In This Job Market, Interview Skills Make All the Difference

I don’t know how many student nurse readers of this blog there are, but I know there are at least a few. If you’re out there, I have some helpful advice to share with you. The word is out that, in some parts of the country, newly graduated nurses are having a hard time finding jobs. Actually, there are jobs to be had but new grads’ dream jobs may be scarce. The recession is causing nurses who’re currently employed to stay put. For older nurses, retirement has been put on the back burner. Nurses, who just a few months ago were grousing about having to work extra shifts, are begging for overtime. Part-timers want to go full-time, per diem nurses want more hours. And, so it goes. The bottom line for now is there is stiff competition for jobs. So, how can you gain the inside edge when trying to land one of these coveted positions? I spoke with a couple hospital-based nurse recruiters and two nurse educators this week and this is the inside skinny. First, be a conscientious student and make good grades. When choosing elective rotations, remember that critical care and intensive care experience carries a lot of weight with those who do the hiring. The main thing over which you have control is the interview. So, prepare, prepare, prepare! Interviews at this time are far more formalized than ever. Appearance counts—a lot. A group of new students was preparing to go into the hospital for the first time and one of them asked the instructor what she should wear. The instructor said, ‘From this point forward, you should consider everyone you meet a future employer and you should wear nothing that looks anything other than professional.’ So, for the official interview, present with conservative dress, good eye contact, clear enunciation, friendly demeanor and, for goodness sake, no limp handshakes. Interviewers are asking, ‘Why should I hire you over the 30 other new grads who’ve applied for this position?’ Be prepared to tell them. Think of the leadership projects you’ve worked on in school, make lists of the problem solving techniques you used, the conflict resolution techniques you employed—have all these skills at the forefront of your mind so that your accomplishments roll easily off your tongue when questioned. Toot your own horn. Promote yourself—albeit in a humble manner. Pair up with a friend and do mock interviews with one another. There’s something about verbalizing and hearing your own voice in a non-threatening situation that makes an actual interview easier. In this job market, leave nothing to chance. Prepare—and good luck to all of you.

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In This Job Market, Interview Skills Make All the Difference

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