Interview Tips for Phlebotomists & Common Questions – Answers

Now that you have completed your studies and graduated with a certificate / diploma or an honorable associate’s degree in the field of phlebotomy, you are officially a phlebotomy technician.

Due to the extensive courses you have taken and the skills you have learned, you are more than qualified to provide proper phlebotomy care. Now is the time to gather all that you have learned and the skills you have acquired, in order to apply such knowledge to real-world situations.

This is the time to increase your level of confidence and use your professionalism to seek job opportunities as a phlebotomist. During the planning stages of looking for such an opportunity, it is priority to prepare a good resume.

A good resume should be highlighting your skills, education and professional experience. Each highlight should be relevant to the position in which you are seeking: phlebotomy technician. If you recently graduated from a training program and have no professional work experience, it is important to highlight experience gained from your externship. Such a resume would help to open the doors of opportunity. Once you are done with that, common interview questions should be prepared and rehearsed prior to and immediately after scheduling an interview.

Where to Find Employment Opportunities

During the job hunting process, there are many places to search in hope of finding employment as a phlebotomy technician. If you view the classified section of newspapers, online or in print, there are tons of job openings listed. Of the many ads that are there, you are sure to find job openings for phlebotomy technicians. Other places to search include online job sites such as Indeed.com, Monster.com and CareerBuilder.com.

These job sites are flooded with employment opportunities, as hundreds of new jobs are posted daily. Once you have scanned through all the postings and have found opportunities that interest you, the next step is to schedule an interview.

Scheduling an Interview

While speaking with potential employers on the phone in hopes of obtaining an interview, effective communication is priority. During this process, it is important to put your best foot forward, as first impressions are lasting impressions. Although communication by phone is not face-to-face, communication at this stage is equally important, as it could lead to an interview for the desired position as a phlebotomy technician. Making use of correct grammar, while speaking slowly and clearly, are effective ways to communicate.

It is always recommended to have an air of confidence, as this will show through your speech. Such characteristic will send a positive message to the potential employer and lead him or her to believe that your job qualities are outstanding. This unspoken message should surely get you to the interview table. A bullet list concerning phone etiquette is noted below. Use this reference often to master such skills.

Phone Etiquette Skills – Scheduling an Interview

• Speak slowly and clearly: You want to make sure your words are heard and understood.
• Use proper grammar: You want to make sure your message is clearly understood.
• Be professional: Do not eat or drink while speaking on the phone.
• Speak confidently: Speak with a positive attitude and self-assurance; this message will be well-received.
• Speak in a quiet environment: Schedule an interview in an environment that is free of background noise and speak in low traffic areas.
• Avoid interruptions: Allow a potential interviewer to complete a statement or question before commenting or responding.
• Use clarification: Once an interview is scheduled, repeat important information such as the date, time and place of the interview; this will help to avoid the possibility of miscommunication.
• Obtain important information: It is important to obtain the interviewer’s first and last name in addition to the correct spelling and pronunciation. This will help to eliminate embarrassing moments of misspelling the interviewer’s name on an application or mispronouncing his or her name during the greeting process.

Attending an Interview

Once you have succeeded in impressing the potential interviewer via phone, it is now time to make a favorable impression face-to-face. While attending an interview, it is always in your best interest to put your best foot forward. Although this is equally true when scheduling an interview, there are some differences.

During a face-to-face interview, the interviewer or potential employer sees the entire package. At this point, he or she makes the connection between your communication skills and a physical picture of who you are. Your communication skills are now placed with an identifiable image. As such, this allows an interviewer to quickly assess who you are and determine if you are the right person for the job.

In order to send a positive message, it is important to dress appropriately, act confidently and maintain a level of professionalism at all times. By doing so, this sends a message to the potential employer that you are deeply interested in obtaining a position within his or her company or organization. A bullet list concerning the skills and techniques necessary to have a successful interview is referenced below. Use this reference often and master the topics noted.

Interviewing Skills and Techniques to Help Land the Job

• Sell yourself: If you are shy, this is not the time to possess such characteristic. If you are a person with confidence, use this to your advantage. Speak highly of the skills you have acquired throughout your phlebotomy training. Tell of your experience during your externship and impress the interviewer with examples of your venipuncture skills. Sound enthusiastic concerning your role as a future phlebotomist with the interviewing company.
• Dress appropriately: No hats, caps, sneakers, jeans or excessive jewelery. Certain hats, however, may be worn due to religious references.
• Arrive early: This allows time to mentally and physically prepare yourself for the interview, if applicable. This also allows time to complete an application or list references prior to the scheduled appointment.
• Make eye contact: Making eye contact sends a message of confidence. This air of confidence lends itself to credibility; this is important in every interview.
• Show recognition: Greet the interviewer by last name. This shows a level of respect and acknowledgment concerning the position held by the interviewer. Everyone loves to be respected and acknowledged.
• Provide complete answers: Answer all questions thoroughly; do not leave room for assumptions. Give the exact information you want the interviewer to know.
• Research: It is always important to do a little research concerning the company with which you will have an interview. The knowledge gained will allow you to ask questions relevant to the company. Your ability to ask questions concerning a company’s history will show your interest in the company and the position of phlebotomy technician.
• Be exactly who you are: Show your true personality, if appropriate. Smile, speak positively, be grateful and assertive. Walk, talk and act with a disposition of confidence. Such characteristic provides an insight concerning your future role as a phlebotomy technician.
• Present an outstanding resume: The information on your resume provides an insight to your quality and skills. The style and quality of paper used will provide an insight concerning who you are as a person.

