Interview Help

Kalico · Dec 20, 2005

Lol...sorry, I know another poster asked this same question earlier and I just now noticed it!!! Once again, sorry for the double post of sorts.

rnmom3153 · Dec 20, 2005

Kalico, I recently went through exactly this very same thing! I rec'd a lot of help from our very own "General Nursing Forum" "Career advice". I also did a search and found a lot of other help. I'll try to find some of my other sources and post them for you. Good Luck! (I can't do it right now, but as soon as I'm able, I'll do it.)

rnmom

Kalico · Dec 20, 2005

Kalico, I recently went through exactly this very same thing! I rec'd a lot of help from our very own "General Nursing Forum" "Career advice". I also did a search and found a lot of other help. I'll try to find some of my other sources and post them for you. Good Luck! (I can't do it right now, but as soon as I'm able, I'll do it.)
rnmom

Awesome!! Like I said I greatly appreciate any and all help I can get on this matter! I am really hoping to not "bumble" my way through my first interview that really counts. I have wanted to be a NICU nurse since I was seven and I am finally getting to the point where I can actually "see" that happening!

rnmom3153 · Dec 20, 2005

Kalico, I just discovered something I didn't know...Go towards the bottom of the page and click on the upper rt hand corner where it says "similar threads" It showed other threads on this topic! Try that!:)

rnmom

rnmom3153 · Dec 21, 2005

Kalico, I recently went through exactly this very same thing! I rec'd a lot of help from our very own "General Nursing Forum" "Career advice". I also did a search and found a lot of other help. I'll try to find some of my other sources and post them for you. Good Luck! (I can't do it right now, but as soon as I'm able, I'll do it.)
rnmom

[orchid=orchid]

Kalico, Just checking to see if you got what you need! When is your interview?

As I said before I found several sites for this kind of help. I've been so preoccupied with my own issues, I haven't been able to do much. I certainly will if you still need it.

rnmom:)

I'm experimenting with the vB Codes...here's hoping it works! :rolleyes:

Jolie, BSN · Dec 21, 2005

Do I remember that you are interviewing in Chicago? If so, PM me. Good luck!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Dec 22, 2005

i have been compiling a list of interview questions. here is a list of what most employers are looking for in the people they hire. i posted this on another thread earlier today, but i added some questions at the end since you are looking for ideas of questions for you to ask your interviewer.

the positive attributes that most employers are looking for in a worker are:

initiative

dynamic energy

responsibility

ability to give good customer service

capacity to learn

productivity

flexibility

leadership

team work

ability to tolerate pressure

analytical ability

desire to develop professionally

here are some questions that you might be asked at a job interview:

what do you think makes nursing the right career for you?

what are your professional objectives in the future?

how do you manage work stress?

how would you express your frustration?

how do you react when someone criticizes you?

what are your best qualities that will make you a good nurse?

how do you face tasks you dislike?

how do you react to the critics if you think they are not justified?

what kind of people do you dislike?

what is most difficult communication problem you have had with your colleagues?

how do you manage stress?

how do you accept dressing codes?

do you have a good relation with your work mates?

what have you learned from your mistakes?

describe the perfect nurse.

how would a friend of yours describe you?

what do you think about policies and rules?

do you consider yourself a person with self-initiative?

do you have an analytical mind?

are you interested in the investigation?

what do you do when you have difficulties solving a problem?

what is the most boring task you have ever performed? how did you manage it?

what is the most interesting task you have ever performed? how did you manage it?

what are the requirements for a person to succeed in nursing?

what is your opinion about your last teacher.

questions you might want to ask:

what kind of professional advancement is available to nurses here?

what are some of the attributes of working for your hospital?

if i were to get a job offer from another hospital, what would make me decide to work for this one?

what is the criterion you will use to select the person you are looking for?

what kind of support can i expect from the nursing educators and preceptors during my orientation?

how does the hospital handle new grads that might be slow in becoming oriented to their new jobs?

Kalico · Dec 22, 2005

i have been compiling a list of interview questions. here is a list of what most employers are looking for in the people they hire. i posted this on another thread earlier today, but i added some questions at the end since you are looking for ideas of questions for you to ask your interviewer.
the positive attributes that most employers are looking for in a worker are:
initiative
dynamic energy
responsibility
ability to give good customer service
capacity to learn
productivity
flexibility
leadership
team work
ability to tolerate pressure
analytical ability
desire to develop professionally

here are some questions that you might be asked at a job interview:
what do you think makes nursing the right career for you?
what are your professional objectives in the future?
how do you manage work stress?
how would you express your frustration?
how do you react when someone criticizes you?
what are your best qualities that will make you a good nurse?
how do you face tasks you dislike?
how do you react to the critics if you think they are not justified?
what kind of people do you dislike?
what is most difficult communication problem you have had with your colleagues?
how do you manage stress?
how do you accept dressing codes?
do you have a good relation with your work mates?
what have you learned from your mistakes?
describe the perfect nurse.
how would a friend of yours describe you?
what do you think about policies and rules?
do you consider yourself a person with self-initiative?
do you have an analytical mind?
are you interested in the investigation?
what do you do when you have difficulties solving a problem?
what is the most boring task you have ever performed? how did you manage it?
what is the most interesting task you have ever performed? how did you manage it?
what are the requirements for a person to succeed in nursing?
what is your opinion about your last teacher.

questions you might want to ask:
what kind of professional advancement is available to nurses here?
what are some of the attributes of working for your hospital?
if i were to get a job offer from another hospital, what would make me decide to work for this one?
what is the criterion you will use to select the person you are looking for?
what kind of support can i expect from the nursing educators and preceptors during my orientation?
how does the hospital handle new grads that might be slow in becoming oriented to their new jobs?

awesome!!! thank you so much! this is exactly what i've been looking for! i will pop back on here as i interview and let you all know how it goes. thanks everyone!

Kalico · Dec 22, 2005

[orchid=orchid]
Kalico, Just checking to see if you got what you need! When is your interview?
As I said before I found several sites for this kind of help. I've been so preoccupied with my own issues, I haven't been able to do much. I certainly will if you still need it.
rnmom:)
I'm experimenting with the vB Codes...here's hoping it works!

RNmom...so far I have what I need. If you can figure out how to put the links on here that you found that would be much appreciated. I think you should just be able to copy and paste the links.

Jolie,

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

Nesher, BSN, RN · 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.

Jolie, BSN · 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!