List your crazy interview questions...

Nurses Job Hunt

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I've been on too many interviews, and I'm sure that some of you are looking to interview so here's what you may have in store. Also... most interviews have behavioral based questions, e.g, tell me about a time when..

Feel free to add!

Common:

-Tell me about yourself.

-Why do you want to be a nurse. Why do you want to work at X hospital. Why should I hire you.

-Where do you see yourself in five years.

-What are 3 words your friends would describe you as

-What are 3 words your supervisor would describe you as

-Strengths/weaknesses

-Define teamwork

-Tell me about a time when you faced conflict.

Odd:

-Why don't you want to work for our competing hospital? Why is it so bad?

-Tell me about a time when you had to sacrifice quality for efficiency.

-Tell me about a time you encountered diversity.

-What do you think the biggest issue in Nursing is today?

-Have you experienced death from a nursing standpoint?

-Tell me about a time when you did not have time to complete a task.

-How many questions did your NCLEX have?

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Peds, Ortho, LTC and MORE.

It does seems some questions in an interview are indeed "odd". I have been asked : " Why did you choose the outfit you are wearing today", "How many quarters would it take to go from the side walk to the top of our hospital", and my personal favortie question " Does your family understand your job requirements may mean that you will not be able to be with them at certain times, holidays, weekends, and vacations?"

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

i've had a couple of truly odd interview questions. one of them was "i see your last name is "smith." i used to date a joe smith when i went to your university. are you his sister?"

turns out, after further conversation, she had dated my husband after we were married. i didn't get the job. nor did i keep the husband.

another interviewer asked me if i had a good marriage because if i accepted their offer, i'd need a good support system at home. i thought i had a good marriage. see the first question. i didn't accept their offer either.

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.
i've had a couple of truly odd interview questions. one of them was "i see your last name is "smith." i used to date a joe smith when i went to your university. are you his sister?"

turns out, after further conversation, she had dated my husband after we were married. i didn't get the job. nor did i keep the husband.

another interviewer asked me if i had a good marriage because if i accepted their offer, i'd need a good support system at home. i thought i had a good marriage. see the first question. i didn't accept their offer either.

i actually laughed out loud and a room all by myself. sorry for your luck (but maybe it was indeed good luck?!?)

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Specializes in pediatrics, public health.
"How many quarters would it take to go from the side walk to the top of our hospital?"

Response: "Oh, I didn't realize your elevators are coin operated." :rolleyes:

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Response: "Oh, I didn't realize your elevators are coin operated." :rolleyes:

The "how many quarters" question is a test of your critical thinking skills, your willingness to accept a challenge and your ability to follow direction.

I think an off the cuff response like that would not get a job offer.

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"Do you cry easily?"

It was during an interview for a system analyst job that I had (I accepted the job offer) before deciding to go to nursing school. It wasn't long before I understood why they asked that question... the customers could be very abrasive when they would blame all of their user-generated computer or network problems on me!

I think the question would fit for a nursing job, too, however inappropriate.

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Specializes in ED, Long-term care, MDS, doctor's office.

"What is your favorite cartoon character"? I replied Sylvester the cat because I am a cat lover. I didn't get the job:(

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Specializes in pediatrics, public health.
The "how many quarters" question is a test of your critical thinking skills, your willingness to accept a challenge and your ability to follow direction.

I think an off the cuff response like that would not get a job offer.

It was a *JOKE*, been there, done that. I would never crack a joke like that in a real interview!

I happen to think it's a ridiculous question, but if asked it in an interview, I would answer it with a straight face to the best of my ability (and then post a thread making fun of it on AN).

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If you could be any animal what would you be?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.
The "how many quarters" question is a test of your critical thinking skills, your willingness to accept a challenge and your ability to follow direction.

I think an off the cuff response like that would not get a job offer.

There is no correct, serious answer to that question, so a quick-witted response does indeed show all those qualities and more. I would be more worried about someone who tried to calculate a literal answer!

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I just had an interview in a city 40 miles away from my current job. They wanted me to list some of the surgical doctors i work with at my current job....i thought that was odd. After listing a few, i had to ask, "do you them?" Of course the answer was no.

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