What does a winning nursing job applicant look like?

4. Master the interview process

So you’ve submitted a smashing application package for a nursing position and you’ve been selected for an interview because—on paper, at least—you have what the employer is looking for. It’s time to prepare because the interview is your ultimate marketing tool.

The interviewers will know the facts about you from your application package. What they’re going to put to the test during the interview are your communications and interpersonal skills, because no matter what type of nursing position you’re applying for, those skills are critical.

“Practice is key to answering these behavioral-based questions,” says Cynthia Christie, Assistant Dean for Career Services in the School of Health Sciences at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Conn. “Some of the areas that employers look for include teamwork, communication, initiative, and integrity and ethics. I recommend applicants give examples from a variety of settings, including both their academic and clinical experience. It has been said that past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior. Therefore, employers utilize this type of questioning to identify candidates who have competencies in the areas that will make them successful new hires.”

The questions will be tough—unless you’re prepared. Here are interview prep tips for nurses, which include:

• Your past nursing experiences
• Specific cases or people that have challenged you
• How you have dealt with difficult people (doctors, coworkers, patients)
• How you would deal with tough situations, such as being shortstaffed or having a coworker who is not a “team player”
• Detailed examples of your accomplishments

Practice answering these and you’ll be ready for just about anything the interviewers throw at you. And prepare at least one question to ask your interviewers, whether it’s about professional development opportunities, organizational structure, or the priorities and goals of the specific department or the facility. Sure, the interviewers are trying to figure out if you’re the right person for the position, but at the same time, you need to be sure that the position is right for you.

Now, get out there! You can start by posting your resume on our job board, which is accessed by hundreds of top recruiters nationwide!