Nervous About Your Nursing Interview? We’re Here to Help

“Ding!” You open your phone after hearing the happy notification. You have an email and see it is from the hiring manager for your dream nursing job. They have you on the schedule for an interview next week! Your excitement soon turns to butterflies in your stomach as you nervously anticipate the meeting.

Time to take a deep breath. Consider your past successes and approach this challenge with confidence. You have completed the rigors of nursing school and licensing exams, already meeting the most challenging part of becoming a nurse. The next step is acing the interview. 

As Benjamin Franklin famously said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." The interview will be a piece of cake if you make a game plan for the big day.

1. Do Your Homework

Several days before the interview, it’s a good idea to dive deeper into the company’s vision. Check out their website and examine the facility's nursing-specific page to review the following aspects:

• Community involvement

• Culture

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives

• Nursing research projects supported by the hospital

• Magnet status, accreditation, and other nursing awards

• Specialties

If you know the manager’s name, it does not hurt to look at their LinkedIn page. You may share a common contact or experience, which would make a great talking point. Reading about the hospital may help guide your conversations that day and make you feel more comfortable.

2. Prepare Your Talking Points

Your next task is to have answers planned for the most common interview questions:

• Why did you become a nurse?

• Why did you pick this job to apply for?

• What are your goals?

• What are the strengths that you will bring to the unit?

• What is a problem you solved?

Practice more questions aloud and review tips so you can work out any kinks in your delivery. 

If you’re not sure of an answer, it may be appropriate to say you are unsure or do not know. You may want to state that you would follow up with clarifying questions or seek additional resources to solve the problem. This answer would demonstrate how you would troubleshoot a difficult issue. 

You will want to ensure your body language matches your confidence, so remember to smile, make eye contact, and lean into the conversation. You will easily convey the soft skills that managers are looking for:

• Confidence

• Empathy

• Honesty

• Initiative

• Professionalism

Turn the tables by having a list of questions to ask the interviewer, as this shows interest in the position:

• Culture in the unit

• Orientation process

• Preceptor programs

• Shared governance opportunities

• Reasons why the manager likes working with their team

The human resources department best addresses questions about pay, benefits, and vacation time. 

3. Dress To Impress

As this is a business meeting, you will want to avoid casual clothing, athletic wear, or scrubs. Appropriate wardrobe options include the following:

• Blazer or jacket

• Business-like (low-heeled) polished shoes 

• Dress shirt 

• Dress slacks or skirt

“Less is more” in an interview setting, so keep your accessories, hair, and makeup minimal and flawless. Looking confident and polished is the goal. A professional bag that holds a notebook and a lucky pen will complete your outfit.

Leave your beverage in the car, unless it is a small bottle of water in your bag. And last but not least, silence your phone and put it in your bag—you do not want to take focus from the interview.

4. Be On Time

The old saying applies: “If you are on time, you are late.” You will want to strategize the timing for an early arrival to the interview.

Know how long it will take you to travel to the facility, and be sure to account for traffic. If you are in an unfamiliar area, drive to the building the day before the interview to get a lay of the land. Locate the parking lot and entrances so you can easily find your way that day.

Also, factor in the security and COVID screening lines in your timing. Notify the interviewer as soon as possible if you encounter the unexpected and will likely be late.

5. Think About What Happens After the Interview

As the interview wraps up, ensure you know the next steps to anticipate the interview results. Will the recruiter call you within a specific time frame? Or are there additional steps to take in the interview process? 

When you arrive home, send a thank you note. If you still want the job, reiterate why you are an excellent fit. 

If you are interviewing for multiple jobs, make a system to organize information for easy reference. 

Be ready to receive a phone call that they are eager to hire you! Because of the foresight and professionalism you brought to the table, you have succeeded in getting your dream job.