Interview Help

Kalico · Dec 23, 2005

Jolie,
I am not interviewing in Chicago, although at one point I was thinking about it. I am interviewing in Charlotte, NC.

Best of luck to you! I've lived and worked (NICU) in both cities. Enjoy the blue Carolina skies!

Off topic but what hospital did you work NICU at in Charlotte? I will be interviewing at CMC with the NICU, PICU, and Pediatrics nurse managers.

Kalico · Dec 23, 2005

Here is a list of questions you can cut anc paste to a word doc to prepare - these questions came from the book Interview Power by Tom Washington.
QUESTIONS
1. Tell me about yourself.
2. What is your greatest strength?
3. What can you offer us that no one else can?
4. What are your three most important career accomplishments?
5. How would you describe yourself?
6. Why should I hire you?
7. Describe the biggest crisis in your life (career).
8. What is unique about you?
9. How would your supervisor describe you?
10. Rate yourself on a scale of 1-10.
11. Tell me a story.
12. How have you benefited from disappointment?
13. What is your greatest weakness?
14. Have you ever been fired or asked to resign?
15. Why have you changed jobs so frequently?
16. Why have you been out of work so long? What have you been doing?
17. What is the biggest mistake you ever made?
18. What are your career goals?
19. What do you want to do in life?
20. How long have you been out of work?
21. What personal, non-job related gals have you set for yourself?
22. Are you willing to relocate?
23. Are you willing to travel overnight?
24. How do you feel about overtime?
25. What have you learned from your past mistakes? What are some of them?
26. What do you think determines a person's progress with a goof company?
27. Who has exercised the greatest influence on you? How?
28. What public figure do you admire most and why?
29. What are your primary activities outside of work?
30. Would you have any concern if we did a full background check on you? What would we find?
31. What qualities do you most admire in people?
32. What have you done to increase your personal development?
33. What type of books and magazines do you read?
34. What was the last book you read (movie you saw) and how did it affect you?
35. How do you feel about your career progress?
36. Can you work well under stress?
37. Do you prefer to work as an individually or as a part of a team?
38. Are you a team player?
39. Tell me about the last incident that made you angry. How did you handle it?
40. What are the things that motivate you?
41. How do you handle people that you really don't get along with?
42. What have you done that shows initiative?
43. What personal qualities are important for success in this field?
44. Sell me this pen.
45. Are you willing to take calculated risks?
46. Describe your perfect job?
47. What is most important to you in a job?
48. Why do you want to change careers?
49. Why do you want to get into this field?
50. Why did you leave your last job?
51. How long will it take before you make a positive contribution to our organization?
52. What do you like least about this position? Most?
53. Tell me about your duties at your present job?
54. What is the most important aspect of your job?
55. Describe a time when you were criticized for your job.
56. What is the most difficult situation you have ever faced?
57. What frustrates you about your job?
58. What jobs have you enjoyed most? Least? Why?
59. What duties have you enjoyed most? Least? Why?
60. What is the worst thing your have ever heard about this organization?
61. What position do you expect to hold in five years? (similar to, Where do you expect to be in 5 years?)
62. Why would you like to work for us?
63. What is opinion of your present (or past) employer?
64. How long would you stay if we offered you this position?
65. What do you know about our company?
66. Why do you want to leave your present employer?
67. Starting with your first job out of college, tell me why you left each organization.
68. What kinds of recommendations will you get from previous employers?
69. Describe your relationship with your last three supervisors.
70. What are your supervisor's strengths and weaknesses?
71. What kind of supervisors do you like most? Least? Why?
72. How has your supervisor helped you grow?
73. What did your supervisor rate you highest on during your last review? Lowest?
74. What kind of supervisor gets the best results out of you?
75. What is your boss like?
76. What actions would you take if you came on board?
77. Can you supervise people?
78. Describe your management philosophy and management style.
79. How many people have you hired? How do you go about it? How successful have the people been?
80. How many people have you fired?
81. How would your subordinates describe you as a supervisor?
82. Some managers watch their employees closely while others use a loose rein. How do you manage?
83. How have you improved as a supervisor over the years?
84. Why did you pick your major?
85. What kind of grades did you have?
86. What course did you like the most? Least? Why?
87. How has your schooling prepared you for this job?
88. Do you feel you did the best work at school that you were capable of doing?
89. How did your summer jobs benefit you?
SOME BEHAVIOR BASED QUESTIONS
Tell me about a time when you:
1. Achieved a great deal in a short amount of time.
2. Were disappointed in your performance.
3. Made a major sacrifice to achieve a work goal.
4. Were unwilling or unable to make the necessary sacrifice to achieve a goal.
5. Worked effectively under a great deal of pressure.
6. Didn't handle a stressful situation very well.
7. Really got angry over a situation at work.
8. Felt under a great deal of pressure from an internal or external customer.
9. Were really bothered by the actions of a coworker.
10. Were especially creative in solving a problem.
11. Were not as creative as usual.
12. Organized and planned an event that was successful.
13. Planned and coordinated a project that was very successful.
14. Were unable to complete a project on schedule despite your best efforts.
15. Really had to remain flexible.
16. Had to deal with a personality conflict with a boss or coworker.
17. Were unable to sell your idea to a key person.
18. Felt really good about a decision you made and the process you went through.
19. Were very effective in your problem-solving ability.
20. Used facts and reason to persuade someone to accept your recommendation.
21. Utilized your leadership ability to gain support for what initially had been strong opposition.
22. Were able to build team spirit during a time of low morale.
23. Were able to gain commitment from others to really work as a team.
24. Used your political savvy to push through a program you believed in.
25. Were particularly perceptive regarding a person's or group's feelings and needs.
26. Were able to predict someone's behavior or response based on your assessment of him or her.
27. Were particularly supportive and reassuring to a person who needed a friend.
28. Built rapport quickly with someone under difficult conditions.
29. Wrote a report which was well received by others.
30. Were particularly effective at prioritizing tasks and completing a project on schedule.
31. Identified potential problems and resolved the situation before the problems became serious.
32. Were highly motivated and your example inspired others.
33. Found it necessary to tactfully but forcefully say things others did not want to hear.
34. Were particularly effective in a talk you gave or a seminar you taught.
35. Had to make an important decision quickly even though you did not have all the information you wanted.
36. Had to make a decision you knew would be unpopular.
Were in a situation when events and circumstances changed rapidly.

