Simply Hired Blog

Essentials in Preparing for Your Nursing Interview

Every year, new nursing professionals graduate and make the transition into their chosen field. In their minds, they have big dreams of making a difference in the world. They expect to find a job that allows them to make that difference. Some new nursing professionals will hit their sweet spot and find a great career right out of school. Others may work for a period before discovering the facet of their profession they find most appealing.

Through classes, the interview process, advanced education and certifications, and hands-on professional experience, each nursing professional can find a path to a rewarding lifelong professional career. Here, we will discuss preparing for the first exciting and critical steps of a career as a professional nurse.

Know Your Goals

Knowing your career goals can help you target your job search and tailor your responses to the specific interview questions, giving you a better chance of landing your ideal job. Target employers that offer exposure to the facets of profession you most want to work. If you are “undeclared”, look for organizations with a variety of nursing positions, this will give you a chance to figure out your goals while on the job.

Create a “wish list” of employers and make contacting them for interviews a priority. Once you contact them your next step is learning how to sell yourself. Start by making a list of your strengths, prepare to recite them on demand. If you have a master’s degree or plan to return to school to earn an advanced degree, share this with your interviewer. If you have relevant leadership experience in prior jobs or volunteer work, mention it as well. To really impress a potential employer, tailor each of your strengths to show how they will meet the their specific needs.

Ace the Interview

Your next step, once you have done your “homework” on your prospective employers and yourself, is to prepare to ace the interview. All of the preparation in the world won’t do you a bit of good if you get tongue-tied in high stress situations. So practice interviewing with a friend beforehand, until you feel comfortable with the interview format.  You can find lists of potential interview questions online to practice with. If you have graduated from a nursing master programs that offers career counseling, use these services to prepare as well.

Also, plan what you are going to wear, and make sure you feel comfortable moving in it. Be sure to dress for the occasion – if you have tattoos or purple hair, for instance, do your best to play those down to avoid distracting the interviewer from your qualifications.

Finally, prepare a list of questions to ask the employer about the job you are applying for. While it is best to steer clear of salary and benefits-type questions until you have received an actual offer, asking about training and advancement, the composition of the department you will work in, advice the interviewer has for you and more are all valid questions. They will show you are motivated, trainable and willing to be a team player.

If you follow this process, you will have the best chance of landing a new job in nursing on your very first interview.

Author Bio: Marguerite Cancho had never been more excited than on the day she finally graduated with her Master’s Degree in Nursing and mildly recalls her first interviews. After working as a clinical nurse for the last 15 years, she decided to go back to school and is now currently pursuing her masters in curriculum and instruction.

Build A Great Resume with These Part Time Jobs

Whether you are a college student preparing for your post college career or in between jobs, a part time job is a great way to enhance your resume. Part time jobs are necessary for those who are looking for experience or income in their life. Here are part time jobs that can benefit your bank account and you’re your resume:

Bartending/Wait Staff: You may think that having a job in a bar is a bad thing because of the alcohol and party association but if written the correct way, this part time gig could really prove to your potential employer your commitment to a career. Bartending requires patience, multi-tasking, people skills and above all trust. A bar/restaurant trusts that you will handle cash appropriately and truthfully; mention these important key notes.

Related industry: Getting a part time job in your industry and field will show your future employer that you are serious about your potential career. Working part time hours will mostly have you working the same duties as the full time job and future employers know that. Don’t forget to offer references from that position. Also keep in mind that those part time jobs are great way to earn your way to a full time job with the same company. 

Administrative: Any office position in a company that involves you taking on responsibilities and communicating in an office environment will show to your future employer that you are comfortable and capable of doing so in their office. Be sure to list out any projects and awards you may have received and carried out.

Volunteering: Some part time jobs do not pay and some people choose to volunteer in their city as a part time job. This signifies to employers that you are a hard worker and that money is not your main concern. You are technically spending your free time to better and assist an organizationwithout payment.

Treat your part time job as a real job on your resume, give it the same attention as you would with a full time and paid position. List out your title, as well as the duties and tasks that you performed while there. Be sure to include references and talk openly about your experience at that job. Sometimes your part time job can land you a great full time job. Happy resume building and good luck in your job search!

Author Bio:  Allison Foster writes on behalf of www.nannyclassifieds.com. It provides a great solution to the needs of both nannies and working parents for finding anything on the internet.

Choosing a Career: Where to Start

Choosing a career is one of life’s biggest decisions, without a doubt.

Whether you’re young and trying to figure out where to start,  or you’re older and trying to navigate a midlife career change, the decision is no less daunting.

So where do you start in trying to choose a career?

