As jurisdictions prepare to hire and onboard new Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) with supplemental funding, equitable hiring practices are instrumental to bringing on diverse DIS staff that represent the communities they serve. NCSD has gathered a list of sample interview questions that focus on some of the softer skills required of DIS with the intention of centering more equitable hiring.

Soft Skills

• What is active listening, and why do you think it is important for this job?
• Being a disease intervention specialist often involves motivating individuals to get blood testing or receive medical care. How do you motivate others? Please provide a specific example.
• What is your approach to dealing with discussions about potentially difficult topics, such as sex, race, gender identity, and sexual orientation? Please provide a specific example.

Experience

• What is one challenge and one success you’ve had working with Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and LGBTQ communities
• Describe how your career has been enhanced by exposure to diverse people, places, or experiences. Please provide a specific example.
• What steps have you taken to reduce bias and champion diversity understanding in your work? Please provide a specific example.
• What is the most enjoyable job you have ever had? Tell me why it was so enjoyable.

Situational Questions

• Tell me about a time when you have taken steps to ensure everyone on your team or within your community felt included. Describe the situation, the actions you took, and the outcome.
• Tell us about a time when you changed your style to work more effectively with a person from a different background.
• Tell us about a time when you had to use thick skin to get through a tough situation.
• Describe a time when you successfully persuaded another person to change their thinking or behavior.

Knowledge

• This position requires being resourceful in locating individuals. Tell us some techniques you might use in trying to locate someone.
• Tell us what you know about sexual health, STD/HIV, and community resources related to this work.
• Tell us the process of venipuncture. What do you do in the case of a needle stick?

View the full list here