5 Myths About Nursing Interviews

 

Your job interview often makes or breaks your chances of landing a job. Knowing what you’re walking into will greatly improve your chances performing well during the interviewing process. Before heading to your appointment, make sure your perceptions of the job interview are founded in fact, not fiction. These five commonly-believed myths could hold you back from progressing in your career.


Myth #1 – Your Interviewer Remembers What’s on Your Resume

Many times, the person interviewing you is stressed and busy. She may have glanced over your resume quickly before calling to schedule the interview – or maybe someone else selected you for the interview process and she hasn’t seen your resume at all. Don’t assume that she has any previous knowledge of your education, experience, or specialties. Spell it out.


Myth #2 – Your Interviewer’s Questions Are Enough

Your job interview should not be a passive experience. Along with predetermining your answers for commonly asked questions, you should also prepare by deciding what you don’t want to leave the interview without sharing. Find ways to work some of these tidbits into your answers, and save some for the popular conclusion question: “what else should we know about you?”


Myth #3 – The Interview Process Will Be Fair

Unfortunately, many external factors can influence an interviewer’s perception of you, despite stellar qualifications. Maintaining a professional physical appearance and a friendly, outgoing demeanor will go a long way in securing a job.


Myth #4 – The Interview Is Just a Formality

Some nurses tend be a little cavalier during the application process, assuming that nurses are needed everywhere and landing a job won’t be difficult. Even a desperate hospital won’t hire a nurse they don’t find trustworthy or responsible, and if they do hire a nurse who made a poor impression, she will likely get the least-requested floor with the worst hours.


Myth #5 – The Interviewer Expects You to Be Perfect

Most interviewers actually look for small displays of imperfection as a sign of honesty. Some questions are even designed to bring these imperfections out. Along with questions about your personal weaknesses, the interviewer may ask you about times you were late for work, or conflicts you had co-workers, patients, or guests. Give honest examples that include how you handled the situation in a professional manner. Saying you can’t think of an example is usually regarded as a red flag.