How to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant

person typing on laptop trying to become a cna

If you are passionate about providing care to people with certain medical needs, a career as a certified nursing assistant may be the ideal choice for you. Certified nursing assistants, or “CNAs”, form the foundation of a medical team. And while they don’t make medical decisions or diagnose conditions, they are crucial components of providing proper care and comfort to patients.

What Is a CNA and What Do They Do?

A CNA has an important role in the overall efficiency and effectiveness of a medical staff. Generally, they work as a patient’s main caregiver, and assist other nursing staff, like registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs), in hospitals, long-term care facilities, nursing homes and even private residences, among other places.

Although a CNA’s job is challenging, the reward stems from the chance to connect with patients on a personal level. The day-to-day responsibilities you’ll experience as a CNA help foster nurse-patient relationships, much because of the front-line duties you are expected to perform, such as:

  • Assisting the disabled
  • Developing patient reports for nursing staff and doctors
  • Monitoring patient vital signs
  • Feeding and hydrating patient
  • Monitoring nutrition levels
  • Increasing patient physical activity, as needed
  • Responding to patient calls
  • Caring for wounds
  • Caring for patient personal hygiene and grooming
  • Sterilizing rooms and equipment
  • Assisting with medical procedures

Due to the responsibilities bestowed on a CNA, the career path attracts people with certain skills and traits. First, working in healthcare inherently comes with experiencing some unpleasant, scary and even heart-breaking situations up close. Because of this, a mentally and physically strong person, who’s able to keep up with the demands of the job, tends to see more success in the field.

Second, people with great communication skills will thrive in this role. Since CNAs spend the majority of their day directly helping people—whether moving a patient from a wheelchair to the bathroom, going on a long walk with an elderly patient for some exercise, or reporting a patient’s sudden blood pressure change—communication is key. Especially if you’re operating in a high-stress, fast-paced environment. You’re also helping patients navigate possibly one of the most difficult life moments for them, their family and other loved ones.

Lastly, interpersonal skills will go a long way in any type of nursing career, including one as a CNA. You’ll need to carry a noticeable sense of empathy, patience and compassion for those of whom you’ve been entrusted to serve. On top of that, being a communicative team player on your medical staff helps promote better, more holistic care for all patients.

Other types of skills and character traits you may need as a CNA include:

  • Quick problem solver
  • High attention to detail
  • Good time management skills
  • Comfortable serving a diverse array of patients
  • Ability to understand and communicate medical and healthcare regulations
  • Breadth of knowledge on basic care, symptoms and signs of improvement

Different Types of Nurses

When it comes to working in the nursing profession, there are many different types of jobs available, each with their own unique qualifications, demands and salary. If you’re new to the nursing profession and are exploring your options, you’re probably being bombarded with many acronyms of various positions. Let’s define some of these nursing positions and how they fit into the overall hierarchy of the medical staff:

CNA

We’ve already covered a little bit about the duties and skills often associated with the job of a certified nursing assistant, but let’s take a deeper dive. CNAs are the bedrock of any effective medical team, taking direction from other nursing staff like LPNs and RNs, while administering basic care and comfort to patients. Becoming a CNA has the lowest barrier of entry of any nursing career. Plus, it’s a great jumping off point for a higher-level position in nursing or healthcare. The requirements include a high school diploma or equivalent, passing a state-approved education and training program that usually last one to three months, and pass a final test to obtain CNA certification. As a CNA, you can expect to earn somewhere around the career’s median salary of $29,640 a year.

LPN

An LPN directly oversees the CNA, and because of extra training, is allowed to perform more complex medical tasks. Becoming an LPN requires a higher level of education, one that is much more formal than the process of becoming a CNA. LPNs can expect to spend about 12 months in an accredited program in order to achieve the title. Once they do achieve that status, however, they can expect to earn more money than their counterparts – the median annual salary for an LPN is $47,480 or $23 an hour. Plus, this doesn’t account for the potential overtime, holiday pay, bonuses and other benefits. Some facilities may even offer to pay for some or all of a continuing education tuition.

RN

The role of an RN is above an LPN, and this position provides the majority of nursing care in healthcare facilities. They conduct duties such as administering medication, inserting IVs, performing diagnostic tests, developing patient care plans and more. RNs can also specialize in specific treatments, medicines or patient populations. Overall, this type of nursing career path is the most difficult to obtain, usually requiring either associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor’s of science in nursing (BSN), as well as passing the NCLEX-RN exam and getting licensed in your specific state, among other things. But, the salary is also the highest, at a median of $79,000 in 2019.

How to Become a CNA

Becoming a CNA is one of the quickest ways to obtain a career in the medical field. While there are still several educational and experiential requirements, as long as you have a high school diploma, becoming officially certified can be accomplished in as little as a few months. If you’re ready to get started with the process, there are four main steps you need to become a CNA:

  1. Earn your high school diploma or GED equivalent; a curriculum that’s biased toward STEM and humanitarian subjects may be of greater use for a CNA student.
  2. Undergo state-required CNA training and education programs, often through community colleges, online programs, vocational schools, hospitals or the Red Cross.
  3. Pass a state-administered exam. The exam consists of both multiple-choice questions and practical-skill testing.
  4. Check for further requirements with your specific state. You may need to meet additional qualifications including physical-psychological criteria, a criminal background check or even pursue continuing education.

