Tag: nursing interview

Career Guidance, CV Tips, Healthcare, Interview Tips

How To Prepare For Your First Nursing Job Interview

5 tips on finding the right homecare provider
Happy nurse

How To Prepare For Your First Nursing Job Interview

Applying for your first healthcare job can be an exciting yet challenging experience. Healthcare workers play a crucial role in providing physical, emotional, and psychological support to patients and their families. It is a very rewarding career with many options to work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and even schools.

While it is natural to feel both anxious and eager as you prepare for your interview, knowing how to make a great impression is vital in standing out amongst the competition. By taking the time and by following our below guide on how to prepare for your first nursing job interview, you will have everything necessary to put your best foot forward.

Did You Know?

Nurses and Midwives account for nearly 50% of the global health workforce.

Research the organisation

It is a good idea to research the organisation. This will allow you to get a feel of their mission, values and services. It will also help you to gain an understanding of what they are looking for in a nurse and how you can become a valuable member of their team. A little bit of research can go a long way. The following points can show the interviewer that you are interested and have made an effort. It will become very clear to them that you want to make a good impression.

  • Search for recent news or press releases. Doing so will demonstrate to the interviewer that you have been following their healthcare updates.
  • Reading reviews from patients or employees will allow you to judge if it is a reputable hospital or organisation.
  • Studying the organisational chart will help you become familiar with who is interviewing you and what questions are appropriate to ask.

Understanding the company will not only impress your interviewer, but it will help you determine if this is the right fit for you. Remember to always approach your research with a professional attitude and take notes to refer back to. It will demonstrate that you are proactive, detail-oriented, and invested in finding the right job.

Know your CV

Knowing your CV inside and out is crucial. Your CV is a summary of your professional experience, qualifications and education. It contains important information that prospective employers will be interested in, such as your nursing license number, any relevant certifications you’ve obtained and key skills you’ve honed throughout your career.

Take the time to carefully review and reflect on your CV. Make sure you read through it to refresh your memory on your specific skills that can best relate to the position on offer. This way you will be in a better position to discuss these skills in detail. It will help you provide concise and confident responses to any questions related to your experience or qualifications. Preparing in this way allows you to showcase your expertise and highlight why you’re the right candidate for the job.

At Recruit Island, our team are on hand to supply you with tips on CV preparation and interview techniques. We place registered nurses in a wide range of positions that include:

– Staff Nurse Jobs in Hospitals and Care of the Elderly Facilities.
– Intellectual Disability (Learning Disability) Nurse Jobs.
– Psychiatric (Mental Health) Nurse Jobs.
– Nurse Manager Jobs.

Prepare questions

It is essential to have a list of questions ready to ask your potential employer. Asking thoughtful questions not only shows your interest but helps you learn more about the organisation and its values. There are many questions you can ask in relation to:

  • The hospital’s patient-to-nurse ratio: This will give you an idea of how busy and stressful work can be.
  • How the organisation supports its nurses: Do they have flexible working hours or support groups?
  • Opportunities for professional development: Upskilling is vital as it can open up many work opportunities.
  • Specific responsibilities of the role: This will help you decide if your interests and skills are suitable.

Don’t be afraid to ask about the interviewer’s own experiences working at the hospital. It will help you stand out as a candidate and ensure that you have a clear understanding of what the position entails. An interview is a two-way conversation, therefore it is important to have some thoughtful questions ready. Doing this will demonstrate your passion for the profession and show that you are comfortable in high-stress situations, such as interviews.

By following the above steps, you will be able to showcase your talents as well as your professional abilities, helping you secure the position of your dreams. Best of luck from all of us at Recruit Island.

Contact us today for all our current nursing vacancies.

Job Listings

Read more of our blogs

Interview Tips

Overseas Nurse applying for roles in Ireland – The Skype Interview

What are the most difficult aspects of a Skype Nursing Interview?

If you are an overseas nurse applying for roles in Ireland or any international nursing position, employers opt for Skype or video conference interviews making the interview process much quicker than the time consuming face-to-face interview process.

Are you an overseas nurse applying for roles in Ireland & wondering how to shine in your interview? All the general rules of a face to face job interview still apply.

Skype interviews can be easier than phone conversations as you can portray your enthusiasm, positive energy and passion using non-verbal communication. We have compiled a list of tips on how to prepare for a Skype interview.

  1. Practice a call via skype prior to the actual interview & be on time

In order to test the Skype connection prior to the interview, carry out a mock call to a friend to test the line and make sure the camera is at the right angle so that the client can clearly see you.

Using Skype, your potential employer’s first impression of you is your Skype username and profile picture. Ensure that you have a professional name and not a nickname as this can reflect your professionalism. It is also advised to keep your account photo professional.

