By ActiveNP
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that within the next decade, employment opportunities for nurse practitioners are expected to grow by around 31%.
This is a much larger estimate compared to other occupations, where an average growth of just 7% is expected. The average salary earned by a nurse practitioner is also higher compared to the national average, coming in at $113,930 per annum.
For those who have only recently obtained their degree, the next step in the process is to land an interview. This can be stressful, as heading out for your very first interview as a new nurse practitioner means you do not necessarily know what exactly to expect. Luckily, by acknowledging yourself with the basics of these interviews and making sure you are prepared, you get a better chance of landing that job.
Know Who You Are Dealing With
You have probably sent your resume into a variety of companies that has an open vacancy for a nurse practitioner. You may only land an interview with a few of these companies, so doing research on every single employer may be time-consuming. Once you do get a call from a company, asking to set up a meeting for an interview, then you should start to do some research on that employer.
Before you set foot into the meeting room for your interview, you want to know exactly who you are dealing with. Spend some time prior to the date at which you have your interview doing some research on the company. The internet has really made this step easier – simply open up Google and search for the company.
Try to find as much information about the employer as possible. This will not only help you understand who you will be working with and in what type of environment, but you will also get an opportunity to see if the company is truly the right fit for you.
It would also be a good idea to see if you can find opinions of previous nurse practitioners or even other types of employees that worked at the company in the past. This should give you a good idea of how you might be treated, should you land the job.
Have Answers To Commonly Asked Questions
Even though there is a number of potential applicants who will be attending a meeting with the same employer for the position you are interested in, the management staff who are conducting these interviews will have a set series of questions that every interviewee will be asked. Ensuring you know what questions might be asked and how you will answer them will make you come across as more competent and confident.
The employer is likely to ask you questions such as why you decided to lean toward a nurse practitioner as a career choice. They will also ask you to explain why you might be the ideal candidate for the position. Most employers will want to know about your strengths, as well as your weaknesses, as a nurse practitioner.
These are just a few of the more basic questions that might be asked, but being able to answer them quickly and with confidence can really help put you ahead of the other candidates.
Ask The Right Questions
While the employer is usually the main party asking questions during an interview, many will also give you the ability to ask anything that you want to know. In many cases, this opportunity is presented to the candidate at the end of the interview. This is your chance not only to impress the employer but also to ensure you know exactly what you are getting yourself in to, should you be appointed the position.
There really is no use in asking questions that you already have the answer to. Do not ask the interviewer about the company. Instead, be more specific to the role that you will play at the company if you are given the position that you applied for.
You should walk out of the interview, knowing what skills the employer expects you to have in the position, and what your duties would be. You might also ask questions such as, what your role would be in terms of caring for the patients.
Don’t Be Afraid To Follow Up
Many people tend to go to an interview and would then forget about the meeting, expecting the employer to reach out to them if they are chosen for the position. Sure, this might seem like the obvious route to take, but you can use the time after the interview as an extra opportunity to increase your chances of landing the job.
Once you have gone through the interview process, send a note or email to the employer – or, more specifically, to the interviewer. Be sure to thank them for the opportunity. If you are interested in landing the job, make sure you remind them again why you would make an ideal candidate. The interviewer will immediately recognize your interest in the position, and this may go a long way in securing you a new job as a nurse practitioner.
Conclusion
As a recently graduated nurse practitioner, you obviously want to land a good job. Once you get called to set up an interview, however, you might feel uncertain in terms of what to expect. Luckily, by taking the right steps before you pitch up for the interview, you can be thoroughly prepared, know what questions to expect, and understand what you should ask to make sure the position is right for you.
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