Resources >> Browse Articles >> Interview Tips

6 Interview Tips to Win the Job

Featured Author:

C. Mike Emery, RN, CEO

C. Mike Emery is a Registered Nurse and the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Expedient Medstaff. Expedient Medstaff is a travel nursing company that offers amazing travel nursing assignments in beautiful locations throughout the United States.

Mike has been working in the healthcare staffing sector since 1990. He lives in Michigan with his wife, Lynn, and two boys, Jacob and Kyle.

You can find C. Mike Emery’s blog and website at ExpedientMedstaff.com.

More articles from this author:

• The Pros and Cons of Travel Nursing
• Travel Nursing: Understanding Compact Licensure
• Travel Nursing: Tax Home vs. Permanent Residence

You’ve applied for the job. You’re expecting an interview. You’re excited yet nervous. How can you best prepare to win the job? The following 6 tips can help you raise your game and present the best you!

1. Begin With The End In Mind. It is important to understand first what the health system is looking for in a candidate. This understanding can help you tailor your responses to reflect your strengths and satisfy the health system’s needs. While all health systems are not alike, most are looking for 3 things: (1) Competence. You must be good at what you do or have the raw skills to become competent (2) Personality. Employers want employees with a good attitude, a team player mentality, and a strong work ethic. (3) Dependability. Employers want an employee that is reliable. If an employee isn’t there to apply her skills, then her skills hold no value.

2. Rehearse! Like an actress on Broadway, your interview is your play. Practice your responses. This will help eliminate the “Um’s”, the “You know what I means”, and will give you the ability to choose meaningful words that best describe you and your strengths. Ask your spouse or significant other to role play with you. Record yourself and listen to how you sound. Research the hospital that you are interviewing with. Write down the questions you plan on asking.

3. Set The Stage. If your interview is to initially be conducted by phone, inform your family that you are expecting an interview call and to please keep noises to a minimum and to not interrupt you while you are on the call. When the interview call comes in, be sure to turn off your stereo, TV and anything else that might cause a distraction. Keep bottled water close by to stay off a dry mouth.

Have a notepad and pen available for notes. Go into a secluded room of your house and shut the door. Be certain to ask the interview his or her name. Write it down. Clear your head and turn the focus to your career. Have your resume ready so you can refer to it. Keep your hospital research material in plain view. Have your questions ready.

4. What To Do And Not Do During The Interview. Be a good listener. Avoid interrupting the interviewer and let her complete her sentence or thought before you respond or seek clarification. Smile. Smiling changes the tone and inflections in your voice. Let the interviewer hear your smile. Speak slowly and enunciate clearly. For a phone interview, stand while you are on the phone if possible. This too helps project a positive upbeat voice.