Quest Diagnostics sets out a six-step hiring process on its job seeker resources page: get to know Quest, explore your path, apply, hear from a recruiter, interview, and join the team. Quest says the process typically takes a few weeks, and that senior roles can take over a month because their interview schedules are more extensive.
Everything below about the process comes from Quest's US careers site and its own job postings, linked as we go. Where Quest doesn't say something, we say so rather than guess. The interview questions further down are ones to prepare for, built from Quest's values and its job descriptions.
Quest Diagnostics hiring process at a glance
| Step | What happens | What Quest says about timing |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Get to know Quest | Read the careers site and Quest's social channels | |
| 2. Explore your path | Browse open roles and pick the ones that interest you | |
| 3. Apply | Submit your résumé and cover letter online | |
| 4. Recruiter contact | A recruiter gets in touch if your experience matches what the team needs. This can include a phone screen | Varies by role |
| 5. Interview | A more in-depth conversation with the team, virtual or in person. Some positions include assessments | Varies by role and interview format |
| 6. Join the team | You join the team | Whole process typically a few weeks; senior roles may take over a month |
What is the Quest Diagnostics hiring process?
You apply online, a recruiter contacts you if your background fits, you interview with the team and, if selected, you join. Quest says the details vary by role, by whether there's a phone screen, and by whether the interview is virtual or in person.
Quest hires across many areas. Its careers site lists phlebotomy, clinical laboratory, specimen processing, drivers and couriers, transportation and logistics, customer service, per diem and on-call work, sales, technology, corporate functions, medical and scientific roles, and internships. Patient-facing jobs such as phlebotomy are mostly on-site; Quest says remote, hybrid and flexible scheduling are offered depending on the role, and you can filter job searches for them.
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How do you apply to Quest Diagnostics?
Search for a role on careers.questdiagnostics.com, apply and follow the steps. Quest's hiring steps ask for a résumé and cover letter, though its FAQ adds that only some roles require a résumé and that Quest also looks at your background, interests and long-term goals.
A few things Quest's careers site tells applicants:
- Check the posting is real. Quest warns that "scammers may offer fake Quest jobs using LinkedIn and other platforms." Apply only through its official careers site.
- Set up job alerts if nothing fits yet. You can also sign up after an unsuccessful application.
- Request an accommodation through the form on the job seeker resources page if you need one during the process.
- Expect age verification where needed. Quest's postings say it observes federal, state and local minimum age rules and may ask for proof.
Quest also runs hiring events for some roles. One listed on its site for 10 November 2026, for phlebotomists in Daly City, California, took appointments in the morning and walk-ins in the afternoon. Check the event posting for how each one works.
What does Quest Diagnostics look for in each role?
The requirements come from the job posting, so read yours closely. These examples come from Quest postings live on 27 October 2026:
| Role | What the posting asks for |
|---|---|
| Phlebotomist I (part-time, Fair Lawn, NJ) | High school diploma or equivalent. Phlebotomy certification preferred (required in California, Nevada and Washington). One year of phlebotomy experience, customer service experience and data entry experience preferred |
| Phlebotomist II (Kansas City, MO) | High school diploma or equivalent, three years of phlebotomy experience including paediatric, geriatric and capillary collections, data entry experience, and availability for weekends, holidays, on-call and overtime as staffing needs require |
| Medical Courier (Tucker, GA) | Valid driver's licence (non-CDL), at least three years of driving experience, no more than two moving violation convictions in the past 36 months and none in the past 12, a Motor Vehicle Record, and the ability to lift up to 30 lbs |
| Customer Care Representative II (Clifton, NJ) | High school diploma or equivalent and one to two years of customer service experience. Health care or laboratory experience preferred |
Phlebotomists at Quest do more than draw blood. The postings list collecting specimens for drug screens, biometric screening and insurance exams, verifying orders in lab systems, entering billing information, processing specimens (labelling, centrifuging, aliquoting, freezing) and keeping maintenance and temperature logs.
