Once you've successfully secured an interview at the location of your choosing, you will need to prepare for your interview. Interviewing for a nursing job is widely the same as any other interview, but a nurse-to-be has to keep in mind a few extra things:

Explain past experience and how it is relevant. 
What most interviewers are looking for in a nursing candidate is experience. It is for this reason that you should have many examples of past work, preferably typed onto a sheet of paper so you don't lose track, to share with your interviewer.

After you explain where you used to work, tell your interviewer how that work will help you in your work at his/her company.

Emphasize your team and communication skills
Nearly the entire work day for a nurse is spent dealing with patients or other personnel working at the company. When interviewing for a nursing job, be sure to emphasize the skills you have gained that deal with communication and being a team player.

The best way to do this is to give examples. Talk about problem patients you may have had in the past as well as conflicts with coworkers that you successfully resolved.

Be prepared for situational questions
When interviewing for a nursing job, situational questions will undoubtedly come up. For example, your interviewer may give you a situation in which a patient is refusing to take his or her medication. You would then have to describe your solution to the problem and your reasoning. This is an effective way for interviewers to see your problem solving skills in action and to test your feelings on ethical issues.

Ask about patient load/staffing
You definitely want to find out how many patients you will be responsible for per shift. Follow that question with a question about how many nurses you will be working with. It will be important for you when you finally decide where it is you want to work. You basically want to find out the overall flow of the company.

Do not ask about vacation time or student loan payoff
These are things that can be discussed after you get the job. Your interview should focus on you, your strengths, and your skills; anything else can be worried about later.

Show why you are unique
Chances are that you will be one of many prospective nurses interviewing for the nursing job. Before your interview, take time to brainstorm some things that make you unique. Think about past experience you might have had, including volunteer work.

Mention plans for continuing education
If you plan on earning a higher degree, say so. Interviewers will see this as ambition and drive to be better and will see you in a much more positive light.

Finally, be honest. Don't be superficial, and don't tell them things because you think they want to hear them. If you make things up, you will be discovered one day or the other! 

Good luck!

This article is from our friends at LearnVest, a leading site for women and their money.

“So, do you have any questions for me?”

This common refrain toward the close of a job interview can make even the best of us stammer when the tables are turned. But with the national unemployment rate over 8%, sharp interview skills are more important than ever.

Whether or not you’re currently looking for a job, try your knowledge: Do you have the right questions to ask your interviewer?

The goal, of course, is to ask a few smart questions—thoughtful ones that show you’ve been paying attention and have done your homework when it comes to researching the company and the specific job you’re after. At the very least, you want to ask something.

Most employers agree that, “No, I have no questions,” is the worst possible response. “The most frustrating thing for a recruiter is when you don’t have any questions at all,” says recruiter Abby Kohut of AbsolutelyAbby.com.

We asked professional recruiters to brief us on the top 10 most common interview questions to scratch off our lists immediately—plus five effective ones to ask instead.

Questions You Should Never Ask in a Job Interview

1. Anything Related to Salary or Benefits “Company benefits [and salary negotiations] don’t come into play until an offer has been extended,” says Kohut. The same principle applies to sick time and vacation days. It’s best to avoid any question that sounds like you assume you already have the position—unless, of course, your interviewer brings it up first.

2. Questions That Start With “Why?” Why? It’s a matter of psychology. These kinds of questions put people on the defensive, says Kohut. She advises repositioning a question such as, “Why did the company lay off people last year?” to a less confrontational, “I read about the layoffs you had. What’s your opinion on how the company is positioned for the future?”

3. “Who is Your Competition?” This is a great example of a question that could either make you sound thoughtful—or totally backfire and reveal that you did zero research about the company prior to the interview, says Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter of CareerTrend.net. Before asking any question, determine whether it’s something you could have figured out yourself through a Google search. If it is, a) don’t ask it and b) do that Google search before your interview!

4. “How Often Do Reviews Occur?” Maybe you’re concerned about the company’s view of your performance, or maybe you’re just curious, but nix any questions about the company’s review or self-appraisal policies. “It makes us think you’re concerned with how often negative feedback might be delivered,” says Kohut. Keep your confidence intact, and avoid the topic altogether—or at least until you receive an offer.

5. “May I Arrive Early or Leave Late as Long as I Get My Hours In?” Even if you make it clear that you’re hoping for a flexible schedule to accommodate a legitimate concern such as picking up your kids from daycare, Barrett-Poindexter advises against this question. “While work-life balance is a very popular concern right now, it’s not the most pressing consideration for a hiring decision-maker,” she says. “Insinuating early on that you’re concerned about balancing your life may indicate to your employer that you are more concerned about your needs and less concerned about the company’s.”

6. “Can I Work From Home?” Unless it was implied in the initial job description, don’t bring it up. “Some companies will allow you to work from home on occasion once they see what a productive employee you are,” says Kohut. But an interview isn’t the time to be asking for special favors. Right now your top priority is selling them on you first.

7. “Would You Like to See My References?” “Interviewing is a lot like dating,” says Barrett-Poindexter. “It’s important to entice with your value and attract them to call you for the next ‘date.’” Offering up your references too soon may hint at desperation. Plus, you don’t want to run the risk of overusing your references.

8. How Soon Do You Promote Employees? “An individual asking this question may come off as arrogant and entitled,” says recruiter Josh Tolan of SparkHire.com.

