new grad interview

No excuses

December 1, 2023 by Madeline Lucre Leave a Comment

In 2017, I was a fresh-faced new grad, ready to take on the nursing world. That was until an email didn’t appear in my inbox and my world came crashing down. Or so I thought. The reality was I hadn’t received a new grad position.

At first I was crushed. But after the initial rejection, I picked myself up. Despite my initial setbacks I started my nursing career in nursing homes and general practices.

My passion for acute care remained strong. I began applying for registered nurse positions with NSW Health. To my delight, I successfully secured a position at Westmead Hospital.

I began working in mixed medicine, neurology, and the gastroenterology ward, where I was well supported by the CNE and NUM.

In 2020, I was initially apprehensive and scared about working on COVID-19 wards. However, after some consideration I was determined to continue serving the community.

In 2021, four years after being rejected for a new grad position, I was successful in becoming an acting NUM in Neurology.

Reflecting on my nursing career to date, I am reminded of a quote by Florence Nightingale: “I attribute my success to this – I never gave or took any excuses.”

To any new grads who are facing similar obstacles, don’t let any initial setbacks deter you from pursuing your nursing career dream. Remember: not getting a new grad is not the end of the world. I am living proof of that.

Ashwina Beeharry, acting NUM

11 tips for acing that new grad interview

August 24, 2020 by Rayan Calimlim Leave a Comment

Are you ready for your New Grad Interview? Whether you’re interviewing for the public system or a private health provider, here are The Lamp‘s top tips.

Arrive with plenty of time before your interview

Punctuality is key for any job interview – including nursing and midwifery. Being on time shows your future employer that you’re reliable and know how to manage your time.

Make a plan for how you will get there, and allow extra time in case of traffic, transport delays or other disasters. Familiarise yourself with the venue – ideally with an extra visit to the site in the days preceding your interview. Know where to park, how to get to the interview room, and who to ask for at reception.

Even the most prepared can’t predict the worst from happening though! If you do need to call, make sure you call ahead of time.

Be polite to everyone – including the receptionist

You are being judged potentially from the moment you leave the car or enter the hospital building. In environments like health facilities, word can travel quickly if you’re rude or snarky. Make sure you remain polite to all members of staff and other candidates – it could affect the way the panel see you.

Make eye contact with every member of the panel

Treat every member of the interview panel with the respect and courtesy they deserve – remember, your upcoming career is literally in their hands. Make sure to introduce yourself to each one of them, and to make eye contact. First impressions count, particularly during interviews.

It’s OK to be nervous – but don’t over-apologise for it

Everyone gets nervous during job interviews. It’s a natural reaction for dealing with stressful situations – and the interviewers know this. Practice deep breathing, slow down, and drink some water to help calm your nerves. If you must, feel free to apologise once for your nerves, but never overdo it.

Listen carefully

In interviews, listening can be as important as speaking. Practice active listening, and ensure you get all parts of the interviewer’s questions. Bring a pen and some paper, so that you can write down the components of multi-faceted questions. If you feel that you didn’t fully understand a question, don’t be afraid to ask for the question to be repeated or clarified.

Be professional in how you talk

New Grad interviews are formal and professional interviews, and you should treat them as such. Use language that a Midwife or Registered Nurse would use. Avoid slang or swearing, and don’t make derogatory comments about previous workplaces. Be careful with your use of humour, and aim it towards yourself, rather than members of the panel.

Be aware of your mannerisms

People can have some very strange mannerisms during interviews. From speeding up your speech, to tapping and scratching, and even forgetting your points, your reaction to nerves can affect the way you perform in an interview. Be aware of these mannerisms, and be prepared to address them. Some tips may be to practice deep breathing, being aware of the speed of your speech, and drinking some water or asking for clarification to slow down the pace of conversation.

The way you present – including your mannerisms – makes a difference | Photo Credit: Canva

Don’t talk to much – communicate clearly and succinctly

Key to being a health professional is our ability to communicate to patients and colleagues in a clear and succinct way. When addressing the panel’s questions, pause to think about what the question entails, and address each point one by one. Don’t ramble or delve too deeply into unrelated anecdotes – these show an inability to manage time effectively and to communicate in an appropriate way.

Know your corporate values

There will almost certainly be a question regarding your potential employers’ corporate values in your interview. For those interviewing for the NSW Health GradStart Program, this would be the CORE values – Collaboration, Openness, Respect and Empowerment.

Know these values off by heart, and be prepared to answer questions about them and how you would employ them in your practice.

Practice your responses

Practice makes perfect – and that’s especially true for interviewing. Collate a list of potential questions (here’s a bunch we prepared earlier), and practice your answers to them. Ask family members or friends to role play an interview scenario and to assist you with formulating your responses.

Leave a good impression

Make sure you leave the panel with a good impression of you, both personally and professionally. Say goodbye to each member of the panel, thank the panel and shake their hands if it seems appropriate. Have some questions prepared to ask the panel. Offer to take away a used cup of water, and make sure you take away any rubbish with you. These small steps can leave a positive taste in their mouths.

Let us know if you have any other great tips! If you need any more support, NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association members can call 02 8595 1234. If you’re not yet a member, you can also sign up here.

And if you’re lucky enough to receive a placement, check out the amazing Student to New Grad workshops, offered by the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association.

3 Questions they will ask in new grad interviews

August 24, 2020 by Rayan Calimlim Leave a Comment

Want to get a sneak peek into the questions you’ll likely to get in your interviews? Here are the 3 types of questions we reckon you should be prepared to answer!

Skills and knowledge-based questions

Panellists may want to know well you know about your professional obligations, including those relating to social media | Photo Credit: Canva

Potentially the most straight-forward of the three, skills and knowledge-based questions test what you know and what qualities you have. Questions of this variety include:

What are your professional obligations when using social media? (FYI, here’s the answer)
What qualities do you have that will make you a successful RN/ midwife?
How will you maintain your professional education?
Why did you choose a career in nursing/midwifery?

Behavioural questions

Interviewers will ask questions about how you’ll adapt to certain situations – so be prepared with your answers! | Photo Credit: Canva

Behavioural questions test your previous behaviours, with the aim of giving interviewers an insight as to how you would react in given situations.

Behavioural questions should be answered using the STAR method. This stands for:

S – Situation (setting the scene)

T – Task (describe the purpose)

A – Action (explain what you did)

R – Result (what was the outcome)

Examples of behavioural questions include:

Tell us about a time when you had to adapt to a situation in the workplace over which you had no control
Describe a positive experience that occurred during your clinical placement. Why was that significant?
Recount a time you experienced conflict, and how it was resolved.

Situational questions

Scenario questions are very common in interviews, so you best be prepared | Photo Credit: Canva

Situational questions – also known as scenario questions – assess your responses to potential incidents in the workplace. When answering these questions, you should address any issues that may arise from the scenario – including professional, legal and ethical issues. You can also use a story to highlight a previous incident which you may have faced that has similarities to the scenario at hand – but don’t forget the STAR method.

Examples of situational questions include:

You have a diabetic patient who is not communicative. What do you do?
What would you do if you witnessed a colleague administering an incorrect drug?
You are caring for a patient who refuses all treatment. What action would you take?
What would

Now it’s your turn to ace that interview! If you need any more support, NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association members can call 02 8595 1234. If you’re not yet a member, you can also sign up here.

And if you’re lucky enough to receive a placement, check out the amazing Student to New Grad workshops, offered by the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association.

This article was prepared with the help of Central Coast LHD’s Gradstart Guide, as provided by UON Careers.