Lauren
As a student or a new grad, interviews can be SCARY. Whether it's a phone call, video conference, or in-person meeting, managing the nerves that come with an interview can be daunting. However, the most important aspect is the prep work! Take a look at these common questions and answers to nail your nursing interviews.
Question: Tell me about yourself.
Answer: A classic! This one may seem simple, but when the initial jitters of the conversation are in full swing, it's so easy to fumble your words, babble on about irrelevant details, or restate your resume. As cheesy as it sounds, make a script for this one and repeat it back to yourself several times so it becomes muscle memory. This answer should include your educational background, where you're from, WHY you are interested in this position and in this particular company (do your research!), and what sets you apart from other applicants. At the end, you can also throw in a couple of appropriate hobbies that may be interesting or relatable. Keep it under a minute, but include enough information where you've painted a well-rounded picture of your professional and personal self.
Question: Why nursing?
Answer: This is an amazing opportunity to dive a little deeper into your personal background and display your passion for the profession (which you should have if you're applying!). I would recommend diving deep into your brain to when you started considering nursing, and try to pull out an anecdote of any turning points you can think of. It could be a loved one getting sick or having to care for them, having a nursing role model to look up to, or a personal experience with needing care. This is the time to be genuine and honest and connect with the interviewers on a deeper level!
Question: Can you describe a conflict that you experienced in a group setting and you reacted to it?
Answer: This question incorporates your ability to be a team player. Answers can include group projects where someone may not have been pulling their weight, an error you witnessed from a coworker or peer on the floor, or any time you had to confront someone respectfully to benefit the team or the standard of patient care.
Question: What are your strengths and weaknesses as a nurse?
Answer: You should always be expecting to get this question, interviewers love it! For strengths, be genuine and show off. Great traits for nursing include dependability, communication, adaptability, attention to detail, and empathy. As for weaknesses, some common ones include time management, confidence, and experience. These should always be aspects of yourself that you are currently working to improve and describe how! They should never include aspects of your personality that are rigid or anything that would be concerning to the employer, like laziness, apathy, or inattention to detail. However, always be honest!
Question: Describe a time you were under a lot of pressure. How did you handle it?
Answer: This can include doing a complicated med pass with an instructor or preceptor, having a large number of patients, dealing with a difficult patient or family member, or pressure in a leadership position. Everyone deals with high-pressure situations in school or work, so try to explain how you can conquer the pressure and translate it over to nursing.
Question: Do you have any questions for us?
Answer: Yes, you ALWAYS do! These can include questions such as: what is the orientation/preceptorship experience like? What continuing education opportunities do you offer for this position? What is your favorite aspect of this unit/hospital/network?
General Tips
Early is on time! Be at least 5 minutes early, but not more than 15.
Do some breathing techniques before hopping on the Zoom call or when waiting in person. It will help clear your head, lower your heart rate, and be super helpful for when you start sharing your experiences!
If on Zoom, make sure your background is clean, you have good lighting, your audio and video are working properly, you have reliable wifi, and you are wearing appropriate clothing.
Prep work is the most important part of the interview, don't skip over it! I personally like making a list of possible questions and my ideal answers - it makes me feel way more prepared going in.
If you have a sloppy or less than ideal answer to one question during the interview, try to erase it from your mind for the next one. Don't let it mess with your psyche and throw you off for the rest of the conversation, you can always recover!
Send a follow-up email a few hours after the interview or early the next day. Don't make it super long or cheesy, but express your continued interest and your gratitude for the opportunity.
Have confidence!!! You were given an interview for a reason, so show your worth!
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