Research the Facility
The potential employee needs to show knowledge of the facility they are interviewing with. Information such as a hospital’s size and location, who owns the facility, if they are a not-for-profit organization, what the organization’s goals in terms of providing care are, etc. These things can usually be found in a mission statement accessible from the organization’s homepage.
When scheduling the interview:
* Ask for a copy of the job description
* Ask who will be conducting the interview: the recruiter, the nurse manager of a specific unit, a team of managers, will there be multiple interviews occurring that same day?
Prepare Your References
* Compile a reference sheet that has your name at the top and list the names, titles, addresses and phone numbers of your references. See sample reference sheet.
* Remember, it is important to contact your references prior to submitting their names to potential employers.
* Recruiters usually ask for three references. Sources may include prior supervisors, unit managers, faculty, etc.
* Carry extra copies of your resume with a list of references to your interview.
* Have your letters of recommendation and the contact information of past employers and professors available at the time of your interview.
Know What Benefits Are Important to You
Before you go into an interview you should anticipate being offered the job. This demands having a working knowledge of the benefits included in an offer. While this may seem overly confident, you will be doing yourself and your education a disservice by neglecting this aspect of the process. Within the Salary Guide (page 13) of this handout you will find definitions to numerous benefits and a worksheet to help you determine what benefits are important to you.
