6 Nursing Interview Strategies To Help You Land The Job
Nursing is an exciting, challenging and competitive industry. You can be sure you’re not the only candidate for any position, so it’s essential that you bring your A-game. Come prepared to explain not only why you’re the perfect candidate, but why you’re also the right fit for the role. Here are six top tips for landing your dream job.
1) Bring The Right Documents
As a nurse, you’ll have been gathering documentation and certification of your skills from day one. Impress your interviewer from the outset by bringing proof and documentation of these achievements. It’s a legal requirement for employers to check on your qualifications before they bring you into a workplace, so bring your nursing license, CPR certificate and immunization records to the interview.
2) Center The Interview On Your Education
Training to become a nurse is a long process, one in which you’re challenged every day by new experiences. “Centering the interview on your educational journey allows you to control the narrative in the interview and gives you the opportunity to elaborate on the deep nursing knowledge you’ve built up over the years,” says Debbie Petersen, a health writer at Britstudent and NextCoursework.
Remember that you never stop learning. Even though it may be a number of years since you graduated from nursing school the learning journey has continued through each of your roles. Making education the center of your interview allows you to talk about your experience in a way that reveals how it shaped you into the nurse you are today.
3) Practice With Common Questions
Although every nursing job is different, there are a number of themes you’re likely to encounter in your interview which gives you the opportunity to practice ‘til you’ve got the perfect answer. Common questions include:
- Do you thrive working in a team or on your own?
- What drove you to pursue a career in nursing?
- Talk about some challenges you’ve experienced in your career and how you overcame them.
- How do you deal with uncooperative patients?
- What are your greatest strengths? What are your weaknesses?
You don’t want to find yourself lost for words – preparing for common questions and themes will help you articulate yourself when it matters the most.
4) Be The Professional
Nursing is a challenging job where you’ll be faced with many surprises. Expressing professionalism throughout your interview ensures your new employers that you’re up to the task. Be prepared to elaborate on times when your professionalism was put to the test by challenging patients and explain how you overcame these challenges.
Further, professionalism isn’t expressed when dealing with the public. It’s also a vital component of your relationship with your coworkers. If you can express yourself as a powerful communicator and collaborator in the workplace then your professionalism will be beyond doubt. It goes without saying that you can reinforce your professionalism through your appearance, so dress for success.
5) Research Your New Role
In the world of nursing every role is different. You need to come prepared to your interview, armed with an understanding of the subtleties and nuances of the role you’ve applied for, as well as with a broad understanding of your potential new employer. “One of the biggest mistakes you can make when walking into an interview is thinking that it will be all about you,” says Thomas Lane, a career blogger at 1day2write and Write My X. “whilst you’re the star of the show, your co-star is the role you’re applying for.” Make sure you indicate a great knowledge of that role and express why you’re a perfect fit.
6) Follow Up
Hopefully these tips will allow you to make a big impression on your audience at your nursing interview. However, you can reinforce that impression after the interview by following up. Often, this can clinch the role as it indicates you’re serious and committed to the job at hand. An email can suffice, but a phone call where you make contact with your interviewer will build a personal connection and demonstrate your enthusiasm as a candidate for the role.
Wrapping Up
Nursing is a fantastic profession where new challenges await around every corner. As a nurse you expand your knowledge and skill set each day – ensure you demonstrate your best self in your interview and you’ll be sure to walk into the role.
Michael Dehoyos is a writer and editor at PhD Kingdom and Academic Brits. He is a human resources expert and has two decades of experience as a recruiter in the medical industry. He is also a writer at Essay Help.