This is the first in our series of blogs on nursing interviews written by our nurse interviews who interview nurses all day every day for nursing jobs in The Middle East.
The topics we will cover over the next four weeks are:
Top Tips for Interviews - Answering Nurse interview questions
Top Tips for Face to face Nursing Interviews.
How to perform well at a nursing SKYPE Interview.
Group Interviews: Tips to help you stand out from the crowd!
Preparing for a nursing interview
All interviews with our agency are through English. This may not be your first language. Practice speaking English as soon as you start thinking of applying for a post. When you are at work translate everything you do in your head to English and keep asking yourself 'could I answer a question in English in the procedure I have just done?' Practice interview answers with friends, family and even pets to bring your standard up.
Write out study cards with common medical terms and leave them about your home.
Re-read your own CV prior to interview so that you are ready for any questions relating to it. For example, if you state that you frequently perform/assist in a specific procedure, be prepared to answer a question on this procedure. If you state that you see certain cases, you must be able to answer a full clinical question on this case.
Always look up the web site for the hospital you are applying to. Take note of facts that they are proud of. For example, they may have values that you need to know. They may have won an award recently. Be ready to answer the question 'what do you know about this hospital?' and know some details of the department you wish to work in. Enthusiasm for the hospital is always a good thing.
Answering nurse interview questions
Try not to be nervous as this does not bring out the best in you. Just remember that the interviewer had to do an interview for their job and will understand how stressful it is.
Be positive. Always portray yourself in a positive way even if you have been working under difficult conditions.
Ambition and an eagerness to learn are always positive qualities.
Never instruct your interviewer. For example 'Look at my CV and you can see where I have worked'.
Listen carefully to the question and make sure to ask them to repeat it if you do not understand.
Answer the question you are asked.
Read the job description carefully and bring this into your answers.
It is up to you to tell the interviewer how good you are. We as nurses are not good at praising ourselves and that is why we are nurses. We are in the 'caring' profession and that means caring for others and not thinking a lot about ourselves. It is hard for us to talk ourselves up and give ourselves credit. There is a fine line between being cocky and confident and all interviewees need to establish this line for themselves.
When answering questions give examples from your current or previous employments of similar situations to show that you are used to dealing with the scenario asked.
Try to have a beginning, a middle and an end to the question asked. Keep to the point while still giving good detail and examples.
When answering a question you can 'lead' the interviewer into the next question. For example if you state that you read articles to keep up to date then the next question you may be asked is 'Tell me about an interesting article you have read recently?'
In relation to Saudi interviews; as the culture is totally different in the Middle East you may be asked questions that are not normally asked in the West. For example, you might be asked you about your past and present medical conditions, how you may deal with working in a different culture, restrictions for women.
At the end of the interview you may be asked if you have any questions. It is a good idea to have a question ready. Do not ask about accommodation or visa as your interviewer will not be dealing with any of those issues.