7 Interview Errors to Avoid
You’re a great certified nursing assistant. Lots of experience. Fantastic with patients. But despite this, you’re finding it hard to land a new job. Your resume is strong enough to get you interviews, but you aren’t nailing it in the interview room.
Often, poor interview technique or a lack of preparation can cause you to panic. Then you make a mistake in front of the interviewer. It happens to the best of us.
There’s plenty of advice about what you should do and say during an interview. Far less about the mistakes to avoid. So, we’ve compiled a list of seven things to avoid doing during an interview.
1. Don’t Embellish the Truth to Look Good
According to a survey conducted by CareerBuilder in 2018, more than 70% of employers said that they have caught candidates lying in an interview. Often this is because the candidate is trying to appear better qualified than they are, or more experienced. Whatever the reason, lying during an interview is never a good idea. You’ll be found out.
2. Don’t Answer Your Cell Phone
Yes, candidates really do answer their cell phone during interviews! All this does is show the interviewer that you are not engaged with them – and it’s going to scream that other people are more important than your patients. There’s an easy way to avoid the temptation of answering your phone: switch it off.
3. Don’t Swear in the Interview
Don’t be a potty mouth. If you can’t avoid swearing during an interview, you’re not likely to avoid swearing when faced with a difficult and agitated patient. And this won’t get you a job offer.
4. Don’t Appear Arrogant
You are a perfect match for the job. You’ve got all the skills and experience the job advert asked for. But you must still earn a job offer, and you won’t do this if you appear arrogant. Be humble about your experience and qualifications – and never look down your nose at an interviewer who is less experienced than you.
5. Don’t Insult Previous Employers
You didn’t get on with your last boss. You didn’t like your colleagues. This is information overload. You don’t have to tell an interviewer that this is the reason you left your last job, and they don’t want to hear it. They want employees who are team players and respect senior staff.
6. Don’t Appear Grumpy
A hospital wants to recruit a candidate with a positive attitude. A nursing assistant who will make their others smile. The best way to do this is to smile yourself. So be a smiley (and sincere) candidate.
7. Don’t Fiddle
You’re nervous. That’s understandable. Most job candidates are nervous of interviewing. But you must avoid fiddling. That pen on the desk? Leave it alone. Don’t take your keys out of your pocket and start fiddling with them. And drumming your fingers on the desk is a big no-no.
Don’t Make Interview Errors
You’ll land your ideal job by showing you have what the hospital wants during an interview. Avoid the mistakes we’ve highlighted in this article, and you’ll be more likely to be successful. The interviewer will be able to concentrate on you and your ability as a CNA, instead of being distracted by avoidable interview errors. Sometimes, what you don’t do is as important as what you do.
Are you considering a new job as a certified nursing assistant? If so, contact HireCare Personnel.
