Important Mortuary Assistant Interview Preparation Guide

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I feel I have been chosen to do this work. To give back, to help others and to share and be supportive to others during their struggles with loss and honouring the life of their loved ones.

I've probably had several of those too but certainly cutting myself during a High Risk post-mortem was the worst as it involves a lot of medical treatment.

Try not to be too critical when answering this question. Instead, pick one of your weaknesses and try to turn it into a positive.

For example, you could be a perfectionist, which means that you sometimes take longer on tasks, but you make sure that they are completed to a high quality. It is important to make a negative into a positive as it doesn't make you appear overly critical and shows you can reflect on your own performance.

There are very many inherent risks associated with this job. Not only sharps injuries from scalpels and syringes, but blood-borne and air-borne infections, chemical burns and manual handling injuries. Health and Safety is paramount, as are Manual Handling Training, COSHH knowledge, up to date SOP's, First Aid and many, many bits of paper and courses full of acronyms!

This is when you talk about your record of getting things done. Go into specifics from your résumé and portfolio; show an employer your value and how you'd be an asset.

I'm the best person for the job. I know there are other candidates who could fill this position, but my passion for excellence sets me apart from the pack. I am committed to always producing the best results. For example…

A pathologist may ask you to perform additional tasks, depending on your skill level and their needs at the time. These tasks include preserving and photographing specimens; staining slides; and mixing preservation fluids according to specific formulas. You may also be asked to fill a body's cranium with plaster and sew up incisions using a surgical needle and thread.

One time we had a person who did some acting and modeling in California. A hand model. The family came in early to set up pictures and things.

I showed them in, helped them get started then left them. I came back about 10 minutes later to check on them and just about every picture they put up was this person's hands from the various ads they did. There were some family photos, but most were a pair of hands.

No specific educational requirements exist for morgue attendants. However, most employers require you to have at least a high school diploma or GED. Demonstrating an aptitude for math, biology, computers and communication is particularly helpful. Prior experience working in a morgue or coroner's office is even better. You may also choose to pursue an associate degree in clinical lab or health science to advance more quickly and take on more complex tasks.

Because of empathizing, it may be difficult to hold back tears.

The median hourly wage in May of 2012 for all medical assistants -- including morgue attendants -- was $14.12, while the median annual wage was $29,370, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. On average, pay is greater for morgue attendants than others with no college education. Wages can reach $33,000 per year for those with only a high school degree, while those with an associate degree earn more. Jobs as medical assistants are expected to increase 31 percent between 2010 an 2020. In addition, many of the skills acquired are transferable to other medical fields.

Yes, very much so. I feel I would be able to help them take some of the heaviness off their heart and soul and carry them forward with their memories.

Being unfamiliar with the organisation will spoil your chances with 75% of interviewers, according to one survey, so take this chance to show you have done your preparation and know the company inside and out. You will now have the chance to demonstrate that you've done your research, so reply mentioning all the positive things you have found out about the organisation and its sector etc. This means you'll have an enjoyable work environment and stability of employment etc - everything that brings out the best in you.

Find out what the salary is for the job is that is possible ahead of time. If there is no salary posted then do some research. Find out what the market is paying and what you are worth. Make a reasonable salary offer based on this information. Do your best to avoid making a salary offer if you can. You can ask the employer if they have a salary range they plan to pay the person in this position.

Prior to an examination of a body, you must lay out all surgical instruments and lab supplies, and ensure that they are in good working order. This includes sharpening knives and scalpels when necessary. You may use a portable hoist to place the body on the examining table or in a refrigeration unit. During the exam, you assist the pathologist and record any identifying information for the patient's morgue file. Afterward, you must thoroughly clean all instruments and trays, replace dirty linens, and wash the table. You are also responsible for releasing the body to an authorized party according to facility procedures.

