Hints for Interview Success?

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Mar 2, 2007

Always be positive in all responces you give...even if you have to answer a question that has a somewhat negative responce, I follow it through with a positive! Like "why did you leave your last employer?" I will typically tell that I felt I had hit the glass ceiling on what I could do there and could not advance in my skills or gain further experience, so I chose to look elsewhere like this facility where my skills and experiences can grow and be an asset!" See...it covered the reason I left, which was they were ticking me off something fierce and took away all my benifits and put it into a better light, then basically complemented the interviewers facility! PLUS PLUS!

All questions should be handled with postives and using their mission statement and catch phrases too! I use the words teamwork, continuity, patient safety, professionalism, nursing ethics, etc. And I will quote their mission statement as to what I can do to keep that going strong!

Also, after the interview I go to my car, write a thank you note right then and there, bringing up more positives as reminders and thanks for their time. I put it into the mail box on my way home! I have gotten three jobs that way just from doing that...and they told me so (and having a resume and dressing professionally...many an employer tells me that seems to be a passing fad, and like the fact I stick with it!).

As far as questions to them, I bring up questions about hours and units, types of patients, ratios, differentials, bonuses, orientation timelines, turn over with nurses or how long nurses stay, and especially when I may call to check in and to whom about if I got the job! OH and pay! LOL!

Good luck!

weirdRN, RN · Mar 3, 2007

Thank you,

The tip about the thank you note was one that I had heard before. I am starting a file of Facilities with names and addresses of contacts. I think I'll do that too. Thanks again.

Anyone have any thoughts about the shadowing for a shift or a few hours?

GingerSue · Mar 3, 2007

yes, people do this if they are considering to switch jobs

as a preceptor, I remember having a nurse from a hospital come with me while doing home visiting nursing, for her to consider if she wanted give up her job and come into another area

to do this, try to get hold of a supervisor, who can then put you in contact with a preceptor

Montessori Mommy · Mar 3, 2007

My advice would be to have answers to the most common interview questions prepared in your mind. (I actually wrote out answers to these before I began interviewing - to organize my thoughts.) Questions such as:

What would you bring to this job that others may not?

Why should I offer you this position?

What do you consider to be an area of weakness?

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Why do you want to work here?

Tell me about a time you faced a problem, and what you did about it.

Interviewers are looking at you to see how you handle yourself. Do you project a polished, professional image? Are you well-spoken? Are you clean and appropriately dressed? You represent your manager and facility each time you interact with others. They want to make sure you make them look good!

Also, don't be afraid to let an interviewer know if this is the postition you really want. I honestly told the nurse manger I interviewed with that I wanted to work for her, at that hospital and why. She said that was a critical part in her decision to offer me a postion. She knows I'm not going to take the position, go through orientation and then leave.

Best of luck!

Chiffon · Sep 14, 2008

I'm fresh off nursing school, also just passed the local board this June, I'm being offered a job as a company nurse somewhere...well nothing's for certain whether I'd get hired or not but when I think about interviews, I tried thinking of what the employer would say if I answered their questions as I did...

One of the questions I'm almost sure they'd probably ask is...why here? why a company nurse? Why not in a hospital?

Ok well I'm stumped on the same question I've asked myself. Why? because I want to gain experience. I have ZERO work experience actually hehe been focused at school. I'm also planning to apply on hospitals (since I think experience is a LOT more there than in a company)...Well I do have the answers but how do I actually give them a reply which would not reveal that I won't be staying there forever? (Surely they'd hire someone who would stay for long periods of time). But with the status of nursing here in our country... I doubt I'd get in on any hospitals anyway without exp. it's all about EXP EXP EXP EXP EXP x___x So I don't mind where I get it, I just need to have it :)

HaPpYPiLL · Oct 7, 2008

Hi guys! I just recently graduated in June, took a month off to self-study and do KAPLAN then took the nclex in august and passed. I just have a question, what questions do they normally ask in an interview? I'm having an interview with the hospital that I applied to tomorrow and I'm nervous as hell (knowing that I don't go so well at interviews, it's making me nervous) I don't have a problem doing what I'm suppose to do but sometimes it just gets me so intimidated when you're in a big room full of people trying to get a piece of you asking you all these questions, lol! and the silence is just nerve racking. Need some word of advice here, I really appreciate it! Thank you!