How should one prepare for a travel nurse interview? When interviewing for your next assignment, there are several key qualities and skills employers are looking for to ensure you are the right fit. However, it goes deeper than just qualifications. Hiring managers want to ensure you have the right personality and outlook to thrive in their culture.

Here are some tips to help you when interviewing for your next travel nurse assignment:

1. Create an opening statement for your travel nurse interview.

You should prepare an opening statement before speaking with the interviewer. The idea is to make a good first impression on the hiring manager and provide a “win” by discussing the most intriguing aspect of your professional experience as well as why you are interested in becoming part of the team.

Here’s an example: “Hi (Hiring Manager), thanks for scheduling time to speak with me today! I’m very excited about the role of (JOB TITLE) with (CLIENT). While I do have some questions about this opportunity, I was wondering what you saw on my resume that made you want to speak with me?

Always be prepared to present yourself to the interviewer with confidence.

2. Have questions prepared.

Make sure to have questions prepared that will not be organically answered during the course of the conversation with your interviewer. You don’t want the interviewer to ask if you have any questions and you cannot ask something important because you did not have anything prepared.

You will need to take the opportunity to ask about the moving parts of the position such as scheduling, Requested Time Off (RTO), start date availability, clinical expectations, floating, provider/patient ratios, equipment types, and any on-call requirements.

Additionally, you need to ask questions outside of that scope. The opportunity to ask a lot of questions may not be afforded, so you must ask impactful questions.

For example: “What skills, experiences, and work attributes are you hoping to find in the ideal candidate?â€
The theory with this question is to get an easy “winâ€. The interviewer will give you a preview of exactly what they are looking for, and you can speak directly to that by relating their experience, “Can you tell me more about this position that may not be in the job description?â€

Ensure that you discuss specifics to prepare for onboarding if you receive the assignment.

3. Be prepared to answer behavioral questions during your travel nurse interview.

Are you a problem-solver? Do you get stressed when work environments get tough? Are you able to quickly change the course of action during an emergency?

You must be able to respond with a behavior experience relevant to what the Hiring Manager wants. Think back to a time when you were caring for a patient and they needed emergency response or when there was a work-related incident that showcased one of your strengths.

For example: “When I was at Facility A I had a similar situation. What I did to fix the situation was X, the result was Y, and this is how I know it was a good outcome for everyone involved.â€

Make sure to use details when discussing a past experience to explain the situation and how it was resolved, and always provide a positive outcome.

4. Closing statement

Just as you want to have a strong opening statement, you want to have a strong close to their interview. Your last words and first words might be the most memorable parts of your interview, so make those moments count.

Here is an example: “It really appears that my experience meets the needs you have in this position. I am extremely excited about the possibility of working at (CLIENT) and feel that I could instantly contribute to the team. I am hoping to hear good news from you soon!”

If you are excited about the role, express that! Furthermore, it is completely appropriate to ask “Can I expect an offer?â€

Talk with your recruiter about more ways to prepare you for your next interview.

More questions on preparing for your travel nurse interview? Looking for your next travel assignment? Contact us today! We’ll be more than happy to help.

About the Author, Jon Burckhardt, Vice President of Performance Management 

Jon Burckhardt is a 10-year veteran of Voca and has played a critical and collaborative role in Voca’s growth. In his current role, Vice President of Performance Management he is focused on Recruiter development, interdepartmental collaboration to identify and implement candidate experience improvements, and strategizes on the executive level as Voca executes its long-term vision

About Voca: The Spirit of Work

Voca is a relationship organization focused on uniting talented healthcare professionals across
nursing and allied, as well as travel and local with exceptional companies. Headquartered in
Rochester, MN, Voca works coast-to-coast supporting national, regional, and local healthcare
companies. Voca is proud to be certified by The Joint Commission, which evaluates and accredits healthcare staffing agency organizations and programs in the United States. We are committed to creating and maintaining a workplace in which all employees have an opportunity to participate and contribute to our mutual success and are valued for their skills, experience, and unique perspective. For more information, visit https://myvoca.com/.