Do not be late logging in for your interview. Get signed into your Skype nice and early to avoid any last-minute problems.

  1. Ensure all technology is ready and working

If possible, do your test call on the day of the interview to ensure you have a strong signal or that your wireless network doesn’t cut out on you. It is also advised you do a mock interview prior to your interview date to ensure that you are aware of how to use skype, also have your interviewer added to your contacts as soon as these details are given to you.

Ensure that your computer/laptop is fully charged.

Use a good quality microphone or Bluetooth headset to enhance the audio and sound quality.

Note: If there is a problem with technology, do not panic. Advise the interviewer that your connection is not functioning and use this as an opportunity to show that you can stay calm and logical when faced with a problem

  1. The interview environment

The environment in which you hold the interview is very important as you do not want any distractions from children or pets. A blank or neutral background is best, with a well-organised desk.

Having the correct lighting will help your interviewer see you at your best. The best lighting is natural light from a nearby window – preferably looking towards the natural so that it brightens your face.

Tip: If you have any awards or certificates, significant and valid achievements to the role you are applying for – you might want to show them in the background, but ensure it is not cluttered as this may distract the interviewer (and would portray a lack of organisational skills). Also have your passport with you to confirm your identity to your interviewer.

Make sure to silence your phone and email alerts.

  1. Dress for the occasion

If you are an overseas nurse applying for roles in Ireland, your presentation in a video call is very important, as unlike a phone interview, you cannot hide your appearance. Non-verbal cues are important when you are not face to face, so keep your appearance professional.

Dress as you would if you were going for a face-to face interview. You may feel silly but the client will be impressed and you will feel more confident.

  1. Interview Preparation

It goes without saying that you must prepare properly for any interview. At Servisource, our qualified recruiters will go through a mock interview with you, however, below are some points to keep in mind:

  • Make sure you know your CV well – it is easy to talk about the things you know, such as your nursing experience and your passions.
  • The interviewer/panel will inquire about what you know about the hospital and the role.
    • Ensure you research the company for which you’re interviewing for and read about the hospitals values, its location, what additional services it offers (for potential career progression).
    • This shows how much you want the role, but you can also develop your interview answers around the client’s values, which portrays how serious you are about this role and opportunity.

Read more, if you are a recent graduate, struggling to make the transition from student to career 

  • Have a thorough read of the job description and interlink; giving as much detail as possible; your previous experience, qualifications and training by creating SMART examples to show your competency in the role.

Note: Do not assume that the people interviewing you know everything about nursing. Show off every piece of your expertise to the interviewer.

  • All of your research will enable you to prepare questions for the interviewers – an interview is not only an opportunity for the hiring manager to learn more about you, but for you to learn more about the facility and the role.
  1. Body language & eye contact

Just like a face-to-face interview, your body language during video interviews is very important. A positive attitude shows that you’re friendly and confident.

Ensure you sit up straight and look at the camera instead of the screen (this is the only way to ‘establish’ eye contact with the interviewer).

Undeniably, less body language can be conveyed on a video link; ensure your passions show through the tone of your voice and attentiveness.

  1. Communicate slowly and clearly

Try to speak clearly and slowly, loud enough to block out any background noise but do not shout. If there are transmission delays when speaking, try to be patient and don’t panic. Wait for the interviewer to stop talking before you begin.

Common Nursing Job Interview Questions to help you prepare (these will differ dependant on the role however it will give you a rough idea or the types of questions to prepare for):

  1. Describe in detail the type of ward in the hospital you are currently working in, including your daily duties and tasks.
  2. Please give brief outline of your nursing experience over the last 5 years.
  3. Talk us through an example which demonstrates your ability to deal effectively with emergency situations?
  4. Describe how you work as part of your nursing team? How you communicate with your colleagues and superiors?
  5. If a patient with asthma/took a stroke was brought in what would you do, what type of medication would you administer? You will normally be asked a scenario question so please be well prepared for this question.
  6. Talk me through a time when you used your influencing /communication skills to improve or alter the care given to your patients?
  7. Describe the culture of your current organisation and give an example of how you work within this culture?
  8. If you are an Overseas Nurse applying for roles in Ireland, you will need to know the different standards required under HIQA for working within a Nursing Home/Hospital facility.
  9. Can you advise me how you would deal with the following situation – You are rostered on to work and a nurse and HCA call in sick, what do you do?
  10. What is your knowledge of the following: Code of Nursing Practice, Code of Conduct and Employment Law
  11. Can you recall a difficult/challenging task or issue in your nursing career? How did you address the situation? What was the outcome following the intervention? What did you learn from it?
  12. Why did you apply for this job? And why should we employ you?

If you would like to have a conversation about nursing jobs in Ireland – please contact Deirdre on dtreanor@servisource.ie

Article Written By:
Donna Farrell