Employers today are looking to see enthusiastic, engaged healthcare professionals. Show them your critical thinking and interpersonal skills. Demonstrate your empathy and compassion for patients, along with your curiosity, work ethic, team fit and passion for the profession. In order to clearly demonstrate this, you need to know yourself and what it is about you that makes you an ideal candidate for the position you are interviewing for. What are your strengths and assets, knowledge and skill set, weaknesses and improvement plan? It is important to complete some self-reflection!  Think about the following:

  • What are your strengths and what will they bring to the job?
  • What do you have to offer your future employer?
  • Do you have any short-term and long-term career goals?
  • To what level are you engaged in professional growth, development or advocacy?
  • How have others experienced you?
    • Think about preceptors, clinical instructors and any previous co-workers.
    • Think about your clinical rotations and how you performed there.
    • Also think about your online profile and what is “says” about you, and clean it up if you need to!
  • What do you know about the organization that is hosting your interview?
  • How do you handle stressful or difficult situations?
  • What is your greatest weakness, and what are you doing to improve it?

It helps to prepare some insightful questions for the interview.  This demonstrates you have a true interest in the job and it also provides you with the opportunity to find out if this position is the right fit for you.  Prepare responses to those common interview questions, and practice them in advance!

Be sure to dress professionally…business casual is usually suitable.  If you manage to get an in-person interview in these crazy times, avoid wearing heavy scents, ensure you arrive 5-10 minutes early and be fully prepared for your interview, bringing extra resumes and a copy of your references. Silence your phone or shut it off.  Once you are called in, give a firm handshake and make eye contact, smile and politely introduce yourself.  Be enthusiastic and confident.

If you are being interviewed through a video conferencing platform, ensure that you dress appropriately, have an appropriate background or backdrop display, good lighting, and do a sound quality check ahead of your interview.  Find a private or quiet spot to ensure that you are not interrupted.  There are some things you just can’t control, though, like the dog barking or a child demanding your attention.  If you can’t ignore a disruption, just acknowledge, offer an apology if warranted, and move on.

Whether in person or through a video conferencing platform interview, be mindful not only of your choice of words, but of your body language and tone of voice, avoiding inappropriate language, bad manners and bad attitude! Answer the questions as best as you can.  If you are asked a question about a negative experience or you are asked to share an experience where an error was made, be open and honest in answering, and do share what you learned from that situation or experience and how you have adjusted your practice as a result.

Most importantly, convey your personality and express a passion for the important work that you do.

When the interview concludes, close with a statement that reiterates your fit, abilities and interests.  Follow up within 24 hours with a thank you note or an email, and check back in on hiring status after the discussed timeline, if this was discussed in the interview.

May you be confident and shine!