What should the interviewee try to achieve during a job interview? What should you look for? What red flags should you watch for?

Think about times when you have had to write in a formal setting in the past; this could be previous courses or classes you have taken, documents you have had to produce for your job, or even documents you have created yourself such as resumes or cover letters. Ask yourself the following questions:

• When you have had to undertake these types of written projects, what type of writing process did you use?
• Did you brainstorm or freewrite? Outline? Create a rough draft? Do revisions and proofreading?
• If so, how effective do you think that your process has been for you? How might you improve it going forward?
• If not, what steps do you plan to implement going forward as part of your regular writing routine? Which steps in the writing process do you think will be most beneficial for you?
•  What are three questions you should ask yourself when you begin your job search?

  2. What are the most common mistakes people make in preparing their résumés?

  3. What should you know about your prospective employer before the job interview?

  4. What should the interviewee try to achieve during a job interview? What should you look for? What red flags should you watch for?

  5. What can you do in advance to prepare for the changes during the first year of employment?

  6. Create your own SWOT analysis. How would you respond to your personal strengths and weaknesses if you were a prospective employer? How can you enhance your strengths and improve in areas of weakness?

  7. Draw a career path for yourself, beginning with the present year and extending to the age of retirement. Be sure to include any “twists and turns” of the path you expect to experience along the way and any barriers you expect to encounter. How will you handle these experiences?

  Do an online nationwide search for information about current job prospects in nursing.Compare opportunities in various regions of the country. Why do you think these opportunities are the same or different?

  5. Develop a list of questions that you should ask a potential employer. What “homework” will you need to do to prepare for an interview?