situation

20. An active learning session on interviewing skills is a likely component of the PPD curriculum.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

21. It is important to be prepared to discuss every single item listed on your CV during an interview.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

22. Which of the following demonstrates poor body language in an interview?

• a. Making good eye contact.
• b. Slouching in your chair and avoiding eye contact.
• c. A firm handshake.
• d. Nodding to show you are listening.

Answer: b. Slouching in your chair and avoiding eye contact.

23. The skills lab objective “Present a succinct oral patient summary” is similar to what interview task?

• a. Answering “Tell me about yourself.”
• b. Presenting a clinical case during a residency interview.
• c. Both a and b.
• d. Neither a nor b.

Answer: c. Both a and b.

24. An active learning session on career development is part of which course?

• a. PHA5024C Personal and Professional Development 4
• b. PHA5163L Professional Skills Lab 3
• c. PHA5781 Patient Care I
• d. PHA5782C Patient Care 2

Answer: a. PHA5024C Personal and Professional Development 4

25. A pharmacist’s ability to communicate effectively with patients and providers is a skill that is highly valued by employers.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

26. The “T” in the STAR method stands for:

• a. Time
• b. Teamwork
• c. Task
• d. Training

Answer: c. Task

27. When preparing for a residency interview, it is important to:

• a. Be prepared to discuss your clinical experiences from your APPE rotations.
• b. Understand the specific focus of the residency program.
• c. Articulate why you are a good fit for that particular program.
• d. All of the above.

Answer: d. All of the above.

28. An active learning session on interviewing is part of which course module?

• a. The PPD 4 course.
• b. The Diabetes Mellitus Module
• c. The Women’s Health Module
• d. The Geriatrics Module

Answer: a. The PPD 4 course.

29. The purpose of asking behavioral questions is based on the premise that:

• a. Past behavior is the best predictor of future performance.
• b. Hypothetical situations are easy to answer.
• c. Candidates should be put under as much stress as possible.
• d. Technical skills are the only thing that matters.

Answer: a. Past behavior is the best predictor of future performance.

30. The PPD 4 course focuses on refining interviewing skills.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

31. A good way to start your answer to “Tell me about yourself” is to:

• a. Recite your entire CV from the beginning.
• b. Provide a brief, professional summary of your background and your interest in the position.
• c. Discuss your childhood hobbies.
• d. Ask the interviewer to tell you about themselves first.

Answer: b. Provide a brief, professional summary of your background and your interest in the position.

32. Active listening during an interview is important because it allows you to:

• a. Fully understand the question being asked.
• b. Show that you are engaged and interested.
• c. Formulate a more thoughtful response.
• d. All of the above.

Answer: d. All of the above.

33. An appropriate question for a candidate to ask an interviewer is:

• a. “Do you enjoy working here and what is the team culture like?”
• b. “How much money do you make?”
• c. “Are there any difficult people on the team?”
• d. “Do you think I’ll get the job?”

Answer: a. “Do you enjoy working here and what is the team culture like?”

34. It is acceptable to speak negatively about a previous employer or preceptor in an interview.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: b. False

35. A key part of preparing for an interview is:

• a. Anticipating potential questions and practicing your answers.
• b. Going into it with no preparation to seem more spontaneous.
• c. Writing out and memorizing exact answers for every question.
• d. Arriving exactly on time or a few minutes late.

Answer: a. Anticipating potential questions and practicing your answers.

36. A clinical case presentation during a residency interview is designed to assess your:

• a. Clinical knowledge and problem-solving skills.
• b. Communication and presentation skills.
• c. Ability to think on your feet.
• d. All of the above.

Answer: d. All of the above.

37. The experiences from IPPEs provide valuable examples for answering behavioral interview questions.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

38. The lecture on professionalism is part of which course?

• a. PHA5021C Personal and Professional Development 1
• b. PHA5163L Professional Skills Lab 3
• c. PHA5781 Patient Care I
• d. PHA5782C Patient Care 2

Answer: a. PHA5021C Personal and Professional Development 1

39. A good “Result” for a STAR method story would include:

• a. A vague statement like “it went well.”
• b. A specific, quantifiable outcome if possible (e.g., “The intervention reduced medication errors by 25%”).
• c. What you wish would have happened.
• d. The actions you took.

Answer: b. A specific, quantifiable outcome if possible (e.g., “The intervention reduced medication errors by 25%”).

40. An active learning session covering career development is part of which course?

• a. PHA5024C Personal and Professional Development 4
• b. PHA5163L Professional Skills Lab 3
• c. PHA5781 Patient Care I
• d. PHA5782C Patient Care 2

Answer: a. PHA5024C Personal and Professional Development 4

41. The goal of an interview is two-sided: for the employer to assess you, and for you to assess if the organization is a good fit.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

42. A thank-you note should be sent within how long after the interview?

• a. 1 month
• b. 1 week
• c. 24-48 hours
• d. It is not necessary to send one.

Answer: c. 24-48 hours

43. A pharmacist’s ability to demonstrate empathy is a quality that can be assessed during an interview.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

44. The most important non-verbal communication skill in an interview is:

• a. Avoiding eye contact.
• b. Fidgeting constantly.
• c. Maintaining confident, open body language and good eye contact.
• d. Slouching.

Answer: c. Maintaining confident, open body language and good eye contact.

45. Which of the following is NOT a good way to prepare for an interview?

• a. Doing a mock interview with a friend, mentor, or career services.
• b. Reviewing your own CV and a list of common interview questions.
• c. Reading the company’s annual report.
• d. Staying up all night before the interview.

Answer: d. Staying up all night before the interview.

46. A “panel interview” is one where:

• a. You interview a panel of candidates.
• b. You are interviewed by multiple people at the same time.
• c. The interview takes place on a wooden panel.
• d. The interview is recorded.

Answer: b. You are interviewed by multiple people at the same time.

47. The PPD curriculum is designed to help students develop skills that are valuable in a professional interview.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

48. An active learning session on interviewing is part of which course?

• a. PHA5024C Personal and Professional Development 4
• b. PHA5163L Professional Skills Lab 3
• c. PHA5781 Patient Care I
• d. PHA5782C Patient Care 2

Answer: a. PHA5024C Personal and Professional Development 4

49. The overall management of your career path is the responsibility of:

• a. Your professors.
• b. Your preceptors.
• c. Yourself.
• d. The school’s career services department.

Answer: c. Yourself.

50. The ultimate goal of learning and practicing interviewing skills is to:

• a. Be able to confidently and effectively communicate your value to secure a desired professional position.
• b. Pass the PPD course.
• c. Get a perfect score in an interview.
• d. Memorize answers to every possible question.

Answer: a. Be able to confidently and effectively communicate your value to secure a desired professional position.