Job Interview Questions

[PhotoJenic]

How many questions do you ask a potential employer during an interview?

Background: I feel like I didn't ask enough questions before accepting my current RN position, so in my current job search I want to be well informed before accepting a position. I just went to a job interview and the unit director got irritated with me because I was asking "too many" questions, even making a follow-up snarky comment that they better "get comfortable." All-in-all, the sit-down interview took about 20 minutes and the whole thing, with a tour of the unit and all, took an hour, so it's not like I made them sit there for 3 hours. They basically told me I had the job on the spot, but the whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth and I'm fairly certain I won't be working there unless they offer a salary I can't refuse.

So, for future interviews, how many questions do you ask to get the right info on a new position without irritating the interviewer?

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

I ask the questions necessary to decide whether the position is a good fit for me at this time or not. Those questions will vary based on the position. For a new grad position, it might be things like: "Tell me about the orientation process." or "What classes or certifications are nurses expected to maintain, and what resources are available to achieve them?". For an experienced staff nurse position, I may ask things like: "What are the typical nurse/patient ratios?" or "What ancillary staff are available to help with patient care during the shift, and what tasks do they typically perform?" or "How would you describe the general morale of the nurses that currently work here?" For the position involves directly reporting to the nurse manager or director (such as a supervisory or leadership position), I might ask: "What are your expectations of me and do you hold your staff accountable to those expectations?" or "How will my performance be evaluated?"

Essentially, I try to choose 2-3 broad based questions that give me a better sense of what the duties/responsibilities of the position will be, as well as the qualities of the people I will be working with/for to determine if it will be a good fit for me. I try not to ask questions that are simple "yes/no" answers, or specific details that aren't really central to the position, such as "What is the holiday policy?" or "Would I have to cover up my tattoos?" (Not knowing what kinds of questions you're asking, these are just basic examples.) If the answers to those questions won't change whether I accept the job or not, they don't need to be asked during the initial interview.