Community Chat

[Tantallum]

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@lovethgedress wrote:

I work in a medical field and find it challenging to find qualified candidates.  We phone screen to determine their experience and narrow our selection but rarely interview more than 2 or 3 in person.

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I couldn't agree more.  I am also a hiring manager in the medical field and do the same thing.  We phone screen a lot, and bring in no more than 5 candidates.  Sometimes only 2-3. 

I have interviewed a lot of people.  Here are my top few observations and recommendations

1.  Do as much research as you can on the company and position.  That will impress the interviewer. 

2.  Be honest about why you want the position, but also...be excited.  The job I hire for hires nurses and pharmacists, but it is actually an office type job.  When people tell me they want this job because they get to sit down instead of be on their feet all day OR they say 'I've been out of work so I applied to everywhere that was hiring, I just need a job, any job", those are an automatic no thanks.  Same for people that interrupt me to ask about the time off days, and if they can have a flexible schedule, and what is the maximum they can work from home, etc.  we want someone who wants to work here because they like the mission and they will be passionate about the job!  You would be surprised at how many people fail what I consider to be the most basic interview question "why do you want to work here?"  The real question behind this is, 'what will you bring to the job, tell me why I should pick you over the others'

3. Have a really good explanation for any job hopping in your resume.  it is always said that missing periods on your resume is alarming, but to me job hopping is worse.  There's a reason someone can't or won't stay at any one job for more than 18 months and I don't want to find out myself after I spent months training you. Maybe more important for my organization because there is so much training involved in new hires. 

4.  I always ask potentially negative-answer inducing questions like, 'what did you think of your last/current boss?' and 'what type of people do you find it hard to work with?'  If someone has a tendency to be the complaining type, here is where it will come out.  

5.  As I mentioned we hire health care professionals and they are always surprised when we ask them clinical questions like, tell me about X medication or how you would treat Y.   we also have them take a math test.  If your job requires specific knowledge or skills, be ready to show them off. 

6.  Most important:  the interviewer is exactly as nervous as you are and enjoys the process just as much (which means not at all!!)  I have had so many doozy interviews, I could fill pages....

but I digress, best of luck to you on your job search!   I have hired 2 awesome people in the past 3 years, so the painful interview process is all worth it when a job and an employee find a good match!

[luv-the-Q]

I think the interviews are the easy part. It's the actual job that is a challenge.😏

[gardensla]

I've been on the hiring manager side of the table many times. Let me give you a few pieces of insight that you might useful:

1.  I want you to be "the one" and am rooting for you (it might not look that way as I aks challenging questions and follow-up, but believe me, if you got as far as a sit down with me, you have what I want)

2.  I want you to come in with an understanding that I am at a point of pain and need someone, now. To that end, come in prepared to give me concrete ideas about how you're going to solve my problem. They don't need to be the exact answers; I just want to understand how you think and how you approach problem solving. Can you make us more efficient? Can you save us money? Can you bring a past experience that can be tailored to us? Can you hit the ground running?

3.  I don't want you to tell me what you think I want to hear. Remember, I've been on your side of the table and read all the same articles you have about how to give the "right" answer to questions. I'll know when you're playing it safe. Tell me what you honestly think and if I'm not asking the correct questions, don't hesitate to try and redirect the conversation. 

4.  Look me in the eye, give me a firm handshake, and know that it's not much more comfortable being on the hiring side of the desk. I'm nervous too. 

[photodreamr]

I have been on both sides.  What I found is helpful is taking a course or read something on how to inview people.  It helped me, because you get to learn some of the skills the person who is interviewing you may have amd what they may be looking for.

Once I started interviewing people to fill positions my skills of preparing for an interview went up.  I leaned the questions and what were the better ways of answering the questions.

Other than that prepare, prepare and prepare. Always be honest.

[hoosieroriginal]

Don't get discouraged!  In 2008 when the bottom dropped out I was laid off and it took 6 months to find something.  It takes people so long to get back to you when you interview and sometimes they don't even contact you to let you know you didn't get it - so you never know.  It's frustrating.  I went on interviews I was certain I was getting and -- nothing.  Then one day I got called with two job offers - so hang in there!  Your perfect job will come along. 

[JBKO]

That is so sweet hoosiergirl! Really? Two offers in one day? I'd feel invincible if that were to happen! THank you everyone for your replies so far. I have to say that about 4 years ago I had people on this forum be so cruel to me when I was going through a hard time (still am). It is making me cry just thinking about it. But I still keep coming because some of you are so helpful and wonderful.

[blackhole99]

I've been retired since 2004, but I can still remember the interview I had for my last job. I had a lot of experience and was no kid and made sure I used all the buzz words they wanted to hear They hired me on the spot and I stayed at that facility for 6 years.

[pattypeep]

I hired and fired for many years prior to retiring; however, I worked in Government, so the applicants had to go through our personnel department where they were screened and tested prior to our  interviewing them. We usually ended up with about six applicants.

[Desertdi]

Glad I'm retired.     I have been told at interviews, "Your references must all be dead".............and, "You're older than my grandmother".

[Chrystaltree2]

I've interviewed hundreds of job candidates over the years.  HR does the initial telephone screen and then does a fact to face interview with serious candidates.  They present me with a list of 8 to 10 "possibles".  If I am only filling 1 job, I only interview the ones I think are the top 3.  If I am filling 2 positions, I interview the top 5 or 6.  I don't like interviewing prospective candidates.  I don't know anyone who does.  Tips?  Be prepared, be focused, be on time, dress appropriately.  Ask questions!  And turn your phone off before you go into the interview.