I had an interview the other day. They did not offer me the position. I got some feedback from HR. They said that the interviewers thought I came across as a Know-It-All?
I was confused by this, because I thought that an interview is the time and place to show that your are confident, competent, and assertive (especially for ED). So I'm not really sure how one projects those things without seeming like a Know-It-All?
I may have not given this much weight, but a previous manager mentioned the same thing.
I know I have a ton to learn and that I am new. I ask a lot of questions. They also said that I ask too many questions, and ask questions about things that were already discussed? So a Know-it-All that asks too many questions? Seems contradictory to me. I am a non-confrontational person. I do not enjoy confrontation nor do I go out of my way to step on people's toes.
I thought that managers would want intelligent staff, but sometimes I think I should clam up and play dumb, or downplay my experience, or generally make myself seem smaller. I don't go around spouting random facts or challenging anyone to a trivia contest. I consider myself intelligent, but I honestly do not understand how I am coming across as a Know-It-All. I don't engage in comparison or self deprecation, but I don't think that I'm better than anyone.
How can I come across as confident, competent, and assertive without seeming like a "Know-it-All"? Be sure to intersperse proclamations of humility and gratitude? I am humble and grateful, but I always took managers as the the straight-forward kind who have no time for the superfluous, especially in an interview where you only have 20 minutes together.
Managers, those that hire, and anyone that's ever received similar feedback: I would appreciate advice so I can do better in interviews, and stop giving people an untrue impression of who I am.
As an EMT, you would have had to have a take charge attitude and make decisions on the fly. You have to assess quickly and efficiently, as it is life or death. The job trains you to be quick on your feet, and communicate quickly and efficiently in a short amount of time. The gain trust in 30 seconds or less stuff. You are always "on".
Multiple years of that and one ends up looking almost cocky. It is safe to say that 99% of the time you save a life a shift. That's some heady stuff.
The scope is very different as an ER nurse. There is a team of which you are not always going to be the leader of. You are not always going to be able to do what you could do in the back of the ambulance. There is a different thought process.
So I would note that as a medic, you were trained in an entirely different manner. As a nurse in an ER, you need to be able to take a step back when you need to. The reality is that not everyone is going to "take" to you the same way as life or death in the back of an ambulance or a scene.
You need to find a way to marry your experience in pre-hospital care, and being a member of a team of people as opposed to the leader of the same. That you are able to critically think under the direction of the provider, as opposed to a more broad medical direction at your own discretion.
In other words, you know what you know, know it really well, but you need to be aware that there are things you do not know, so you need to know and use your resources.
Oh hell no, they want empty vessels which they can fill with every nonsensical form of logic there is.. For example, the hospital here is now forcing nurses to take two 45 min breaks during 12 hour night shifts because "research proves that sleeping during a night shift is bad for you.."
They want complete morons on staff so that their proposed changes will not be challenged. We actually have a union and yet it feels as though we don't.
If you can, take your intelligence elsewhere, don't waste your life nursing.
The worlds of EMS and Nursing are so different at times!
Even though ER might seem like a natural nursing path for someone with EMS experience, you might find another area of nursing that is a better "fit" for you. I did, but it took some time... and it was the absolute last area that I expected.
It's good to self-assess how others perceive you and be mindful of this. Take stock of how you want others to view you and ask people that truly know you for feedback. But it's also important to not try too hard to be someone that you're not.
Good luck! The transition to nursing wasn't a particularly easy one for me... but it's been so worth it.
There are actually some conversational techniques that OP can use.
Pause & reflect - Before blurting out an answer (even if you're very sure of your answer) take a 10-count pause. Say something like "hmm" or "I'm trying to recall the situation accurately"... anything that would indicate that you are trying hard to respond appropriately to the question that was asked rather than simply waiting for them to stop talking so you can take over.
Acknowledge ignorance - if you're not sure, just admit it. No one expects you to know everything. This also gives the questioner a feeling of superiority (never a bad thing) which in turn, makes them feel better.
Re-state - don't do it too often or it gets tiresome, but take the time to re-state the question to make sure you are interpreting it accurately. Preface it with a comment like "correct me if I'm mistaken, but are you asking me ....." or "If I understand you correctly, you want me to recall . . . "
Never badmouth anyone - no matter how egregious the behavior, or how much you hate your former co-workers, boss, or organization, NEVER badmouth them. If you do, your interviewer will get the impression that you have a negative and retaliatory attitude. If you were terminated, you don't have to admit fault, but talk about what you learned from the experience rather than how unfair it was.
The overall point is ensure that 'they' feel that they are superior to you. It's a very rare person who would willingly take on a new employee who is more qualified, smarter, more able, etc. than s/he is. So, just steer into that skid.
There is a way to demonstrate that you are knowledgeable, intelligent and skilled... WITHOUT giving the listener an impression that you are above learning , instruction, or criticism in any way. A future employer would not want such an employee......
jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B
9 Articles; 4,800 Posts
As an EMT, you would have had to have a take charge attitude and make decisions on the fly. You have to assess quickly and efficiently, as it is life or death. The job trains you to be quick on your feet, and communicate quickly and efficiently in a short amount of time. The gain trust in 30 seconds or less stuff. You are always "on".
Multiple years of that and one ends up looking almost cocky. It is safe to say that 99% of the time you save a life a shift. That's some heady stuff.
The scope is very different as an ER nurse. There is a team of which you are not always going to be the leader of. You are not always going to be able to do what you could do in the back of the ambulance. There is a different thought process.
So I would note that as a medic, you were trained in an entirely different manner. As a nurse in an ER, you need to be able to take a step back when you need to. The reality is that not everyone is going to "take" to you the same way as life or death in the back of an ambulance or a scene.
You need to find a way to marry your experience in pre-hospital care, and being a member of a team of people as opposed to the leader of the same. That you are able to critically think under the direction of the provider, as opposed to a more broad medical direction at your own discretion.
In other words, you know what you know, know it really well, but you need to be aware that there are things you do not know, so you need to know and use your resources.
Best wishes.