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Discussion

Suggestions for a Panel Interview

Hello all!

I have been working in LTC/Rehab for about 7 months now and that is my only Nursing experience aside from my clinical rotations in Nursing school. Graduated with my RN last year. I have applied to a local hospital for a Med-Surg floor and received a call back for a panel interview.

I have never done a panel interview and I already get pretty nervous for interviews...

Any suggestions on possible questions or possible process I may endure just so I can prepare and lower the anxiety level?

I know how to dress appropriately, have several resumes and references available, etc.

Any help is much appreciated. Thank you all and have a great week.

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    • Guides

    The biggest thing you will be judged by in a panel interview is how good of a fit you are for the team. They will want to know you are well spoken, have good eye contact, that you smile and are friendly, able to relax and laugh. Your answers will matter too, but that first impression of whether or not they like you is crucial. When you feel anxious about it, Try hard to frame it in your mind as going in to talk nursing with other nurses...a subject you are passionate about. Ultimately that is absolutely what it is. Show your passion and your eagerness. Ask pertinent questions about staffing, what they do and do not like about working there and what they feel they need most from whomever they hire and then explain how you will be the person to meet that need.

    You will likely be asked questions such as "tell me about a time when you had a problematic patient (or coworker) and how you handled it".

    "Tell me about a time you did something you are proud of". "What is your greatest weakness" etc. Remember to keep answers genuine and framed in context of your JOB. They will not care about your kids or your hobbies (unless they ask about that). If they want your five year plan, you are looking to gain experience in acute care and put down roots. Even if you hope to go to NP school, for now you don't need to talk about that.

    Just be friendly, relaxed, professional and speak from your heart.

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    • Author

    Just the fact you said "Talk about Nursing with other nurses" brought my anxiety level down. I greatly appreciate your advice and want to be as good a fit for the unit as it (hopefully) will be for me.

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    • Guides

    It really does help and that really is all it is. You earned the right to sit at that table with them. Remember that.

    I hope you will update with how it goes and will have my fingers crossed for you.

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    I find this helpful.

    http://nursing.jhu.edu/life-at-hopkins/career-services/documents/interview_guide.pdf

    When your in a panel interview you need to bring presence.

    When you speak, make sure you look each person in the eye and divided you gaze across the panel, not just one person.

    The questions are pretty standard - use google here. I have some questions I can send you if you send your email. They want to see how you think, how you might react in certain situations etc.

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    • Author
    I find this helpful.

    http://nursing.jhu.edu/life-at-hopkins/career-services/documents/interview_guide.pdf

    When your in a panel interview you need to bring presence.

    When you speak, make sure you look each person in the eye and divided you gaze across the panel, not just one person.

    The questions are pretty standard - use google here. I have some questions I can send you if you send your email. They want to see how you think, how you might react in certain situations etc.

    Woah. I am going to save that to my one drive for future reference. I actually had my interview yesterday. I studied questions prior...

    But it turned out to be just two people interviewing me and I barely got asked any questions. And no behavioral questions. They seemed incredibly comfortable with me and I could laugh. I made conversation as soon as I was led to the nurse managers office. Lol. Guess I wasn't as nervous as I thought...

    But it did concern me that they didn't ask a lot because I was worried I wasn't given ample opportunity to sell myself and I am not the type of person to brag... Yes, I want the job but I don't want to come off as braggy or too desperate.

    They explained a lot about the floor. The orientation. And I am incredibly excited and nervous.

    I accepted the position today! From the way they made the culture sound amongst the nurses, It sounds like what I really want to see on a floor: Teamwork. But I know you got to experience it to know for sure that's how it is. Thank you guys for your comments and help... I have learned so much stalking and reading on allnurses... and I am just getting started! :roflmao:

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    • Guides

    How wonderful. It sounds like you really conquered that anxiety beast. Congratulations!

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    I have a panel interview for next week. I am a bit nervous as well. This my first interview as a new grad. There will be three people to interview me. I am happy to get any advise to prepare me for the interview. I heard the interview will focus on the behavioral questions. Thank you all.

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