Wow!!! Thanks so much for taking the time to post these questions! I greatly appreciate it.

Jolie, BSN · Dec 23, 2005

Best of luck to you! I've lived and worked (NICU) in both cities. Enjoy the blue Carolina skies!

Off topic but what hospital did you work NICU at in Charlotte? I will be interviewing at CMC with the NICU, PICU, and Pediatrics nurse managers.

I worked in the Maternity Center of Mercy South before it became part of CMC. It was a wonderful place to work, with a very high level of professionalism. I interviewed at CMC for a NICU position, but declined it because of scheduling conflicts.

Is Martha Whitecotton still at CMC? I took a number of continuing education courses that she taught, and can't say enough about her knowledge and terrific teaching abilities. I always thought she would be a good person to work for.

Kalico · Dec 23, 2005

Off topic but what hospital did you work NICU at in Charlotte? I will be interviewing at CMC with the NICU, PICU, and Pediatrics nurse managers.

I worked in the Maternity Center of Mercy South before it became part of CMC. It was a wonderful place to work, with a very high level of professionalism. I interviewed at CMC for a NICU position, but declined it because of scheduling conflicts.

Is Martha Whitecotton still at CMC? I took a number of continuing education courses that she taught, and can't say enough about her knowledge and terrific teaching abilities. I always thought she would be a good person to work for.

I am interviewing with Jonni Vanderbrink in the NICU. I don't know if Martha Whitecotten is still there? What was her position?

Jolie, BSN · Dec 23, 2005

I interviewed with Martha Whitecotton when she was the nurse manager of the NICU back in the 1990's. She also taught a number of continuing ed courses thru Charlotte AHEC (and probably other organizations as well) on NICU topics. She is a fabulous educator, and I would have been pleased to work for her, it just wasn't feasible schedule-wise.

Rhonda V · Dec 24, 2005

I've been through lot's of interviews, and the one question I always seem to get is: What are your strengths? Weaknesses? I've also been asked about my short and long-term goals and how I take criticism and deal with difficult co-workers. Good luck!

pvjerrys · Dec 24, 2005

more interview questions for you. practice your answers! good luck!

questions

1. tell me about yourself.

2. what is your greatest strength?

3. what can you offer us that no one else can?

4. what are your three most important career accomplishments?

5. how would you describe yourself?

6. why should i hire you?

7. describe the biggest crisis in your life (career).

8. what is unique about you?

9. how would your supervisor describe you?

10. rate yourself on a scale of 1-10.

11. tell me a story.

12. how have you benefited from disappointment?

13. what is your greatest weakness?

