Take these words from nursing recruiters to nail your next job interview!

We love what we do!  We love helping those who are looking for employment even if it doesn’t work out with our company.  We are personable people.  We don’t take anything to heart.  The gratitude that we receive – a thank you for your patience and/or understanding is what we strive for with every encounter.  

 WORDS FROM NURSING RECRUITERS 

“We love what we do!” “We love helping nurses find new employment even if it doesn’t work out with our agency.” “We are personable people.” “We don’t take anything to heart.” “The gratitude that we receive – a thank you for your patience and/or understanding is what we strive for with every encounter.”  

HOW DID THEY BECOME A NURSE RECRUITER?  

The nurse recruiters that we interviewed come from different walks of life who found that their particular skills and desire to help others, found their niche as a recruiter. One started as a CNA – Certified Nursing Assistant, who worked with staff shortages in a nursing home and wanted to find others like her who were hard-working and dedicated so that facilities would be able to offer exceptional care. Another started as an HHA – Home Health Aide, then moved into scheduling then decided that she wanted to recruit to help those people she was scheduling. Another came from a family of recruiters; she was raised with a recruiter intuition. Another went to school for Human Resources but found that being a recruiter had that personal touch that was missing from typically HR duties.  

Augustine Collins, with EZhealthcarejobs.com, was also a nurse recruiter. She said that most of her frustration as a nurse recruiter lay with the job boards not producing enough applicant flow so she had to ramp up her efforts in referral bonuses’. Augustine also said, “it’s tough digging to find qualified applicants because I needed those with previous experience in long-term care.” It’s hard enough trying to find applicants but then to narrow that small pool down with restrictions made it look like a wading pool. Job boards have the ability to funnel and search for healthcare employees but anyone who has ever used these job boards knows that updating your resume from a mobile device is virtually impossible. Who even has laptops and desktops at home anymore? So even if job boards can filter are they filtering correctly if the resume isn’t updated? Recruiters know healthcare employees are out there it’s just difficult on how to capture them. 

INTERVIEW PROCESS 

Nurses and Aides that are ready, make the best employee whether it is an in-person interview or a remote interview. Those that have all of their documentation make the process smooth. It also shows the recruiters that they are dedicated, ready, organized, knowledgeable, and serious about the position. Don’t expect the recruiter to “lookup” your certificate to see that you are active, you need to have it with you. 

Please do not arrive at your interview without all of the documentation that was requested by the recruiter. Please do not be late for your interview. This shows indicative behavior and recruiters fear that this may be how you show for your shift, late and unprepared.  

Most nursing recruiters are very forgiving and are flexible to reschedule an interview if proper time was given to do so.    

Before your interview make sure you know what facility or agency you are interviewing for. 

What nurse recruiters say about the different types of interviews. 

IN-PERSON INTERVIEWS 

• It makes the process go quicker and more smoothly when nurses/aides have all of their documents.  
• It allows you to see facial expressions and body language when answering questions. 
• We have the full attention of the nurse/aide with no distraction. 
• Most nurse recruiters like the old-school way of an in-person interview.  
• Dress presentably. You will be judged. If you don’t know what to wear; that’s easy, were your scrubs! Make sure they are clean and non-wrinkled. The way you present yourself tells the nurse recruiter how you will appear for your shift.  
• It’s okay to bring a bottle of water with you.

REMOTE INTERVIEWS  

• Nurses/Aides seem to prefer the remote interview. Nurse recruiters can understand the convenience of a remote interview for them.  
• Nurse recruiters say most times nurses/aides do not answer with their first scheduled remote interview. Remember that this is just like a no-call no-show for your shift. Recruiters see this as indictive behavior. When an interview is scheduled put it in your calendar and set an alarm. 
• The remote interview can be very time-consuming with constant follow-up from the recruiter to obtain the proper documents. Please take notes on what documentation is needed so you can send it all at the same time. Your recruiter will thank you and your application will be processed quicker possibly leading to a quicker hire time. 
• Recruiters feel the applicant can be distracted with remote interviews due to children in the background, they are driving, and bogs barking. One recruiter even witnessed via phone a moment of road rage. If you are having a remote interview, please treat it the same as an in-person interview. Find a quiet place with no distractions; behind a closed door is best. If you are driving, ask for a moment and pull off to the side of the road or nearest parking lot.   
• Dress appropriately, once the recruiter had an applicant in a tank top still in bed, covers pulled up, and with her hair wrapped. Take the time to gather your appearance, it will let the recruiter know that you are serious about the interview. You don’t want the recruiter to feel as if he/she has interrupted you.   
• Unable to get undivided attention is frustrating for recruiters but they want to get it done because the applicant answered and they don’t know if they will catch them again. So, they grin and bear it to help those find a job. With that being said and knowing that the nurse recruiters go the extra mile for you, please do the same for them.  

FORMER VS NEW EMPLOYEES 

FORMER EMPLOYEES 

• It’s disappointing to a nurse recruiter when a former employee interview goes well but their application gets rejected by HR due to past work history with the company. Yes, it happens! Just because you were a former employee and there is a staffing shortage doesn’t mean you are guaranteed re-employment. Your history will follow you, so make sure it’s a good one. Recruiters are forgiving and will give second chances...HR may not.   
• The recruiter’s mentality is looking for that change in a person as well as holding them accountable for their past work history. Recruiters believe people deserve second chances to prove themselves. HR may not. 
• Some recruiters feel former employees left for a reason and dig to uncover that reason. So please remember that if you are going to leave a company, please do so in decency and order, your rehire process will go much smoother. Give proper 2 weeks' notice of