Interviewing Resources

Interviewing Tips

Network with people within KP to learn about the department and its work culture as well as the employees and their roles.
If you have names of people within the department, look up their profiles on LinkedIn.com.
Thoroughly review the position description.
Use internal KP resources such as Hank, LMP (lmpartnership.org), Nursing Pathways, KP BRGs (Business Resource Groups), and MyHR.
Identify professional associations and review their websites for career information and current trends.

When interviewing, it is important to be aware of both what you say and how you say it.
Studies show that non-verbal communication has more of an impact on how your message is received and interpreted than your verbal communication. The impact of the message you communicate is 7% spoken word, 38% tone of voice, and 55% body language.
These statistics mean that expressing interest through your enthusiastic and positive tone of voice and energy level, is even more important than what you say. You can say all the right things and still not be seen as a good candidate if your nonverbal communication indicates low energy, lack of enthusiasm or excitement for the opportunity, or if you seem to feel entitled to be chosen or to be just going through the motions.
Dress appropriately and be well-groomed to make a positive impression on the interviewer.

Be prepared with questions you can ask during and/or at the end of the interview. Remember that the best interviews are a conversation between you and the interviewer, with both of you asking and answering questions.
Here are some sample questions:
1. Can you describe to me what a typical day would be like for someone in this position?
2. What qualifications are most important to you in the candidate you choose for this position?
3. What is the key to succeeding in this role?
4. What are the biggest challenges in this role?
5. What are the most important goals in this department currently?
6. What is the next step in the interview process?
7. Can you tell me when I can expect to hear from you about this position?

Note: Work with a Career Development Coach to develop a thank you note.

One way to stand out from other candidates is to send a thank you note or email after your interview.
Include the following in your thank you note:
- Express appreciation for the opportunity to interview.
- Reinforce your interest in the position by describing things you learned in the interview that have increased your belief that this job/department would be a good fit for you.
- Emphasize why you believe you are an excellent candidate for the position by restating your qualifications which match the job responsibilities.
- Add any relevant information about yourself that you may have left out during the interview.