Once all of these steps are accomplished, you are now placed on a state registry and can begin applying for relevant positions. Compared to other medical professions, it’s fairly easy to become a CNA, with the only educational prerequisite being a high school diploma. Schooling is relatively quick as well, taking around four to 12 weeks to complete. Of course, that doesn’t mean the process demands little or no effort.

When you enroll in CNA school, you officially start on a path toward a brighter, more fulfilling career. During your time in a state-approved education program, you will study subject matter such as physiology, anatomy, pharmacology, healthcare regulations and so on. You’ll also learn more about effectively communicating with patients and other medical professionals, as well as healthcare regulations. Some of this is learned simply with the experience that comes from being on the job – and the large majority of programs will put you in a supervised, real-life environment to give you just that.

On-site training, also known as clinical work or studies, gives CNA students the chance to provide care to patients under the guidance of a qualified professional, such as an RN or LPN. Clinical work involves measuring vital signs, changing bedding, grooming and hygiene care, and other entry-level duties a CNA performs. Responsibilities are increased as the student progresses through their programs and gains experience interacting with patients. This portion is incredibly valuable for gauging your interest and ability in nursing, and generally needs to be completed before you can graduate from a program.

In order to enroll in CNA school, the first thing to do is to check with local community colleges, high schools, hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities, as they may offer their own educational or on-the-job training programs (the latter options may also be a good way to get your foot in the door with a potential employer). Remember, the requirements for becoming a CNA varies from state to state, so be sure to check with your own government’s website for a more comprehensive overview.

Where to Take Classes

Another good thing about the process of becoming a CNA is that the schooling is more flexible. Not only do many local institutions and medical clinics offer training programs, much of your CNA coursework can be completed in a way that’s preferential to you: either in person, online or in a hybrid fashion of the two.

Online CNA Classes

As we stated before, some programs can last 12 weeks or longer, depending on the class schedule and size. However, with the rise of virtual instruction, that timeframe can be shortened considerably, with some of the quickest programs taking just a few weeks to complete. Other benefits of taking online CNA classes include more flexibility to suit your lifestyle and less supervision, for those that like to learn more independently.

There are a couple of negatives to heavy online coursework, however. The first being that individuals may not gain the same core knowledge and skills as those that are interacting with professors and students regularly. Also, those that find a more structured, straight-forward operation favorable may not fare so well with the virtual approach.

The majority of schools will split the required hours between classes and clinical work. Many offer virtual course work for lectures and presentations and other class-based work, while others offer a hybrid approach. Regardless, in-person clinical hours are required by each state before applying for certification, so you’ll be required to step away from the laptop once in a while. But, a hybrid option can provide the best of both worlds, saving you a lot of hassle while still delivering the proper training.

For more information on online CNA classes, get started by entering your zip code below, and compare your top matches. Find the best CNA online program for you, and get started on your path to a new career!

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In-Person CNA Classes

Some people prefer the in-person approach, and it can bode well for those who enjoy a more social, hands-on approach to learning. A traditional school structure gives students a more interactive setting from which to launch into a career. On the other hand, in-person CNA classes offer less flexibility and restrict your autonomy, which can be big drawbacks for some people.

Perhaps the most well-known place to take in-person CNA classes is through local community colleges, vocational/technical schools, hospitals, medical clinics and nursing homes. These programs vary and normally have their own set of requirements needed for acceptance. Another popular option is through the Red Cross, offering a hybrid approach.

Cost of CNA Classes

The overall average tuition cost for in-state CNA students is about $71.50 per credit hour, and the average cost for out-of-state students is around $263.50 per credit hour. When paying flat fees, you can expect to pay somewhere above $1,000. For example, the Red Cross has a hybrid program that costs $1,250 and lasts 4-8 weeks. Be aware that other fees may apply as well, such as text books, school supplies and software.

Do some research into programs in your area, as you may be able to save money by choosing a more cost-effective program, like in-state or online.

CNA Salary & Job Outlook

So, you know what it takes to become a certified nursing assistant, but what’s the payoff? Your starting salary as a CNA will vary from state to state and facility to facility. For example, in a government setting, a Veteran’s Association hospital, CNAs report a median salary of $35,500, but an in-home CNA nabs a median salary of $29,000. Broken down, that equates to about $14.25 an hour, which is considered well above federal minimum wage.

And, you can feel secure in your profession when you become a CNA. The job has a positive outlook, with Nursing Journal reporting, “The healthcare industry is set to grow tremendously. This is seen very strongly in the outlook for CNAs as well. Indeed, the [job] increase is projected to be as much as 20% by 2020, which is well above the national average. This means some 300,000 jobs are set to be created.”

Overall, a CNA has many responsibilities as the foundation of a medical staff, including monitoring the day-to-day health and comfort of a diverse set of patients. The many benefits of such a rewarding career path include the chance to connect with people on a personal level in the exciting field of medical care. With the right education and a commitment to the lifestyle, the process of becoming a CNA is easily within your grasp.

