[Histonet] Interview Questions

Wed Jan 25 12:24:20 CST 2012

I guess someone could get hurt. I had to stop someone once, either they were unbelievably nervous, or had not used a microtome in QUITE some time, and I thought they might hurt themselves. I stopped the activity, but legalities might prevail, a consent could suffice to cover for this maybe. Probation is good, if it is enforced. Have seen people that I was not sure how they made it through that period, so I guess the weight that is given varies. All in all, a challenge to locate, recruit, screen, hire and retain good people!

Joelle Weaver MAOM, (HTL) ASCP

http://www.linkedin.com/in/joelleweaver

 > From: POWELL_SA <@t> mercer.edu
> To: louise.renton <@t> gmail.com
> Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:15:48 -0500
> Subject: RE: [Histonet] Interview Questions
> CC: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> 
> Make them sign a non-liability clause before doing the test? You need to know if they can do the work before hiring, not after, nervous or not, and not how well they answer questions.  
> 
> sp
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Louise Renton
> Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 1:09 PM
> To: Histonet
> Subject: Re: [Histonet] Interview Questions
> 
> Just to be devil's advocate here......
> 
> asking a person to "prove" their skills - what happens,  if through
> nervousness, or being unfamiliar with the equipment, they injure
> themselves. Where does the liability lie?
> 
> Rather ask questions regarding cutting speed, way in which tissue is
> embedded etc, and review the person's skill during an agreed  probationary
> period. If they are not what u expected, then you can get rid of them.....
> ...
> On Wed, Jan 25, 2012 at 8:02 PM, joelle weaver <joelleweaver <@t> hotmail.com>wrote:
> 
> >
> > Love this! I always want to do demonstration during technical interviews,
> > but usually get "shot down" from managers and argued with in general,  as
> > in people don't feel that they should have to "prove" they can do
> > histology. This perception,  I never got, because I always saw it as in a
> > job interview-in what other situation are you more trying to "prove" or
> > impress with your knowledge, attitude, skills and experience?  If you do
> > bench work, you can tell in just a few minutes of observation much more
> > information than you could get with quite a few questions. To be fair, I
> > take into account nervousness, being closely observed, and lack of
> > familiarity with equipment etc. I don't know, I think its fair if those are
> > important skills to the position/role. Was not sure if Sara's job was
> > mostly technical though, so thought I might keep it general.
> >
> > Joelle Weaver MAOM, (HTL) ASCP
> >
> > http://www.linkedin.com/in/joelleweaver
> >
> >  > From: trathborne <@t> somerset-healthcare.com
> > > To: billodonnell <@t> catholichealth.net; sbreeden <@t> nmda.nmsu.edu;
> > histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> > > Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:47:01 +0000
> > > Subject: RE: [Histonet] Interview Questions
> > > CC:
> > >
> > > If your replacement will be doing actual histology, will your
> > institution permit the applicant to embed and cut? Can you sit down at a
> > multi-head scope and review slides with them?
> > > What will the person be responsible for? Do they have experience with
> > all of these tasks? What would they do in a crisis situation (you can make
> > up one yourself that would be plausible).
> > > People who volunteer in their personal lives, may do the same at work.
> > Ask how they juggle their schedule though, if there is a lot going on in
> > their personal lives. Be careful with how you ask these questions though.
> > Your HR department should be able to give you guidance in how to phrase
> > things.
> > > Good luck.
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:
> > histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of O'Donnell, Bill
> > > Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 12:19 PM
> > > To: Breeden, Sara; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> > > Subject: RE: [Histonet] Interview Questions
> > >
> > > It would seem that questions like "How do you feel about cannibalism?"
> > > might also be out but might be far more helpful; than "phone" questions.
> > >
> > >
> > > On the serious side, when I was much younger I hired a person who was
> > able to answer all the right "histo" questions and so I hired him. He
> > turned out to be a poser, who, shortly after I fired him showed up at a
> > local university with a lab coat that listed him as "Dr." He had indeed
> > worked in a histo lab, but as a lab assistant, and so the the understanding
> > of what a histologist does was well rehearsed. (BTW, it topok me about two
> > weeks to catch on, though the more experienced techs in the department
> > figured it out almost right away)
> > >
> > > To be fair, it was during a time in hiring history when HR departments
> > were not willing to give useful reference data and there were only a
> > handful of questions they would even ask when checking. None of them were
> > particularly useful or telling. For inistance, they would not ask if the
> > person was an histo tech, but would simply ask, did he indeed work at your
> > institution?
> > >
> > > The place where I worked required little or nothing for proof of
> > experience. There was no background check either.
> > >
> > > Today, however, reference checking is a lot easier and more reliable.
> > >
> > > I guess my point here is that a good reference check needs to be done as
> > well weeding them out by histo questions.  I'm sure your HR folks will do a
> > fine job of this.
> > >
> > > Also, once you have determined that they actually have the skills, or a
> > realistic potential of gaining them, questions concerning dynamics of
> > interaction are appropriate, though may lead to wrong impressions in the
> > mind of the applicant.
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> > > [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of
> > Breeden, Sara
> > > Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 10:52 AM
> > > To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> > > Subject: [Histonet] Interview Questions
> > >
> > > So far, I am TOTALLY impressed and so grateful for your suggestions.
> > > And here's why... did I ever tell anyone out there what the FIRST
> > > question I was asked by the pathologist at my interview?   It was.....
> > > (wait for it....)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > "How do you feel about personal phone calls?".  Un-freakin' believable.
> > > I sure don't want someone to remember ME that way!!!
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Sally Breeden, HT(ASCP)
> > >
> > > New Mexico Department of Agriculture
> > >
> > > Veterinary Diagnostic Services
> > >
> > > 1101 Camino de Salud NE
> > >
> > > Albuquerque, NM  87102
> > >
> > > 505-383-9278 (Histology Lab)
> > >
> > >
> > >
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> 
> 
> -- 
> Louise Renton
> Bone Research Unit
> University of the Witwatersrand
> Johannesburg
> South Africa
> +27 11 717 2298 (tel & fax)
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