preparing for an unexpectedly early job interview

cherbRN · Apr 3, 2007

Congratulations on your interview! Since I am not sure how to paste all the threads on here, I will just say that if you go to search and put in "interview tips" you should be able to find the information that way.

I too graduate in May. Our school set up some time for interview techniques and what to wear, do and say. Then they held a mock interview for us and I think without that help I would have bombed the interview I had in the ER last Thursday! SO here are some questions to prepare you before hand so that you may have an idea on how to answer them during the interview.

1. Tell me about yourself.

2. Why do you want to work at this hospital? In this department?

3. Tell me about a stressfull situation you encountered and how you handled it.

4. What qualities do you posess that would make you a good canditate for this position?

5. Tell me about a time in which you encountered some kind of conflict with a patient or family or physician, and what you did to resolve it?

6. What is your greatest weakness?

7. WHere do you see yourself in five years?

* You have to think about the question behind the question. Question number one seems to be the most difficult. It is important to mention things that "define" you, not things that are part of your life or uncontrollable. NEVER mention your age, marital status or family situation. THat was my first mistake in the mock interview. I said, "Well, i'm 27, a nursing student, married with two children..." the interviewer blew the horn at me on this one! LOL....

Question #5 is asking how you handle stress.

#7 is asking if you have an initiative to keep up with your education or have a desire for advancement. (which you do!) lol...

***Dress in a business pant suit, you are in a professional career now so it is important to give that example. Not too much makeup or perfume either. You may like how your perfume smells but the interviewer may not and the last thing you want is that person to want to end the interview early b/c they cant stand the perfume. LOL....

BE YOURSELF!! Use the questions as a guideline, dont memorize a response and sound like a robot!

SMILE!

Youll be fine....I was soooo nervous I thought I was going to throw up before I entered the hospital. Then I was there for about 2 hours and 15 minutes, came home and passed out b/c I didnt sleep the 2 nights before the interview! LOL...

GOOD LUCK!! Hope this helped!

Oh and show up about 15-20 minutes early! Wear a watch, because it shows that your Present time oriented!

:caduceus: :nurse:

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Apr 3, 2007

Wondering why you can't get hired or promoted: Resume + Interview hints!

Reigen · Apr 3, 2007

Always have some questions for the interviewer when you are asked if you have any, this shows that you have been doing your research as to why you would really want to be at that particular facillity.

Some I have asked are:

If I were to accept this posistion what do you think I should have learned in the first week? The first month? At the end of orientation?

If I were to ask one of the staff nurses what they liked best about working for this facillity, what do you think they would tell me?

What types of education/certifications do you think is/are needed? Is there paid inservices and or classes for the nurse to attend to obtain any education/certifications needed?

Who will be scheduling me?

How long has the DON been out of floor nursing? How does the DON continue to keep clinical skills competent?

What do you bring to the table that warrants a nurse's employment with you?