Job interviews: how nurses can prepare for and succeed at them

Advice from a career coach to help dispel any interview nerves, including what to do before, during and afterwards and how to answer some common questions

Do you have a job interview coming up and it’s making you feel increasingly anxious?

If the thought of showcasing your talents to an interview panel is making your stress levels go through the roof, don’t worry, you are not alone.

How to prepare for interview, plus other advice from a career coach

The key to success is preparation – prepare well and you are giving yourself the best chance to show the interviewers that you are the ideal candidate for the job.

In the latest episode of the Nursing Standard podcast, hosted by RCNi career development editor Clare Lomas, independent careers coach Dave Cordle offers advice on what to do before, during and after your interview.

• RELATED: Nursing job interviews: how to handle ‘tricky’ questions

Using the STAR technique to answer questions

Before interview should you go for an informal visit, or practise your answers out loud? How can you use the STAR technique – Situation, Task, Actions and Results – to answer questions during the interview? And how important is asking for feedback?

Mr Cordle advises on all this and more, with examples of how to answer some common interview questions, including the classic icebreaker ‘tell us about yourself’.

• RELATED: Going for a nursing job interview? How to overcome nerves

If you want to hear more from Mr Cordle, visit an RCNi Nursing Careers and Jobs Fair, where he is a regular speaker. You can also make use of the RCN’s nursing careers resource, which has information, advice and support, including free coaching sessions for RCN members.

Note: This is a recording from a panel discussion at an RCNi Nursing Careers and Jobs Fair in Manchester.

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