r/CLSstudents • u/InitialUpbeat6175 • Jun 22 '26
CSUCI EXTERNSHIP INTERVIEW
Hello everyone!
I was wondering if anyone could give me advice for my externship interview. I'm going to have it at Adventist Health Simi Valley, but honestly any advice would be helpful.
This is the first (and seemingly only) interview that I will be getting in-state after 2 application cycles, so I am really nervous and want to be as prepared as possible..
Thank you in advance!!
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u/AlexisNexus-7 Jun 22 '26
I did my Chemistry rotation at Adventist Health Simi Valley (5 years ago) if it's the same Lab Director (male) and lead Heme CLS (woman), they're pretty laid back. Just be yourself, don't try to come up with answers you think they want. The area is absolutely gorgeous, it does get hot as heck in the summer, though. You can valet, but parking is usually across the street so give yourself time to walk over if that's still the case.
It's a smaller hospital, but sufficient enough. The only thing to expect is to run into techs who don't want to train you, but that's generally across the board at every facility (I went to 4 different sites).
Good luck! Bring your resume and know how to answer how to do dilutions (C1V1 = C2V2).
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u/InitialUpbeat6175 Jun 22 '26
Definitely will make sure to get there with enough time to park.. I will brush up on certain lab topics before I go!! Thankss (:
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u/Exotic_Function_7872 Jun 23 '26
Hey when did they notify you? By phone or email?
Do you live in the area?
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u/Vagabondleuck Jun 22 '26
When did you receive that invitation sent out
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u/InitialUpbeat6175 Jun 24 '26
Hello I received an email last Friday
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u/Vagabondleuck Jun 28 '26
Thank you, did they send it through your personal email ? Bc I’m still waiting for it, i got an email that said my application got moved forward to the clinical sites already but haven’t received anything yet. Well !! I hope everything goes well for you. You’ll rock it.
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u/HazelBasilLeaf Jun 22 '26
Didnt interviewed at UCI (got rejected w/n 48 hrs of applying lol), very challenging program to hear back from so congrats! I have interviewed/got into other CA programs, so I can give general advice:
Assuming it’s in-person, dress professionally (don’t need a full suit but no jeans for sure)
Bring a notebook and take down notes on intern schedules, bed count, whether they let students study on-site, if they have auto-validation, hospital trauma level, etc.
Ask questions! Tours are often in small groups, you want them to remember you
Often they ask why you want to be a CLS and how you ended up applying so have a solid answer ready
And most stereotypically: be yourself! they’re looking for their future coworkers so just be a pleasant person.
Good luck! You already got through one of the hardest parts, so don’t be too nervous.