22 Career Experts Reveal How to Ace a Job Interview

Job interviews can be a bit stressful, particularly if you are going after a job that you REALLY want.

To help you to perform at your peak and ace your next job interview, we asked some of the world’s leading career and employment experts for their insider tips on how to succeed in a job interview.

The question we put to our experts was:

“What are your top 3 tips for acing a job interview?”

 

What we ended up with is potentially the most comprehensive list of job interview tips ever compiled.

Here’s to your success and we hope the tips below help you to land your dream job!

Abby Kohut, AbsolutelyAbby.com

http://absolutelyabby.com/

  1. Be passionate – Explain not only why you are passionate for helping patients, but also explain why you want to work for my particular hospital/organization. My goal is to hire people that will stay at my hospital/organiztion for a long time and you have to prove to me that you are one of them.
  2. Listen to the questions and answer only them – The one question I always asked at the beginning of an interview was “What kinds of positions are you interested in? Typically, the candidate would start to explain their entire work history and ramble for the next 15 minutes. It was a simple question and it required a one to two sentence answer such as, “I’m interested in a CNA position where I can work with x kinds of patients. I love these kinds of patients because…”
  3. Wear the right interview clothes – Even if your nursing job requires you to wear hospital attire, you should still wear appropriate interview attire for your interview. When in doubt, ask the recruiter what appropriate interview attire is or just wear a suit. Also, if you wear the colors of the hospital’s logo, you are subconsciously telling the recruiter that you belong there.

 

Joel, DreamJobCoaching.com

  1. Screen Shot 2015-05-21 at 12.12.13 amDo Your Research – Do your research, before the interview. You’ll want to learn as much about the company as you can, including what their current successes have been, as well as any announced future plans. This gives you fodder for talking about how your skills and experience are the perfect fit for their company specifically. If you’re coming from a different industry, do your research on the industry in general. Also learn as much about the interviewer as possible. You never know when a random piece of information about the interviewer you’ve discovered will help you build rapport.
  2. Be Positive – No one enjoys working with someone who’s negative. Even when asked a negative question, such as, “What did you dislike about your last position?” find a way to positively spin your answer. Every position has challenges, but instead of focusing on those negatives, talk about how you gained experience or grew from that challenge.
  3. Express Your Interest – One of the biggest mistakes a candidate can make is to not let the interviewer know they’re really interested in the job, at the end of the interview. Most interviews end with the interviewer asking if the interviewee has any other questions. This is the perfect time to say, “I’m really interested in joining your team and know I’d be a great fit. What’s the next step?” If there are two candidates with relatively equal skills and experience, and one has expressed their interest in moving forward and the other hasn’t, guess who’s going to be the preferred candidate? The enthusiastic candidate!

 

Rich DeMatteo, CornOnTheJob.com

cornonthejob

  1. Arrive 30 minutes early – but walk in 10 minutes early. Use the 20
    minutes before to clear your head, think positive, and review what you want
    to say and accomplish. Coming even just 5 minutes early doesn’t give you
    enough time to settle and prepare.
  2. Truly know your background and skill set – Be able to clearly talk about
    your accomplishments and know your resume like the back of your hand. You
    don’t want to look down when asked a question about your work history.
  3. Ask 5-7 great questions when the interview is over – A few of them are
    “How can I ensure that I’m successful in this role in the first 60 to 90
    days”. “How can I help others around me be successful in this position?”
    “Why is this position open? Where did the previous person holding this job
    go? Is this a new role”

 

Joey Trebif, CareerAlley.com

  1. Screen Shot 2015-05-21 at 12.26.47 amYour Appearance – It doesn’t really matter what you think about how you look or dress for an interview. It only matters what the interviewer thinks. Skipping the obvious basics like make sure your hair is combed and that you are not wearing jeans and sneakers:
    – Don’t wear pants or shirts that are too tight
    – Don’t show cleavage (or your midriff)
    – Get a second opinion. Ask your friends, relatives and significant other how you look.  – How they perceive you is more important than what the mirror is telling you
  2. Your Story – I’m sure you’ve heard of the “30 Second Elevator Speech”. If you don’t already have this practiced and memorized, now is the time to do it. At some point in the interview, you will be asked to give a brief overview of your experience.  This is the time to use your elevator speech and to work in the bit about why you are the best person for the job (see #6 below). This is a critical part of the interview and will likely determine how the rest of the interview (and your chances of making the short list) goes.
  3. Know Why You are the Best Choice for the Position – Leverage everything you’ve learned about the company, the job and the interviewer so that you are convinced that you are the best choice for the position.  The delicate balance is between letting your interviewer know you are the best choice without sounding conceited. There is really only one thing the interviewer wants to know – that you are the right person for the role. This is not just limited to your job knowledge and experience, but also your interpersonal skills and how you would “fit” in the overall team.