9. Do I Get My Own Office? This is an uncomfortable one, says Tolan. Of course you may wonder about it, but will something like this really play into whether you accept a career opportunity or not? If so, he says, it may be time to rethink your priorities.

10. Will You Monitor My Social Networking Profiles? While a valid concern in today’s culture, this is something best left unsaid. “It gives the impression you have something to hide,” says Tolan. Play it safe and don’t post anything (especially disparaging things) about your company, co-workers, or employers on Facebook, Twitter—or anywhere on the internet, really.

And yes, even if you’re not “friends” with anyone at work. These kinds of things have a way of getting around.

Questions You Should Definitely Ask in a Job Interview

1. Can You Explain the Culture to Me, With Examples of How the Company Upholds it? Asking for specific insight into the company’s culture is key. “Everyone will tell you that their culture is great, but examples prove it,” says Kohut. This will help you decide if you want to work for them. At the same time, most interviewers are also trying to assess if you’re a good cultural fit for the company.

2. How Have You Recognized Your Employees in the Past? This is another example of a smart question that digs for specifics. “You want to be sure that your new company appreciates its employees,” says Kohut, and that the company values morale.

3. What Do You Like Most About This Company? By nature, most people like to talk about themselves, so this question helps warm up your interviewer, suggests Barrett-Poindexter. It also provides critical insight into whether you’d be happy working with this individual or company. “If your interviewer’s answer excites you, that can further reinforce your decision to continue the interview process. If the response is lukewarm, it may give you something to think about before deciding to invest in a future here.”

4. Can You Give Me Examples of Collaboration Within the Company? “This is a great question for team players,” says Tolan. It not only shows that you have a quality that’s very valuable to the company, but it also gets down to brass tacks when it comes to company culture.

5. What are the Most Important Things You’d Like to See Me Accomplish in the First 30, 60 and 90 days of Employment? This question shows you’re in invested in what you can bring to the company, and not just what the company can do for you. “Expect the answer to go deeper than just a basic skill set requirement,” says Barrett-Poindexter. “Hope that the interviewer will wander a bit, providing personal insight into qualities he favors–perhaps even offering nuggets of detail you can use to reinforce your value in the follow-up thank-you letter.”

The job interview might be the only thing left between you and the position of your dreams. Even when you’re the most qualified candidate with references galore, a poor interview performance can leave a lousy impression on a potential employer.
Yet, you can avoid nearly all interview mishaps if you prepare the right way for your interview. This means always knowing which talking points to bring up — and why these points are important in determining if the position is a good fit for you.
Here is a checklist of 10 things to always bring up in an interview:

1. The work
The most fundamental goal of the interview is to determine whether you have the skills to do the job. Still, your interviewer may not even know how to figure out if you have what it takes. You must be ready to do it for them. Be prepared with a list of your top selling points so the interviewer is completely aware of your advantages over others.

2. The company
In a 2011 survey by AccountTemps, 38 percent of managers said the number one interview mistake they encountered was little or no knowledge about the hiring organization. Don’t let that happen to you. Do your homework ahead of time so you are ready to say why you want to work at that job and for that company.

3. The culture
The work environment can determine whether you love your job or hate it. Address the work culture with your interviewer to make sure your values align. There’s nothing worse than landing a job only to realize the organization is not a place where you would feel comfortable working.

4. Industry knowledge
Want to “wow” the interviewer? Show off your knowledge of the industry. Talk about recent newsworthy events or the company’s newest products. Thoroughly understanding your industry proves your passion for the field. In addition, having this knowledge suggests you have a deeper level of expertise than the average candidate.

5. Past experiences
Your past experiences demonstrate how you would perform if you landed the job. So, you want to be prepared to describe past experiences where you had a big impact. If you have numbers to back up your claims, that’s even more persuasive.

6. Portfolio
A portfolio is a visual representation of your past work. It not only shows off your accomplishments, it also gives you added value. While a portfolio may not be essential for many positions, having physical representations off your work that you can share upon request will make you look good because you went that extra mile.

7. Your plan for the position
Your interview needs to show the company what you can do for them. Lay out what you’d do, should you get the job. This plan doesn’t need to be detailed–it just needs to illustrate how you would positively contribute to the position. For instance, presenting how you would reduce customer turnover is an easy, yet beneficial way to show an employer why you would do well.

8. Your referral (if you have one)
There’s nothing wrong with name-dropping if the person helped you land the interview. If you were referred to the position, be sure to remind the interviewer. This connection may put some legitimacy behind your candidacy, as well as spark a positive conversation between you and the interviewer.

9. Thought-out questions
Always make sure you have questions at the end of the interview. From queries about the interviewer’s role to thoughts on the history of the position, questions show your desire for the job. They can also give you more insight into the role, which may not have been addressed during the more formal portion of the interview.

10. Next steps
Understanding the next steps in the interview process is essential. Always ensure you’re aware of what these are. It may be a second interview. It may be giving the company a list of references. It may mean you won’t know the outcome for a few weeks. By asking about these next steps, you’ll know what to expect and gain some peace of mind. You’ll also show your enthusiasm for this position.

As you can see, job interviews can be a much smoother process if you use this checklist. Do your research, emphasize why you are the best candidate for the job, and always leave on a good note. You’ll find the outcome of the interview will be much more positive if you do.

Read more: http://comerecommended.com/publish2/the-top-10-things-to-always-bring-up-in-an-interview/#ixzz2F37UVUWD