Interviewing Tips????

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Lizzy,

I have found that many people who interview prospective employees are just as nervous as we are on the opposite side of the desk. I've had to be interviewed and interviewed others. I have also talked with others who do interviews who would rather have a tooth pulled without anesthetic than to interview someone.

Keep in mind that the interviewer is human, a people person most likely, and if not just as nervous as you, then probably very friendly. They also want you to do well so they can hire you and stop doing interviews!

Relax. Stress and nervousness tend to make us ramble even more than usual. You have a great education, high grades and much to offer them. Share that with them in a friendly way. Watch the interviewer for signs that you are rambling or taking too long on an answer. If you think he looks like it, stop.  If he tries to change the subject, let him. Don't keep trying to explain it better. He may come back to it if he didn't get what he was looking for. We get pretty good at reading between the lines and steering the conversation back to where it should be. (I actually got a job one time when I looked at the interviewer and said "I'm rambling because I'm nervous. Feel free to stop me.") A good interviewer will try to put you at ease.

You have a wonderful personality and the skills and education to do your job. Its good to show your personality as you will be working with people and they need to know you will fit. I have refused to hire qualified people who answered in short yes or no answers (What were they hiding? Would he or she be that short all the time? Does he even have a personality?). I also would never hire someone who gave me the impression that they believed they had all the answers and could just walk in and run the place.

Basically, they want to know that you can do the job, get along with the other employees, get along with patients and handle the ones who have attitude problems with compassion and tact.

It also never hurts to make a personal contact with the interviewer. Look for something in common to comment on. It establishes a bond. Pretend the interviewer is a patient whom you are trying to put at ease. I'm sure you are good at that. Just remember they are interviewing you. I have been interviewed and then remained to chat for another 1/2 hr after the interview because we had so much in common.

I had my sister look at this to ensure that I was getting my point across. She told me to say she would join me in praying for you to have the peace of God during your interviews.

You can do this!                 Barb