 

Noel Griffith, CareersWiki.com

Careers Wiki

  1. Ask questions – Don’t ask general questions about the job like how much are you gonna get paid or how many days of vacation you will get. Instead ask questions that will let you start a more in depth conversation like “how can i innovate through this company?”, “what challenges you faced at your last product launch?”
  2. Do your research – When you go to an interview you should know everything not only about the position you will be getting but about the whole company. Search their website their social profiles and learn everything from the company’s history to your potential colleagues background.
  3. Understand their problem – Understand why they want to fill that position. They want to increase sales? They want to innovate? Find the answer to that question and show them why you are the best solution for solving this problem

 

Dan Erwin, DanErwin.com

  1. danerwin.comBe prepared for an interview by taking along a number of stories (each about 4 -6 sentences) from your own experiences that can be adapted to answer questions from an interviewer. Stories are always the most potent response to questions. Stories should aways include context, action and results. Don’t be afraid of telling a story about a failure–as long as you can explain what you learned from the failure.
  2. By anticipating questions you can prepare a number of below the surface questions that demonstrate your abilities. For example, “I appreciate your question about my educational experience, however, it strikes me that the question behind your question is. . . . Am I right?” Then answer your own question. I recognize that that this is a fairly aggressive approach, but done well, it can demonstrate your knowledge, as well as your awareness and insight. The recruiter then goes away with, “this woman really knows how to ask questions. We can use someone like her. (I consistently built my 30 year old consulting business on the quality of questions I asked–often in response to the client’s question. It also gives you some control of the interview.)
  3. Sometimes a stroking, vulnerable response to the recruiter’s question (no more than once in an interview) can give you a leg up. “That’s an interesting question that I’ve actually never thought about. Let me get this straight: What you’re asking is. . . . Right? Without any previous preparation or forethought, here’s how I’d answer your question. Then. . . .

 

Dr. Randall S. Hansen, QuintCareers.com

QuintCareers.com

  1. Prepare and rehearse Focus on developing accomplishment stories that highlight the key skills and achievements you have had in your career – relevant to the job you are seeking. Do not memorize, but practice them enough so that you have about 5 stories in your head. Review typical job interview questions and outline solid answers. If you have not been on an interview in a while, consider doing a mock interview with a career professional or friend.
  2. Research employer/interviewer – Know your employer in-depth, and if possible, learn about your interviewer(s) – from you network or through social media. Develop a few key questions to ask in the interview; asking questions is essential as many hiring managers take it as a sign of interest.
  3. Develop a 24-hour countdown checklist – Include what you will wear, timetable, leaving plenty of time to get to the interview location about 10-15 minutes early, and any other grooming and other prep that must be accomplished before the interview.

 

Johanna Rothman, JRothman.com

http://www.jrothman.com/

  1. Develop questions you will ask a potential employer. Every employer has its own culture and you need to know if you fit. You can do this by asking questions. Your questions will depend on what’s important to you. Whether it’s learning, patient care, or how teams of people work together (or don’t!), your questions will help you learn about what you need to know about a job.
  2. Make sure you bring a copy of your resume with you. Yes, I am sure you applied online and submitted an online resume. And, I am equally sure that not everyone who is interviewing you has read your resume, or has a copy of it. If you bring one, your interviewers see you as someone who can problem-solve in advance.
  3. Research the organization before you go to the interview. Look for examples of their current nurse to patient ratios, if they have gotten any press (good or bad), and other things depending on the position. For example, if you are an oncology nurse, are they doing clinical trials for any kinds of cancer? Would that make a difference to your job? The more research you do, the more ready you are for their questions and to prepare your questions.

 

Jake, AustralianCareersHub.com

  1. ACH imageDo you research on the company you are interviewing with. Try to get a grasp on what their main business is (manufacturing – what products, service – what services, consumables – what are their key product lines). Knowing this will help you better understand how you and your specific set of skills will bring value to the company.
  2. Practice the interview before the interview. Have someone conduct practice interview sessions with you before the big day. Have them run through the entire gamut of questions (you can find tons of example interview questions online) so nothing catches you without a prompt and educated response. If you have the resources consider video taping your practice interview. You make think you’re coming across calm and assertive when in reality your leg is shaking and your eye won’t stop twitching. Practice makes perfect.
  3. Remember you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you. Utilize the research you conducted and ask probing questions about the position you are interviewing for. Ask if you will be involved in project X that has yet to be officially announced or supporting project y. Not only with this show you’ve done your homework, it will show you are actually interested in the position and not just the attached paycheck.

