Attending a job interview is an important part of the process of applying for jobs. It is during the interview that you can tell the prospective employer more about your experience, your passion for nursing, and your personality. As some job openings attract hundreds of applicants, standing out during the job interview is essential to being successful.

Here we give some tips on how to prepare for a job interview and how to do well during it. We also take a look at what job applicants look for when browsing job adverts.

Why are job interviews important?

Before we delve deeper into the topic, it is important to take a minute to understand why job interviews matter in the first place.

Job interviews give you and your employer the chance to determine whether you are a good fit for the role and whether you understand what the company’s mission and values are. Moreover, during the interview you can find out more about the position you are applying for and you can decide whether this job is what you are looking for.

During the interview you can also start building a bond with your employer, get to know them better and find out something about your future colleagues. This way, if you get the job, starting to work there will be less stressful.

What do job applicants look for in job ads?

There are thousands of job ads available online and creating a job ad that stands out and attracts the best talent is not an easy task. If someone is looking for a job, they are likely to be going through hundreds of similar ads each day but often they respond only to a few of them. If a job advert is poorly written, it can lead to the company not being successful at attracting highly qualified candidates.

Here are the most important things that job applicants look for when browsing job adverts:

Detailed role description

Providing a lot of information about the role is crucial as most candidates have to know exactly what the job is before they submit the application. If a job description is vague and does not reflect what the job is in reality, candidates who apply might end up feeling like they have been deceived.

A detailed job description should contain the following elements:

job title
job responsibilities
required qualifications
preferred qualifications
examples of tasks a successful candidate will be handling.

If these components are covered in the job advert, applicants can determine whether they match the requirements and whether the position is the right one for them.

Salary

Many job adverts nowadays state that the company offers ‘competitive salary’ but they do not state how much that exactly is. Of course, the employer might not know right away how much they will be paying if the salary depends on the qualifications and experience of the candidate. Nevertheless, employers should provide at least information about the average salary that employees can expect.

The job and duties often matter more than the compensation. Nevertheless, most job candidates like to know before the interview how much they could be earning if they got the job.

Information about the company

Not providing any details about the company that is looking for employees is a common mistake that employers make. Sometimes they only talk about the opening they have and the duties of the successful candidate but they do not provide any information about who the job applicant will work for. Those who look for jobs like to know who they might be working for so including some information about what the company does and what its mission is is crucial. This way employees can also do some more research before the interview and determine whether the company offers what they need.

Desired experience

Job candidates hate wasting time applying for jobs where they later find out that their experience does not meet the requirements for the job. Employers should always state what experience and skills the applicant has to have to be successful. That also makes the recruitment process easier for the employer as only those who match the description will apply for the job.

In addition to the essential experience needed for the job, it is a good idea to mention desirable experience. This way candidates can know when their chances of getting the job are higher. It is important to note, however, that required and desirable skills sections should be clearly separated. Otherwise, candidates might feel like they do not have the right qualifications for the opening even if that is not true.

Information about how to apply

Employers should always include contact details and information about how applicants can apply for the job. Sometimes applying is as easy as clicking the right button on the website where the position is advertised. Nevertheless, sometimes applying might require going to the employer’s website or sending an email. It can seem obvious that it should be explained in the job ad but, unfortunately, sometimes employers forget about it, making it challenging for job applicants to contact them and send their application in.

How to be successful at a nursing interview?

If you are looking for a job as a nurse, have a look at the tips we discuss here. They can help you prepare for your interview and land your dream nursing job.

Dress professionally	Even if in your free time you like colorful, informal clothes, you should always come to job interviews looking professional. You have to show the employer that you know how to behave in a professional working environment.
Rehearse nursing interview questions	While there is no way of knowing what questions exactly you will hear during the interview, there are some questions that frequently appear. Make sure to research them and come up with sample answers beforehand so that you are not taken aback if you hear one of them.
Take notes	During the interview, the prospective employer might be explaining things about the role and the company. Make sure to listen and take notes to show them that you are really interested in working for them.
Bring your resume	Even though the employer would have already seen your resume before the interview, you have to bring it so they can have another look. As employers looking for employees receive many resumes, they might not remember what you put on yours.
Research information about the employer	It is a good idea to find out more about the employer before you attend the interview. This way you can show them that you know what they are doing and that you want to work for them specifically.

What questions will I hear during a nursing interview?

The questions you will hear during your interview vary but here are some that are very common:

Do you enjoy working with other nurses and doctors?
Why did you leave your last job?
Why do you want to work for us?
Why should we hire you?
How would you handle working with a difficult patient/coworker?
Are you good at working under pressure?
How do you handle stressful situations?
Have you ever held a leadership role?
Tell me about a time you had to persuade a stubborn patient about something
In your opinion, what is the most difficult thing about being a nurse?
What’s your strongest skill as a nurse?
What do you like the most about being a nurse?
What makes you a good nurse?
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
What is your biggest weakness?
Tell me about a time you worked with a difficult patient.

There is no guarantee that you will hear these questions during your interview but if you brainstorm ideas and prepare answers for them, you will also be ready to answer a range of other, similar questions.

If you need help preparing for your nursing interview or you have any questions, get in touch with Niccolo!