The Student Guidance Centre

Fidelma DynanFidelma Dynan

Careers, Employability and SkillsCareers, Employability and Skills

f.dynan@qub.ac.ukf.dynan@qub.ac.uk

F.Dynan

Nursing Talk

Workshop on

Application Forms and Interview Technique

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Workshop

Aims: To promote awareness of Application/Interview process

Objectives: Enhance understanding of completing application forms

• Develop Interview Skills technique

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Marketing Yourself on Marketing Yourself on PaperPaper

Preparation:Preparation:

• Make a copy of the Application Form first. Make a copy of the Application Form first. Practice on Practice on this form.this form.

Before completing form make a list of the following:Before completing form make a list of the following:

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Application FormApplication Form

Read all instructions firstRead all instructions first

• Complete Complete ALLALL questions. If not applicable questions. If not applicable, write N/A., write N/A.

• N.BN.B.. Include qualifications pending and professional body Include qualifications pending and professional body information.information.

• 2 Referees (1 academic.) 2 Referees (1 academic.) Seek permission first fromSeek permission first from referees.referees. [Can [Can they confirm your nursing skills?]they confirm your nursing skills?]

• Complete Complete allall sections of form including sections of form including Equal Opportunities Equal Opportunities section/Criminal offencessection/Criminal offences..

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Getting StartedGetting Started

Study the Personnel + Job Specifications.Study the Personnel + Job Specifications. Skills soughtSkills sought : :

• Communication skills Communication skills

• Professional integrityProfessional integrity

• Teamwork skillsTeamwork skills

• Organisational skillsOrganisational skills

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Transferable SkillsTransferable Skills

• Problem-solving skills/clinical appraisal of patient needs.Problem-solving skills/clinical appraisal of patient needs.

• Practical skills.Practical skills.

• Persuasive approach.Persuasive approach.

• Commitment to lifelong learningCommitment to lifelong learning

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Key PointsKey Points

• A A ccurate information/spelling/grammarccurate information/spelling/grammar

• BB e concise. Keep to the point.e concise. Keep to the point.

• CC larity-express yourself clearly and logically.larity-express yourself clearly and logically.

AlwaysAlways read the Job/Personnel Specificationsread the Job/Personnel Specifications

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Application FormApplication Form

Guidelines:Guidelines:

• Match your skills/knowledge and qualities to the Job + Personnel Match your skills/knowledge and qualities to the Job + Personnel Specifications. Specifications. Note the Essential Criteria.Note the Essential Criteria.

• Make sure you address each bullet point in your response. Use the Make sure you address each bullet point in your response. Use the STARSTAR approach.approach.

• Identify clearly what you can offer. Make it easy for selection panel to Identify clearly what you can offer. Make it easy for selection panel to shortlist you!shortlist you!

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Addressing CriteriaAddressing Criteria

S T A RS T A R

• S S ituationituation

• TT ask ask

• AA ction ction

• RR esult esultThis approach will help you to provide evidenceThis approach will help you to provide evidence

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Key QuestionKey Question

Final Question on FormFinal Question on Form

Additional Information Section:Additional Information Section:

• Please include any other information which may be Please include any other information which may be relevant to this application, relevant to this application, detailing how you meet each detailing how you meet each of the criteria of the criteria as outlined in the personnel specificationas outlined in the personnel specification

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Search For :

Job Categories Jobs By Organisation:

•Administration & Clerical •Estates •IT •Management •Medical & Dental •Nursing & Midwifery •Professional & Technical / AHP •Social Care •Support Services •Transport

•Ambulance Service •Beeches Management Centre •Central Services Agency •Eastern Health & Social Services Board •NI Medical & Dental Training Agency •NI Blood Transfusion Service •Northern Health & Social Services Board •RPA •Belfast Health and Social Care Trust •Northern Health and Social Care Trust •Southern Health and Social Care Trust •South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust

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Read form on completionRead form on completion

• Have you fully addressed the points on the Job/Personnel Have you fully addressed the points on the Job/Personnel specifications? specifications? Provided evidence? Provided evidence?

• Have you been positive about your skills?Have you been positive about your skills?

• Have you missed any section? (Adult/ Children’s branch/Equal Have you missed any section? (Adult/ Children’s branch/Equal Opportunities/POCVA Check)Opportunities/POCVA Check)

• Spelling /grammar?Spelling /grammar? Ask someone else to check the form.Ask someone else to check the form.