 

Melissa Cooley, MelissaCooley.com

melissacooley.com

  1. Know your career story – Interviews are increasingly using behavior-based questions. It’s not “What are you like in stressful situations?” It’s “Tell me about a time that you had a stressful situation at work. What happened, and how did you handle it? What was the result of your actions?” Talking about how you would do something in theory is meaningless. Interviewers want to understand how you were really able to apply the skills and knowledge you have to real-world circumstances. They want to “see” you doing the work and figure out how it applies to their company. Being able to tell the stories of your career will provide the context that interviewers want.
  2. Articulate your accomplishments – Some job seekers have a hard time taking ownership of the good they have done on the job because they deflect attention away from themselves, instead putting it on the group. While teamwork is a good thing, as is not overstating the influence you had regarding the direction and outcome of a project, not embracing the role you played diminishes their understanding of your value. You don’t need to be a braggart about it; just factually tell them what happened and the results. If you don’t, interviewers won’t know about what you have to offer because you haven’t told them.
  3. Eliminate unnecessary stress – Interviews carry a certain degree of stress, even when a candidate has prepared well. However, there are some candidates who add stress to themselves, and that doesn’t need to be the case. Finding out the night before a big interview that the outfit you were going to wear has a stain on it, deciding the morning of that you really need a haircut, or discovering on the drive to the interview that your cell phone has died (and you forgot your charging cord) creates a lot of stress that distracts job seekers and makes it much more difficult to apply their energies toward tasks that will help them nail the interview.

 

Andrea Hupp, VeterinaryTechnicianGuide.com

vet techThis is an interesting question as just recently I have been promoted to sit in the job hiring process at our veterinary clinic. We are receiving more applicants than usual and our DVM asked me to help him when selecting a candidate for our vet tech positions. After seemingly endless interviews, I realized the ones that stood out had the following in common:

  1. Study the clinic well – Almost every pet clinic has a website now (at least the reputable ones). Find out everything you can about the veterinarians working there and the clinic’s history. You can learn a lot about its culture just from reading the about page and what each staff member wrote on it.
  2. Don’t be rude to general staff members – Just because you have a college degree or a veterinary technician degree does not mean you get to be rude to the receptionist. Most animal care clinics are run as a family and the staff closely care and respects each other. Heck, the receptionist might actually sit in the interview panel, so make sure you pass the friendly test before your name is even called on.
  3. Be ready to share your weaknesses as well as strengths – When asked “What is one thing about yourself you would like to improve?” Don’t answer “I work too hard”. That might impress your date but not us. Here you have the opportunity to not only show us you are able to self-criticize, but also how candid you are with yourself and us.

 

Abbi Gabasa, MsCareerGirl.com

  1. http://www.mscareergirl.com/category/work/Introduce yourself first – Take control of your fear and get ahead with
    a small display of confidence. Upon coming into the room, flash a smile to
    your interviewer, say good morning/ good afternoon, introduce yourself, and
    thank him/her for her time. This shows an eagerness and confidence that can
    reflect well on your application. Just be sure to be confident and not
    smug. Keep it short and sincere.
  2. Be Direct to the Point Do not beat around the bush. Your interviewer
    does not have a lot of time to hear out elaborate stories. Cut to the chase
    and make sure you are giving an answer that does two things – directly
    addresses the question, and is substantiated in a few sentences by
    explanation and/or examples.
  3. Ask a Question – Asking a question shows your interest in the company
    and in the position you are applying for. Make sure that you think of
    several possible questions to ask the interviewer even before you come in
    for the interview. This prevents you from asking a question that has
    already been addressed in the discussion. You do not want to appear like
    you are not paying attention or that you are redundant.

 

Anita Bruzzese, onthejob.45things.com

  1. onthejob.45things.comDo your homework on the company, the job and the industry – so you can show your knowledge to the interviewer.
  2. Practice –  Ask a friend or family member to practice interviewing you with common interview questions (what are your greatest, strengths, weaknesses, etc.) and video record your “interview.” Then look for ways to improve.
  3. Look your best – You make an impression on an interviewer within seconds of meeting him or her. Make sure you’re neatly groomed, dressed appropriately – and leave your phone off and in your pocket!!

 

Holly Hicks, BodylineHealth

bodyline

  1. Be Yourself – We’re a people’s business and what we really look for, and presumably many other employers are looking for, is to try to get a feel for who you are. Your resume gets you the interview but your interview performance gets you the job. So be yourself and reveal yourself throughout the interview.
  2. Research! – Understand about the company or business you are being interviewed for. Take a detailed look through their company website, drop into one of their stores or outlets and see if you can speak with other staff members to get a feel for what the organisation is all about
  3. Establish Common Ground – You’re selling yourself in a job interview and there’s an old saying in sales that goes “people do business with people that are like themselves”. This is where your research comes into play! See if you can identify some common ground prior to the interview with the interviewer or panel of interviewers and then you can strategically weave that common ground into the interview conversation. It creates instant rapport!

 

Scott Richards, CareerWaymark.com

waymark

  1. Research – Research your employer and the job opportunity using the company website, published materials and your network.
  2. Get Prepared – Prepare answers for the most common interview questions. Make a list of the most common interview questions and practice answering them, being sure to provide previous examples wherever possible.
  3. Be Punctual – Arrive on time for the interview. Aim to arrive at the interview venue 10-15 minutes before the start of the interview.  This will ensure you have enough time, in case the venue is difficult to find.

 

Karl Staib, WorkHappyNow.com

http://www.workhappynow.com/The first thing you must understand when acing your job interview is that
it’s not about you. It’s really about them.

