By 5. What Are Your Hobbies?
Why It’s Stupid: On the surface, it doesn’t seem to have anything to do with a nursing career. What does fly fishing have to do with pediatric care? Or running have to do with gerontology? The question seems to cross a line between work and pleasure that the interviewee doesn’t understand.
What It Really Means: The interviewer isn’t trying to pry into your personal life. They are just trying to get a more complete picture of what kind of person you are. How you spend your free time can speak to what kind of nurse you are. People who have more crowd-friendly interests outside of work might be better suited for a position that deals more with patients. It also gives them an idea of how you prioritize your life and where your job will fit in.
6. How Would Your Co-Workers Describe You?
Why It’s Stupid: You’re obviously not privy to your fellow nurses’ inner thoughts and feelings. And even if you do know how they feel, of course you’re going to pad the truth to make yourself sound better. In most cases, the interviewer will never speak to most of your former co-workers in the first place, so what’s the harm in embellishing?
What It Really Means: The interviewer isn’t interested in your little white lies; they’re trying to see how you think others view you. Even if you are stretching the truth, your answer will give the interviewer an idea of how you view yourself and what you believe are your most important attributes. Considering you are discussing what others think about you, it can also be a modesty test, separating nurses who are embarrassed about themselves from those who won’t shut up about how great they are.
7. Why Do You Want to Leave Your Current Nursing Job?
Why It’s Stupid: It seems like a simple question. It’s obvious you want to leave your current nursing job cause you are unhappy; otherwise, you wouldn’t be looking for another job. If you’re qualified and ready to join the staff, what does it matter why you’re parting ways with your previous employer?
What It Really Means: The interviewer wants to make sure the same situation that made you want to quit your last job doesn’t happen in this one. If you don’t see eye-to-eye with your current head nurse (or whoever your boss is), they may think you’re a problem employee. Or if you felt like you weren’t progressing, they can make sure that you are constantly challenged in order to keep you around. It’s best to focus on how your previous job didn’t fulfill your career goals and explain how this new position can help you grow in the nursing field.
Heard any other stupid interview questions?
Related Reads:
How to handle medical issues in an interview
Six must-ask interview questions
Non-verbal communication: Escape the pitfalls
