Phone Interview Preparation & Tips
For the majority of overseas health professionals an interview will take place over the phone prior to a job being offered. For many people this can be quite daunting, as they have never experienced a phone interview before.
However you can be rest assured that Geneva Health are here to help you and will talk you through what to expect prior to the interview taking place. In addition, we have listed in this article a number of tips which should help, even for a face-to-face interview.
Always reconfirm with your consultant the date and time of your phone interview (with time differences sometimes one party can get it wrong!)
Ask who will be on the interview panel and what their titles are. This allows you to prepare appropriately for the interview, - i.e. likely questions that they will ask.
Prepare - research online the hospital or health service you are being interviewed by and ensure you have some knowledge of it's size, make up and capabilities.
Think about what the interviewers are likely to ask and have some answers prepared. Take into consideration the role you are applying for, the positions of the interviewers, the location you are going to and the type of organization you will be working in. (See below some examples of questions that can be asked.)
Once the interview has commenced ensure you listen carefully to the questions and if you are unsure ask the interviewer to repeat the question, or if you don't understand the question don't be afraid of saying so.
An interview is an opportunity to sell yourself. Some people are uncomfortable about talking about themselves - but be prepared as that is why you are being interviewed - to find out more about you, so be persuasive!
Questions generally will be about your career background and experience, your clinical knowledge, and the type of person you are. Areas such as managing stress in the workplace, previous conflict with other team members and what you do to relax can also be asked about.
An interview is also an opportunity for you to find out more about your prospective employer, a general rule of thumb is that you should have three or four questions prepared for the interviewers.
When the interview is drawn to an end, ensure you thank the interviewers for their time and the opportunity of speaking with them. If it hasn't already been covered ask what the timeline will be for you to get feedback about the outcome of the interview.
Example Interview Questions
- Tell me about yourself and how you came to enter the nursing profession?
- What are your key strengths? What do you do best?
- What are your key areas for development? What are you not so good at?
- Describe how you would manage a relative in crisis following a sudden death?
- What is your experience in removing a chest tube? How many / how regularly have you performed such a task?
- Clinical research involvement?
-- 2005-07-26