  1. Enjoy your interview – If you go in with the mindset of enjoying the experience and being in the moment it won’t feel as much pressure to perform.
  2. Stay true to your core values by being yourself (confidently) – The second part is being yourself and staying true to your values. It’s important that you do this with confidence. Hopefully they aren’t looking for a “yes” person. They should want someone that also has ideas and wants to follow through on them.
  3. Find connections – The 3rd is finding connection points with people you are interviewing them. Don’t wait to ask questions until the end. Ask questions the whole way through the interview so you can build rapport and find ways to connect with people who are interviewing you.

 

Ariella Coombs, CAREEREALISM.com & CareerHMO.com

  1. careerealismPrepare – Make sure you have a good understanding of the company before
    you go into the interview. You can research them on their website, LinkedIn
    company page, Glassdoor.com, as well as check out any recent articles/press
    releases that have been written about them. Also, if you really want a
    better understanding of the culture, set up an informational interview with
    someone in the company! Your goal is to understand who they are as a
    company, what they want to achieve, and figure out what ways your unique
    strengths can make an impact.
  2. Be enthusiastic! – Believe it or not, enthusiasm makes you stand out as a
    candidate. If you genuinely seem interested in the company, role, and the
    culture, they’re going to like that. So, smile, ask questions, and talk to
    people.meet
  3. Send a thank you note – This is a big one. Within 24 hours of your
    interview, you MUST send a thank you note to your interviewer(s). Thank
    them for taking the time to meet with you, answer your questions, and show
    you around. Not only will they appreciate the gesture, but they will likely
    take it into consideration when it comes down to you and another candidate
    who failed to send a thank you note.

 

Saskia, MyKindOfMonday.com

mykindofmonday

  1. Preparation is key. Do your research on the company and the job and prepare some questions to ask the interviewer. Also, prepare some answers to common interview questions following the STAR technique (situation, task, action result). Having these prepared will not only help you answer questions on the day, but it will also give you more confidence going in.
  2. Make a good first impression. You only get one shot to make a first impression, so make it count. Be there on time, dress appropriately and think about your body language. Even if you’re feeling nervous, try to smile, keep an open posture and stop fidgeting.
  3. Don’t panic if you give a bad answer. No matter how prepared you are, chances are you’ll bumble at least one question. Don’t worry, try to relax, take a deep breath and rephrase your answer. Turn this awkward moment into an opportunity to show them how well you can handle a difficult situation.

 

Nisa Chitakasem, PositionIgnition.com

position ignition

  1. Do your research – The more you know, the more prepared you will be for the interview. This means understanding as much as you can about the company, the role, who you¹re going to be talking to, who you might be working with, where the company is going and why they are hiring. Read about the company in the press, visit their website and social media profiles and also see if you can speak to people already working at the company or who may have previously worked there. Give yourself as much insight as you can to build up your confidence and give you that extra edge in your interview.
  2. Ask questions & be active – Show that you are genuinely interested in the role and remember that a good interview should be a two-way process just like any other conversation. Be both engaged and engaging. Show that you want to know more, that you¹ve done all the research that you can and that you are thinking seriously about the role. Ask questions that dig deeper into the world of the organisation and your role there. Help them to understand that you are keen to bring real value to the company and to make an impact within the organisation. Also remember that you have to decide for yourself whether or not you want to work for this company or not. Take this opportunity to ask as many questions as you need, to help you with this decision.
  3. Listen hard – Don’t talk at the interviewer or over the interviewer. Give them space to talk as well and listen really carefully to what they have to say. Ask them to clarify what they mean if you aren¹t clear on anything and don¹t be afraid to take some time to think before you respond. Check out the PositionIgnition.com eBook called How to Ace the Interview!

 

EFM Health Clubs, efm.net.au

efm health clubs

  1. Be You – Our service to our members is highly personalised and our goal is to blow our members away with how friendly and personalized their work out is each and every time they come in for a fitness session. So when our Franchisees are interviewing potential employees, they want to be able to get a feel for your personality. It’s important to note that we don’t have a set personality profile for our staff members. We have very successful staff members that are outgoing and very extroverted and staff members having the same success that are introverted and more quietly-spoken. Just go into the interview and be you and let your personality shine!
  2. Be Prompt – Many of our members attend early morning sessions prior to preparing for their workday. They cannot be waiting for the studio doors to open at 5 minutes past opening time. Being late to a job interview is pretty much an automatic out because we’re all about WOW-ing our members and can’t afford for staff to let our members down. Plan to arrive 20-30 minutes early so that you leave yourself plenty of time for any traffic issues that could make you late and miss your opportunity.
  3. Understand Us – It’s surprising how many people come to job interviews and don’t fully understand the history and background of our business. Take some time prior to your interview to research the company you are being interviewed for so that you can confidently answer company-specific questions.

