Any advice for phone "interview"?

R*Star*RN, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2011

I have spoken with recruiters on the phone for various positions over the years. It can be anywhere from an informal conversation to an actual interview.

For a 30 minute long conversation you are probably looking at answering some interview questions. Many interviewers are starting to get rid of weakness/strength questions and are leaning towards "tell me about a situation when. . . ." and bring in communication/conflict resolution/prioritizing types of scenarios.

Examples:

"Tell me about a situation when you had friction with a co-worker. How did you resolve this?"

"Tell me about a situation when, in hindsight, you made a bad decision in regards to patient care. What would you do differently next time?"

and then there are always questions like "How do you personify our mission in your care?". So always know the mission statement and core values of the organization you are applying for.

futureRN_Anastasia · Mar 26, 2011

It IS an actual interview. It is as actual as it gets, and the questions are likely to be exactly the same that you are going to be asked in face-to-face interview. I have had plenty of these in my previous career, since IT ppl like to give a phone interview as a first or even second interview (in higher positions where there are more than 3 interviews).

Find a quiet place where no one is going to disturb you, have all the stuff that they are going to have in front of them, in front of you. Resume, portfolio, whatever. Prepare questions to them ahead of time, and have a pen and paper ready as well in case you will want to make notes. Find a phone at home that is as clear as possible, you don't want to be reasking questions because of a phone that is not charged or is not too good. Also, since it is a phone interview and no one can see you, you can actually make very short point form notes about possible questions and open the file with them on a computer so that you have it all in front of you, just for added confidence.

Best of Luck! :twocents:

carolmaccas66, BSN, RN · Mar 27, 2011

Great stuff they wanted to call you! Be proud of yourself. You have probably had ur phone call by now have you?

Always treat these calls as an actual interview. Make sure you always speak clearly, concisely, know what you want - ie: why do you want the job, with them, at their facility? - and always have a pad and pen ready to jot down notes.

Interviewers typically ask why you are interested to start off with, about your area of expertise, what you can bring to the ward/area/facility and probably what other training and/or skills you have. They usually give you a scenario like a patient is bleeding, all the other nurses etc are off the ward (for some unknown reason, ur the only one there!), what would you do? Don't panic, take a deep breath, remember to always verbalise if you need more time and try not to skip questions (you don't sound confident otherwise). Think of DRABC as a guide, emergency protocols (always say you would follow the faclities' policies re emergencies), call the MET/emergency team, always say you will notify another staff member STRAIGHT AWAY b4 doing anything else - my old boss in Clinical Nursing HR said many people 4got to say this for some reason. The interviewer/s want to see how quickly and clearly you can think.

I once had to do a phone interview with 3 different people and that was difficult! I was sweating like mad out in the hot sun, cos my mobile wouldn't work inside, but I got through it!

It is harder on the phone but just try to think clearly and speak well (ie: don't use slang at all). Always say thank you to each and every person for their time, always be polite to the receptionist when she puts you through and say thanks to him/her. Always say I look forward to hearing from you shortly.

If you've had the interview let us know how you got on. Maybe they will offer you something on the spot!

Here's hoping!!

happydrunkcat · Apr 5, 2011

How was the interview?

Unfortunately, I do not have any suggestions, since I failed my phone interview :) I got another one in a week and had an offer a day later :)

Good luck!

melcah28 · Aug 2, 2011

How was the interview?
Unfortunately, I do not have any suggestions, since I failed my phone interview :) I got another one in a week and had an offer a day later :)
Good luck!

HI,I'd like to ask how did you receive the info that you fail your phone interview?were you informed during the interview or you receive the info few days after the interview?

thank you

dudette10, MSN, RN · Aug 2, 2011

I know this is an old post, but I'll post my and a classmate's experience in case it is helpful to anyone.

The phone interviews we were asked to do were the scripted screening interviews with an HR rep, with very specific questions, including a few questions that were off-the-charts odd. At the time we were called for interviews, the fact that they were scripted screens was not relayed to us.

I was told that I had passed mine, and I was immediately set up with an NM interview. My classmate did not know if she passed or not during the interview, was not asked for another in-person interview with an NM at the end of the call, and she has not received a 2nd interview call.

Just FYI....

melcah28 · Aug 2, 2011

did you friend passed her interview?

kakekRN · Jul 18, 2014

I know this post is old, but I have a prescreen interview coming up that I'm told will last 15 minutes. I'm wondering what types of questions you were asked, particularly what you mean by "off-the-charts odd" questions. I'm just trying to figure out how to prepare for mine.

Thank you!

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2014

If you are suited for the job, that will come out in your interview. There is really no substitute for knowing what you know, and knowing how to describe it to someone when s/he asks you about it.

Yes, it really is that simple. The way you prepare for any interview is to be really familiar with your CV or resume, have those materials at hand, and be ready to explain yourself intelligibly.