By Melanie Mathews, Director of Market Development
Whether you are a seasoned nurse, or you have just completed your nurse aide training, preparing for a job interview can be nerve-wracking and intimidating for anyone. Here are five tips to help you boost your interviewing confidence and nail your nursing interview!
Tip 1: Be on Time
Whether your first interview is a phone screen or an on-site interview, make sure you are on time. For phone interviews, make sure you are waiting by the phone so you can answer promptly, and for on-site interviews, plan to the facility early to leave breathing room for traffic and other unknown variables. Reliability is essential in the healthcare industry, so it is critical that you set the right impression.
Tip 2: Do Your Research
Whether or not you applied through a job board or you were referred by a friend, you want to ensure that you have done some research about the employer’s background and be able to identify why you have chosen to interview at the organization. Understanding the mission and being aware of recent awards and recognitions can provide you with some easy talking points throughout the interview.
While every nursing role is different, most nursing interviews have some questions in common. Researching some common nursing interview questions and preparing answers is a great way to practice.
Tip 3: Be Honest
Your interviewer will likely ask you some challenging questions during your nursing interview that you should be prepared to answer honestly. Not knowing an answer to a question is completely acceptable and your potential employer will value your honesty.
You should also be ready to answer questions as it relates to your education, employment background, clinical nursing experience, and your future goals. There’s no one who knows you better than you, so this part should be easy!
Tip 4: Tell Your Story
Why did you get into nursing? We bet you have heard this before! Be prepared to answer this during any interview. Highlight your strengths and pull from any previous personal experiences that have molded you into the nursing professional that you are today. Everyone loves stories – so if you can tell a story about your journey to become a nursing professional, even better.
Tip 5: Ask Questions
We can’t stress this enough! Take time before your nursing interview to prepare some thoughtful questions. Without fail, interviewers will ask you if you have questions at the end of the interview – this is to gauge your level of interest in the role and your preparedness for the interview, so make sure to have a few questions ready.
This is potentially your new job – so show your interviewer that you want to know as much about the role as possible.
Bonus Tip: Breathe
We know – you want to land this nursing job, and interviews can be nerve-wracking. At the end of the day, your experience and credentials matter, but so does your preparation, poise, and personality. Putting in the work to research and prepare for your nursing interview will boost your confidence and showcase to your interviewer that you are invested in this job. So, take a deep breath, follow these tips, and knock that interview out of the park!