Let’s start by eliminating some of the usual suspects. Here are some of the places that you should not start:

• Job Boards
• Classifieds / Want Ads
• This year’s list of “hot” careers or top-paying jobs

Starting in any of those places is getting ahead of yourself.

Before you ever start working on that resume… before you start trolling the job sites and applying for positions… you’ve got a little homework to do first.

Choosing a career starts with defining the person looking for it: YOU.

I’ll make some assumptions here that are bold but that I believe will be true: you’re not just looking for any old J-O-B. You may be looking for a paycheck, but there are things you’re willing to do for money and things you’re not (I hope!). There are things that you could do for money, and then there are things that you would love to do, regardless of the money.  You’re looking to do something that is worthy of your time (most jobs require you to spend a third of your waking hours at work every week) and talents. You want to do something that matters. And you want to feel good about the people you’re working for or with. When you consider what your organization is trying to accomplish, in the grand scheme of things, you want to be proud to be part of the same team.

Am I right?

I don’t think that most people are afraid of hard work. I think that people actually want to work hard – to give their best to a cause or career that is truly a good fit for them.

For your career to be a good “fit,” there’s got to be alignment of three key things:

1. Your skills and abilities
2. Your personality
3. Your interests / passions

Choosing the right career will require that you define these in terms of work that you would be well-suited for.

Skills and Abilities: What skills and abilities do you delight most in using? We may be able to perform a number of tasks with competence, but… do we necessarily enjoy using all of our skills? I may be good at cleaning my house, but do I want to use my cleaning abilities in any kind of career? No way.  Just because you can do something (even if you can do it well) doesn’t mean you should do it. Figure out what your very favorite skills are, and make those the cornerstone of the career you seek!

Your Personality: What environments are best for your personality? The right career fit will complement your natural personality well. You’ll be happier – and more effective – when you can be your authentic self. If you’ve ever taken a personality assessment, you’ve probably seen how you rank on a number of behavioral scales. Often, traits like introversion / extraversion, assertiveness, objectivity, independence, and more are measured. Find a career that allows you to stay in “the zone” that is most comfortable for you. Anything that puts you in an environment that’s not a natural fit for your personality will just end up driving you crazy.

Interests / Passions: What’s really important to you? (Think beyond the paycheck here!) What kind of environment / organization would you love to be a part of? What kind of work would really matter to you? Try this exercise: fast forward to your retirement years, and imagine looking back to your career highlights and accomplishments. What could you do with your career that would bring a smile to your face later as you pause and reflect?

Choosing the right career has to do with finding work that is in alignment with these three areas. Find the right one, and you’ll work with a passion and purpose that will fulfill you in ways that you never imagined “work” could.

Do the homework. Figure out what you’re really looking for in a career before you rush into applications and interviews. 

Don’t rush it. It may take some time to dig deep and define all of these things. This approach may not be the “fast” approach to choosing a new career, but it’s the best approach to making the right choice in the long run.

Good luck!

This Guest Post was written by Lisa Sperow of LEGEND Talent Management. Lisa’s firm works with both career coaches and individuals looking to transition careers. They offer assessment tools that assist in matching an individual’s skills, abilities, personality and interests with rewarding career options. 

Tips to Becoming a Data Scientist

By Michael Koploy

In the October 2010 edition of the Harvard Business Review, Thomas Davenport and D.J. Patil named “data scientist” as the "sexiest job of the 21 century." As Big Data shifts from big news to big priority within even small businesses, data scientists will be hired to mine data, derive actionable insight from the information and help businesses as they look to become more competitive and optimize operations.

If you’re interesting in becoming a data scientist, here are a few points to guide your career and make yourself stand out in a group of candidates.

Focus on Academics--Before and After School
Data scientists develop hypotheses, test scenarios and analyze their findings on a daily basis. Understanding a variety of mathematical theories, programming languages and advanced algorithms will aid individuals in their pursuit of becoming the next-great data scientist.

“The solution to a problem may be hidden in a particular machine learning algorithm or a traditional statistical model,” says Krishna Gopinathan, COO of Global Analytics Holdings. “Individuals experienced in various domains and working with different problems will be the ones who succeed.”

Tips:

1. Obtain advanced degrees in mathematics, physics, machine learning, computer science, economics, applied mathematics, or relevant disciplines.
2. Augment weaknesses in your knowledge of computer programming and statistics with relevant coursework. A well-rounded individuals in terms of academics has the greatest potential as a data scientist.
3. After exiting academia, keep up-to-date on relevant research and findings by subscribing to academic journals, such as the IEEE PAMI and the Journal of Machine Learning Research.

Learn the Language of Business
Data scientists are tasked with more than completing advanced reports and wading through data. These individuals will be asked to analyze databases that were once though too large and too incomplete to be managed. At the same time, data scientist have to ensure they don’t get swallowed-up by the data and keep the business’ objectives top-of-mind.

