6 Tips to Ace Your CNA Interview

You’ve finished school, your certificate is in hand. Now to land the job! Don’t worry though – it’s not too tough and you’ll land one of the jobs for sure! From the interview experience to your application, here are some tips that will help you out.

Be Prepared

Don’t be cocky during your CNA interview. The employer is looking for the right person to hire, so make sure you are a perfect candidate!

Sometimes, you’ll even do the interview over remote connections so they can see all that hard work you put into your resume and application.

Find a clean, professional folder and always carry the following:

  • Extra copies of your resume

  • CNA certification information

  • CPR card

  • List of references (at least 3)

  • Letters of recommendation

  • Paper and pen

If you have copies of all your documents and look professional at the interview, it shows that you are prepared for anything the job might bring to you.

Look Professional

Wrong! Although you might want to dress modestly in the interview, scrubs are not appropriate work-attire.

It’s very important to dress professionally for an interview. If you’re not going to wear a full suit, make sure you dress accordingly and exude confidence throughout the interview process.

When you want to prepare yourself for your interview, be sure to remember these things:

  • Make sure your clothing is clean and neat.

  • Prepare your suit well – it should be neither too tight nor too loose.

  • Not to revealing – no cleavage or bared back, midriff

  • Want to wear a suit but hate the hassle of dressing up? Look for dress pants or slacks, and a matching cotton shirt or blouse.

If you dress up at the interview, it shows that you show care about the job and the interviewer. That in itself can win you a job!

Pre-prepare Your Answers

Nothing is worse than sitting in a job interview and having to quickly come up with an answer. It feels like time is running out and you are struggling to meet the requirements (no pun intended) of the position.

Preparation is key to every interview. Keep a list of questions that you can ask to uncover information about an interviewer or company. Rushing through an interview will only lead to failure, so take your time and remain a knowledgeable candidate.

  1. “Why did you decide to become a CNA ”

  2. “Where do you see yourself in 5 years”

  3. “What are your strengths and weaknesses”

  4. “Why did you leave your last job”

Again, come prepared with examples for the following situational questions.

  • Tell us about a time when…

    • You dealt with a difficult patient

    • You worked well with others

    • You dealt with a conflict

    • You prioritized care

  • What would you do if…

    • A patient refused care

    • You saw a co-worker yelling at a patient

    • Your patient became aggressive

    • You felt your co-worker wasn’t doing his/her assignment

There are many common interview questions that are asked during job interviews. By being prepared with answers to these, you’ll be able to seem confident and ready for any of them.

Keep it Short

You don’t want to be unprepared, but you also don’t want to blurt out the wrong answer. Not only will you risk angering your interviewer, but they might start tuning you out as well.

Make sure to mention everything on the job posting. It will help you organize your thoughts and make you seem like the perfect candidate.

If you want to impress your interviewer, try not to be too casual or talk about personal topics at all. You are there for them, not for friends.

Listen

At the interview, make sure you’re listening carefully. This will make you seem professional, but also in tune with the interviewer—making them more likely to choose you for the job.

Active listening involves:

  • The first thing we work on is finding phone numbers of your target companies and contacting them in advance so you have time to prepare. Then, we survey the job role and find out all the interview questions they ask.

  • Keeping your hands up near a surface, as in this case above, can block out any sound and make you seem more approachable.

  • Keep focus on your interviewer so that you have no miscommunication

  • When you are a candidate for an interview, it is important to match the hiring managers timing and pace. If they talk slowly and calmly, then make sure you don’t respond too quickly with unclear answers.

  • Nod occasionally

  • Having a positive facial expression while interacting with people also sends a stronger signal to them, so don’t forget to smile!

  • The speaker seems open to what you’re saying. Encourage them to continue talking by using words like “uh-huh” or “yes, I completely agree with that.”

You will be showing professionalism and respect to the interviewer and demonstrating how well you can interact with your patients by practicing active listening.

Come Prepared with Questions

This is a common question at the end of a meeting or interview. It is inappropriate to ask this and make them feel uncomfortable when they got the job.

Think again!

It’s important to ask questions in an interview. Not only does it show that you are interested in the job, but it shows that you are engaged as well and wanting to be part of the decision.

The best questions to ask are:

  • Time and length of orientation

  • Staff-to-patient ratios

  • Run through a typical day

  • Educational opportunities

Some questions you will want to avoid are:

  • Benefits

  • Vacation time

  • How to get days off

  • Sick days

  • Picking your rotation

Preparing for your interview is important. By coming up with a list of questions beforehand, you will appear more prepared and not overly desperate. They might also reveal more about your personality and values as well. To really show it on the day, don’t be afraid to ask follow-up questions if they seem appropriate

If you are going to interview for a CNA job, it’s a good idea to research the company before hand. This way when you get there, you will already feel like a success and make friends with your interviewer. With that said, here is how to emulate this same feeling in order to ace the interview!