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Posts Tagged ‘career’

Several Days – One Week Before the Interview

1. Spend some time to research the organization and the position at hand.  To find company-specific information, visit your local library, run a search on the internet, or talk to current or former employees about their experiences and impressions of the company.  Study up on the company’s products and services, industry, target market, annual sales, geographic location(s), structure, history, officers, and any other key information.  Are there any new trends in the industry?

2. Identify the organization’s major competitors and do some basic research on how they differ (either positively or negatively) from the company at which you are interviewing.

3. Prepare specific examples of how your skills and experience make you a strong fit for the organization’s needs.  Practice answering directed questions about your experience, education, and skills and how they relate to the position at hand.  Being prepared to draw colorations between your experience and the needs of the organization is one of the most important interviewing skills you will need.

4. Identify your strengths and weaknesses.  Be prepared to talk about your weaknesses, but find a way to frame them positively. For example, “My biggest weakness is that I am a perfectionist.  It may take me a little extra time to get a project done to my satisfaction, but you can be guaranteed that the work will pass even the most stringent review, be 100% accurate, and that no detail will be overlooked.”

5. Prepare several intelligent questions about the company and position that will demonstrate your knowledge of the company and your sincere interest in the position.

6. Try on your suit and make sure that it is still well-fitting and in good repair.  If necessary, make arrangements to have it altered or find alternate dress.

The Day before the Interview

1. Contact the company to confirm the date and time of your interview.  Also confirm the name and title of the individual(s) you will be meeting.

2. Get directions to the interview site.  Be sure to double check the directions using a map. This will ensure that you know the way and also give you an approximate travel time – don’t forget to allow for extra time for rush hour!

3. Lay out your entire interview outfit.  Check it for any spot, wrinkles, or snags.

4. Print off a few extra copies of your resume and cover letter on nice paper.  Even if the interviewer has a copy of their own, it’s always a good idea to have a backup copy.  This is also helpful if you end up interviewing with multiple individuals, since the head interviewer may be the only person with a copy of your resume.

Get a good night’s sleep!

1. Your brain needs fuel to run at peak performance and if there is ever a day you needed 110% from your brain, it’s today.  So don’t skimp on meals.  Be cautious about eating large amounts of carbohydrates right before your interview though, since carbs are know to cause sluggishness and may lead to a “post-lunch” naptime.

2. Get dressed early so you do not feel pressured to dash out the door.  Pay attention to the details (brush off any lint, comb your hair, brush your teeth, use deodorant, etc.) and remember that a first impression can reveal a lot about you and your character.

3. Don’t forget to take copies of your resume, your cover letter, and your portfolio if you have one.

4. Leave yourself plenty of time to get to your interview.  If you arrive more than 15 minutes early, it’s best to wait in the car or outside the building.  Arriving too early gives off the impression that you have a lot riding on the interview (and have nothing better to do with your time), and also pressures the interviewer(s) into feeling that they have to adjust their schedule to accommodate you.

5.Smile and shake everyone’s hand when you are meeting for the first time – you should also smile and shake hands when the interview concludes.

6. Relax!  If you have done your homework you are well-prepared for the interview.  Take a deep breath and spend a moment collecting your thoughts if you need to when being asked a question.  Ask confused about a particular question you are asked, don’t hesitate to ask for clarification.

After the Interview

Write a quick “Thank You” message to the individual(s) who interviewed you.

With almost 2.6M registered nurses (RN) in the United States, nursing is now the largest health care profession in the country. If you think that hospitals are the only place a nurse could be found, you are certainly misled. Public health agencies, communities, ambulatory care centers and other places where health care services are rendered also commonly have nurses employed.

1. The Nursing Practice

Nursing covers a wide area of practice. It includes

- Childcare
- Elderly care
- Services for pregnant women
- Services for newborn infants
- Specialty area – injury nursing
- Specialty area – cancer nursing
- Specialty area – forensic nursing

2. Choose Your Nursing Program

The first step to be a nurse is to graduate from a nursing program. This would enable you to take a state licensure examination. In the US, more than 1500 nursing programs are offered. Three of these programs prepare you in assuming different tasks once you graduate.

A. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
This is a four-year curriculum offered in colleges and universities. A graduate of this course has the advantage of learning health care settings that includes leadership and management. A degree in BSN is preferred and often required in many fields of nursing.

B. Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
This is a 2 to 3 year program offered in community college as well as in junior collages. This program prepares the student in handling direct patient care.

C. Hospital Diploma
This is a 2 to 3 year program that is based in hospitals.

3. Nursing Positions

Now that you’ve covered the basics, let’s take a closer look on some of the nursing positions you can occupy. These positions are based on your experience and education.

A. Entry-level nursing position
This is the Staff Nurse Position. The nurse takes on making judgments based on scientific knowledge. You have to rely on procedures and standardized care plans.

B. Certified Mid-wife
This is a specialty nurse position where the nurse aids childbearing women. It starts during the preconception stage and goes through the prenatal, labor and delivery. Postpartum period care is also included in her duties. The nurse also provides family planning counseling as well as gynecological care for women.

C. Case Manager
Over time, a nurse can become a nurse case manager. In this position, the nurse will be involved in the process of organizing as well as coordinating the resources and services of an entire group of nurses, such as an entire hospital.

D. Nurse Educator
This is also a position a nurse could get involved with. Educating people about proper health care needs and procedures would be the basic tasks for this position. A Nurse Practitioner on the other hand conducts physical exams on patients, conducts diagnoses and provides treatments. A nurse practitioner could also write prescriptions and could also manage patients with chronic conditions such as diabetics and those with hypertension.

E. Nurse Anesthetist
A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist assists during operations. They give anesthesia to the patients before and after the operation.

There are also various specialty nursing programs that would help you specialize in a specific area. Radiology Nursing, Rehabilitation Nursing, AIDS Care Nursing, and Forensic Nursing are few of these specialty areas. Radiology Nurses are concerned with patients that undergo diagnosis in radiology imaging environments. It also includes Ultrasonography, magnetic resonance and radiation oncology. Rehabilitation Nurses or Psychiatric Nurses takes on providing physical and emotional support both to the patient and their families. They deal with patients having mental incapacities. An AIDS Care Nurse manages the physical, psychological, spiritual and social needs of a patient suffering with AIDS. A Forensic Nurse works in a different environment with other nurses. They work with the law enforcement officials to help in the investigation of crimes like sexual assault and accidental death. They also help in the treatment of the victims of these crimes.

It would seem as though the most appropriate time for a young person to consider career options is when they are embarking on the journey of choosing a college to attend.

For some their career options are something they have been considering for the better part of high school. They may have taken several high school level courses that will work well towards their goal of achieving admission in a certain school. Many young people don’t consider many career options because they have a very clear idea of their lives’ path before they even enter high school.

For others career options are something they are still struggling with even as they begin the college experience. They have an idea of what interests them but trying to decide on a specific major is a daunting task. Many of these young people will explore several different career options before deciding on something that really has grabbed their interest.

Before entering college many schools have services available to the students that help them with career options. This can be in the form of a career fair where different career paths are detailed. Adults may come in to talk about their chosen career options and where those have led them. This can be a wonderful way for younger people to become familiar with the education requirements and commitment necessary to pursue a particular career choice.

It’s very important for young people to be aware of all of the potential career options available to them. Many schools have guidance counselors on staff who can discuss with the child their particular aspirations. The counselor also has knowledge of the admission requirements for different studies and can advise the child on what they will need to study in high school to better their chances while in college.

Considering career options is not just for the younger set. Many established workers consider a career change at some point in their life.

Their occupation might be slowing becoming obsolete of they are losing interest in the thing they were once very passionate about. Reaching a point where you begin to think about other career options can be the turning point in one’s life.

Many universities and colleges offer evening courses for students who are employed during the day. If you are considering other career options it’s good to know that if you do require schooling that you’ll have the chance to pursue that while still earning a living.

Life is remarkably less stressful if you have a job that you enjoy. Carefully considering the career options that are most appealing to you is the first step to ensuring you’ll go to work each day enjoying the experience.

It’s never too late to consider a new career path. There are career counselors available who work with adults to develop a goal that is attainable for them. It’s rewarding when you discover a new life passion and work hard to achieve that goal. Many people in their 40s, 50s and even older are heading back to school because they’ve decided the career options they’ve already achieved just aren’t enough.