Anatomy of an Interview

AORN Journal, Oct, 2000 by Lee Powers

It is 9 AM, and you are interviewing for a new job. In the past, your job interviews have been casual, and you received some job offers during the actual interview. This time is different, however. The position you are applying for is one you really want, in an area of the country that is fabulous. During the interview, you discussed the position, learned about the hospital, and talked about your background. The nurse manager interviewing you has just finished thanking you for your time, and you are on your way out the door. At this point, there are some questions you should be asking yourself. For example, how did the interview go? Do you know when to expect a call back from the nurse manager, or are you wondering what really happened and if you will hear from the manager again?

This article looks at the anatomy of the interview process. With adequate knowledge and preparation, anyone can interview more confidently and know what to expect when walking out of the interviewer's door. At the very least, this article can help you prepare for interviews that, hopefully, will lead to job offers.

A CASE STUDY

Sometimes the easiest way to learn how to prepare for an interview is to look at an example. Here is a rather extreme example that actually happened.

Mary had more than 20 years of experience as an OR nurse. She lived on the East Coast and had worked in a large university setting for most of her career. Her background was excellent; she had scrubbed and circulated on a variety of cases, and she enjoyed mentoring other OR nurses. Mary decided, however, that it was time for a change. Her daughter had relocated to the Western United States, and Mary wanted to be closer to her. After 20 years in the same hospital, Mary put together a resume and began looking for a new position. As she was visiting her daughter one week, she spent a few days looking for a job. She had an interview on Tuesday and wore a sundress because she was technically on vacation. The interview went something like this:

Interviewer: Good morning Mary, my name is Mrs Smith, and I'll be interviewing you today. Could you tell me a little bit about your background and why you'd like to work for ABC hospital?

Mary: Of course, Mrs Smith, but first, could I ask you a few questions?

Interviewer (puzzled look on her face): Go ahead.

Mary: Could you tell me what the salary is for this position? And, by the way, I hope your call schedule isn't too bad, because I've worked for many years in the OR, and I am not up for taking too much call. My daughter just moved to this area, and I'd like to be closer to her. I think I'll be a grandmother soon, and I really want time off to be able to spend time with my new grandchild. And I hope..

Interviewer: Well, Mary, I appreciate your taking the time to come in today. We'll keep your resume on file and will call you if we have an opening that matches your qualifications.

SIX GUIDELINES TO INTERVIEWING

This scenario is not as uncommon as might be expected. Mary actually was very qualified for the position, and she did not set out to disqualify herself from the job in the initial interview. She did forget one of the first guidelines of the interview process, however--focus first on the employer's needs, not your own. Mary may find herself fielding multiple job offers the next time she interviews if she follows these six guidelines.

* Focus first on the employer's needs, not your own.

* Dress for the occasion.

* Arrive early.

* Be prepared to answer behavioral interviewing questions.

* Ask appropriate questions.

* Ask for the job.

Focus first on the employer's need, not your own. Sometimes job candidates are so focused on the "what is in it for me" syndrome that they forget about the main interview objective. The objective is to get to the next step in the process. If a candidate fails at the first step, salary, benefits, and flexibility do not matter. Leave questions about compensation and benefits for later in the interview process, and only ask them after the employer has expressed some interest in offering you the position. Additionally, candidates who have the qualifications the employer needs and who present themselves well during the interview could obtain a higher offer than they initially expected.

Dress for the occasion. Even if you are just going into a facility to pick up an application, dress professionally. Leave the sundresses, sandals, and other casual attire at home. If you wear perfume, use it sparingly. Even if the new workplace is casual, it is best to be conservatively and professionally dressed because interviewees may find themselves talking to someone on an impromptu basis. Dressing professionally makes an individual look and feel more confident. First impressions count. One author notes that "It takes 15 second to make a first impression, so make a good one."(1)

Arrive early. Arrive at least 10 minutes early for the interview and know the exact spelling and pronunciation of the interviewer's name. Be aware of the person's title, name, address, and the location of the organization, as this will be needed to send a thank-you letter after the interview. Spell the interviewer's name properly. Several employers I have talked to ask how they can hire someone who does not even pay enough attention to detail to take the time to spell their names correctly.