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Lab Assistant I

HSHS · Effingham, IL · $18.50–$26.83 an hour · Full time

Posted Sep 29, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you had to be very careful with details at work.

What they are checking: Whether they have the accuracy habits that lab work needs.

Have you drawn blood before? How do you handle a nervous patient?

What they are checking: Whether they can collect specimens calmly and treat patients kindly.

What draws you to laboratory work at St. Anthony's?

What they are checking: Whether they're interested in the work and the steady weekday schedule.

What would you do

A tube comes in with a mismatched or missing label. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they refuse to guess and follow the rejection or recollection process.

A nurse calls upset that results are taking too long. How do you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they can stay helpful, check the status and communicate clearly.

How do you prioritize when many specimens come in at once?

What they are checking: Whether they know stat samples come first and keep track of the rest.

How do you handle order entry when you're not sure what test was ordered?

What they are checking: Whether they ask and confirm instead of guessing, which avoids wrong tests.

About the work

Walk me through what you do when a specimen arrives in the lab.

What they are checking: Whether they check labels, enter orders correctly and route the sample to the right place.

How do you make sure a sample stays good from collection to testing?

What they are checking: Whether they understand timing, temperature and handling rules that affect results.

What safety rules do you follow when handling blood and body fluids?

What they are checking: Whether they know infection control and PPE basics in a lab.

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The full job description

As published by HSHS.

Pay Range: $18.50 - $26.83 A successful candidate's actual pay rate will be based on several factors including relevant experience, skills, training, certifications and education. HSHS St. Anthony’s Hospital is looking for a Lab Assistant to join our Team. The successful candidate will be responsible for performing various assigned duties in the areas of specimen collection, handling and processing, order entry, and customer service to deliver accurate test results to the medical staff for their use in the diagnosis and treatment of patient illness. Position Specifics: Department: Laboratory Core Function: Laboratory Schedule: Full-Time / 40 hours/week, Monday – Friday Facility: St. Anthony's - Effingham Location: Effingham, IL Compensation: Compensation that aligns with your experience Education Qualifications • High school diploma or G.E.D. is required. Experience Qualifications • 1 year of laboratory experience is preferred. Certifications, Licenses and Registrations • N/A Job Description Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40 Throughout communities in Illinois and Wisconsin, 13 hospitals, numerous community-based health centers and clinics, our 13,000+ colleagues have built a culture based on our solid core values of respect, care, competence, and joy. These are the ideals we believe in, work by, and live each day. Built upon more than 145 years of service to the communities we serve, we now look to the future and our place in it as a healthcare system that strives to continually improve processes, procedures, and outcomes with the latest and most advanced technologies and treatments. Regardless of how far our passion for excellence carries us, our focus will always remain on the most important person in our entire organization: The patient. Benefits: HSHS provides a benefits package designed to support the overall well-being of our colleagues including their physical, emotional, financial, spiritual, and work health. Colleagues budgeted to work at least 32 hours per pay period are eligible for HSHS benefits. • Comprehensive and affordable health coverage includes medical, prescription, dental and vision coverage for full-time and part-time colleagues. • Paid Time Off (PTO) combines vacation, sick, and personal days into one balance to allow you the flexibility to use your time off as you need. • Retirement benefits including HSHS contributions. • Education Assistance benefits include up to $5,250 of educational assistance each calendar year and tuition discounts to select colleges with no waiting period. • Adoption Assistance provides financial support up to $7,500 for colleagues growing their families through adoption to reimburse application and legal fees, transportation, and more! • Other benefits include: Wellness program with incentives, employer-paid life insurance and short-term and long-term disability coverage, flexible spending accounts, employee assistance program, ID theft coverage, colleague rewards and recognition program, discount program, and more! Benefits HSHS and affiliates is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). HSHS is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace dedicated to pursuing and hiring a diverse workforce. Notice Regarding Potential Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Hiring Process Hospital Sisters may use automated tools, including artificial intelligence or machine-learning technologies, to assist with certain administrative aspects of the recruitment process. These tools may help our recruiting team organize applications, search for resumes, identify qualifications reflected in application materials, and facilitate communications or scheduling with applicants. Information used by these tools may include materials you provide during the application process, such as your resume, work history, education, qualifications, and responses to application questions. These tools are used only to support our recruiting process. Hiring decisions are made by HSHS personnel, and automated tools do not make employment decisions on behalf of HSHS. Applicants who have questions about this notice or who require a reasonable accommodation or alternative evaluation method may contact HSHS Human Resources at Contact@hshs.org

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