 

Emily Bennington, EmilyBennington.com

emily

  1. Look the Part – This does not mean you have to be the most attractive person in your office. It simply means that you must look like a potential leader. It means crisp clothes, conservative accessories, and an aura of confidence that comes from knowing you are a professional to watch.
  2. Communicate with Authority – So what if you don’t actually have any right now. You can still present your ideas articulately and with command. A note on technique though: Passion is good. Raw passion, however, is a disadvantage. This isn’t the time to steamroll others into your point of view. This is the time to know when to speak with assurance…and when to listen with diplomacy.
  3. Control Your Message – All of your nonverbals – e.g. how you dress, sit, walk, shake hands, pay attention, etc. – add up to affect the image you create in the mind of others. The good news is that these are all things inside your control. Take your work space for example. Even if you are caught up and 100% on top of your game, if you are surrounded by scattered papers, random post-its, and old coffee cups, chances are your colleagues are going to view you as overwhelmed and not ready for more challenging assignments.

 

Marc Miller, CareerPivot.com

careerpivot

  1. Walk into the interview with confidence – Follow these three easy steps spelled out in this blog post –> http://careerpivot.com/2014/3-steps-walking-interview-confidence/
  2. Answer every question with a story – Let me tell you about the time when ….. Develop a story for every requirement in the job description. You can read more here –> http://careerpivot.com/2014/adding-storytelling-interview-process/
  3. Be prepared to probe for pain points in the interview – What problems is the hiring manager trying to solve with this hire? After you understand the problems you can demonstrate how you can solve those problems. You can read more here –> http://careerpivot.com/2014/probing-for-pain-points-in-an-interview/

Wrapping Up:

There you have it, over 60 tips from some of the world’s leading experts on careers, employment and job interviewing!

If we were to pull out four key messages that tended to show up in most responses, it would be that you must focus on being prepared, punctual, relaxed and above all, just be yourself!

Here’s to your success and please take a moment to share with others that can benefit from our expert advice!

Top 15 Career & Employment Bloggers To Follow in 2015

Are you happy with your career situation?

Being the best in your field doesn’t mean that you are guaranteed to make a lot of money, find the right place to work, or even find happiness in what you do every day.

For this, you have to work on the “soft skills” as many call them, and learn to be more comfortable in areas that are not in your specialty. To me, that’s where career blogs come in to help.

Below, I’ve featured the 15 best career and employment bloggers to follow in the remainder of 2015 and into the new year as well.

They can help you with all types of information and skills. Have a look at what I mean. Give them a click below and check them out.

Job Search Ninja

Image of Job Search Ninja Blog
Image of Job Search Ninja Blog

Todd Bavol made out list with the Job Search Ninja blog, well, because who doesn’t want to be a ninja? Seriously though, the site is laid out in a very easy to navigate manner, and has lots of useful tips. Stop here to sharpen up your career skill throwing stars!

The Branding Muse

The Branding Muse Image
The Branding Muse

Let’s be honest. You have to market yourself to get the job you want. If you wouldn’t hire you, why would anyone else? Learn how to brag on yourself in a professional manner here. Do it. Now. Let Emmelie De La Cruz help you!

Campus to Career

Campus To Career Image
Campus To Career

About to graduate? Just graduated? Want to learn how to land a first job that’s worth your time? Look here to Kirk Baumann’s blog.

CollegeRecruiter Blog

College Recruiter Image
College Recruiter

Ah, the horror of meeting all those job recruiters in a hotel lobby. And of course we had no money to stay in the hotel so we had to drive for two hours each way. Well, no more. Visit Steven Rothberg at the CollegeRecruiter Blog and find help in locating jobs, polishing resumes, and even a free resume critique.

ClassyCareerGirl

classy_career_girl

Anna Runyan has a great site to focus on the needs of ladies. She offers coaching, courses, and lots of free training. Her blog is an excellent resource for any woman in or entering the workforce.

Cube Rules

CubeRules Image
CubeRules

Scot Herrick would have been great for me if I had him as a resource when I first started my career. He can help you if you have little guidance in “the corporate world”. Learn to navigate the turbulent waters of corporate life at Cube Rules.

Corn on the Job

corn_on_the_job
Rich deMatteo has a fun blog with practical advice. As a job recruiter, he posts his years of experience for you to learn from. Check him out.

Interview IQ

interview_iq
It does no good to be the best if you don’t seem like it during your interview. Karalyn Brown helps show you how to do well at your next interview and develop great communication skills.

TalentCulture

talent_culture
The social workplace is here. You need to learn to navigate it, both online and off. Let the folks at TalentCulture give you some insight on it.

Introvert Whisperer

introvert_whisperer
Learn how to come out of your shell here. You’ll need to be able to talk to people to get through that interview!!!

Steven Aitchison

change_your_thoughts
You have to think the way you want to be. Deep? Maybe. But you do have to think positively to act positively. Read what Steven has to say.

Great Leadership

great_leadership
In your career, you will need to develop leadership skills. Yes, even if you don’t plan to be a manager, you are going to want to be a leader. Dan McCarthy’s blog can help you learn those skills.

FreakishlyProductive

freakishly_productive
Who doesn’t want to be a freak? It’s fun, but extremely valuable. Productivity doesn’t have to be boring. If you don’t believe me, check out Annie Mueller’s site.

GTD Times

gtd_times
GTD. Getting Things Done. The ultimate in time management. Even if you don’t adopt the entire system, there are concepts that you can put into practice to help. David Allen tells you all about his GTD system and even how others use it as well.

