Job interviews are never fun. In fact, for many of us, they can be extremely stressful and nerve-wracking, and no matter how much we prepare for them, we feel like we’re never ready enough.
Well, today, I want to change this!
You see, I have a loooot of experience interviewing for jobs. I started working when I was sixteen, mostly retail and food service (like every other teenager out there today).
I also worked several different jobs while I got through nursing school; so, suffice to say, I definitely know how to ace a job interview.
All these jobs were a stepping stone towards gaining my confidence and eventually landing my dream nursing job.
Each one of them helped me be a bit better at job interviews, until they stopped being stressful and anxiety-inducing.
Today, I’ll be sharing with you all my tips to acing your job interview and landing your dream nursing job.
Are you ready?
Let’s dive in.
Tip #1: Don’t Make It Feel Like an Interview
How would you feel if you were hanging out with your friends and you asked them questions and all they did was answer? You’d be pretty bored, right? After all, the best conversations are the ones that aren’t one-sided.
The same thing applies to job interviews. If all you’re doing is answering questions, your interviewer will get bored and disinterested pretty quickly. They will just want to end the interview as soon as possible and move on to someone else.
Tip #2: State What Makes You Stand Out
A common question during job interviews is “Tell me about your strengths and weaknesses.” This is your chance to list out the qualities that would make you the company’s ideal candidate and why they should hire you.
Tip #3: Be Yourself…
…and don’t forget to smile!
Some interviewers can see right through you when you’re giving them rehearsed answers, so sometimes they will ask you to go into further detail. Be prepared to come up with your own story so that everything feels more natural.
And smile! Remember, you’re presenting them with the best version of yourself.
Tip #4: Be Prepared
This is a given for any job interview, but it doesn’t hurt to say it: Be as prepared as you can.
Bring a notepad and a pen to take notes during the interview; this is the sign of someone who is organized and prepared for meetings. Writing details down on the notepad will show the interviewer how serious you are about the job.
You will also want to be prepared with a copy of your resume and references even if they state that you do not need to bring them.
Tip #5: Be a Problem Solver
Not everything goes as planned, anyone with nursing experience would tell you that. So, it doesn’t matter what field you would be in, always expect the unexpected and be prepared to handle the situation accordingly as a problem solver.
Tip #6: Don’t Share Your Whole Life Story
Sharing too many details is actually a bad thing. You could come up as someone who would be overly talkative, and interviewers may not want this type of individual on their team. You also want to be respectful of their time as they’re not there to spend hours interviewing you.
Tip #7: Use the STAR Method
If you’re not sure how to respond to an interview question, use the STAR method to form your answer.
Tip #8: Go Above and Beyond
Bring up points that your interviewer is looking for in a candidate. If you have a flexible schedule, are willing to work weekends and holidays, or if you’re willing to work the night shift, let them know.
Tip #9: Respect Everyone
Respect everyone and greet them, even if they’re a receptionist or a janitor. And make sure to remember people’s names, doing so goes a long way.
Tip#10: Write a Thank You Letter
Writing a short thank you letter helps the interviewer remember you among everyone else that they interview. Remember, you’re not the only candidate they’re looking at.
I discuss all of this in more depth in the episode above, so make sure to watch it to learn more!
