Talking too much or too little in an interview...

[LETRN]

which is worse?

I tend to ramble when I get nervous, and knowing this about myself I'm afraid of clamming up and saying too little.

Also, is it okay to say (as a new grad) 'I'm not sure how to answer that' to a question asking about a clinical situation that you haven't experienced?

I know interview posts are a dime a dozen around here, I really appreciate you guys bearing with me :redpinkhe

[prinsessa]

I think it all depends on how many questions they ask you. If they ask me a lot of questions I usually take 30 seconds to 1 min to respond. Sometimes they ask you very open-ended things like "tell me about yourself" or "why should we hire you?" I usually have a couple of points ready and take it from there.

[iPatch]

I just had my nursing school interview. I have been accepted, and you might be able to use some of the following pointers.

Don't talk too much. It backs you into a corner. Instead, address the question briefly but accurately (think precise and concise). Nothing less, nothing more. You can do this by keeping your answers to 10-20 seconds.

If you're unsure on how to begin an answer, repeat the question. This buys time. It also prevents you from stammering or having that "deer in the headlight" stare.

You should avoid saying, "As a new grad." Say instead, "As a nurse," or more specifically, "As a newly hired nurse at your organization."

This way, you are assuming and exuding subtle confidence.

During my interview, I was asked a seemingly hard but trivial nursing scenarios, something I wouldn't know anything about since I don't have prior experience. The purpose is to stress you out, but they're also looking for the right answers here. Just as important, they're gauging whether you are composed and prepared.

Practice a lot of worst-case scenarios that applies not just to nursing but to any work environment in general. And practice in great abundance.

Finally, as mentioned by the first respondent, the "Tell me about yourself" is important. It's your chance to highlight yourself. You need to pitch this without any glitch. Give a minute of speech that emphasizes a few good points about yourself, such as work ethic, experience (oldest to the most recent), attitude, philosophy, grades and activities in school, and volunteerism.

A few points will do, but expound on them. The underlying point here is to align your qualities with the qualities they're seeking.

Good luck, and thanks for giving me the opportunity to type something here!

[SamTHorn]

Thanks for your insights. I would like to follow this thread to read some my tips that might come about.

Thanks for sharing.

~ Sam