It must have always been your dream to don a nursing suit and attend to the patients. After completing your education from a nursing school, you are one step closer to achieving your dream job. All you need to do is start applying for jobs and convince potential employers to hire you. As soon as you are done applying for the job, you need to get started with your interview preparation. All your skills and hard work will go in vain if you fail to perform well in your job interview. We will discuss the what to bring to a Nursing Interview.
What To Bring To a Nursing Interview?
You can’t just walk in casually for the interview with your resume in your hand. You need to start preparing yourself at least one week before the interview. Preparing for the nursing interview starts from building your portfolio. Developing your portfolio is not an easy job. The portfolio should carry your experiences at schools and jobs. There is a long list of documents that go into the building of your portfolio. Here’s a list of all the documents that should be included in your portfolio.
- Resume
- List of references
- Recommendation letters
- Nursing license
- Additional certifications
- Contribution to community service
- Research work or educational projects
- Membership to any professional organization
Carrying all these documents along with you shows your preparedness and dedication to the job. It is best if you make multiple copies of your portfolios as these are generally left with the interviewer after the interview. Additionally, carry copies of your resume to present it to each member on the panel.
How To Dress For a Nursing Interview?
Once you are done with building your portfolio, the next step is deciding on what to wear for the interview. This part is crucial to create a good first impression. The interview panel will scrutinize how you present yourself. It is always advisable to attend the interview overdressed rather than going underdressed. Most organizations provide you with a specific dress code. In the absence of such instructions, here are some tips for you to help you out with your interview attire.
Women
It is always advisable to attend the interview in business casuals. Flashy colors and jewelry are better avoided. Ensure that the skirt or dress you’re wearing is knee-length. Use simple jewelry. Put on minimal makeup or no makeup at all. Avoid using perfume. Make sure that all your fingernails are of the same length. They should be either painted with transparent nail color or left unpainted. Additionally, ensure that your hair is neatly combed away from your face. There shouldn’t be any open toes at an interview. Go with either low-heeled footwear or flats.
Men
For men, a suit with a tie and matching slacks is preferred. If you don’t have a suit handy, you can wear pants that match your jacket. Go with neutral colors like brown or black and maintain the same colors for your footwear as well. Avoid pairing up light-colored or brightly colored socks with dark dress shoes. Get yourself groomed before the interview. Attend the interview with a clean shave and clean fingernails.
All in all, you need to look professional while attending the interview. So, keep your dressing simple and natural.
How To Prepare For a Nursing Interview?
With so much competition in the job market, you should start your preparation before the interview. Here are certain tips that will guide you through the interview preparation.
Research
Always start your preparation by looking up about the organization. Look for the mission or vision statements of the organization and go through them thoroughly. You need to try incorporating the points in the mission statement while speaking to the panel about your interest to work in that particular organization. Staying informed about the organization will show your keenness for working there. This will form a good impression of you on the panel.
Job Description
Read the job description carefully and come up with an answer as to why you are the best fit. Make a list of the qualities they are looking for and try incorporating these into your interview response.
Search For Possible Interview Questions
Knowing commonly asked questions at the interview will make you less nervous. So, start by looking up these questions. Jot them down and practice answering them. Make it a point that you end your answers on a positive note.
Practice Mock Interview Etiquette
There is a particular etiquette that should be followed in an interview. To check your body language, posture, and attitude while answering the questions, it is best to have mock interviews or practice sessions in front of the mirror. This will help you in tracking down your weaknesses. You can then work on your weaknesses to get better.
How To Behave In An Actual Interview?
Reach the interview destination exactly 10 minutes before the given time. Make it a point to greet the interview panel with a smile and a firm handshake once you enter the interview room. It is essential to maintain eye contact with every person on the panel. Introduce yourself confidently and let the panel control the interview.
Try to get comfortable with the atmosphere. Do not get intimidated by the panel. Show them your true personality. Avoid showing them that you are over-prepared.
If you are stuck with any question, ask for some time to answer that question. It is okay to take some time before answering any question, rather than speaking gibberish. Avoid making your answers too personal. Feel free to engage in a dialogue with the panel.
Restrict yourself from carrying any electronics to the interview area. Carrying a mobile phone or any other electronic gadgets with you will disrupt your interview every time a notification pops up.
It is best to bring up your questions only at the end of the interview. Thank the Panel for their time before you leave the room. You can express your gratitude by mailing them after the interview. Don’t forget to give a personal touch to the mail.
Following up
It is always good to stay in touch with any one of the persons from the interview panel. Following up with someone in the panel will show your keenness towards the job. This will create a positive picture of you. Don’t forget to ask when you can expect to hear from them. If the results don’t come out on the date they promised, you can mail them inquiring about the same. Be sure to collect their business card or mail id to contact them in the future. If you don’t have the mail id to contact them, you can easily obtain one from their website or HR department.
Frequently Asked Questions At a Nursing Interview
Some frequent questions are asked during a nursing interview. Keeping yourself informed of these questions will help in better performance during the interview. One can see a plethora of questions circulating everywhere on the net. The list is never-ending. Here’s a compiled version of the frequently asked questions at a nursing interview.
- Why did you choose nursing as your career?
- What is your response to any critical situation?
- How do you prioritize your work?
- Why should we hire you?
- How do you deal when there’s a conflict with your co-worker?
- Where do you expect to be in 3 years from now?
- Discuss your strengths and weaknesses
- Tell us your way of dealing with stress
- Are you a team player?
- Tell us about your nursing school experience
- How will you persuade a patient about something?
- What will be your approach if a patient is not satisfied with the treatment received?
You need to prepare yourself to answer these questions with the experiences you have had until now. Try incorporating keywords like patient-centered care, teamwork, collaboration, etc. while responding to these questions.
Questions To Ask At The End Of Your Interview
You must be having your apprehensions and questions about the place you might work in. If selected, you will be spending a significant amount of your time at your workplace. So, it is best to clear your mind of any confusing thoughts. You will always get an opportunity to put forth your questions at the end of the interview. While you may not be able to ask every question in your mind, you can keep these questions handy to bring them up during a relevant discussion. Here are some basic questions that will provide you with more insights into any particular organization.
- May I know about the work culture of this place?
- Do you enjoy working here?
- Who should I be reporting to?
- Would I be able to do any certification courses simultaneously?
- What type of orientation would I be receiving?
- What type of training would I be receiving?
- Would I receive continual support?
- What qualities are you looking for?
- What type of medical record system would I be using?
- Is there any overtime policy?
- What are the various shifts offered here?
- Can I get an overview of the management style here?
- May I know the criteria on which my performance will be reviewed?
- May I know the further steps in this interview process?
- When may I expect to hear from you?
Asking these questions at the right time will establish a dialogue between you and the panel, showing your keenness to work with them.
Conclusion
Having a positive attitude will more likely land you up in a job. Stay humble and eager to learn new things. Be receptive to change. Prepare yourself thoroughly for the interview, give your best shot and be patient with the results.
