12 HEALTHCARE CAREERS | 2018 | www.advanceweb.com Clearly, that’s a mistake. Even if you fear you’ll be underqualified, bet- ter to go in and give it your best shot than to lose out on the job after the fact and burn that bridge due to dishonesty. Then again, there’s a flip side to that coin—is it possible to be TOO honest? Maybe, according to Heather D. (all names are changed to pro- tect identities), who sent in this interview story: I’ve worked for 30 years as a RN. I have a very detailed and impressive portfolio. I applied for a teaching position in nursing at a local college. As my interview progressed, I became more anxious about the ques- tions being asked. One of the questions the Nursing Director asked me was, “what is your long-term goal?” I became extremely nervous and said “RETIRE.” Unfortunately, that was not the answer she wanted to hear. Naturally I was not offered the position. The moral to this story is be prepared and know what your short-term and long-term goals are in relation to your profession. TIP #2: DON’T OVER-SHARE TIP #2 Interviews are your chance to sell yourself and to be your own best advocate for why you, over all other candidates, deserve the job. It’s your opportunity to share your accom- plishments, challenges conquered, and obstacles overcome. But it’s also a place where you have to draw the line in terms of what parts of your life should be shared, and which parts should be saved for after you’re hired—or perhaps left in the dark forever. Lindsay A. learned that last lesson the hard way: During an interview, I was asked the standard question, “Tell me about yourself.” I proceeded to do in great detail…including information about my recent breakup and subsequent harassment by my ex. The interviewer then asked me why I left my last job. I blurted out that it was my boss I had broken up with, and therefore needed to change jobs. It was quite embarrassing. I never did that again in an interview. TIP #3: WHEN IN DOUBT, PLAY IT SAFE. TIP #3 Most people would consider it a blessing to end up in a situ- ation with a laid-back interviewer who allows you to relax and be yourself. The pressure is off, and you’re able to truly shine without the need to feel tense. But be careful about becoming overly relaxed—keep things formal, because what some may consider casual may be another’s idea of unprofessional, as Maddie D. found out: I was interviewing for a job in the emergency department, which was going well until I decided to add a little levity. I joked that I preferred using the former acronym “ER” rather than the modern “ED” because at my age, “ED” referred to a dysfunction. Unfortunately, my interviewer thought my “irreverence” was ill-suited to the seriousness of the position. TIP #4: CHECK THE MIRROR! TIP #4 A lot of job-related articles and websites will offer advice on what to wear for your job interview—do you need a jacket with your shirt and tie? Are heels appropriate or too flashy? But we believe those answers can be different for everyone. Instead, we’ll just offer the following advice—double-check and be sure that you look the way you WANT to look before the interview. Rachel M. sure wishes COVER STORY | HEALTHCARE CAREERS 2018 A Community of Exceptional Nurses www.aacn.org AACN celebrates National Nurses Week and the enduring enthusiasm and unwavering spirit of our exceptional nurses.You inspire us with your commitment to the profession and the knowledge and compassion you extend to your patients and their families.We celebrate the extraordinary care you deliver every day. Happy National Nurses Week May 6-12 Looking to begin your career in healthcare or searching for your next professional step? Rewarding career opportunities are available at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital. Burke has been a leader in the field of rehabilitative medicine for over a century. Join our diverse, dynamic team and help patients recover from life-changing illness or injury. To view current job openings, visit https://www.burke.org/careers The Burke administration thanks all of our exceptional staff for their hard work to help get our patients back to the lives they love.