“Working in a commercial environment is just different than academia,” says Michael Griffin, founder and CTO of Adlucent. “You have to be able to produce something that makes a difference very quickly.”

Tips:

1. Learn how to collaborate with others. Project management is one of the most important skills for a successful data scientist, as you’ll commonly collaborate with a team of developers and programmers to accomplish projects. Read about how to effectively delegate tasks and lead teams to accomplish group goals.
2. Read as much about personal development and general business principles as you do about research. Thomas Davenport and Jeanne Harris’ “Competing on Analytics” is an excellent start to learning how businesses are using data to beat-out the competition.

Flex Your Data Muscles
Data scientists use a wide array of tools to expertly manipulate Big Data. Jeff Hammerbacher, the former chief data scientist at Facebook, recounted that his team members would utilize Python, R and Hadoop to complete everyday tasks.

“Becoming an effective data scientist is all about playing with the data cards you’re dealt. The more tools you’ve mastered, the stronger your play,” says Gopinathan.

Tips:

1. Utilize online resources to gain more experience using languages and applications that you're most unfamiliar with. The Big Data University website, for example, provides free resources to learn more about MapReduce, Hive, Pig and others.
2. Seek out open-source projects to collaborate with others on data projects and network with others within the community.
3. Participate in data competitions such as Kaggle to test your skills “in the wild.” Not only can this boost your resume, but winning these competitions often offer cash prizes.

Michael Koploy is an Analyst for www.softwareadvice.com/bi/. His research is focused on how business and individuals utilize retail, logistics and business intelligence technologies.

You got the networking meeting, now what?

By Lesley Mitler

Mission accomplished!  You got the networking meeting. A new sense of optimism prevails.  Is this person going to help you take that quantum leap from “applying on line” to being on the top of someone’s list?  Maybe, but that depends – on you.

When one of my clients gets a networking meeting, the first thing I ask is, “What is your plan?”  And many times I get the same response.  “I am going to ask the person I am meeting about their career and how they got to where they are today.”  Great plan if you want to flatter someone but what does that do for you?  That plan does nothing to help them learn about you.  After all, they can’t recommend you to anyone they know unless they get a sense for who you are, how you present yourself and if you will make a positive impression on others. 

Sounds like an interview, right?  In a very real sense, it is.  The difference is that you, not the person you are meeting, are responsible for having an agenda and conducting the meeting.  So, what should you do to maximize this opportunity?  You must be able to articulate your thoughts and offer a cohesive presentation. Here are some tips for preparing:

1. Know what type of company you are interested in.  It will help to be specific here.  For example, large vs. small?  What industry? Types of products or services?  Geographic preference?  You should be prepared to discuss why you are attracted to those types of organizations. You must demonstrate your interest through previous work experience, internships, community service, and coursework as well as an awareness of current economic or global issues that impact that sector.  Show your passion!
2. Be clear about the type of job you want.  So prior to any meeting, you should have a definite idea about the roles that interest you and why you are interested in those roles.  Search online for jobs. Know the common job titles and get a clear understanding of the way employers describe roles and responsibilities. Do your research!
3. Explain why you are qualified for the roles that interest you.  Since you understand the qualifications needed for the job, explain why you are a qualified candidate – based upon work experience/internships, academic background, and specific skills.  Your networking contact will have a much easier time presenting your background to others if they can speak about your relevant skills and experience.  Make it easy for your contact to see why you’re a good fit for the job!
4. Ask questions.  Yes, you do have to do a lot of talking about yourself. But don’t forget to engage your contact. This is your opportunity to learn more about the person you are meeting.  Draw them into the conversation.  Since you probably read about them online before the meeting, you might want to ask about what they consider to be some of their most significant career highlights and accomplishments.  You can also ask for advice.  Are there things that you could do that would position you to be a more serious candidate?  Are there other roles you should be considering?

Remember, you requested the meeting so you must be fully prepared to take charge.  You must be ready with a response to the question, “Why you are here and what guidance are you looking for?”  By conducting an effective meeting, you will give your contact the confidence to make further introductions without concern of embarrassment.  After all, an introduction is their endorsement and reflects their credibility with others. 

One closing thought.  We all appreciate the generosity of others to make introductions and advocate for us.  I hope all of us can reciprocate when we are in a position to do the same.

Lesley Mitler is president and founder of Priority Candidates, which prepares college students and recent graduates nationwide to get hired for their first jobs. An alumnus of Duke University who is based in New York City, Lesley has been featured in USA Today, The New York Times, U.S. News & World Report, Smart Money and dozens of other publications.