How long does the Quest Diagnostics hiring process take?
Quest says its process typically takes a few weeks, depending on a variety of factors. Senior roles may take over a month because of more extensive interview schedules. Quest doesn't publish how long each step takes or how soon a recruiter will contact you.
Does Quest Diagnostics have an assessment?
For some positions, yes. Quest says some roles include assessments that evaluate leadership qualities and other professional traits. It doesn't say which roles, what the assessments contain, how long they take or how they're scored.
If yours asks how you prefer to work, it's a personality-style questionnaire. Our guide to psychometric assessments explains how those formats work in general, and our guide to situational judgement tests covers the scenario-based kind. Answer honestly and consistently; Quest publishes no answer key.
What is the Quest Diagnostics interview like?
Quest describes the interview as a more in-depth conversation with the team, held virtually or in person depending on the role. It doesn't publish the number of rounds or how long each lasts, so ask the recruiter what to expect when they contact you.
For a virtual interview, Quest's own advice is to test your system in advance: internet connection, camera and microphone. Join a few minutes early from somewhere quiet.
What happens after the Quest Diagnostics interview?
Quest's hiring steps end with joining the team. It doesn't publish what happens between the interview and your start date, or whether it runs background checks or drug tests on applicants. Some of its postings include a fair chance statement saying applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered under applicable fair chance laws. Courier candidates must provide a Motor Vehicle Record that meets the posting's driving rules.
Once you join, Quest says performance is managed through Perform@Quest, an annual cycle of goal-setting and feedback.
Quest Diagnostics interview questions to prepare for
Quest doesn't publish its interview questions. These are the questions to prepare for, based on Quest's purpose and values and the duties in its own job postings. For "tell me about a time" questions, structure your answer with the STAR method (situation, task, action, result).
1. Why do you want to work at Quest Diagnostics?
Quest's stated purpose is "Working together to create a healthier world, one life at a time." Connect that to the role: a phlebotomist meets patients face to face, a courier gets specimens to the lab on time, and a customer care representative explains results and services. Say which part of that work appeals to you.
2. Quest's values are the 5Cs. Which one fits you best?
The 5Cs are customer first, care, collaboration, continuous improvement and curiosity. Pick one and back it with a short, specific example. Customer first and care suit patient-facing roles; continuous improvement and curiosity suit lab, technology and corporate roles.
3. How would you put a nervous patient at ease before a blood draw?
This tests care and customer first. Talk through what you'd do: introduce yourself, explain each step, ask about any past difficulty with draws, and keep the patient informed. If you have phlebotomy experience, mention any paediatric or geriatric patients, since some Quest postings ask for that experience.
4. How do you make sure every specimen is identified and labelled correctly?
Quest's phlebotomy postings list confirming patient identification, verifying orders in lab systems, and labelling and processing specimens. Explain your checking routine, and why a mislabelled tube matters to the patient. A STAR story about catching an error before it went further is ideal.
5. How do you protect patient confidentiality?
Quest's customer care posting asks for "complete customer/patient confidentiality" for health and personal information, and its courier posting names HIPAA compliance. Give a practical example: not discussing patients in public areas, checking identity before sharing information, keeping screens and paperwork out of sight.
6. Tell me about a time you dealt with an upset customer.
Customer care representatives at Quest answer questions about test results, tests and services, and service failures. Show that you listened, stayed calm, solved what you could and followed up. Quest's posting also asks for "caring and empathy when delivering sensitive health information", so mention how you'd handle a sensitive conversation.
7. What is your availability?
Be specific and honest. Quest's Phlebotomist II posting asks for flexibility based on staffing needs, including weekends, holidays, on-call and overtime. If you can only do certain shifts, say so; Quest also hires part-time, per diem and on-call staff.
