Looking for help getting ready for your next nursing job interview? Don't just wing it! If you really want your next interview to be a slam-dunk, you need to be as prepared as possible. And with these 12 nursing interview tips, you will be.
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Nursing Interview Tips: 12 Ways to Stand Out
Your whole career could depend on getting your next nursing interview right. And that takes real preparation. Following a few tips from an AI overview isn’t going to cut it!
On top of that, the best nursing jobs are usually pretty competitive, so you need to do everything you can do to stand out as the best pick. And from punctuality and posture to positivity and preparedness, here are 12 tips for doing just that.
#1: Be Ready to Answer ANY Question
Whether you’re applying for your first post-internship gig or a senior-level clinical management position, employers want to know you’re ready for the job. Show them you are by being ready to answer any question they have about your skills, experience, and ability to do the job.
Some of these questions are easy to predict. For example, you should be ready to go into detail about anything on your resume/CV, cover letter, and job history. You should also be ready to "tell us a little about yourself” — a question that can be surprisingly hard to answer if you're not ready for it!
- Pro Tip: Write and rehearse your answers ahead of time — ideally, out loud — so you’ll be less likely to get flustered or forget something important.
#2: Be Focused & Specific
Be as specific as you can by using examples of your actual job experience in your answers. At the same time, try to communicate everything in the shortest amount of time you can. Fun facts and personal stories are great, but keep them short, and use them to support your larger points instead of distracting from them.
- Pro Tip: Figure out your focus with the STAR method: Describe a specific SITUATION, your TASK within it, the ACTION you took, and the end RESULT. Then revise your answer to make it as short as possible!
#3: Double-Check Those Job Details
Re-read the job description so you know exactly what skills, experience, or certifications you should talk about. You should also be ready to discuss any qualifications or skills you don’t have and how you’re prepared to make up for those gaps.
- Pro Tip: Job descriptions often emphasize "soft skills" like communication and teamwork, so come prepared with specific examples from your work history.
#4: Do Your Research on the Facility & Employer
The more you know about who you’ll be working for, the better prepared you'll be to answer their questions. What kind of culture do they have? What type of treatments do they specialize in? How do they get involved in the community?
Knowing the answers to these questions will help you focus on the parts of your background that are aligned with the organization’s mission and history. It also helps you answer that very common question, “why do you want to work here?”
- Pro Tip: You can get this info by visiting the employer’s website and LinkedIn page. Better yet, if you know someone who works there, ask them their opinion of the setting and whether they’d recommend it.
#5: Gather Everything You Need the Night Before
Whether or not they ask you to bring any specific documents with you, it’s a good idea to always have a few key items at every interview, including:
- A folder with enough printed copies of your resume/CV for everyone you’ll be speaking with
- Letters of reference
- Copies of your license and certifications (BLS, ACLS, CCRN, etc.)
- A pen or pencil
- A small notebook or notepad, preferably new or only lightly used
- Pro Tip: Be truly prepared by having both printouts and digital copies ready to share.
#6: Dress for Success
Dress for the business setting, not the clinic — no scrubs or yoga pants! Your clothes don’t have to be expensive, but they should be business casual and maybe even business formal, as well as clean and wrinkled free. Collared shirts or blouses, dress pants or a conservative skirt, and dress shoes are the way to go.
- Pro Tip: Unless it’s an essential part of your personality, stay away from loud colors or exposed tattoos.
#7: Pay Attention to Presentation & Body Language
While we’re on the topic of appearance, you should be aware of how it affects other parts of the first impression you’re trying to make. This isn’t just superficial! The people who interview you will be paying attention to your non-verbal language, such as eye contract, handshake, posture, and general attitude.
So, remember to sit up straight, look your interviewers in the eye, and do your best to project confidence!
- Pro Tip: Try to avoid wearing perfume or cologne; if you do, keep it minimal.
#8: Be Positive
Speaking of attitude, you’ll want to make sure yours is positive. If you’re not the naturally sunny type, try to avoid coming off as negative. You want to express that you’re enthusiastic for this opportunity and a future with this employer, and if you’re tired or apathetic, your interviewees may get the wrong impression.
- Pro Tip: Never speak poorly of people you used to work with, even if you felt you were treated unfairly. Instead, describe past conflicts as disagreements or misunderstandings.
#9: Be Open & Honest
If you don’t know the answer to a question, it’s okay to say so! Trying to pretend you have skills or knowledge that you don’t could turn into a big problem in the future. Instead, turn it into a positive by framing it as an opportunity to learn something new.
- Pro Tip: You can show that you’re honest by giving frank answers to questions about a time when you might have failed in your job — a question you can expect to be asked during pretty much any interview.
#10: Get There Early & Be Ready to Stick Around
Never be late! Arrive about 15 minutes early so that you’re calm, composed and ready to engage when the interview begins. And if your nurse interview is on a big facility or campus and you’re not sure how to get there, what traffic to expect, or where you’ll park, give yourself even more time.
You should also be ready to speak to more than one person, which could take longer than you may expect. If you can, make sure you have the whole morning or afternoon free.
- Pro Tip: Before you leave, check your email to make sure they haven’t sent you any last-minute info or any changes to the place or time.
#11: Be Ready to Ask Your Own Questions
We’ll get into this a bit more in our upcoming guide to nurse interview questions and answers, but your interviewers will likely finish by asking if you have any questions for them. If you don’t, it might seem like you’re not really interested in the job. Then again, in you don’t want to ask too many, either.
So, come up with two or three questions that really get at something you'd like to know about the job. Ask about the specifics of the unit, if that hasn’t already been covered. You can also inquire about scheduling, nurse-to-patient ratios, or opportunities to develop skills or earn CE credits.
- Pro Tip: “What can I expect to hear back?” Make sure to ask about next steps — both so that you know when they plan on making their decision, and to let them know you’re excited to get started.
#12: Say Thanks Before, During & After
Say thanks throughout the process. Thank them for their time when you first meet them, and before you leave. And don’t forget to send a brief thank-you letter or email to the people you met with. Keep it short, but make sure to remind them how much you’re looking forward to hearing their decision, and that you're happy to provide any more info that they may need.
- Pro Tip: You should mail your thank-you letters no later than the next day. If you’re sending an email, send it about 24 hours after the interview.
Make Your Next Nursing Interview Matter
We can help make your next nursing career move matter! Apply at the HealthTrust jobsite for exclusive access to great contract nursing jobs you won’t find anywhere else, along with the chance to earn more when you apply directly with us. Click here to see hundreds of open jobs right now!