Taking part in an on-call rota and having a pager hound you 24-7 can be difficult, as well as carrying out post-mortems at strange times: very early in the morning or very late at night. I think the other not-so-perky parts are the stuff of most people's nightmares such as being smeared with every possible human excretion or having to carry out an autopsy with maggots wriggling over you or flies buzzing around you (or on an exhumed or embalmed body). You have to shoulder lots of cleaning and repetitive tasks, dealing with difficult family members or doctors… The list is endless, really.

I had this guy to prep one time. He had an intubater ... this tube down his throat and was taped on his face. One piece of the tape was across his mustache. When I took the tape off, most of his mustache came with it. So I shaved it. The wife was super pissed. She threatened to sue unless we fixed it.

So what am I to do? I went to a costume shop and bought a pack of fake mustaches. We had a picture of him, but none of these mustaches worked. I picked the best possible match and put it on him. We then called her to come look. We were nervous. It was bad. So she comes in and absolutely loves it! I couldn't believe it. She then turned super sweet and hugged me.

The safest answer contains a desire to be regarded as a true professional and team player. As far as promotion, that depends on finding a manager with whom you can grow. Of course, you will ask what opportunities exist within the company before being any more specific: "From my research and what you have told me about the growth here, it seems operations is where the heavy emphasis is going to be. It seems that's where you need the effort and where I could contribute toward the company's goals." Or, "I have always felt that first-hand knowledge and experience open up opportunities that one might never have considered, so while at this point in time I plan to be a part of [e.g.] operations, it is reasonable to expect that other exciting opportunities will crop up in the meantime."

☛ What do you believe are your key strengths?
☛ Tell us about the last time you had to negotiate with someone.
☛ What type of work environment do you prefer?
☛ What is a typical career path in this job function?
☛ When was the last time you were in a crises?

☛ Where do you see yourself in five years time?
☛ Situation in which you had to arrive at a compromise.
☛ What relevant experience do you have?
☛ You have not done this sort of job before. How will you succeed?
☛ How did you handle meeting a tight deadline?

☛ How do you feel about taking no for an answer?
☛ When given an important assignment, how do you approach it?
☛ Tell about a time that you had to adapt to a difficult situation.
☛ Tell me about yourself.
☛ What was the most stressful situation you have faced?

Never interrupt - even where the question is obvious, wait for the interviewer to finish before your reply. Make sure your eye contact with the interviewers during the interview. These Morgue Attendant interview questions are asked to see if potential employees have critical thinking skills and self-awareness.

☛ How did you react when faced with constant time pressure?
☛ What were the responsibilities of your last position?
☛ What would make you happy in a job?
☛ How do you think you can make a contribution to this company?
☛ How have you changed in the last five years?

☛ Example when you went above and beyond the call of duty.
☛ Do you know anyone who works with our company?
☛ What kind of personality do you work best with and why?
☛ Has anything ever irritated you about people you've worked with?
☛ What steps do you follow to study a problem before making a decision?

Answer Morgue Attendant interview questions honestly and to the best of your ability. If interviewing for a professional-level position, be ready to answer questions about standards within the industry.
Don't get trivial or negative answering Morgue Attendant interview questions.

☛ Tell me about an important goal that you set in the past.
☛ How would you describe the experience of working here?
☛ What has been your biggest professional disappointment?
☛ What are you expecting from this firm in the future?
☛ Who was your favorite manager and why?

☛ How do you see your job relating to the overall goals?
☛ Your greatest weakness in school or at work?
☛ Who has impacted you most in your career and how?
☛ What have you done to support diversity in your unit?
☛ Describe a recent unpopular decision you made.

Answer all Morgue Attendant interview questions honestly and stay focused throughout the hiring process.
Always focus on the positive reason such you were seeking the opportunity to expand your career opportunities.
Don't be too specific by giving away a word for a particular period of time.

☛ Do you prefer to work independently or on a team?
☛ How long would you stay with our company?
☛ What have you learned from mistakes on the job?
☛ What can you do for us that other candidates cant?
☛ Do you think you are overqualified for this position?