Top interview questions to expect

1. Describe a time when you successfully changed someone’s behavior using health education principles.
2. What techniques do you use to deliver engaging and effective health education sessions?
3. How do you stay up-to-date with the latest public health trends and best practices?
4. Provide an example of a health education program you designed and implemented, highlighting its impact.
5. How do you assess the effectiveness of your health education interventions and make adjustments as needed?
6. Share an instance where you faced a challenging audience and how you adapted your approach to effectively communicate your message.
7. How do you collaborate with other professionals, such as healthcare providers and community partners, to promote public health initiatives?

Answering interview questions with STAR structure

The STAR method is a widely recognized framework for answering behavioral interview questions, which will help you provide clear and structured responses highlighting your skills and experience.

S (Situation): Briefly describe the situation or task that you faced.
T (Task): Explain the specific task or goal that you were responsible for.
A (Action): Describe the actions you took to address the situation or complete the task.
R (Result): Share the positive outcomes or accomplishments resulting from your actions.

By utilizing the STAR method, you can effectively demonstrate your abilities, problem-solving skills, and achievements in a concise and impactful manner.

Sample answers to above interview questions

1. Question: Describe a time when you successfully changed someone’s behavior using health education principles.

Answer: During my internship at a community health center, I worked with a patient struggling with smoking cessation. I began by establishing a rapport and assessing their motivation for quitting. Then, I tailored an education plan emphasizing the health benefits of quitting and provided resources for support groups. Through regular follow-ups and encouragement, I helped them develop a personalized plan for overcoming cravings and managing stress. Ultimately, they successfully quit smoking, demonstrating the effectiveness of health education principles in changing behavior.

Reason: This answer effectively demonstrates the STAR method by highlighting the situation (working with a patient struggling with smoking cessation), the task (tailoring an education plan and providing support), the actions taken (establishing rapport, assessing motivation, providing resources, regular follow-ups), and the positive result (the patient successfully quitting smoking).

2. Question: What techniques do you use to deliver engaging and effective health education sessions?

Answer: When delivering health education sessions, I utilize various techniques to make them engaging and effective. I start by understanding my audience and their specific needs. Then, I employ a mix of interactive activities, storytelling, visual aids, and group discussions to capture their attention and facilitate active learning. Additionally, I encourage questions and open dialogue, fostering a collaborative environment where participants feel comfortable sharing their perspectives and experiences. By incorporating these techniques, I ensure that my sessions are not only informative but also engaging and memorable.

Reason: This answer showcases the speaker’s ability to deliver engaging and effective health education sessions by highlighting the techniques they use, such as understanding the audience, employing a mix of interactive activities, storytelling, and encouraging questions.

3. Question: How do you stay up-to-date with the latest public health trends and best practices?

Answer: To stay current with the latest public health trends and best practices, I actively engage in ongoing learning and professional development. I regularly attend conferences, seminars, and workshops related to public health. Additionally, I subscribe to industry publications, newsletters, and online resources to keep abreast of emerging research, policies, and initiatives. By doing so, I ensure that my knowledge and skills remain relevant and aligned with the evolving field of public health, enabling me to deliver high-quality services and interventions to my clients.

Reason: This answer demonstrates the speaker’s commitment to staying up-to-date with the latest public health trends and best practices by mentioning specific actions they take, such as attending conferences, reading publications, and engaging in ongoing learning.

4. Question: Provide an example of a health education program you designed and implemented, highlighting its impact.

Answer: As a Public Health Educator, I designed and implemented a comprehensive health education program focused on promoting healthy eating habits among school children. The program included interactive workshops, cooking demonstrations, and nutrition counseling sessions. To assess its impact, I conducted pre- and post-program surveys and observed a significant increase in students’ knowledge of healthy eating and their intention to make healthier food choices. Additionally, I received positive feedback from teachers and parents, indicating improved eating habits among the students. This successful program demonstrated the effectiveness of health education in promoting positive behavior change.

Reason: This answer effectively showcases the STAR method by clearly describing the situation (designing and implementing a health education program), the task (promoting healthy eating habits among school children), the actions taken (interactive workshops, cooking demonstrations, nutrition counseling sessions, pre- and post-program surveys), and the positive result (increased knowledge of healthy eating, intention to make healthier food choices, positive feedback from teachers and parents).

5. Question: How do you assess the effectiveness of your health education interventions and make adjustments as needed?

Answer: Evaluating the effectiveness of my health education interventions is crucial for ensuring they achieve their intended goals. I utilize various evaluation methods, including surveys, focus groups, and data analysis, to gather feedback from participants, stakeholders, and community members. Based on the evaluation findings, I make data-driven adjustments to improve the intervention’s content, delivery methods, and strategies. This iterative approach allows me to continuously refine my interventions to maximize their impact and ensure they are responsive to the community’s needs and preferences.

Reason: This answer demonstrates the speaker’s commitment to evaluating the effectiveness of their health education interventions and making necessary adjustments by highlighting the methods they use (surveys, focus groups, data analysis) and the iterative approach they take to refine their interventions.

6. Question: Share an instance where you faced a challenging audience and how you adapted your approach to effectively communicate your message.

Answer: During a health education session on smoking cessation, I encountered a challenging audience skeptical of the health risks associated with smoking. To effectively communicate my message, I tailored my approach by acknowledging their concerns and validating their perspectives. I presented evidence-based information and shared personal stories of individuals who had successfully quit smoking, highlighting the positive impact on their health and well-being. Additionally, I encouraged open dialogue and addressed their questions and objections respectfully. By adapting my approach and demonstrating empathy, I was able to connect with the audience and effectively convey the importance of smoking cessation, ultimately leading to several participants expressing interest in quitting.

Reason: This answer effectively showcases the speaker’s ability to adapt their approach to effectively communicate with a challenging audience by highlighting the specific actions they took, such as acknowledging concerns, validating perspectives, presenting evidence-based information, and encouraging open dialogue.

7. Question: How do you collaborate with other professionals, such as healthcare providers and community partners, to promote public health initiatives?

Answer: Collaboration is essential in promoting public health initiatives. I actively seek opportunities to partner with healthcare providers, community organizations, and government agencies. By working together, we can leverage our collective expertise, resources, and networks to achieve a greater impact. I take the initiative to build rapport and establish effective communication channels to foster a collaborative environment. Additionally, I contribute to joint planning, implementation, and evaluation efforts, ensuring that our initiatives are comprehensive, well-coordinated, and responsive to the community’s needs. This collaborative approach enables us to maximize our resources, avoid duplication of efforts, and ultimately improve the health outcomes of the population we serve.

Reason: This answer effectively highlights the speaker’s ability to collaborate with other professionals and organizations to promote public health initiatives by emphasizing the actions they take (seeking opportunities to partner, building rapport, establishing communication channels, contributing to joint planning, implementation, and evaluation) and the benefits of collaboration (leveraging collective expertise, avoiding duplication, improving health outcomes).