8. Tell me about a time you suggested a better way of doing something.
This maps to continuous improvement. Choose an example where you noticed a slow or error-prone step, proposed a change and can describe the result. Keep the focus on what you did, not on what others got wrong.
9. How do you learn a new system or procedure?
Quest's postings require completing online and in-person training courses on time, and the work involves lab systems, scanners and route software. Describe a time you learned a tool quickly, and how you checked your own work while you were new. This also shows curiosity.
10. For couriers: how do you stay on schedule and drive safely?
Quest's courier posting describes scheduled routes, handheld scanners and route software, proper specimen handling and storage, and compliance with DOT, HIPAA and OSHA standards. Talk about how you plan a route, what you do when you're running late, and how you keep specimens secure in the vehicle.
11. Tell me about working in a team when it was busy.
Collaboration is one of the 5Cs, and patient service centres and labs depend on handoffs. Pick an example where you helped a colleague, shared the load or communicated a problem early. Phlebotomists also do non-patient duties such as stocking and sanitising, so willingness to pitch in counts.
12. What questions do you have for us?
Have two or three ready. Good options: what training looks like in the first weeks, how schedules and float assignments are set, and what separates the people who do best in this role.
For more practice, see our list of behavioural interview questions.
How to prepare for a Quest Diagnostics interview
- Read the job posting closely, including certification, experience, availability and any driving requirements.
- Learn Quest's purpose and the 5Cs, and have one example ready for each.
- Prepare four or five STAR stories covering patient or customer care, accuracy, confidentiality, teamwork and learning something new.
- If you're a phlebotomist, be ready to talk about the types of draws you've done and how you handle difficult ones.
- Test your setup for a virtual interview: internet, camera and microphone, as Quest recommends.
- Do a mock interview with someone who will give you honest feedback.
- Check the job is real by finding it on careers.questdiagnostics.com before you share personal details.
Practising realistic work tasks
Interviews reward prepared stories. Patient-facing and lab work rewards accuracy and calm judgement, and that improves with practice on realistic tasks. Cohesyve, which publishes this guide, runs free practice job simulations for job seekers. It isn't affiliated with Quest Diagnostics and doesn't use Quest's questions or assessments.
FAQs
How long does Quest Diagnostics take to hire?
Quest says its hiring process typically takes a few weeks, depending on a variety of factors. Senior roles may take over a month because of more extensive interview schedules.
Does Quest Diagnostics require phlebotomy certification?
It depends on the state. Quest's phlebotomist postings list certification as required in California, Nevada and Washington and preferred elsewhere.
Does Quest Diagnostics have an online assessment?
Some positions do. Quest says some roles include assessments that evaluate leadership qualities and other professional traits, but doesn't publish which roles or what they contain.
Are Quest Diagnostics interviews virtual or in person?
Either, depending on the role. Quest says the process varies with whether the interview is virtual or in person, and recommends testing your internet, camera and microphone for a virtual one.
Does Quest Diagnostics offer remote jobs?
For some roles. Quest says it offers remote, hybrid and flexible scheduling depending on the role, and you can filter its job search for them. The phlebotomy and courier postings we checked were on-site.
How do I know a Quest Diagnostics job offer is real?
Find the job on careers.questdiagnostics.com. Quest warns that scammers offer fake Quest jobs on LinkedIn and other platforms, and publishes a fraud statement on its careers site.
Sources
Quest Diagnostics' own US careers pages, checked 27 October 2026:
- careers.questdiagnostics.com: Job seeker resources (hiring process and FAQs)
- careers.questdiagnostics.com: Culture
- careers.questdiagnostics.com: Phlebotomy careers, Drivers and Customer service
- careers.questdiagnostics.com job postings: Phlebotomist I Part-Time (Fair Lawn, New Jersey), Phlebotomist II (Kansas City, Missouri), Phlebotomist Hiring Event (Daly City, California), Medical Courier (Tucker, Georgia) and Customer Care Representative II (Clifton, New Jersey)