How honest is TOO honest?

[LuvMyGamecocks]

Facing my FINAL semester of nursing school (), I am beginning to look at what areas/specialty of which I may be interested. Truthfully (and as stated in a previous post), my goal is Nurse Anesthesia. The science, the autonomy, the money...all what I would ultimately want in a career.

BUT, my blinders aren't on. I may find that I just don't like Critical Care and move on/change goals from there. But, I do want to set myself up for this goal. I'll need to get my BSN (the hospital I'm committed to has hired new grads in CCU) and enough years of critical care experience for me to feel comfortable and confident in my ability.

My question is this - if I am asked in interviews (starting in March) what my goal in nursing would be, how honest is too honest? Do I tell them that I have plans for this Advanced Level Practice and leave it at that? Or do I tell them that I'll utilize their facility for experience, their RN-BSN program, and likely leave shortly thereafter to pursue postgrad?

This is, of course, assuming the question is asked....thanks for your input!!

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

I personally wouldn't say that you're thinking of leaving. If you don't want to lie and say "I'll be here forever," I would say something along the lines of "I'm not sure where I'll be 5 years from now, there are many opportunities in nursing and who knows where I'll end up."

[llg, PhD, RN]

I agree with Christine. Don't say, "Don't hire me because I will be a bad investment for you." Say that you are unsure -- and are focused right now on becoming the best practicing nurse you can be. If pressed, say that you have thought about advanced practice roles and do find some of them interesting, particularly the nurse anesthetist role ... but that it is too early in your career right to say for certain whether or not you will want to pursue one of them.

Present yourself as someone who is interested in advancing in your career "someday," -- but also as someone who is open to several possibilities -- and as someone who will be a good employee for them because THEIR job is the one that is right for you at this stage of your career -- and that you are not in any hurry to leave.

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

I would say that your goal is to become very competent in critical care.

[groovy jeff, RN]

As an ex-HR guy, I would tell you to tell the truth. Most "amateur" interviewers ask silly questions that they were asked when they interviewed somewhere ("What is your greatest strength?" "Where do you want to be in 5 years?", etc:banghead:). That particular questions is more about bettering yourself and "gumption"; answering in a positive way is the key. It is the behavioral interviewing that HR savy folks use that will get you.

The public library is full of job interview books; they have the questions that are asked the most often and give examples of answers. Snag a couple of these, take a few hours to peruse them, and you will feel much more confident in your interview.