Need help for upcoming interview!!

[Jsnurse16]

Hey everyone, I have an interview coming up and I need some help. I have had an interview a week for the past 7 weeks and have not had any offers. Someone else mentioned to me that maybe the hiring person can tell that I dont really want the job, well this one I'm very interested in. It's at a hospital/clinic for people with eating disorders as well as other psych issues but mostly eating disorders. They do inpatient, residential, and outpatient. They have a large adolescent unit and I am really interested in that aspect of the position. I think I'm very awkward when I go to interviews and I was looking for any pointers people might have.

Such as, how to convey that I'm really interested. What kinds of questions to ask or questions I might be asked. I always think of answers I might have to questions about why I want to work there etc but a lot of the time I freeze up when they ask me. I might stutter or the response I wanted to say might come out wrong or often times I get nervous and I don't say everything I want to say.

Also, I feel like the fact that I look so young might turn people off. I'm told constantly how young I look, people sometime like I'm 15 etc. So idk how to seem older or more mature .

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I really need a new job, I currently work nights and its killing me. I am definitely not a night nurse, there's some people who can do it but its just not me. I'm miserable. Thanks!!

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Looking young may or may not be a disadvantage.

Ask someone you trust what your voice sounds like? If it's high pitched /child like , practice modulating it so you can sound confident.

So, tell US. Why do you want the job?

[HeatherGurl84]

Make sure you ask about nurse to patient ratios, staffing, and I always like to ask my interview 'What is your favorite thing about working here?" I have always gotten good reactions from that question. Practice talking and answering questions in a mirror or have a friend do a mock interview with you. It can help build your abilities to answer questions confidently and smoothly.

I am currently going through interviews and you will be asked questions such as "What are you strengths & weaknesses?" and situational questions such as how you handle conflict or stressful situations and about your skills & abilities when it comes to documentation, computer systems. etc.

Hold your head high, but dont act cocky. Be open and honest about any concerns you have!! You can do it :)

[hope3456, ASN, RN]

Be careful about asking about ratios, I did so one time and the interviewer got kindve defensive and said " what do you think they should be ?" I didn't get the job.

[HeatherGurl84]

Be careful about asking about ratios, I did so one time and the interviewer got kindve defensive and said " what do you think they should be ?" I didn't get the job.

Sounds like that manager either didn't want to bring it up or was someone you wouldn't want to work for to begin with. I always ask that and have been told " I am glad you asked!" Or "good question!"....in interviews they have usually asked me how big of a patient load I could handle anyway.