14. have you ever been fired or asked to resign?

15. why have you changed jobs so frequently?

16. why have you been out of work so long? what have you been doing?

17. what is the biggest mistake you ever made?

18. what are your career goals?

19. what do you want to do in life?

20. how long have you been out of work?

21. what personal, non-job related gals have you set for yourself?

22. are you willing to relocate?

23. are you willing to travel overnight?

24. how do you feel about overtime?

25. what have you learned from your past mistakes? what are some of them?

26. what do you think determines a person's progress with a goof company?

27. who has exercised the greatest influence on you? how?

28. what public figure do you admire most and why?

29. what are your primary activities outside of work?

30. would you have any concern if we did a full background check on you? what would we find?

31. what qualities do you most admire in people?

32. what have you done to increase your personal development?

33. what type of books and magazines do you read?

34. what was the last book you read (movie you saw) and how did it affect you?

35. how do you feel about your career progress?

36. can you work well under stress?

37. do you prefer to work as an individually or as a part of a team?

38. are you a team player?

39. tell me about the last incident that made you angry. how did you handle it?

40. what are the things that motivate you?

41. how do you handle people that you really don't get along with?

42. what have you done that shows initiative?

43. what personal qualities are important for success in this field?

pvjerrys · Dec 24, 2005

more help

practice with a partner. anticipate these questions and think up the most positive attributes about yourself.

dress as if you were going to a business interview. this would include:

solid color, conservative suit (black, blue)

coordinated blouse

moderate shoes

limited jewelry (pearls are a nice touch)

neat, professional hairstyle

tan or light hosiery

sporifice make-up & perfume

try to relax and be yourself. project a positive, self-confident, sincere, congruent attitude (not cocky or arrogant--this will turn off the interviewer fast). lean forward slightly in the chair, smile, make eye contact, don't cross arms or legs. appear at ease and enthusiastic. speak in complete sentences with correct grammar and intelligent vocabulary.:

angelsarch · Dec 25, 2005

:balloons: May your dreams come true.

Happy Holidays :Holly3:

:typing Angesarch

Kalico · Dec 25, 2005

:balloons: May your dreams come true.
Happy Holidays :Holly3:
:typing Angesarch

Thank you! Happy Holidays to you too!:Holly2: :Santa1:

rnmom3153 · Dec 26, 2005

WOW,Kalico, you've gotten the best the best tips I've ever seen! And I've seen alot!:wink2:

Seriously, it looks as though I'll be needing this help again! I recently was hired at the first interview I went on and somehow, the day after my orientation, I started getting a royal runaround. I've never been treated like this in all my 30 years of nursing! :scrying: :confused: :bluecry1: :madface:

(see thread EEEEEK! LOSING MY NEW JOB)

OK, NOW I NEED TO KNOW .....What are the answers to these awesome questions!!????? I don't trust myself anymore and I'm very insecure now about future interviews!:uhoh21: :imbar

i wish I knew where I went wrong...what could have happened? I'm thinking maybe nothing aboveboard, honest or legal, cuz they (the DON) have been very evasive)

Well, good luck to you! You got terrific feedback!

Carol

Kalico · Jan 7, 2006

WOW,Kalico, you've gotten the best the best tips I've ever seen! And I've seen alot!:wink2:
Seriously, it looks as though I'll be needing this help again! I recently was hired at the first interview I went on and somehow, the day after my orientation, I started getting a royal runaround. I've never been treated like this in all my 30 years of nursing!
(see thread EEEEEK! LOSING MY NEW JOB)
OK, NOW I NEED TO KNOW .....What are the answers to these awesome questions!!????? I don't trust myself anymore and I'm very insecure now about future interviews!:uhoh21: :imbar
i wish I knew where I went wrong...what could have happened? I'm thinking maybe nothing aboveboard, honest or legal, cuz they (the DON) have been very evasive)
Well, good luck to you! You got terrific feedback!
Carol

You may not have done anything wrong! More than likely the facility is not one you would want to work with anyway.

During my interviews I was asked to rate myself in areas such as dependability, team work, etc; I was asked what classmates would say about working with me; I was asked why I wanted a particular specialty; what made me decide to be a nurse; and what the ideal unit would be, i.e. coworkers, patient population, etc.

My advice would be to be honest, answer with as little hesitation as possible, let yourself shine, and don't worry. Easier said than done, I know. Having just been through three interviews I can honestly say that the interviews were the easy part!! The waiting is what bites! I was told I should hear back within a week or two but it'll be a very long week or two!!