HELP with interviews

[jhaf07]

I need help big time, need some tips on how to do well during a job interview.

Some background: I have been a SAHM for 5 years, been in school all that time working on RN degree on a part time basis (and took a yr off when while pregnant with my last child). I am starting clinicals next week. I have not had a job interview in 7 yrs and most of my work history comes from when I was 18 yrs old. My last job was at a LTC facility as a CNA, I was a very hard working employee and learned a lot about work ethic and getting the job done under pressure during the 2 yrs I was there.

My dilemma: I recently decided I was going to back to work part time as a CNA, my goal is to get into a hospital so I have a foot in the door when I graduate in 3 yrs (part time clinicals). I was so excited for the interview I had yesterday at a very well known recognized hospital that also happens to be the sight for my clinicals, the college I am attending is part of the hospital. In the past Ive never had a bad experience at a job interview, was never nervous, and always got the job. I was not, however, at all prepared for the type of interview I experinced yesterday.

The recruiter was polite but did not come off a very personable. She started by going over my app and questioned me on why I was only at Manor Care for 7 months (I worked there right out of high school, did my CNA training while there). I explained that I ended up leaving there suddenly when I became pregnant with my first child because I needed to move back home for family support. I was living in a different area when working there and moving back home would have given me an hour and a half commute so that wasnt happening. The recruiter asked me about three times to explain why I did not give a two weeks there and I tried to explain that it was an unexpected pregnancy and I NEEDED my family, but she seemed stuck on this. Then she proceeded to ask if I gave a proper notice at CVS when I left, which I did not b/c I was 17 and didnt care lol (I know now that was a mistake but cut me a break, I was in high school). She did not ask why.

So after we reviewed my app we discussed my previous supervisors, not references, and she was concerned that I did not have my former sups personal number for her to contact during the day (the sup works the night shift). I am sorry, but I think that is unprofressional, there is no reason she cannot call the facility and leave a message for the sup to call her back. Ok so that was strike 2 on me.

Then we get to the interview questions and she proceeds to pull out this sheet of paper and explain to me these set of questions that they rate all applicants on. Wonderful. She begins asking me all these "tell me about a time when" questions and at first they're not too bad, I had some difficulty coming up with specific examples and stories since it's been a while since I worked, but I could handle "tell me about a time you had to work with a difficult co-worker" and "tell me. . . .. .went above and beyond for a patient". At first I thought I was doing pretty good, and then I got a "tell me about a mistake you made and how did you learn from it". I went on to tell a story about a resident who fell because the call bell was not in reach, it had fallen off the bed b/c it did not have a clip. There was no policy in the facility at the time for these clips. I went on to explain to her that from that incident on I checked all my residents for clips as soon as I walked on the floor. Looking back, I think I may have been a little too honest with that answer and perhaps could have a least worded it betetr, but the fact is, I didnt screw up often, that was the only time I was written up and I did not know what else to offer. There were a few other answers that I realize now may not have been the best. The recruiter ended the interview after the questions, did not offer for me to ask questions, and said there were other applicants and she'd be in touch in two weeks. I left very discouraged realizing it did not go well, not like I planned, and I know I did not get that job.

So, I have another interview with a different hospital much closer to home on Monday and now I am a wreck thinking about it. I wanted some opinions on whether I should wrack my brain for less serious experiences to share or if I should really just be totally honest. When I started as a CNA I struggled learning how to manage my time, I fell into the cutting corners thing at first but quickly realized I needed to improve and do everything by the book and the majority of my time working I was an excellent employee, very dedicated to my patients and very hard working, I have people to vouch for that. Id always be finishing my rounds when others were sitting at the nurses station. I have good references, am doing very well in school (4.0) and am genuinley a good person. Should I expect that my unstable work history as a teenager is going to haunt me? And should I be a little less honest about negative situations when I am given those as a question? I need advice before Monday lol, because if I hang myself out to dry again I may just give up the desire to work until Im done school. I am pretty bummed out by this so anything that anyone has to offer would be greatly appreciated!

P.S. I hate those behavioral questions and am praying for a more traditional interview at the smaller hospital.

[SpecialK38, ASN, RN]

Hey there! I am just a newly graduated RN, and may not have the MOST seasoned advice, but it seems like I struggle with the same thing you do-being painfully honest!!! :) I feel guilty if I don't tell all the truth in every gory detail, but it's not always helpful to you or those you are interviewing with. I am in NO WAY advocating dishonesty, however there are other ways to be honest without hanging yourself. With the pregnancy issue, it may be better to state you had a "unexpected or urgent health issue" that required you to have to quit before a two week notice was given. Granted pregnancy isn't an emergency, however emotionally you obviously needed to get home. A recruiter might peg you as emotionally unstable if you state you NEEDED you family so badly you couldn't wait for another 2 weeks out of a 40 week pregnancy!! :) Secondly, GET THOSE CONTACT NUMBERS!!! By not providing everything required on your application you are communicating that you are content to do incomplete work on the job. And finally about a mistake you made.....that is a hard one. It is risky to share a story about a safety issue that ended in injury. You might do better with one where you catch something BEFORE it becomes an issue, or how you got better with time management. Hope this helps and good luck on your second interview and school!

[LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN]

Those behavior type of questions are harder ones to answer. I recently had an interview where I had to answer all questions in SBAR format.

They asked me about a time I had cut corners to get the job done, but by doing it in SBAR I was able to include the R result, what I had I learned about the mistake. Always play up what you have learned and how you improved.

If I was you I would not talk about having a patient fall, patient safiety is utmost importance, I would try to think of another expample for you to use

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

P.S. I hate those behavioral questions and am praying for a more traditional interview at the smaller hospital.

Interviewing can be tough, and some make it harder than others. That's not your fault. to be able

Every bad interview is an opportunity to learn to do it better the next time.

Re Behavioral questions: Write down every question you remember her asking. Now, prepare your answer, have a story ready to tell when they ask you the next time. Then look up interviewing articles on monster.com or elsewhere & prepare your answers to some of the common questions.

Interviewing generally gets easier the more you do it.