Career Corner
A Nurse’s Guide to Job Interview Success
With these expert tips, you can be prepared and feel confident on your big day
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The thought of interviewing for a new job can stress out even the strongest of nurses. The tips below will help you go into your next interview feeling confident and relaxed. We’ll cover some typical scenarios and present proven tactics for success in each.
Virtual Interviews
- Download the appropriate platform (e.g., Zoom, Teams, Skype) at least a few days prior to the interview. Make sure your device and software are compatible with what the organization uses — if not, it’s better to find out beforehand so you can make other arrangements.
- Test your microphone and camera and make sure they’re functional before the interview starts. I’ve been guilty more than once of frantically calling the IT department to say my camera wasn’t working, only to have them calmly ask if my camera slide was closed.
- Position the camera properly to make sure the recruiters can see your face. I’ve gone through entire virtual interviews where I was literally looking up the other person’s nose.
- Check your background and lighting. You don’t want your location to be too bright or too dark — and make sure nothing distracting or inappropriate is visible behind you. I have certainly seen some interesting things in people’s closets!
- If you use a virtual background, choose one that looks professional. Stay away from outdoor scenes like the beach, and make sure the background colors are different enough from your outfit that you won’t blend in too much. There have been times where the candidate looked like a literal “talking head” on my screen.
- Sit upright in a chair — interviewing while crouched on your bed or slouched on the couch is unprofessional.
- If you must use your smartphone (which is sometimes the only way you can connect with an interviewer), make sure you choose a place to sit where you can focus and limit interruptions. If you’ll be in your car, find a safe location to park where there won’t be a lot of traffic, sirens, or other outside noise — and check to see if there’s anything that needs to be out of view.
- Grooming counts, even on screen. Most recruiters are fine with nurses wearing scrubs during an interview, especially if we know you’re just getting off a shift. Do your best to look your best.
- Focus on the conversation. Recruiters can tell if you’re reading emails, scrolling the Internet, or multitasking. Turn off pop-up notifications, close other applications, and make sure kids and pets are safely out of the way. We would love to meet Fluffy and Fido, but they can be a distraction for you as well as the interviewer.
In-Person Interviews
- Do a trial run to the location. Drive or ride there a few days in advance to make sure you know your route and any travel or parking details. This tip can keep you from ending up late, lost, and frazzled on the day of your appointment. Plan to arrive early.
- Your interview starts as soon as you arrive on the campus. There have been times when I’ve gotten calls from our parking lot attendants, front desk, or greeters about a candidate’s negative interactions with them. Be kind, considerate, and professional to each person you
encounter. - Make sure your hair, nails, and attire are all neat and clean. Also, please keep scents like perfume and aftershave to a minimum.
- Bring printed copies of your resume, for yourself and for each person you know will be participating.
Job Fair Interviews
Job fairs are a great way to meet recruiters and hiring managers. If you’re granted an interview during a job fair, remember these tips:
- Don’t linger too long if there are other people in line waiting. Ask the interviewer if you can make an appointment to continue at a later date.
- Read up about the organization so that you understand their values, mission, and services. It’s okay to ask questions, but try not to embarrass yourself. For example, when I worked at City of Hope, we’d have nurses come up to us at job fairs and say that they’d always wanted to work at City of Hope in the labor & delivery department — which City of Hope doesn’t have! My fellow nurse recruiters would turn to each other and smile when that happened.
Additional Advice
Here are a few other general tips from my years of experience:
- Salary and benefits. Today, most hospitals include salary ranges with the job listing, and benefit summaries are available on their website. Asking for clarification about pay structures or benefits during the interview is totally appropriate, though.
- Ask questions. Remember, you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you. Make sure you understand the role and feel comfortable with the values and goals of the organization.
Follow these recommendations and relax. It’s your time to shine!
LEVELL ROMEYN has 28 years of experience as a nurse recruiter at various Southern California hospitals. Recently retired, she will be sharing her insight with our readers in this regular column.
In this Article: Career Advice, Job Search Advice
