Job Interview/Talent Review

Nurses Job Hunt

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Specializes in OR.

Several classmates and I have received some odd questions for a "talent review" or just in our job interviews:

-- How would you handle praise from a peer?

-- Do you find yourself startled that you know exactly what someone is going to say before they say it?

-- Do you and your coworkers ever play games like betting on yourselves at work?

I was asked the first one and a few others like it that I can't remember now, the others come from classmates. My answer was, "I'd say thank you.....???" Like, the way it was asked, I'm not even sure that's the _right_ answer?!?

What are these questions and what are they looking for in your response?

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Those are really strange questions... I don't have a clue what sort of answers the interviewer might be looking for. Or what they thought those questions would be able to tell them about you.

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Specializes in OR.

Right, I was wondering if it was some sort of psych eval (lite) looking for some sort of doesn't-play-well-with-others tendencies? But.. they were strange questions. 3 of us got the first question -- I wondered if there's some new format out that people are using?

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I have never heard of this. Weird questions!

"That is so lovely of you to say, thank you!"

"As an active listener, I never assume to know what someone is going to say. However, in a team environment long term, one can anticipate what a co-worker is most likely to do"

"Nursing is not for the faint of heart, nor for game players. My focus and function is to be a viable member of the team. It is not a competition, it is patients' lives and livelihood at stake. Most facility mission statements speak to dignity and respect. To wager amongst ourselves could be in direct conflict with those concepts and ideals"

I have not a clue if this is what they are going for, but to focus on team building, active listening, not assuming, and focus on patient care is not a bad thing.

Good luck, and keep us posted on what the "correct" answers would be--what the heck they are getting at!!

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Never had those. I've had:

Name a time you made a mistake and what you did afterwards.

Name a time you didn't have the skills to do a job and what you did.

Things like that.

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

Behavioral interview questions have been common for many years now, in recognition of the fact that personalities and personal styles contribute as least as much to productivity and workplace cohesion, as do knowledge and skills.

The quality/statistical validity of these types of questions varies greatly, and since human psyches are far from an exact science, they are never perfect at identifying traits considered positive or negative. And what is considered a positive/valuable trait in one workplace may not be considered the same in the next workplace. So expect some version of this to often be a part of the employment screening process, but never devote the time or energy to stewing about whether or not the behavioral screening was a deciding factor in your employment. Life is too short.

Good luck in your search. :)

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I had there kinds of questions when applying for my current job. After my initial interview, an outside company called at a set time and asked the questions. They were only allowed to read the questions, not explain or interpret them for you. It was irritating and uncomfortable.

Two of the questions I remember:

what do you dream about?

do you work harder than your coworkers?

It was really annoying, especially since I already worked in the system and this hospital was the only one who required this extra step before the transfer. In my humble opinion, this process is failing miserably, as I work with some individuals that are not working out at all and probably should have never been hired.....

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Wow jadelpn, you must be an interview whiz! I don't think you could go wrong with those answers! I would have been completely stumped.

We are always making bets at my job...whoever loses has to do something for the other person:

Nurse A-I bet I can wean my patient off Levophed by 2 a.m.

Nurse B-Well if you don't you have to get my EKGs this morning.

Nurse A-And if I do you have to draw my labs!

I have a feeling that answer would have gotten me in trouble.

I'd love to hear some more examples of these weird interview questions if anybody has any...

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Wow jadelpn, you must be an interview whiz! I don't think you could go wrong with those answers! I would have been completely stumped.

We are always making bets at my job...whoever loses has to do something for the other person:

Nurse A-I bet I can wean my patient off Levophed by 2 a.m.

Nurse B-Well if you don't you have to get my EKGs this morning.

Nurse A-And if I do you have to draw my labs!

I have a feeling that answer would have gotten me in trouble.

I'd love to hear some more examples of these weird interview questions if anybody has any...

Nice. We don't bet but play guess the lab result a lot

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Nice. We don't bet but play guess the lab result a lot

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Guess the lab results is also another unit favorite. We also like to make guesses on a patient's BP after we've had to give a PRN med IV for someone's pressure.

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Guess the lab results is also another unit favorite. We also like to make guesses on a patient's BP after we've had to give a PRN med IV for someone's pressure.

We do a lot of guess the ETOH level at nights in the ED ;)

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