Your Guide to Acing an Interview with Northside Hospital

Your Guide to Acing an Interview with Northside Hospital

Interviewing can often be intimidating, but it’s an opportunity worth taking, both for the life experience and the doors that could open. At Northside Hospital, we are all about supporting our people and giving them the tools they need to succeed, so we reached out to several of our recruiters (Samantha, Aaron, Natalia, Jennifer, Aundria, and Maddie) and asked them for their interviewing advice.

Here’s what they had to say.

First Things First: The Resume

Your resume is a key part of your application, and it can be what gets you in the door. Before hitting submit, you need to make sure your resume is ready to go.

Natalia explains that it’s essential to have up-to-date information and dates from your previous employment listed on your resume. She also advises including “skills that speak to the current opportunity and education that will assist you with the position you are interviewing for.”

It’s also important to include all relevant experience, adds Samantha. “The one-page resume rule is long gone.”

On top of that, consider what stage you’re at in the hiring process when preparing a resume. Maddie points out, “At the application level, simplicity is key. At the interview level, prioritize talking points.” When you’re applying for a job, your resume needs to have the most crucial information (graduation date, credentials, and so on) in a simple format so that the recruiting team can make sure you meet minimum requirements at a glance. “However, when you attend your interview, you might want to have a more detailed resume that helps the hiring managers better understand your education and experience,” she says.

Aaron agrees, saying, “I think a resume that has the most relevant experience at the top is best. Ideally, I won’t need to scroll all the way to the bottom to see that you meet the minimum requirements.”

Speaking of requirements, it’s crucial to “review what is needed for the position and see if you currently possess those skills,” says Aundria. Making sure you’re a good fit for the role before applying can only help you.

Before the Interview: Getting Prepared

So, you’ve got an interview date – that’s exciting! However, that leads to the next step in nailing your interview: preparing for the big day. There are a few things you can do ahead of time to make sure you walk into the room confident, ready, and relaxed.

“Go over common questions that may be asked during the interview,” advises Jennifer. “Personally, I like to write down the questions and my answers and rehearse them until I’m comfortable. I also make sure I can go over my background and resume with ease.” It’s also a good idea, Jennifer believes, to have a few questions about the role or the organization that you want to ask your interviewer at the end to show you’re interested and invested.

Another valuable piece of advice from Samantha is to try not to overthink the interview or make yourself sick worrying about it. “You’re putting yourself out there, which can be nerve-wracking, but it’s just a conversation with another human. You can be yourself and be confident, and you can have fun with it while maintaining professionalism.” It’s okay to let your personality come through because that’s what makes you “you” and shows how you’ll benefit the overall culture of the company. Keep that in mind while preparing for the big day!

Lastly, don’t forget to consider whether your interview is in-person or virtual. “Come prepared to in-person interviews with extra copies of your resume,” says Natalia. “You can use it to speak to your special skills. If it’s a virtual interview, treat it like it’s in-person: dress professionally, pay attention, and set up a quiet space.”

At the Interview: Show Time!

When you arrive at the interview, it’s completely understandable to feel nervous. “Take deep breaths to ease your nerves,” Aaron says. “Know that managers understand you’re nervous and how hard it can be to interview, so try not to put too much pressure on yourself.”

From there, let the conversation flow. “Be relaxed and don’t feel the need to fill all the empty space,” says Samantha. “Stay professional and be confident – sell yourself and your ability to do the job.”

Along with coming prepared (and having rehearsed what you’re going to say), it’s important to be comfortable talking about yourself, your job experience, and background. “Speak clearly and slowly,” Jennifer advises. “Explain to the interviewer how you are the best candidate for the job and go over examples, situations, and experiences.” Adding on to that, a simple piece of advice that Natalia provides is to remember to answer the question the interviewer is asking.

Aundria reminds candidates to give the full resolution of the situations they might be describing in response to interview questions. “When giving examples of dealing with conflicts, be sure to close the loop and share how the issue was resolved. You can also state if there are any changes you’d make looking at the situation now.” Indeed, Natalia explains that an inability to identify areas of improvement can stick out to her when considering applicants.

To sum it up, be able to talk about yourself and your background, present yourself with confidence, and remember that it’s okay to take a deep breath to steady your nerves.

After the Interview

Ideally, the interview would be a slam dunk and you’d find yourself looking forward to starting a new job, but that’s not always the case. If you don’t get the job the first time around, be gentle with yourself. “This process can be really stressful, and when you’re interviewing, you might be facing rejection already,” Maddie says. “Remember that your value is not tied to whether or not you land a specific job!”

Maddie also advises to never count yourself out. “Every day is a new day, and if you’re doing your job as a candidate right, every person you meet could be someone new in your corner. We’ve seen candidates we know are amazing strike out because they just didn’t have their best day in the interview.” Keep in mind that a “no” is more like a “not right now” and that there will be other opportunities coming your way.

Join Northside’s Team Today

We would love to have you as part of our team, and hope that the advice provided above will help you as you search for career opportunities. At Northside, we’re growing, and there are plenty of jobs for you to explore. Take a look and see what role might be your perfect fit! Apply today.