Now that you have received a list to master the skills necessary for phone etiquette and a list of skills needed to land the job, it is now necessary to familiarize yourself with interview questions. As you seek jobs, it would be to your advantage to know some of the common questions asked during an interview. Knowing such questions beforehand will allow you the opportunity to review them and prepare proper responses.

Common Phlebotomist Interview Questions with Answers

1. How did you become interested in phlebotomy?

As a young child, I have always had an interest in healthcare. As I have attended many medical appointments in the past, I have always been fascinated with the medical terms used by phlebotomy technicians and the use of phlebotomy equipment. I was always amazed to see how phlebotomists performed venipuncture procedures. I have always had the desire to become a phlebotomist.

2. Are you comfortable with venipuncture procedures?

I am extremely comfortable with venipuncture procedures. During my phlebotomy courses, I received extensive training concerning the collection of blood. My training involved step-by-step instructions ranging from where and how to tie a tourniquet, to choosing the correct needle type and size in addition to finding the perfect vein. Additionally, the in-class training and real-life experience I received from my externship allows me to be extremely comfortable with the collection of blood.

3. How much phlebotomy experience do you have?

My phlebotomy experience extends from the three month training I received from my phlebotomy courses and my 40 hours of training during my externship. Additional experience comes from the 3 month volunteer work I provided for various hospitals and outpatient draw sites.

4. Why should I hire you as a phlebotomist?

By hiring me as a phlebotomy technician, I will be an asset to your healthcare staff. Once hired, I will bring my knowledge of the venipuncture process and experience of working with various populations. My skills of working with people will bring repeat patients who expect to receive high-quality healthcare.

5. What qualities would you bring to the job?

As a certified, skilled phlebotomist, one of the most important qualities I will bring to the job is professionalism. I will treat all colleagues and patients with the respect they deserve. Patients will receive quality healthcare regardless of their nationality or economic status. I will treat each patient as a person by engaging in small conversation to provide a feeling of relaxation throughout the blood collection process.

6. How would you identify a patient?

As a professional phlebotomist, it is my responsibility to correctly identify patients at all times. This will help to eliminate any errors and the possibility of malpractice, due to the delivery of healthcare to the wrong patient. To correctly identify a patent, I will ask for critical information concerning the patient’s full name, date of birth and address. The provided information will be compared to the healthcare records o file.

7. What would be the best part of the job?

The best part of being a phlebotomist would be doing what I love best: Providing quality healthcare and assisting patients when possible. The service all patients deserve.

8. What would be the worst part of the job?

As a phlebotomist, the worst part of my job would be the inability to make patients feel comfortable. As a healthcare professional, it would be my responsibility to gain the trust of my patients.

9. How would you describe a typical day as a phlebotomist?

A typical day as a phlebotomist include gathering patient files and organizing work stations. When a patient arrives, I will introduce myself and ask questions concerning the patient’s first and last name, date of birth and address. This information will be used to compare the information on file. Before blood is withdrawn, non-sterile gloves will used to open an alcohol pad, a band-aid and a sterile gauze. The necessary equipment will be displayed. Once the patient is asked which arm is preferable for the process, I will inform the patient of each step and prepare him or her for the actual withdrawal of blood. A tourniquet will be applied to the patient, palpation of the veins will take place and the site to be injected will be sterilized. Once the blood is collected in the vacutainer , the sample will sent to the lab for various tests.

10. How do you find a vein?

Once a tourniquet is tied, I would use the palpation method to find a suitable vein.

11. What if you have difficulty finding a vein?

If I have difficulty finding a median cubital vein, I would check the cephalic vein. If difficulty persists, after checking both arms, I would palpate the dorsal vein for withdrawal. Withdrawing blood from the hand would be the last resort.

12. What would you do if you saw an unpleasant interaction between a colleague and a patient?

If I observed an unpleasant interaction between a colleague and a patient, I would pleasantly ask my colleague if he or she needed assistance. Hopefully my presence and assistance would turn a negative experience into a positive one.

13. Why do you want to work here?

I have chosen to work here because my research indicates high-quality care performed at this facility. I would like to work among the best in the field of phlebotomy.

14. Do you have a problem working with the young or elderly?

I do not have a problem working with either population. My phlebotomy training and experience provides me with the skills and patience to work with all populations.

15. How would you describe yourself?

I am a pleasant individual with an out-going personality. I am reliable, professional and dedicated.

Seeking a position as a phlebotomy technician involves great preparation. Mastering the skills of phone etiquette and the skills necessary to land a job are critical in the preparation process. Once these skills are mastered, you are sure to land the job of your dreams and make use of your phlebotomy diploma / degree.