Travel Nurse Interviews Now Easier, More Convenient
Virtual Interviews Offer Greater Convenience and Quicker Placements For American Mobile Nurses
Ready to travel? As with all new jobs, travel nursing candidates must apply to work and then interview. For nurses seeking a position with American Mobile Healthcare, an AMN Healthcare company, interviewing with some hospital clients has recently become easier and more convenient with a virtual interview system.
“It has sped up the process from application to placement at a facility,” said Myla Mason, RN, BSN, director of clinical operations at AMN Healthcare. “The clinician only needs to interview one time each year, rather than at each facility."
When the recruitment team identifies a candidate, the nurse recruiter will set up an interview. The candidate receives an email from the staffing company, inviting him or her to begin the online process.
Candidates can access the web interview at any time, 24 hours a day, and complete a written portion about their skills and how they would react to several clinical scenarios. Then, the system prompts the candidate to answer three behavioral questions.
“The questions are similar to what a nurse manager would ask,” Mason said.
To date, more than 40 percent of travel nurses have completed the interview outside of normal business hours. The system offers digital video and traditional telephone options and technical support. In addition to answering the questions, the candidate can ask the recruiter written questions.
Tips for virtual interviews
Candidates should plan a time to interview when they are relaxed, have the time to prepare and can focus on the interview. It’s not something to do at the end of the day while also checking email or Facebook.
Nurses can think through responses, although some interview questions have time limits for answers. It’s important to stay focused and on topic. When typing, proof for grammatical errors or typos. Candidates should give concrete examples when possible.
As with traditional interviews, candidates should research the company before interviewing, dress appropriately for the interview, wear simple jewelry and have clean nails. Candidates should keep the login ID professional. Select a quiet, softly lit and distraction-free place with nothing in the background to distract the recruiter or hospital hiring authority. Likewise, close the windows, turn off the stereo or television and put pets in a quiet place.
During the digital interview, candidates should look at the camera, making virtual “eye contact” with the recruiter. Avoid swiveling or slouching in the chair and position the camera to take in the head and shoulders.
The benefits of virtual interviews
Once the interview has wrapped up, the system notifies the clinical reviewer, who will review the responses, the work history and skill sets and then match the candidate to available positions.
American Mobile’s hospital clients have the option to participate in virtual interviews or interview candidates on their own. With the virtual system, the AMN/American Mobile team will provide each facility with the written and audio components of the candidates’ interviews. Some hospitals still prefer to let their nurse managers interview candidates or to conduct a second telephone interview.
A virtual interview often is faster, and every candidate for the available position is asked the same questions in the same way, with no voice inflection that might influence a response. That gives nurse recruiters and hospitals a way to compare answers. Prior to virtual interviewing, it could take 72 hours or longer to schedule a telephone interview with the candidate and clinical interviewer. Each interview took about 45 minutes or longer.
Now, travel nurse candidates typically complete the interviews within 24 hours, allowing faster time for placements. Additionally, candidates can think through their answers. Candidates and hospitals seem to appreciate the virtual interview. It gives nurses an opportunity to showcase their talents.
Want to know more about virtual interviewing and travel nurse assignments? Contact American Mobile today, or sign up for our free job alerts.