chapter 14 | Your Nursing Careerr 233diction. Words or phrases such as “yeah,” “uh-huh,”
“uh,” “you know,” or “like” are too casual for an
interview.
Do not say “I guess” or “I feel” about anything.
These words make you sound indecisive.
Remember your action verbs—I analyzed, orga-
nized, developed. Do not evaluate your achieve-
ments as mediocre or unimpressive.
Asking Questions
At some point in the interview, you will be asked if
you have any questions. Knowing what questions
you want to ask is just as important as having pre-
pared answers for the interviewer’s questions. The
interview is as much a time for you to learn the
details of the job as it is for your potential employ-
er to find out about you. You will need to obtain
specific information about the job, including the
type of patients for whom you would care, the peo-
ple with whom you would work, the salary and
benefits, and your potential employer’s expectations
of you. Be prepared for the interviewer to say, “Is
there anything else I can tell you about the job?” Jot
down a few questions on an index card before
going for the interview. You may want to ask a few
questions based on your research, demonstrating
knowledge about and interest in the company. In
addition, you may want to ask questions similar to
the ones listed next. Above all, be honest and sin-
cere (Bhasin, 1998; Bischof, 1993; Johnson, 1999):
■What is this position’s key responsibility?
■What kind of person are you looking for?
■What are the challenges of the position?
■Why is this position open?
■To whom would I report directly?
■Why did the previous person leave this position?
■What is the salary for this position?
■What are the opportunities for advancement?
■What kind of opportunities are there for contin-
uing education?
■What are your expectations of me as an employee?
■How, when, and by whom are evaluations done?
■What other opportunities for professional
growth are available here?
■How are promotion and advancement handled
within the organization?
The following are a few additional tips about ask-
ing questions during a job interview:
■Do notbegin with questions about vacations,
benefits, or sick time. This gives the impression
that these are the most important part of the job
to you, not the work itself.
■Dobegin with questions about the employer’s
expectations of you. This gives the impression
that you want to know how you can contribute
to the organization.
■Dobe sure you know enough about the position
to make a reasonable decision about accepting
an offer if one is made.
■Doask questions about the organization as a
whole. The information is useful to you and
demonstrates that you are able to see the big
picture.
■Dobring a list of important points to discuss as
an aid to you if you are nervous.
During the interview process, there are a few “red
flags” to be alert for (Tyler, 1990):
■Much turnover in the position
■A newly created position without a clear
purpose
■An organization in transition
■A position that is not feasible for a new
graduate
■A “gut feeling” that things are not what they
seem
The exchange of information between you and the
interviewer will go more smoothly if you review
Box 14-2 before the interview.After the Interview
If the interviewer does not offer the information,
ask about the next step in the process. Thank the
interviewer, shake hands, and exit. If the reception-
ist is still there, you may quickly smile and say
thank you and good-bye. Do not linger and chat,
and do not forget your thank-you letter.The Second Interview
Being invited for a second interview means that
the first interview went well and that you made a
favorable impression. Second visits may include a
tour of the facility and meetings with a higher-
level executive or a supervisor in the department in
which the job opening exists and perhaps several
colleagues. In preparation for the second interview,
review the information about the organization and
your own strengths. It does not hurt to have a few
résumés and potential references available.
Pointers to make your second visit successful