Preparing for an interview is never easy, even if you feel confident in your abilities.
Being able to present yourself in a professional and organized way will help you make a good impression and stand out among other candidates.
Planning for some of the most commonly asked questions you’re likely to get is good. Here are some of the most common questions you may be asked:
- How well do you work under pressure?
- What experience do you have as a sterilization technician?
- How has your skillset improved over the last few years?
- How do you go about sterilizing dental equipment?
- Tell me about your work ethic.
Each of these questions not only belies a field of depth that you need to address, but they also serve as an excellent opportunity to showcase your:
- qualifications,
- experience,
- and interpersonal skills.
The rest of this article will provide an in-depth overview of these dental sterilization technician interview questions and sample answers to help you focus your thoughts.
Dental Sterilization Technician Interview Questions and Answers
1. How well do you work under pressure?
The ability to work under pressure is essential to any job, but the need becomes even more apparent in a dental setting.
Other dentists, hygienists, and technicians count on you as a sterilization technician to complete your jobs orderly and approach each sterilization procedure accurately and professionally.
See also: Dentist Interview Questions
If you have any specific case scenarios that demonstrate your ability to work well under pressure, be sure to bring them to light and take this opportunity to share your workflow concepts.
Example answer:
I tend to excel under pressure.
Before I became a dental sterilization technician, I served as a dental assistant, taking on many roles and responsibilities to ensure that the entirety of the office staff could perform their functions on time.
See also: Dental Assistant Interview Questions
When I became a technician, that same work ethic of completing tasks punctually has always kicked into gear in high-pressure situations.
I recall one point in my prior employment when we had a much higher volume of patients than anticipated, creating a more stressful environment in the office.
While the workload took some adjustment, I can honestly say that some of my best work was done in high-pressure situations.
2. What experience do you have as a sterilization technician?
Qualifying your familiarity with dental sterilization techniques is essential to your interview.
When your hiring manager inevitably asks this or a similar question, respond by quoting your specific knowledge of sterilization techniques, referencing your education and education practice.
Example answer:
I have served in the role of sterilizing dental equipment for three years, and I am adept at cleaning, sterilizing, and disinfecting dental equipment.
In my prior employment, my responsibility was ensuring each instrument was cleaned thoroughly before it was put in the autoclave, then the cleaning chamber.
See also: Sterile Processing Supervisor Interview Questions
3. How has your skill set improved over the last few years?
For many employers, it’s not enough that you have the mechanical skill to complete your job.
Demonstrating growth goes a long way toward bettering yourself as a person and making a long-lasting asset to a company.
Discuss how your mindset towards your work has changed and the different skill sets you’ve had to develop on the job.
Example answer:
Being a dental sterilization technician comes with its fair share of challenges, including approaching new equipment with different sterilization techniques required.
My experience has taught me the importance of being transparent and present with my work, never lackadaisical.
The social aspect of being a technician has also been something I’ve worked on in the past few years, learning how to communicate expectations to other staff members to foster a functional, efficient work environment.
See also: Orthodontic Assistant Interview Questions
4. How do you go about sterilizing dental equipment?
While it may seem simple, your hiring manager will likely seek to understand how well you can do your job and your methods.
For questions like this that require a mechanical understanding of your role’s responsibilities, make sure you think ahead, so you’re not stumbling over your words.
Example answer:
I always read the manufacturer’s recommendations to determine how different long instruments need to be sterilized, and, of course, different materials require other sterilization methods.
Metal requires more heat energy to clean, and instruments stored together must be sterilized concurrently not to contaminate each other.
When an item needs to be sterilized, I place it in a designated spot, clean and sterilize it, and return it to where it was previously kept.
See also: Sterile Processing Technician Interview Questions
5. Tell me about your work ethic.
Your work ethic may set you apart from another technician with similar experience.
Hiring managers will always take someone willing to learn and grow, maintaining their standard of ethics, over someone who may be more experienced but less empathetic.
Share examples of how your work ethic positively impacted the office space.
Example answer:
I always aim to make the dental space safe and clean for patients and dentists.
In my previous position, for example, I recognized that a dental assistant was low on medical resources.
Rather than putting the task on hold until the next day since it was close to closing time, I spent some time after work filing the order so we could have the supplies in the morning.
See also: Why Do You Want to Be a Sterile Processing Tech
How to Prepare for Dental Sterilization Technician Interview Questions?
While you want to be authentic in your interview, putting some thought towards:
- your qualifications,
- your experience,
- and how you’ve grown as a professional
can all help you stand out to a hiring manager.
Think about how your experiences have changed you and conceptualize your answers to the above questions so that you’re ready to discuss your eligibility for the position in depth.
Dental Sterilization Technician Interview Questions and Answers PDF
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Conclusion: Interview Questions for Sterilization Technicians
Being a dental sterilization technician is a highly specialized skill set, but you never want to be lax in preparing for an interview.
Review these five questions and the sample answers for a good head start on these dental sterilization technician interview questions.
Best of luck with your upcoming interview!
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