Nursing Trends
Interviews can be scary, especially if you haven’t prepared well for them. That’s why it’s always better to practice and schedule a bit before you appear for the actual interview. Interviews allow your employer to evaluate you as a potential candidate and assess your skills. The questions asked might sound simple, but they are made to understand all about your professionalism, work habits, interpersonal skills, and other characteristics. An interview is an essential part of the hiring process. So if you fail to answer the interview questions, well, chances are you won’t be getting called again. That is why below we’ve prepared for you oncology nurse interview questions that you might encounter to help you prepare well:
What made you choose oncology nurse as a career?
This question allows you to share a part of your story. The same question can also come as “What inspired you to go into this line of work’ or “what made you decide on this profession.” But don’t let all this confuse you as they all mean the same thing. When you get asked this question, you can discuss your motivation for choosing this career and your background. You can also add other points that influenced you to this career. It can be anything from personal experiences to education.
The main point is to show the employer that you are passionate about your career and have the skills. But make sure to answer their questions as honestly as possible.
Why should we choose you as an oncology nurse and not someone else?
This question gives you a chance to shine; you can talk about your skills but not give mundane answers. The key is to stand out from the rest in a good way. Try to add skills that align with oncology nurse skills. Answers like “because I’m the really good” type of vague reply are not going to help.
While answering this type of question, focus on yourself. Tell the interviewer about your key skills, work experience, talents, strengths, and professional achievements significant for this job. You can also talk a bit about your personality, like how you’re a good team player. Lying won’t take you far, so try to be genuine with your answers.
How do you manage job-related stress?
The reason why interviewers ask this is to check if you can perform well even when under stress. It is a classic behavioral question, so make sure to highlight your skills. Adding examples of real-life situations will also help you a lot as they’ll act as proof of your skillset. But remember to focus more on the positive action you did and not on your negative feelings while under stress. Since the interviewer will use all the information given to evaluate you, stick to your positives.
How do you deal with conflict in the workplace?
Don’t run away from this type of question. When your interviewers ask you this, show them that you’re aware that this type of situation is inevitable to avoid. Be honest about it and tell them what steps you take to handle those situations. If possible, give an example since a real-life example is usually the best way to answer.
You can form your answer by first telling them about the situation briefly and what your role was in it. Then you can start telling the actions you took to resolve the problem and, finally, the outcome. In outcome, focus on what you learned from the incident and how your actions led to a positive result.
Are you a team player?
If you already have some working experience, then pick examples from your work life to answer. If you are a fresher, then no worries, you can talk about a time you worked as a group for a project or event. The whole point of doing this is to highlight your skills and show them you can be a good team player. Also, emphasize your contributions to the team and how they helped. Give the interviewers solid results like facts if possible.
When talking about your experiences, try to include your strengths as well in the answers. It can be qualities like observation skills, reliability, adaptability, etc. Besides being a good team player, in the end, you can also mention, you can work efficiently even when alone.
Are you willing to work even outside of working hours?
In this part of the interview, make sure you give an honest answer because if you lie, you might’ve to face the consequence later. The working hours of a company also play an essential role in deciding whether we want to work with that company.
So before you answer this question, you can research beforehand or ask about company policies, compulsory overtime, and overtime limits. Remember that no matter what the conversation is about, keep it positive. You can also talk about your available working hours and what they’re expecting from you. It will help clear any confusion and give a clear perspective on where the employer and employee stand.
What made you choose us?
This question is one of the most common interview questions but also a challenging one. The way you answer this question can make or break your interview, so make sure to prepare well for it. While answering this question, think about how it will benefit the company and not from your point. Your answers can be based on how you can help the company, skills that can benefit the company. Talk about successes you’ve had on previous companies that you can repeat in this company. You can also add that the company goals and your personal goals align. So in the process of your personal growth, you want to see the company grow as well.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Questions like this are why preparing in advance is a must because you can’t answer these questions on the spot. So before anything else, ask yourself this question, where do I see myself in the next five years? There is no right or wrong answer to this. But in front of the interviewer, try presenting an answer that shows an improved, upgraded version of you. Showing progression is the key here, and it tells the employer that you have set goals in life.
The answer can be anything like advancement in your career, a better position in the company, and so on.
What are your salary expectations?
When interviewers ask you this question, it can be like a trick question. So make sure to answer this one carefully. You can approach this question by giving them a range but do this by researching the market first. Also, be open for negotiations. If you’re still in the early stages of the interview, you can deflect the question. You can say something like you are focusing more on career advancement.
They usually ask this to see if you know your worth if their budget aligns with yours if you’re overqualified or underqualified.
Do you have any questions for us?
Interviewers ask this question at the end of the interview. While most people choose not to ask anything, it is better if you do as it shows that you care about this job. But remember to limit your questions to around three.
You can ask questions related to the job or company, like their expectations and your role in the company. Company questions like company goals for next year, challenges they face, and so on.
Tips for Interview Preparation
- Before you appear for an interview, do your research well. If you’re applying in a health care facility, do at least basic research. Like what medical facilities they provide their vision and goals.
- As the saying goes, practice makes a man perfect. So to help you be more confident while answering questions, practice as much as you can. Some questions are usually asked in every interview so play to your advantage.
- Examples are a vital part of an interview, so wherever necessary, add examples to your answers. It not only backs up your answer, but it appears strong. After your answer, you can also ask your interviewer, “Did that help answer your question?”.
- Like every interview, the interviewer will judge you from the moment you step into the room. So your appearance will be their first impression. That’s why make sure to dress well but don’t overdress or appear too shabby.
- Even in stressful situations, try and remain calm at all times. This way, it will help you answer clearly without being nervous and controlling the interview.
- Be honest with your answers and stick to your strengths. If you don’t know an answer to something, be honest and tell them you don’t know.
Conclusion
Just like any other interview, an Oncology nurse interview is just as nerve-racking. Being evaluated for a job position along with several other candidates puts immense pressure on you. However, no matter how tough an interview is, sound research and practice always help. So give your best and keep practicing interview questions.
