Tips For Your CNA Interview

 

Interviewing for your CNA job interview can be a nervous experience, especially for those that have not been around the medical field before.  However, it’s an interview and all interviews have the same basic rules.  This article will help prepare you for your interview from preparation, grooming, what to expect and also interview questions.

The first topic we will cover is Interview Preparation-

You should be prepared and remember the time and date of the interview.  This seems like a silly thing to mention, but you would be surprised at the people that are so busy with kids, husband, work and school, that they  may confuse one date with the other.  Make sure you drive to the interview place a couple of days before the interview to time yourself and/or to make sure you know the exact location.  Remember the name of the person interviewing.  This could be quite embarrassing to forget the name of someone in the Human Resource department.  Bring copies of your CNA certification, your current resume, references and a copy of the job listing if possible.

Now, we move into the grooming for your interview portion-

You should be dressed as business casual and not your nursing scrubs.  If you’re a female, you should wear leather shoes, or dress shoes, a nice skirt or dress pants and a appropriate shirt.  Men should wear slacks, nice button up shirt, and leather shoes or some nice dress shoes.  Hair should be cut and neatly groomed.  If you have piercings or tattoos, unfortunately, they are frowned upon in the medical field.  Make sure to cover them up before the interview.   Wear small earrings and minimize the jewelry.  Something small works well so the attention isn’t taken away from you and placed on your jewelry or poor grooming.

What to expect at your CNA Interview?-

What to expect can differ, depending if you’re going to work in a hospital, nursing home, or doctor’s office.   You will most likely meet more than just one person during your interview.  This will probably be the human resource manager or director.  You will also meet the nursing director, also called the director of nursing (DON).   You may take a tour.  Be prepared to see how friendly the staff is and see if the facility is clean.  You don’t want to work in a place with unpleasant nurses or CNA’s or a filthy facility.  You may see some of the patients or residents during your tour.  See if they’re happy too.  This makes a difference when accepting a job.  If they are happy, then most likely, you will be too.

What will they ask me at the CNA interview?-

As you probably know, there are so many type of interview styles and differences, but the following items will help you with your interview.

 

• Do you have any previous nursing or health care experience?
• Why do you want to be a Certified Nursing Assistant?
• If you see a co-worker doing something wrong, will you report it and how will you go about reporting them?
• Can we contact your current or past employers?  This is illegal in most states.
• Why did you leave your last job?
• What do you hope to be doing in the future?
• What is the worst part of being a CNA?

What should you ask during your CNA interview? –

Hopefully, the interviewer will ask you if you have any questions.  You want to find out how many residents you will be caring for at one time.  Ask if there is advancement opportunities and if they offer to help pay for courses.  How long will you be on probation and training.  Finally, find out how well the medical insurance is and the retirement program they may have like 401k or other types.

 

If you have any questions about your interview, ask us here!  We WILL reply!