As I anxiously await my NCLEX date (in 2 weeks!) I have began thinking ahead to finally searching for nursing jobs! The dreaded search can be an arduous process consisting of no replies, self-doubt and a mountain of competition for the one spot open on your dream unit. However, through sharing of tips and tricks, I am here to share with you my own tactics on how to rock a healthcare interview!
1. Be prepared with your resume
Of no surprise to those who know me in real life, I am come prepared with my resume in page protectors and bound in a grade school report slip. (You know, the ones with the clear plastic front and the three prongs to fit your paper into). On two interviews I went to (one being for my current job), the interviewer was extremely impressed with my presentation - and I was the only one to have my materials presented as such.
The organization of your resume is also extremely important. In the healthcare field most people have nearly identical resumes because we are all trying to gain the same experiences. Search online for different resume templates and see which one fits your needs/information best. Also, format your information from most descriptive/important, to least. I feel as though busy managers or nursing administrators look at a thousand resumes a day and don't cling on every single word you have typed on the page.
Letters of recommendation or reference contacts are also amazing. The healthcare field is strangely intimate for how many professionals it is comprised of, so make sure you leave positive impressions on everyone you meet and share those words when you can.
2. Put your best footwear forward
Dressing properly for an interview is super important. So far, I've been able to get away with my version of "business casual" - but I would say judge your appearance on the part. Being a freshman in college looking to start a career as a CNA to put yourself through nursing school is different than if you're a new graduate nurse that's interviewing 10 different people at a prestigious city teaching hospital that is nationally ranked.
3. Throw your personality into the interview
I love being able to throw my personality into answering interview questions.
Yes, my mouth is dry, my hands are sweating, and by the time I answer the question I have no clue which question I was even asked - but I had a smile on my face the whole time and even cracked a joke in the middle of it.
When someone is interviewing different people for one position you have to make the face-to-face contact really worth it - and what's an easier way to do that than to show your genuine self? Managers want to know what type of person they are hiring and if you seem genuine to the answers that you are providing. They also want to preliminarily judge if you will be a good fit with the other staff members.
4. Look up questions ahead of time to gather your thoughts
Even though each facility/unit has their own set of per-determined interview questions, look some up online. You will be able to gather your own thoughts for what might be asked of you during your interview, and it could ease some anxiety about the deep unknown.
Take some time to think about your own past experiences and right out key highlights. The jist of what happened, how you solved a problem appropriately, the resolution, how the whole situation made you feel and how the whole situation made you better.
I love giving examples during interviews because it gives me an opportunity to showcase some of my experience - of which everyone should be proud to do.
5. Do not take rejection personally
Okay, let's say you put your best foot forward, feel like there's nothing you can do to improve your resume anymore and cracked a million and two jokes during your interview that everyone laughed at. But you still did not get the job. Now what?
Do not take it personal. The healthcare field is an extremely competitive market and per facility there are only so many openings at one time.
Someone might've been farther along in the interview process than you and they got hired after your interview -
Someone could have already earmarked a position through HR so that's why the application is still open but your information got rejected -
Maybe you just were not fit for the job.
But do not worry (try not to) - keep searching, keep looking - the dream job does not pop up overnight, even though it seems like all of your friends were set to go weeks before graduation even came/months before NCLEX even happened.
A job will open for you. And if it's not your perfect cup of tea, practice safely, put in your best work ethic, be an advocate for your patient, and transfer to your dream unit in a year.
Thank you for reading! This post applies to finding any healthcare job! I hope you enjoyed.
- Michelle
#BSNbabe
