Panel Interview vs. Project Interview


Group interviews can be conducted a few ways, depending on the quirks of the hospital. In a panel interview, a group of job seekers are asked several questions by a panel of people from the hospital or organization. These people are usually from a variety of backgrounds, and can include someone from human resources, company executives, and/or medical professionals you are most likely to work with should you get the job. The point of panel interviews is to make your voice heard without dominating the conversation. Are your responses memorable? Are you memorable? Be respectful, respond intelligently and keep your cool to ace this kind of healthcare interview.


Project interviews are more hands-on. In these situations, a team of job seekers is given a group assignment which measures a variety of skills including teamwork, leadership, communication and interpersonal relationships — all of which are important to nursing. The interviewers want to see how well you work with each other and observe you in action as a nurse — something that can’t be done in a passive, one-on-one interview. These types of interviews are difficult to prepare for, unless you’ve been told ahead of time what the assignment will be so that you can study up. In any case, turn the interview in your favor by showcasing your leadership ability and calm in the face of pressure. Don’t just take charge and manage the whole group — make sure everyone is heard and keep the peace!


What to Expect in a Group Interview


The challenge of any interview is to figure out specifically what kind of nurse the hospital is looking to hire. You should have an idea of the skills the position requires based on the job description and preliminary conversations with the organization. Are you applying for a managerial position? Or will you be part of a floor team? If you know what skills the specific nursing position requires of you, focus on emphasizing those traits in the group interview.


Follow Up After


Following up after the interview is especially important for group interviews. You want to do everything you can to set yourself apart from the crowd! Don’t forget to send a thank you note to every single person who interviewed you, so make sure you’ve got the right names and contact information of everyone you interviewed with. In the note, it might be a good idea to remind them of something specific you said that was memorable or impressive, so they can tie a face to your name.


Take it Easy


Still worried about the group interview? Don’t be — it sounds more daunting than it is! Just treat it with the same sense of precaution and preparedness you would a one-on-one interview. Employers are still looking for the most qualified nurses who best fit their organization. If you do your research, come prepared, look professional and answer the questions well, you’ve done all you can. If you don’t get the position, ask for feedback. Find out where you could have improved and learn from your mistakes. At the very least, the employer will be impressed with your request and they may just keep you in mind for the next position that opens up!



Body language every nurse should know

In the healthcare setting, life-or-death situations can spell high-flying emotions—not just from patients, but from team members and your nurse manager.


This guide to body language will help you “read” what a person may not necessarily be telling you. For example, want to know the secrets that your manager’s body language may be telling you? The nonverbal cues of different cultures? How about 3 easy ways body language can improve your work day, every day?


And consider this: When you study the postures of others, you also become more aware of your own behaviors. That way, you can modify your own body language for better communication.