Information about Yourself
- Your best skills and abilities and examples of each
- Your best personal qualities and examples of each
- Your best accomplishments and successes from your past experience
- Your immediate and long-term career goals
Information about Your Field and the Health Care Organization You Want to Work for
- Job requirements and qualifications necessary for your job objective
- Trends in your field
- The services the health care organization provides
- The organization’s philosophy and mission
- The corporate culture and organizational structure of the organization
- The successes of the organization and the challenges it faces
Information about the Interview
- The time and date of the interview
- The address of the company and the location of the interview (room number)
- How to get to the company (driving directions or public transportation) and the length of time it takes to get there
- The interviewer’s name(s) and the pronunciation of the name(s)
Things to Take to an Interview
- Several copies of your résumé (There may be more than one interviewer.)
- Your Personal Data Form (You may need to fill out an application.)
- A typed list of your references with their contact information
- Appropriate licenses or certificates
- A list of questions you will ask the interviewer
- A list of the qualifications you plan to talk about during the interview
- Paper and a pen (so you can take brief notes during and immediately after the interview)
How to Make an Initial Good Impression: Personal Appearance and Body Language
- Be on time. Always be ten minutes early. Also, arrive early in case you need to fill out an application. (Better yet, go 30 minutes early and have a cup of tea to relax at a nearby café before you go into the interview.)
- Dress appropriately. Wear conservative clothes, accessories, and makeup. It’s always better to err on the side of formality. For more explicit information on dress, go to http://www.medzilla.com/interviewattire.htm.
- Practice good grooming (face, hair, nails). Don’t smoke just before an interview, and, of course, don’t chew gum at an interview.
- Be courteous and friendly to everyone you meet. You never know if the manager will ask the receptionist for an opinion about you!
- Smile and make eye contact. Be confident.
- Give a firm handshake. (No dead fish!) Stand and sit at an appropriate distance from the interviewer (about 3-4 feet away).
- Stand and sit up straight. Have an open body posture. Don’t cross your arms or legs.
- Avoid fidgeting with your hair, clothes, accessories, or papers. If you are nervous, fold your hands in your lap.
- Be respectful of the interviewer’s space. Do not sit or lean too close to the interviewer.
Questions to Expect
- Why do you want to work for this organization?
- Can you tell me about yourself?
- Can you tell me about your experience?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- What are your career goals?
- See also “Possible Interview Questions” in Activity 1A.
How to Make a Good Impression: Answering Interview Questions
- Listen carefully and use active listening strategies (smile, nod, say things like I see.) Don’t interrupt the interviewer. Ask questions to clarify when necessary.
- Speak clearly and confidently.
- Give examples of your qualifications. Tell short, focused anecdotes from your past jobs that “prove” you have these qualifications. Describe your successes in concrete terms.
- Be concise. Stick to the question. Don’t give long-winded responses, but say more than yes or no.
- Be positive and enthusiastic. Show interest in the job you are applying for. Also, never criticize a past job or employer.
- Ask good questions that show you have done your research and that you are interested in the job.
- Match your skills, qualities, and experience with the needs of the employer.
- Be yourself! Be natural.
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