Start by paying attention to your appearance. It may give recruiters their first clues about your professional earnestness as a job candidate. Dress professionally every time you visit your potential employer, regardless of whether you are scheduled for an interview. “If you know you are going to fill out an application, you may get an immediate interview,” says Joyce Mas, president of the South Florida Association of Healthcare Recruiters and nursing employment coordinator at Palmetto General Hospital in Hialeah, FL. “Some people come in dressed too casually in shorts or jeans. Remember you are going for a job interview, not a social function.”

For Mas, professional attire encompasses many styles. She accepts the professionalism of some candidates who neatly dress in Khaki, but cautions other applicants that they can still be unprofessionally dressed in a power suit if the skirt is too short or it has a high slit in the side. Regardless of your style, ensure that your clothing is clean, pressed, well fitted, and in good repair. Another tip: nothing you wear should draw attention below your neck.

Also pay attention to the way you present yourself through your cover letter, resume, and job application. Are they clear, neat, and easily understood? Do they highlight your unique set of skills in a way that readily identifies you as capable of making a contribution to your prospective employer? “When you see a job application filled out sloppily, you wonder how much attention they will give to their charting or to the details of their nursing practice,” says Mas.

Maintain a positive attitude. “I like enthusiasm, whether the candidate is starting a career, or is a 25-year veteran,” says Paul Walden, RN, past president of the National Association for Health Care Recruiters and a nurse recruiter at Resurrection Health Care in Chicago, IL. “I’m always looking for someone who can stimulate the current staff to change in positive ways.”

Avoid criticizing others, especially your current or former coworkers, supervisors, or employers. Even if they deserve to be criticized, you will probably be branded as a malcontent or a troublemaker for pointing out their flaws. Remember, you’re looking for a new job because you want to advance your career, not because you need to escape an unbearable work situation.

Mas reminds applicants to be pleasant and courteous to everyone they meet. “I don’t want someone who is rude, overbearing, or disrespectful,” she says. “The next person to be treated rudely could be your client, your customer, your patient.”

Display a positive attitude by complimenting others. If possible during the interview, describe the beneficial aspects of your current position that you hope to bring with you to your next position. Who have you worked with in the past who you admired and respected? Remember to share the credit for your accomplishments with the other nurses who helped you. Don’t be afraid to show your enthusiasm about the position you’re interviewing for. Near the end of your conversation, tell the interviewer at least one exciting aspect of the new position.
Remember to do your homework by reviewing your personal and professional accomplishments, determining the likely needs of your prospective employer, and preparing examples of how your skills meet your prospective employer’s needs. “Be prepared; think about what you’ve done in previous positions, including the kind of patient assignments and your specific responsibilities,” says Diane David, RN, BSN, career service specialist, New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York City. You should also take time to visit the organization’s website online, where you can obtain an overview of the organization before you enter its doors.

During the interview, some nurses don’t talk enough, which means the interviewer fails to gain an accurate picture of the applicant’s qualifications. On the other end of the scale are nurses who talk incessently, but fail to listen intently. To avoid talking too much or too little, stay focused on the interview. Take your cues from the person interviewing you and try to avoid simple yes or no answers.

Think about your own contributions and experiences. Too many nurses describe every clinical decision as if it were determined by a unitwide committee. “Focus on yourself as an individual nurse, rather than on what the unit or the hospital accomplished,” says David. “Present yourself in a way that allows the recruiter to learn what you actually have to offer.”

Listen carefully, and ask questions to gather the kind of information you need to decide whether to accept the position if it’s offered. Asking questions also makes the interview less stressful and more like a conversation.

To learn about past experiences, many interviewers ask situational questions that require a longer answer, similar to telling a story. You may be asked to recount the most difficult task you’ve ever faced. Or to describe a situation that required teamwork. Or to relate a situation that required resolving a conflict.

Recruiters feel the most comfortable interviewing nurses who are straightforward and transparently easy to understand. Don’t be afraid to reveal your best personal qualities during an interview. And remember your lessons from kindergarten.