Page 246 - Essentials of Nursing Leadership and Management, 5th Edition

CikguOnline
2208_Ch14_217-238.qxd 11/9/09 5:24 PM Page 233
chapter 14 | Your Nursing Careerr 233 CikguOnline
diction. Words or phrases such as “yeah,”“uh-huh,” that these are the most important part of the job
“uh,” “you know,” or “like” are too casual for an to you, not the work itself.
interview.
■ Do begin with questions about the employer’s
Do not say “I guess” or “I feel” about anything.
expectations of you. This gives the impression
These words make you sound indecisive.
that you want to know how you can contribute
Remember your action verbs—I analyzed, orga-
to the organization.
nized, developed. Do not evaluate your achieve-
■ Do be sure you know enough about the position
ments as mediocre or unimpressive.
to make a reasonable decision about accepting
Asking Questions an offer if one is made.
■ Do ask questions about the organization as a
At some point in the interview, you will be asked if
whole. The information is useful to you and
you have any questions. Knowing what questions
demonstrates that you are able to see the big
you want to ask is just as important as having pre-
picture.
pared answers for the interviewer’s questions. The
■ Do bring a list of important points to discuss as
interview is as much a time for you to learn the
an aid to you if you are nervous.
details of the job as it is for your potential employ-
er to find out about you. You will need to obtain During the interview process, there are a few “red
specific information about the job, including the flags” to be alert for (Tyler, 1990):
type of patients for whom you would care, the peo-
■ Much turnover in the position
ple with whom you would work, the salary and
■ A newly created position without a clear
benefits, and your potential employer’s expectations
purpose
of you. Be prepared for the interviewer to say, “Is
■ An organization in transition
there anything else I can tell you about the job?”Jot
■ A position that is not feasible for a new
down a few questions on an index card before
graduate
going for the interview. You may want to ask a few
■ A “gut feeling” that things are not what they
questions based on your research, demonstrating
seem
knowledge about and interest in the company. In
addition, you may want to ask questions similar to The exchange of information between you and the
the ones listed next. Above all, be honest and sin- interviewer will go more smoothly if you review
cere (Bhasin, 1998; Bischof, 1993; Johnson, 1999): Box 14-2 before the interview.
■ What is this position’s key responsibility?
After the Interview
■ What kind of person are you looking for?
If the interviewer does not offer the information,
■ What are the challenges of the position?
ask about the next step in the process. Thank the
■ Why is this position open?
interviewer, shake hands, and exit. If the reception-
■ To whom would I report directly?
ist is still there, you may quickly smile and say
■ Why did the previous person leave this position?
thank you and good-bye. Do not linger and chat,
■ What is the salary for this position?
and do not forget your thank-you letter.
■ What are the opportunities for advancement?
■ What kind of opportunities are there for contin-
The Second Interview
uing education?
Being invited for a second interview means that
■ What are your expectations of me as an employee?
the first interview went well and that you made a
■ How, when, and by whom are evaluations done?
favorable impression. Second visits may include a
■ What other opportunities for professional
tour of the facility and meetings with a higher-
growth are available here?
level executive or a supervisor in the department in
■ How are promotion and advancement handled
which the job opening exists and perhaps several
within the organization?
colleagues. In preparation for the second interview,
The following are a few additional tips about ask-
review the information about the organization and
ing questions during a job interview:
your own strengths. It does not hurt to have a few
■ Do not begin with questions about vacations, résumés and potential references available.
benefits, or sick time. This gives the impression Pointers to make your second visit successful