Need more confidence or look confident for interviews

samirish · Sep 1, 2011

I wanted to say I'm so sorry you are going through this. I am sending positive thoughts your way. Don't give up hope and keep trying. Hopefully someone will chime in soon with some pointers on how to look more confident.

Best Wishes

ILOVEnrsg2 · Sep 2, 2011

OP, it can be very frustrating as a new grad, getting your foot in the door and getting that first job interview. I am a new grad myself, graduated in May of 2011 and just got a job offer last month after 3 interviews. BUT you ARE given the chance to prove that you can do the job. It all starts in being more conscious in how you present yourself, AND showing interest when job shadowing.

Your first impression makes a huge impact when people first meet you. Sometimes you don't think about how you appear or act, but for interviews (and even job shadowing) you need to be putting on your best impression when you really want a job.

I suggest that you have a close friend, mentor, or family member do a mock interview with you. Give them sample interview questions to ask you and practice. This way, they can give you feedback on your demeanor and tell you the little things you may not notice. If you feel that you are too comfortable with talking with these people, ask a friend to let you meet someone new that you've never met before to do this with, and they can provide valuable feedback.

Also, show interest when shadowing a job. Ask the nurses about the floor, the dynamics of working there, etc. It shows you are interested in working there, can carry a conversation, and are friendly and outgoing. I totally understand that job shadowing is a time when you want to see if it's a fit for you, but it's also the BEST time to show that you have interest in working there too.

Interviews can be very tough. Be prepared, know about the job you're applying for, the hospital, and practice, practice practice. I practiced my answers to myself and other people so much, that when it came time for my actual interview, I felt that I was have a conversation rather than nervously firing off answers that I did not prepare with.

Best of luck to you, and keep trying. DO NOT give up!!

allnurses Guide · Sep 2, 2011

Confidence is conveyed in posture, eye contact, neatness, smiling, asking questions, having a sense of humor, being engaged in person to person interaction. You initiate things, such as a handshake, rather than waiting for someone else to, even when you feel unsure. And you make that handshake firm but not too tight. You answer questions put to you with thoughtfulness and firm ideas without looking necessarily for validation on your thoughts. Things like that.

It does not have to be confidence in everything nursing related. It is more related to how you come across socially. Mock interviews are a GREAT idea, as mentioned above. My school offers this to new grads, including those who have been out of school for a while. Faculty does them and they videotape it so you can review it together. Perhaps your school offers this perk as well?

MrChicagoRN, RN · Sep 2, 2011

Confidence is conveyed in posture, eye contact, neatness, smiling, asking questions, having a sense of humor, being engaged in person to person interaction. You initiate things, such as a handshake, rather than waiting for someone else to, even when you feel unsure. And you make that handshake firm but not too tight. You answer questions put to you with thoughtfulness and firm ideas without looking necessarily for validation on your thoughts. Things like that.
It does not have to be confidence in everything nursing related. It is more related to how you come across socially. Mock interviews are a GREAT idea, as mentioned above. My school offers this to new grads, including those who have been out of school for a while. Faculty does them and they videotape it so you can review it together. Perhaps your school offers this perk as well?

Great Advice.

And to the OP. It was great that you asked for feedback. Sounds like you may be an introverted person, and these folks sometimes take a while to warm-up to others.

Go in with the mindset that you graduated, passed your boards, and can do this. You have pt care experience, so you have an advantage over many other candidates.

Smile, be personable. make small talk; not a lot but at least a little. Answer questions with more than one word responses. ASK questions too. Write your questions ahead of time, so you don't draw a blank. Think of each previous interview as practice, as a learning experience that you can use to improve your performance the next time around.

You can do it!

amymina · Sep 3, 2011

Also, would you be willing to branch out of Rochester some? I live in between Rochester and Buffalo, and was doing shadow interviews at Rochester as well, but wasn't offered a job there. I have recently been offered a job in the buffalo area, and if you are interested, I could pm you the website of the system that is willing to hire new grads up here. Good luck, all of the advice given above was excellent.

cali_yoshi · Sep 20, 2011

Wow, there's a lot of great information in this thread.

OP, I have been told the same thing, and that is that I appear timid and not at all confident. It's just my nature. I've always been on the shy and reserved side. It's definitely something I need to work on.