If you’ve never interviewed for a travel assignment before then you’re in for a big surprise. You are about to have the easiest interview of your life.
One of the positive sides of the nursing shortage is that hospitals desperately need your services. Most hospitals will gladly talk to any traveler who can fill their staffing needs.
Your primary job during the interview is to find out as much as possible about the hospital and the floor you’ll be working on. You also want to get a feeling for the personality of the nurse manager.
Whether the nurse manager calls you or your call into the hospital yourself, remember to ask specific questions and write down the answers so you’ll increase your odds of making a smart decision about your next assignment.
You’ll be expected to answer some questions from the nurse manager but don’t feel anxious. There are many more jobs than there are nurses.
Towards the end of the interview, it’s common for the nurse manager to tell you that you’ll be offered the job. Don’t fell pressured into committing that you’ll take the assignment.
It’s best to talk to your recruiter to clear up pay questions and to give yourself time to reflect on the interview. Simply tell the nurse manager that she’ll be hearing from the recruiter shortly.
Thank the nurse manager for her time and move on to the next interview.
No matter how well the interview goes, don’t commit to it right away. Have your recruiter set up another interview with another hospital.
Do a second interview even if you interview a less desirable hospital located in a part of the country that doesn’t appeal to you.
It never hurts to have more than one option. And you never know when a “sure
thing” falls apart at the last second.