Respiratory Therapist Interview Questions & Answers

Respiratory therapists care for patients who have trouble breathing—for example, from a chronic respiratory disease, such as asthma or emphysema.

Interviewers look for candidates that demonstrate excellent skills such as:

• Problem-solving skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Attention to detail
• Science and math skills
• Compassion
• Patience

In this blog, we discuss commonly asked interview questions during job interviews for Respiratory Therapist positions. We also discuss the qualities that interviewers look for in successful candidates. In other words, we’re here to help you out!

Also, read more about frequently asked job interview questions here and check our job interview preparation checklist.

Skills Interviewers Look For In Successful Candidates

Below we discuss the skills you can highlight in your answers to demonstrate that you’re qualified for the job.

Compassion

Why interviewers are interested in how compassionate you are:

Respiratory therapists should be able to provide emotional support to patients undergoing treatment and be sympathetic to their needs.

Attention to detail

Why interviewers are interested in your attention to detail:

Respiratory therapists must be detail-oriented to ensure that patients receive the appropriate treatments and medications on time. They must also monitor and record various pieces of information related to patient care.

Interpersonal skills

Why interviewers are interested in your interpersonal skills:

Respiratory therapists interact with patients and often work as part of a team. They must be able to follow instructions from a supervising physician.

Learn more about interpersonal skills interview questions and how to answer them!

Patience

Why interviewers are interested in how patient you are:

Respiratory therapists may work for long periods with patients who need special attention.

Problem-solving skills

Why interviewers are interested in your problem-solving skills:

Respiratory therapists need strong problem-solving skills. They must evaluate patients’ symptoms, consult with other healthcare professionals, and recommend and administer the appropriate treatments.

Learn more about problem-solving interview questions and how to answer them!

Science & math skills

Why interviewers are interested in your science and math skills:

Respiratory therapists must understand anatomy, physiology, and other sciences and be able to calculate the right dose of a patient’s medicine.

(source: bls.gov)

Respiratory Therapist Job Interview Questions & Answers

During a job interview, the hiring manager wants to discuss several things. Think of your:

• Employment history
• Skills and abilities
• Accomplishments
• Job qualifications
• Educational background
• Career goals
• Personality

Below you find a list of commonly asked interview questions.

Examples Of General Respiratory Therapist Interview Questions

1. Tell me about yourself.
2. How would you describe yourself?
3. Why do you want to work here?
4. What interests you about this position?
5. Walk me through your resume.
6. What motivates you?
7. Why are you leaving your current job?
8. Describe your work ethic.
9. What is your greatest strength?
10. How does your experience qualify you for this job?
11. What is your greatest weakness?
12. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
13. Tell me about a challenging work situation and how you overcame it.
14. What are your expectations for this position?
15. What are your career goals?
16. Why should we hire you?
17. What did you like most about your last position?
18. What did you like least about your last position?
19. How do you handle stress?
20. What is your greatest accomplishment?

Learn how to answer these common job interview questions!

Examples Of Specific Respiratory Therapist Behavioral Interview Questions

Learn more about answering behavioral interview questions by using the STAR interview technique.

1. Give me an example of how you provide emotional support to patients undergoing treatment.
2. What is your strategy to ensure patients receive the appropriate treatment and medication on time?
3. Have you developed a system to minimize the risk of errors in your work?
4. How would you rate your problem-solving skills? Can you give me an example?
5. Can you give an example of how you evaluate a patients’ symptoms and how you consult with other healthcare professionals if needed?
6. Give me an example of how you motivate an uncooperative patient.
7. Tell me about the most challenging respiratory condition you have treated in your career. What was your approach?
8. Give me an example of how you explain a specific respiratory treatment to a scared or anxious patient?
9. What type of patient do you consider the most difficult to provide the right treatment? Can you give me an example?
10. Describe a time you had to provide emergency assistance to a patient who was in a critical condition. What happened, and how did you handle it?

Learn more about questions to ask the interviewer during your job interview.