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Discussion

Telephone interviews....

i have applied for positions at vanderbilt hospital and have been notified that they will set up a telephone interview.

i think mental fear of the unknown is often what produces the physical symptoms of nervousness. i have been nursing for 27 years and this will be my first telephone interview....what can i expect? i have only worked at three different hospitals so i have not moved around much..i presently live in canada and will be relocating to nashville.

do i have any weaknesses yep!! potato chips lol... (kidding)...

i guess in a sense i can afford to be a discriminating job seeker, thanks to the nursing shortage. but is there really a nrsing shortage?

is the shortage becoming a serious healthcare problem?

i do have a lot of critical care experience..especially pediatrics and neonatology..emergency as well..

i welcome all advice and what you people think will be the leading questions in the interview....?

maybe the salary question will not be brought up initially but if it is what would i ask? i made $66,000 last year working in er with added certificates this is top of the scale..

would it be unethical to ask for relocation assistance?

thank you all for your input....

scared in canada.........................

:chair: :sofahider :yeahthat: ...........................

Featured Replies

  • Experts

Having been on "both sides" of telephone interviews -- I recommend that you plan for your interview in much the same way as you would for one in person. Think about what questions they are likely to ask, etc.

Be phyiscally comfortable during the interview, choosing where you'll sit, having a drink handy, etc. Planning those types of things in advance can help you perform well.

One significant difference with a telephone interview is that you don't have as many non-verbal cues to use to interpret the other person's meaning. So make sure you give verbal cues about yourself. Laugh a little instead of just smiling, say "Hmmm... let me think about that for a minute..." instead of just being silent. They can't see you nodding your head or having a pensive look upon your face. Try to make your voice sound bright and cheerful to convey an enthusistic attitude. Avoid speaking in a monotone. In short, you have to use your voice and your words to convey your interest and pleasant personality since you can not smile or use similar non-verbal cues to give that impression.

About money ... I always ask (late in the process or when otherwise appropriate) what the salary range for the position is and where I will fall within that range rather than focusing on a specific dollar amount. I am more concerned with whether or not the hospital is treating me fairly within the context of its salary structure than I am with a specific figure. Different geographic areas have different pay rates and it is hard to compare dollar for dollar. How they are treating you within their context is my indicator of choice as to how they will treat me overall.

About the nursing shortage -- yes it exists. However, most of the better places to work have long since figured out that "hiring any warm body" is not the way to go. So people who have an entitlement attitude and/or are not willing to be flexible are finding it increasingly difficult to find good jobs. The best jobs are being given to the best candidates. So, you still have to sell yourself if you want a really good job.

Good luck,

llg

Hi,

Go to http://www.careerbuilder.com. They have lots of great info on interviewing, resumes, etc..Just follow the links. One advantage of a telephone interview is you can anticipate questions and write out your answers. Practice answering the tough questions and remember, no one will see if you have to refer to your answer sheet!

Best wishes!

  • Author

about the nursing shortage -- yes it exists. however, most of the better places to work have long since figured out that "hiring any warm body" is not the way to go. so people who have an entitlement attitude and/or are not willing to be flexible are finding it increasingly difficult to find good jobs. the best jobs are being given to the best candidates. so, you still have to sell yourself if you want a really good job.

good luck,

llg

thank you so much for your response...i think i am just nervous making this big move etc..i am very flexible and consider myself a high achiever and i am wonderful with children .....i value working as a team to achieve a greater goal than any one of us could achieve individually.

i guess another weakness is promoting myself as the best candidate..though i am confident they would not be disappointed

thank you again!!

nursilng scholarship interview. what is expected.

Hi,

I was hired at my current facility through a telephone interview. One question I would get was give an example of a time when I went above and beyond to help a pt. You could think of a couple examples and write them down. llg gave such good advice that I can't think of much to add.

My problem with telephone interviews and really any interview that probably got me in trouble is that I would get ahead of myself and trip over words and almost stutter because I tried to talk too fast. So remember to take a deep breath and s-l-o-w d-o-w-n!

You sound like a really good candidate for any job, you are so qualified! I don't think you'll have any trouble getting a good position.

Oh and don't be afraid to ask about a sign on bonus or moving expenses. I know most of the facilities that I interviewed at offered at least one or the other, I got both.

Good luck!

Jessica

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