If you find yourself preparing for a nursing interview, then you should congratulate yourself on making it as far as you have. Nursing is a serious calling and contrary to some persistent misconceptions, it is a role that requires serious expertise and commitment. Just qualifying and making it to the interview stage for any number of registered nurse jobs already demands a great deal of the candidate.
If you’ve been accepted for an interview, then you already know you have what it takes to be a nurse though you might not yet know if the institution is right for you and, if it is, you still have to impress the interviewer sufficiently in order to start working.
Stressful as the situation can be it is only a matter proper preparation in order to make it through. However, although you might have a pretty good idea by this point what being a top nurse actually entails, there is a bit of interview savviness to learn if you are really going to ace the interview.
Luckily, you are not alone, and there are many who have gone before. Learning from the mistakes – and successes – of healthcare professionals who are now seasoned nurses is what it’s all about. There have always been nurses – and there always will be.
You are in a Strong Position – Use That
One thing that might take a bit if stress out of the situation is that, arguably, healthcare candidates have never been in a stronger position. Online recruitment service Health Jobs Nationwide say that the U.S. jobseeker’s market is currently a strong jobseeker’s market, which means that there are fewer candidates applying for more healthcare jobs. This is not a good thing in the general sense, but it has made healthcare employers a bit more eager to snap up talent before they go somewhere else.
You can, of course, use this to your advantage. More specifically, this situation can help you insist upon what you need from the job and to ensure that it is right for you. Desperation on the part of the healthcare institutions instead of the candidates is probably the wrong way round, but that’s the way it stands and there’s no point not using an opportunity when it presents itself.
Tips for Acing the Interview
So, how can you ace the nursing interview and see to it that you not only pass but make it into a role that is right for you. Here are some quick tips:
Don’t Forget the Basics
This tip is always worth repeating. You should make sure that you dress sharply and on the formal side. You should make eye contact, smile, and have good manners. You should also convey the utmost enthusiasm, even if you are not yet sure that the job is for you.
Ask The Right Questions
Contrary to what many think, these are not thigs like, “what will my hours be?” or “how much will I get paid?” You can find those out elsewhere. Instead, ask things like what a typical day looks like on shift, and how the team works together and what resources are normally relied upon.
Make Yourself Look Good Without Lying
You should not lie or even embellish your achievements, but interview savviness dictates that you should stop the conversation onto your past achievements in a way that doesn’t bring things onto a topic where you might not have much to brag about.
Nursing interviews have evolved with time and change according to the state of the job market. But much of the usual advice still applies.
