Interview for Peds on Monday!

BeachNurse · Feb 1, 2003

Hi there..no words of advice beyond normal interview skills..but wanted to wish you much luck!!

Wren · Feb 1, 2003

I interview a lot of nurses in my current job. It is not PICU but I suspect some of the same ideas apply. DRESS NICELY. No jeans, no sweats, remove all tongue and nose studs. You can wear scrubs if you don't have a nice suit or dress but I think the more professionally you can dress... the better.

Don't "diss" your previous employer, supervisor or co-workers. Nothing scares an potential employer quicker than immediately complaining about the job you are leaving. (The best predictor of the future is the past, if you hate them, you'll hate us).

Spend time selling yourself. Tell them how quickly you learn, how organized you are, how responsible, how excited you are about being a team member. Now is NOT the time to tell them you have to leave at 2:45 on Tuesdays to pick up your daughter at her dance lessson. Nor is it time to be modest. If you have been a leader or an organizer for anything, mention it as an example of skills that you have that benefit you on this job. If you rarely took sick leave, provided a lot of back up coverage at your last job whatever... mention that. If you were in the top 5% of your class and mentored other students... that's more "bragging rights" for you.

I think it is also helpful to send the interviewer a thank you note. They interview a lot of people and it is hard to keep the applicants straight and in your mind after awhile. Your thank you note will remind them (positively) of you and help keep you at the top of the list.

Hope this helps and good luck!! :nurse:

KELLYGIRL · Feb 1, 2003

I would also like to wish you good luck. I also suggest sending a follow-up/thank you letter. Express thanks for interviewing you and that you were impressed by the staff members/hospital as a whole. Also, a thank you for considering you for the job would be a nice touch. Good Luck, KELLYGIRL;)

YOGI_NAMASTE · Feb 3, 2003

Thank you for your suggestions. This is my first time looking for a job and I'd like to know if it is OK to call the Director of Nursing myself instead of the Nurse Recruiter. I found that since I do not have recent acute care experience I get screened out by from the Nurse Recruiters even if they have not met them yet in person.

Wen, what do you think since you have been interviewing candidates yourself? I'm thinking of calling the Dir. of Nursing who has the power to hire me so I can set up an interview with her/him directly. Thank you.

Have a nice week :)

bergren · Feb 3, 2003

I do not recommend calling the Director of Nursing. That would be like calling Bill Gates for an entry level job at Microsoft. You could end up never getting hired. If they do not hire new grads, that would indicate that their oreintation is not geared to the new grad and you do not want to set yourself up for failure.

Options:

1. Have someone review your resume. A favorite professor, a working nurse.

2. Are you getting the interview with the recruiter, but not the offer? Ask for some interview pointers - dress appropriately.

3. Take a job elsewhere in the hospital and wait for the experience.

4. Go elsewhere and get the ICU experience. This includes moving to an area that is taking new grads and putting them through what ususally amounts to a 9 month orientation for ICU.

5. Network. Join the Nursing groups or even Pediatric Nursing Groups in your area - most have student memberships or a discount for 1st year grads. Getting to know people who can put in a good word at the recruiter, or working on a committee with the ICU Head Nurse themselves would be ideal.

6. Take the extra courses that make you a better candidate. PALS, pediatric critical care conferences. Start your masters....

7. Read your journals - keep up on new developments so you can discuss them with an clinical interviewer.