Think Simple Now

think_simple_now
Positivity. Tina Su and the team at Think Simple Now are masters of it. If you want to be happy in your career, you have to be happy. Tough times will come and your attitude will help you through them. This is where Tina can help you out.

Wrapping Up:

We think you’ll agree that these are the blogs to follow for career tips in 2015 and into the next year as well. Get started reading now so that you can set and achieve your goals!

Top 15 Health Career Bloggers To Follow in 2015

If you are interested in a career in healthcare, it helps to get advice from people who have already been there. Luckily, there’s a wealth of experience on offer from blogger’s who have already forged their way through the health care career jungle, and helped countless others do the same.

By following these 15 bloggers you’ll not only fast-track your career, but you’ll also help yourself become the best you can be in your chosen healthcare career.

The Second Career Nurse

Second Career Nurse

Dylan Green of The Second Career Nurse is someone who knows how to succeed in nursing. He applied, and was accepted to, every direct entry nursing program in California, so has a deep knowledge of the techniques that you need to put yourself above all the other applicants and be successful in the admission process. If you want to emulate his success, check out his The Second Career Nurse blog.

New Nurse Blog

New Nurse Blog

Andria’s New Nurse Blog provides great insights into the intangible factors when it comes to succeeding in nursing. An invaluable resource for a graduate commencing a career in health care.

Nature Jobs

Nature Jobs

If you’re interested in the science-side of health careers, Nature Jobs is the blog for you. Run by editor Julie Gould, Nature Jobs is a leading resource in science academia and industry, helping people advance their careers and achieve their goals.

Digital Doorway

Digital Doorway

Nurse Keith is an RN and a self described “nurse-entrepreneur” who writes interesting posts for savvy 21st-century nurses and healthcare professionals. For advice on how to get ahead in modern nursing, Keith is your man.

International Nurse Support

International Nurse SupportInternational Nurse Support is one of the leaders in Health Career Blogging. It’s run by Joyce Fiodembo, who has over 20 years of nursing experience under her belt. From  general floor nurse to operating room nurse to flight nurse, Joyce uses her experience and industry knowledge to help you succeed in your health career.

The Nursing Site Blog

The Nursing Site Blog

An accomplished nurse and author, Kathy Quan offers invaluable advice to advance your career in nursing. Just like her book The Everything New Nurse Book which helps new nurses transition from nursing school to bedside nursing, Kathy and her blog will guide you through the nursing career jungle.

Your Career Nursing

YourCareerNursing

Tina Lanciault provides an array of alternative nursing career options, including nursing informatic jobs, cruise ship nurses and nurse-entrepreneurs. Her blog will open your eyes to the many nursing jobs you’ve never thought of, but would love to have.

ACHS Health and Wellness Blog

ACHS

The American College of Healthcare Sciences is a leader in holistic health education through comprehensive professional online and on-campus education. Their blog is focused on providing insights into gaining and progressing a career in holistic health, but is a valuable career resources for anyone in the health industry.

Donna Cardille

Donna Cardille

As well as writing for her own blog, Donna Cardille is also an expert blogger at DrOz.com and was formerly the  Healthcare Careers Expert at Monster.com. As a nurse and multi-book author, Donna has been provided inspiration to many nurses who want to advance their career.

rtconnections 

rtconnectionsDr. Renee Thompson has more than 23 years healthcare experience including clinical practice, nursing education, quality management and executive leadership. She uses this unique experience and skill set to help healthcare workers in the workforce, focusing on improving clinical and professional competence, eliminating nurse-to-nurse bullying, effective communication and leadership, building a positive and healthy workplace, and nurturing a culture of respect.

American Traveler Travel Nursing Blog

American Traveller1

The travel nursing blog follows trends in healthcare staffing, the best places to work, the best-paying jobs, and any industry updates that affect travel nurses. If you’re just starting to look into travel nursing, this is a great place to begin.

ER Nurses Care

ER Nurses Care

Leslie Block and ER Nurses Care provide a wealth of valuable advice for current and prospective nurses. It also covers areas such as injury prevention and healthy living.

KevinMD

KevinMD

Founded by Kevin Pho, MD, Kevin MD is one of the broadest Healthcare Career blogs. With over 1,500 authors including front-line primary care doctors, surgeons, specialist physicians, nurses, medical students, policy experts, KevinMD is an essential and enlightening read to anyone looking advance their Healthcare Career.

Health 2.0

Health 2.0

Technology is becoming an integral part of all industries, particularly health care. Health 2.0 plays a strong role in that space as it’s the premiere showcase and catalyst for the advancement of new health technologies. Health 2.0 will keep you in touch with how technology is evolving your healthcare career.

Innovative Nurse

Innovative Nurse1

Kevin Ross and The Innovative Nurse is THE place for all of those ultra-savvy nurses out there that are looking to elevate their nursing practice. It covers a lot of content that other blogs don’t, such as how to create  your personal and professional brand, something that is a necessity in this day and age.

Wrapping Up:

There you have it, 15 fantastic resources for health career information! Be sure to stop by the sites, follow them on social media and stay up to date with the information provided. Best of luck with your health career!