What is the purpose of Interview?

Nurses Career Support

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I mean yeah one of the purpose is to know the person. But sometimes i feel like it's on the spot exam. It's all about what would you do in the situation like this, etc. For me they should not use it for assessing how the person work or judging their personality. Sometimes people get nervous and ending up messing their answer. There's a big difference between the real situation and by just answering.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Rural, L&D, Postpartum.

It's designed to see if someone can think and can express themselves. You don't have to be Einstein or a professional speaker.... but you do have to show that there is some "stuff" up there and that you know how to use it!

There is also a certain "art" to hiring, and the person hiring you should (doesn't always but should) know the rest of the people in the unit and have an idea of how well you'll fit into the mix.

Also, there is a chance to clarify certain aspects of your resume or school experience. There is only so much to be learned from a piece of paper!

Elisabeth Halligan, RN

So, OP, if they should not use the interview to assess how a person works or judge their personality, as you say, how should they go about doing these things. I don't think anyone will say that interviewing folks is 100% foolproof in getting the best candidates, but I would speculate that it is a lot more effective that hiring people based on just a resume and/or application.

Specializes in MICU, ER, Tele Step-down..

Ok so you are pointing out a perceived problem, what is your solution to that problem OP? Its easy to point out a problem but hard to find a solution. I don't think interviews are that bad.

Everyone hates doing interviews but they are essential to the process of finding a potential employee. Trained interviewers know what nervous ticks are like the tapping of a pen, shaking of a leg and the occasional errs and uhhs and to dismiss them as such.

OP let's say your an interviewer and you are hiring for several nursing positions. One interviewee shows up 15 minutes late and then is completely unprepared and asking to borrow a pen or pencil, and doesn't have copies of certain documents amongst other things. This interview was set up a week ago so there is no excuse why they should be unprepared or late. You can surmise that this person is disorganized and obviously has problems with time management. With organization and time management being two critical components in nursing would want to take a chance hiring this person only to have them show up late and forget to chart and give out meds?

Another interviewee you have shows up to the interview dressed slovenly. Her clothes are stained and covered in cat hair and smell slightly of urine, plus she has dirty finger nails and unkempt hair . This is an automatic red flag because if she has poor personal hygiene with herself then how can I expect her to practice being sanitary or even practice transmission based precautions with other patients?

There are certain red flags that a person projects and an interview is just a net to try and catch them before any damage is done on the actual job.

The interview is a chance for both parties to get real.

The applicant should say the truth. "I need the money and you're hiring. Why do you THINK I"m here?"

The interviewer should say the truth, too. "I already know who I want. Sorry to waste your time." And give you a lollipop for stopping by.

LOL.:jester:

Everyone hates doing interviews but they are essential to the process of finding a potential employee. Trained interviewers know what nervous ticks are like the tapping of a pen, shaking of a leg and the occasional errs and uhhs and to dismiss them as such.

OP let's say your an interviewer and you are hiring for several nursing positions. One interviewee shows up 15 minutes late and then is completely unprepared and asking to borrow a pen or pencil, and doesn't have copies of certain documents amongst other things. This interview was set up a week ago so there is no excuse why they should be unprepared or late. You can surmise that this person is disorganized and obviously has problems with time management. With organization and time management being two critical components in nursing would want to take a chance hiring this person only to have them show up late and forget to chart and give out meds?

Another interviewee you have shows up to the interview dressed slovenly. Her clothes are stained and covered in cat hair and smell slightly of urine, plus she has dirty finger nails and unkempt hair . This is an automatic red flag because if she has poor personal hygiene with herself then how can I expect her to practice being sanitary or even practice transmission based precautions with other patients?

There are certain red flags that a person projects and an interview is just a net to try and catch them before any damage is done on the actual job.

What you do is hire them both and let them work together. Last man standing keeps the job! :lol2:

The interview is a chance for both parties to get real.

The applicant should say the truth. "I need the money and you're hiring. Why do you THINK I"m here?"

The interviewer should say the truth, too. "I already know who I want. Sorry to waste your time." And give you a lollipop for stopping by.

LOL.:jester:

That would be great and would have saved me a lot of time.

I had a three month long interview were I had to take multiple tests, tours, meetings and finally a sit down interview. After all of that I got a three sentence E-Mail saying they were no longer pursuing me as an employment candidate but to please apply for other positions in the hospital.

So I did.

Then I got another E-Mail saying that I wasn't being considered for ANY clinical support positions and to please stop applying BUT please apply to other positions in the hospital. :rolleyes:

Needless to say I got a job at a better hospital were it was a simple application and a sit down interview to complete the job process.

Wow..

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