what NOT to say at job interviews...new grads shouldn't teach? =(

Perpetual Student · Mar 14, 2012

I don't buy into either of those. Both are positive traits in a potential hire.

Teaching is a core duty for nurses. The key is to emphasize that you love both learning and teaching. You don't want to come off as arrogant, but as a lover of knowledge.

Many potential employers would look favorably upon a plan to continue education. The key is to be able to articulate how you will balance school and work. Avoiding talking about a graduate program might be sound advice, as it may suggest you'll need to get a different job in the role you'll be studying to take. For example, if you're interviewing for an ICU position and you go on about how you want to be a CRNA or ACNP they may think "well, why pay train her to be an ICU nurse if she's only going to hang around long enough to get her required ICU experience?"

See the thread about not calling your potential manager fat and old. That's really a bad move.

allnurses Guide · Mar 14, 2012

Yeah, both of those are just wack in my opinion. I am a new grad, talked and still talk freely about my intention to continue my education, both when applying for the job I have now and now that I am in it. The hospital wants a better educated nursing corp, are moving to stop hiring two year RNs and are thrilled for and prepared to pay for me to return to school.

The one about teaching just makes no sense. Most teaching positions are part time and nurses working more than one job is not exactly unusual.

ckh23, BSN, RN · Mar 14, 2012

I agree with the other posters. Education is a big part of nursing and we are always teaching are patients. Learning in nursing is continous whether it is through CEU's, conferences, or going back to school. If employers didn't want you to go back to school, many of them wouldn't offer tuition reimbursement.

allnurses Guide · Mar 14, 2012

I am wondering if your fellow nursing grads are trying to stack the deck in their own favor? I honestly am baffled by the "don't talk about wanting to continue your education". That is just so backwards.

PeepnBiscuitsRN · Mar 14, 2012

If someone told you this, they're trying to sabotage your potential for a job! That would be like telling someone applying to be a kindergarten teacher "I can't STAND a mess and won't tolerate it. I also have very little patience for mistakes and demand perfection!" Would you want your child to have a kindergarten teacher like that?!

Wouldn't you want to hire a nurse who saying "I love teaching, I love sharing what I know, and I want to know more and more, and I plan to do all I can to make that happen." That's what got me hired at my job, the manager liked that I have a passion for teaching and for furthering my education.

TakeTwoAspirin, MSN, RN, APRN · Mar 14, 2012

Answer honestly, but tone it down a little. For example:

Interviewer: What are your thoughts on further education?

You: Nursing is a life-long learning process, of course, but as a new graduate I would like to focus on being the best (fill in specialty) nurse I can be for right now.

DO NOT SAY: I can't wait to go to NP school once I have a couple of years experience under my belt and can move on to something I really want to do.

Interviewer: How do you feel about teaching/precepting?

You: As a new nurse I understand that I still need to gain experience in patient education, but I feel I am a good communicator, and am able to make "connections" with my patients easily. Once I am experienced, I hope to be able to precept new nurses to the unit and develop my skills further along those lines.

DO NOT SAY: I did tons of teaching in my clinicals, and want to precept new nurses once I've completed my orientation. Can I sign up for that now?

So yes, everyone wants a conscientious new nurse. But don't come off too confident, or act like you are going to use them as a stepping stone for the next big thing in yor life. These can be red flags that will have recruiters running for the doors. Answer questions honestly, but be smart about it. I suspect that a couple of your counterparts have "shared" a little too much and that is where the warnings have come from.

llg, PhD, RN · Mar 14, 2012

I agree with the previous posters who have said that the topics themselves are not off-limits -- but that you do need to be careful how you talk about them.

It's usually a bad mood to tell the interviewer that you don't really want the job you are applying for. You're just using it as a stepping stone to something else. (e.g. "I'm just going to do this for 1 year and then I'll be leaving to go back to school.") You want to give the impression that you are looking to be a long term employee. (e.g. "I hope to continue to learn and grow -- and that might involve graduate school. But I haven't made any firm decision yet. At this point in my career, I need to focus on being a good staff nurse. And if I do decide to go back to school someday, it would probably be part time so that I can continue to work to support myself.")

As for education ... Just don't sound like an arrogant know-it-all. Emphasize the importance of becoming competent in your new role before teaching other staff members -- and that you enjoy the patient education aspects of nursing.

DemonWings · Mar 14, 2012

I feel like I was stone walled at one interview when I was asked about my future education goals. I stated that I wanted to get my BSN-MSN as soon as possible because I wanted to be a better, more rounded nurse, and to improve my clinical practice. I guess to them that translated to "im going to be too distracted to fully devote myself to the orientation process". That interview lasted a whole 10 minutes. After they told me in detail WHY furthering my education would derail my orientation, they said thank you for your time, buh bye.

I think if I worded it differently the outcome would have been different. But I am glad I didnt get that job anyway :)

As for the teaching part, thats bogus. I can't understand why your passion to educate your patients would be a problem.

smhs, BSN, RN · Mar 14, 2012

Thanks everyone...I"m so glad to hear that everyone is on the same page as me!!

I was so confused when my friend told me this but now I'm pretty sure she meant, "don't over do it...don't sound arrogant like a know-it-all"...

I did have an experience at a homehealth; however, that one of the reasons i didnt' get the job was because they thought I was "too motivated to teach"....I guess in this kind of setting it is understandable since the patient and family usually know exactly the type of care they want...but what I meant and how I said it was different...I wanted to let them know that I am the type of person to do my research and educate myself if I don't know something in order to better serve the patients' needs...this is because I believe nurses play a key role in providing the right information and resources for their patients...BUT I guess my words didn't come off this way for some reason...

Besides all of this...what does go under the category of "do not mention at interviews"?

What type of answer are they looking for when they ask "give me an example of how you overcame a conflict with a patient, employer, coworker, family, etc."?

LynnLRN · Mar 14, 2012

I think the main thing not to do during an interview is bad mouth or be negative about any person or previous employer (I actually can't believe people still do that, I feel like it is common knowledge but I still here about examples of people doing it). Also, don't tell them what you think they want to hear but give thoughtful truthful answers. Also, don't act like your perfect, you can tell a story where you were not at your best but overcame it and how you learned from it and what you did to make it better.

realnursealso/LPN, LPN · Mar 15, 2012

Here's straight from a manager's mouth. https://allnurses.com/nursing-interview-help/what-not-say-685146.html

"I interviewed an RN for a full time position this morning. The interview was going well, and she seemed to be giving me some really good answers. At the end of the interview, I asked if there was anything more she wanted to say. She then proceeded to tell me that I should really pay more attention to my weight, since being overweight puts me at risk for diabetes and cardiac problems, especially at my age. OK, so I am 25 pounds overweight, and around 50, and I know the risks, but do you really tell a potential manager that she is old and fat? Needless to say, I will not be offering her a position."