An interview is the opportunity to put your best foot forward and to really sell yourself…
It is a good idea to do a bit of research about the Employer and the location… ask your Consultant to send you some info, otherwise do some research online.
Make sure you know what position you’re being interviewed for.
It is important to be prepared…
Promote and Prepare Yourself
Promote yourself and explain why you are right for the job:
- Are you proficient in all areas asked of you in the clinical skills checklist?
- Highlight your qualifications
- Previous experience
- Promote your strengths
- Sell your skills, abilities & qualities
- Teamwork
- Multi-cultural diversity
- Responsibility & leadership
- Give examples
Prepare yourself for the following possible questions:
- Scenarios within your own department
- Always use the nursing framework when answering questions – remember APIE
- Explain your current position
- Charge experience
- Specialized skills & equipment
- Medications, cardiac rhythms etc
- Management
- Management style
- Leadership qualities
- Conflict resolution
- Quality Assurance
- What do you do to implement Quality Assurance on a daily basis?
- Policies and procedures
- Record Keeping etc
Skype Interviews
Look the part
- Make sure you are well groomed and presentable
- Dress smartly & conservatively, preferably in your uniform (if applicable)
- Sit up straight and don’t lean forward / backwards in your chair
- Remember to smile!
Be aware of your Surroundings
- Choose a quiet and private place to sit
- Be aware of what is behind you, as this is what they will see… make sure it is neat and appropriate
- Be sure that nobody will burst into the room unexpectedly
Practice
- If you’ve never used Skype before, practice it a few times… call a friend, or even your Thymic Consultant, to test your line and get comfortable with the process
Technical Difficulties
- Test the connection on the day of the appointment to make sure everything is working properly
- Ensure your batter is fully charged or that you are plugged in
- If you experience any problems with the connection, ask if you can try redial
- If you are not able to reconnect, type them a message apologising and ask if they would be able to continue telephonically, giving them your mobile number
Concentrate
- Make sure you listen to the question attentively, don’t get distracted
- Don’t fidget with your keyboard or things on your desk
Make Notes
- Keep your CV in front of you incase you need to refer to dates or information, but try not to look at it too often
- Keep note of any questions you might want to ask them
What not to ask
- Don’t ask about salary, we will discuss this with you before or after the interview
Ending the Interview
- Let them indicate when the interview is over
- Thank them for their time and their interest
Telephonic Interviews
Sound the part
- Speak slowly and clearly, don’t rush your answers
- Remember to smile! Even though they can’t see you, remember to smile still affects the tone of your voice and comes across over the phone…
Be aware of your Surroundings
- Choose a quiet and private place to sit
- Be sure that nobody will burst into the room unexpectedly
Technical Difficulties
- Ensure your battery is fully charged or that you are plugged in
- Have a backup number, perhaps a landline or a spare mobile phone
- If you experience any problems with the connection, apologise and ask if they can call back on another number
Concentrate
- Make sure you listen to the question attentively, don’t get distracted
Make Notes
- Keep your CV in front of you incase you need to refer to dates or information, but try not to read from it
- Keep note of any questions you might want to ask them
What not to ask
- Don’t ask about the salary and the contract etc, we will discuss this with you before or after the interview
Ending the Interview
- Let them indicate when the interview is over
- Thank them for their time and their interest
Face-to-Face Interviews
Look the part
- Make sure you are well groomed and presentable
- Dress smartly & conservatively, preferably in your uniform (if applicable)
- Sit up straight and don’t lean forward / backwards in your chair
- Make eye contact with all members of the panel
- Remember to smile!
Concentrate
- Make sure you listen to the question attentively, don’t get distracted
What not to ask
- Don’t ask about salary, we will discuss this with you before or after the interview
Ending the Interview
- Let them indicate when the interview is over
- Thank them for their time and their interest
