4 Ways to Prepare for Your Nursing Assistant Job Interview

Sitting down to talk with a hiring manager to discuss your career as a nursing assistant might be nerve wracking, but with the right strategy and mindset, you can ease your concerns over the process. Here are four ways to help prepare for nursing assistant job interviews.

Interview Prep Tip #1: Know Your Strengths and Weaknesses

While your degree may be representative of your academic achievements, healthcare managers want to know what skills and knowledge you’ll bring to their facility. Taking the time to examine your strengths and weaknesses can prepare you for these types of interview questions. In addition to emphasizing your positives, also be prepared to possibly go over any shortcomings you may have. This includes thinking about what you can do, or are doing, to improve them.

Try role playing with a friend or family member acting as the healthcare interviewer. Hold mock conversations with them to become more comfortable talking about yourself professionally. (If you don’t have anyone to practice your nursing assistant job interview with, UMA’s Career Services team would be glad to stand in and help.)

Interview Prep Tip #2: Focus on Helping the Healthcare Organization

Your position within the prospective healthcare organization may play a role in helping the facility improve its performance, whether from operational or clinical standpoints. During the interview, be ready to highlight the contributions you can make to better the facility based on your nursing assistant or healthcare education and previous work experience.

A day or two before the interview, write down some notable accomplishments from your history that showcase the positive changes you can make in a healthcare environment. Some to consider include those related to leadership or problem-solving skills.

Interview Prep Tip #3: Research the Employer Online

The job description of the open nursing assistant position may provide some clues about the employer, but it’s a good idea to conduct your own research into the facility or organization. Browse the potential employer’s website to get a solid overview of what the hospital, private practice, or other type of healthcare office is all about.

Don’t forget to look at their social media pages too. See if they have a Facebook page or YouTube channel and read up on the comments there. Knowing the positive and the negative aspects of a prospective employer could give you insight into specific areas in which you could help provide quality care and leadership.

Interview Prep Tip #4: Think About Your Interview Outfit

Although you may be wearing scrubs on the job, this uniform doesn’t make the best interview outfit for a nursing assistant job. Instead, Indeed’s Career Guide recommends wearing a suit, dress shirt or blouse, dress slacks, and professional shoes.

Beyond clothing, Indeed also suggests being well-groomed, wearing light makeup, and covering any tattoos, at least until you learn the healthcare organization’s policy on these (if there is one). Knowing what to wear to a nursing assistant job interview and following these basic guidelines may help you stand out from applicants who don’t take these basic steps.

Have More Questions About How to Prepare for a Nursing Assistant Interview?

If you’re a UMA student and still unsure about how to prepare for an upcoming job interview for a nursing assistant role, or you simply want to practice answering interview questions, we’re here to help. Contact us today and we can connect you with UMA team members who can assist with resume preparation, mock interviews, job placement assistance, and more!