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Application FormApplication Form

N.B.N.B.• Keep a copy of your form. You will need this for interview Keep a copy of your form. You will need this for interview

preparation!preparation!

• Be prepared to discuss the content of your form at interview. Be prepared to discuss the content of your form at interview. May be asked to expand on information provided.May be asked to expand on information provided.

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Interview PreparationInterview Preparation

• Revise your Application form/CV to refresh your memory and Revise your Application form/CV to refresh your memory and prepare for questions.prepare for questions.

• Read the Job and Personnel specifications. Read the Job and Personnel specifications.

• Revise current documentation .Revise current documentation .

Anticipate questions based on Anticipate questions based on allall of the above and prepare responses.of the above and prepare responses.

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Interview TechniqueInterview Technique

• Make eye contact with panel/interviewer.Make eye contact with panel/interviewer.

• Speak clearly. Don’t mumble or speak too quickly.Speak clearly. Don’t mumble or speak too quickly.

• Questions largely competency/skills based. Questions largely competency/skills based.

• Panel are seeking to determine how you meet the criteria.Panel are seeking to determine how you meet the criteria.

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InterviewsInterviews

• RR esearch esearch

• AA nticipate nticipate

• P P reparerepare

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Assessment criteria

• Knowledge of subject

• Delivery of answer

• Mannerisms

• Accuracy

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S T A RS T A R

• Describe the situation. Describe the situation. Place it in contextPlace it in context. Where were you?. Where were you?

• What What taskstasks did you have to perform? Give a clear picture to the did you have to perform? Give a clear picture to the interviewer of your role. This will help to explain your actions.interviewer of your role. This will help to explain your actions.

• What did you do What did you do specifically? Be concise in your explanations. specifically? Be concise in your explanations.

• What was the result? What were the What was the result? What were the learning outcomes?learning outcomes?

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Interview TechniqueInterview Technique

• Structure your answerStructure your answer..

• Be concise but not Be concise but not TOOTOO short. short.

• Take time to answerTake time to answer. .

• Reflect and think.Reflect and think. Seek clarification if necessary. Seek clarification if necessary.

• Try to give evidence or examples in your answers from Try to give evidence or examples in your answers from clinical practice.clinical practice.

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Preparation

• Experience/Clinical placements

• Responsibilities

• Academic achievements (Research projects?)

• Prizes/Awards• Additional activities

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Interview TechniqueInterview Technique

• Be punctual.Be punctual.• Dress appropriately. Appearance is important.Dress appropriately. Appearance is important.• SMILE!- Helps you and panel to relax.SMILE!- Helps you and panel to relax.• Remember non-verbal signals.Remember non-verbal signals.

(Don’t fidget/slouch/fold arms).(Don’t fidget/slouch/fold arms).

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Interview QuestionsInterview Questions

These are criteria-based These are criteria-based plus:plus:

• Want to know your skills/ strengths.Want to know your skills/ strengths.• Your personality (what you would be like as a colleague).Your personality (what you would be like as a colleague).• What makes you stand apart (why should they choose What makes you stand apart (why should they choose

you?).you?).• Why do you want to work for them? (Talk about Why do you want to work for them? (Talk about

placement experience).placement experience).

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Interview Practice

Divide into groups of 4:

A=Interviewer

B=Interviewee

C=Observer

D=Timekeeper

Rotate roles

10 minutes per candidate

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Possible questions

• What do you understand the role of the midwife to be?

• Which publications have influenced midwifery practice?

Possible Questions

• We have a high number of foreign nationals in this area. How would you support these women in accessing maternity services and making the service more user friendly?

• You are with a labouring woman in the labour ward. Suddenly her membranes rupture and there is meconium-stained liquor. What would you do?

Possible Questions

Midwifery:

Can you give an example of when you used effective communication skills to ensure that the patient’s individual needs were met?

What would you do if a relative made a complaint?

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Possible Questions

What would you do if you realised an error had been made in the administration of drugs/medicines?

How would you contribute to the effectiveness of team and why is good teamwork important?

Final Points

Preparation is key!

• Anticipate questions• Practise your interview responses• Revise your form and the job description

Good luck!

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