Interviewing rules, how not to freak out?!

[NCIANurse]

I FINALLY had my first interview today for an RN position. I am a new grad, but I have my current LPN license and work in LTC. I have been applying like crazy to one hospital in particular where my husband and I want to move. I was on the phone with an HR rep for almost an hour last week and hung up feeling on top of the world! The HR woman made me feel like I was a prime candidate.

I was called yesterday to schedule a telephone interview with a nurse manager on one of the floors I wanted most. I had my interview today, and I hung up with the worst stomach ache! I know the first interview is when you really have to sell yourself, but other than being asked a few behavioral questions, the nurse manager did all of the talking, without breaks for me to interject and *really* sell myself. At the end of our convo, I did manage to squeeze in "I'm very excited about the posibility of working on your unit!". However, now I have to wait 1 week to see if I'm one of 5 she's interviewing to fly down there and do 3 face to face interviews.... 1 with HR, 1 with nurse manager and 1 with peer panel. I for some reason feel totaly dejected, that after I FINALLY got the phone interview that there are still soooo many hurdles left to cross and I'm still 1 of 5!!!

Waiting 1 week to find out if I even get the next interview might kill me!! So, according to old rules, you would write the nurse manager a card to say thank you. However, I cant find her email adress or even unit # anywhere! Could I send it to HR? And everything I read says to wear a "suit" to an interview. Now, I'm a very respectable person, but what 25 year old wears a suit nowadays? What is appropriate to wear for an interview in 2010??

Thanks for letting me vent!:)

[itsmejuli]

Relax!

I hope you get called for the in person interview, good luck to you.

If you know the full name of the person who interviewed you, send the thank your letter to that person c/o HR.

You don't need to wear a suit to the interview, its really not expected. Wear business attire; meaning that you can wear dress pants, closed toe shoes, and nice blouse with coordinating sweater or jacket if you are a woman. A man must wear dress pants, shirt and tie and coordinating sports coat since its winter. Just be sure you are presentable; appear conservative and professional. Hide tattoos, remove piercings and make sure your hair and make up is conservative.

[NajRNBSN]

i think the manager will also know that phone interviews are hard. i think its even more awkward than being in person.

if you make it to a personal interview then 100% be early, not on time or late. you dont need a suit but you need nice/dress slacks, nice/dress shoes, nice top and at least a nice cardigan if not a blazer.

try to call HR and ask for her email, if they are unwilling to give it then ask about sending a card to her thru their office "attn:" to her.

if you make it to the in person interview you know the questions like "why nursing" "why our hospital" "where do you see yourself in # years" know their mission statement, vision, etc. Know their hospital related to nursing-are they Magnet, etc. Have your resume and bring some questions of your own! If you get nervous in person bring a little notebook with some questions you have or maybe even little notes to the usual interview questions to keep you on track.