Nursing

Interview 101: It’s not just the candidate who should prepare

Nurse Leader Weekly, April 21, 2008

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A candidate is coming in for an interview tomorrow for a position that been empty for a while and you think this person may be the total package. He or she has certification you are searching for, several years of experience, great recommendations, and you want him or her to work for you. In all honesty—you need this nurse to work for you. Before you start filling in the empty schedule gaps, ask yourself this question, "Have you done your homework?"

It's a competitive market out there, and in order to grab a hold of the best possible nurses for your facility, it might be smart to brush up your own interviewing skills. The most qualified job candidates are spinning the tables around on nurse managers and probing them with some tough questions. Are you ready for them?

  • Can you tell me what you think are the best and worst aspects of your hospital?
  • What would I see if I was a fly on the wall in your unit? Would your staff be getting along? Smiling?
  • Many hospitals offer great programs to their nurses. What makes this opportunity superior?
  • Do you offer any outstanding benefits? Pay for advanced degrees? How are these better than your competitors?
  • Where do you see me six months from now? What competencies do you expect I will develop that I don't presently have? Who at this facility can I learn the most from?

Editor's note: This excerpt was adapted from the article Interview 101: It's not just the candidate who should prepare featured in the Reading Room on HCPro's new online resource center, www.StrategiesForNurseManagers.com. Interested in a free membership trial that will give you 30 days to "test drive" all the exciting features on the Web site? Click here to learn more.



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