Signs of Good and Not-So-Good Interviews

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It goes without saying that all of us will eventually go on nursing interviews. After having gone on three interviews this far, two of which resulted in job offers, and one in which an offer seems quite unlikely, I started thinking about what made the first two "good" interviews and what made the third one not-so-good.

Good Interviews:

*Interviewers were enthusiastic about seeing me at a time that worked for me, in addition to them.

*Interviewers were enthusiastic about my arrival

*I provided responses to questions that the interviewers seemed receptive to/commented positively on

*In addition to having time to answer their questions, I was allowed to ask my own questions and was given adequate time to do so

*Our personalities seemed compatible with each other

*I was introduced to other staff members

*One interview already requested a background check and drug screening test, which begun right after the interview

*One gave me information on benefits/employee retention programs

*Interviewers discussed hours and salaries

*Interviews resulted in job offer :up:

Not-So-Good Interview:

*Interviewers made it obvious they not happy about the appointment time I selected; it was clear that I was inconveniencing them

*Interviewer did not seem committed to the interview

*Interview seemed rushed

*Interview was, at most, 20 minutes, for both discussion and tour

*Interviewer did not ask me all of the questions on their interviewing sheet; the ones that were asked, the interviewer did not seem interested in my responses

*Interviewer kept saying that she did not have any more questions every time I asked another questions. (I would ask something, get an answer, and her response would be, "I don't have any more questions, now, do you?"). It was obvious I was not a candidate of interest.

*Interviewer really couldn't give me details on all of my responsibilities as she was new to the position

*Interviewer told me that she would contact me with status information "in about a week," and that no one new would be starting for "one or two months."

*No mention of salary or hours

So, what are your experiences with good and bad interviews? How did you know when one was going well and when one was not? Were you usually right when you felt that an interviewer was not interested in you?

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