5 Tips to Prepare for Your Next CNA Interview

Whether you’re a seasoned Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) seeking a change or fresh out of training and looking for your first CNA job, you’re in a great position. Why? Because you’ve chosen a profession with high demand. 

There are many healthcare companies across the country seeking CNAs. But if you want to work for a top company, it’s essential that you do everything you can to stand out from the competition. And that includes acing your job interview. 

Here are five tips to help you nail your next CNA job interview and land the job offer you’re hoping for!

1. Review your résumé and bring copies to the interview.

You may think because a CNA position isn’t in an office or cubicle job, you don’t have to have a résumé. This is far from the truth! Having a detailed résumé allows your potential employer to learn more about you and the specific skills you have to offer.

If you don’t have a résumé, you can always find a basic template online to create one. If you already have one, take time to review it carefully and make any changes before your interview. We highly recommend having someone else take a look at your résumé to check for spelling errors and clarity. 

While we’re discussing résumés, here’s another tip–don’t assume that your interviewer will have a copy of your résumé when you walk in. It’s always a wise idea to bring a few extra copies with you to show that you are prepared. 

2. Do your homework on the facility or company you are interviewing with.

This is a crucial tip to really set yourself apart from other candidates. Spend time before your interview researching the facility or company you’re about to meet with. Learn more about how many patients or residents they serve, find out what their mission is, and do your best to gauge what their workplace culture is.

You can gain a lot of this information by doing a simple search on the company’s website. When you walk into your interview knowing the ins and outs of their facility, we can bet you will impress your interviewer.

3. Double-check the time and location of the interview before you arrive.

This may seem like a no-brainer, but double-check the date, time, and location of your interview several days before you arrive. There’s nothing worse than being late (or even worse – not showing up on the right day!) to an interview because you didn’t know where to park or how to get to the interviewer’s office.

You’d be shocked to find out how many interviewees are late to their interview. And even if it’s unintentional, it sends the message that you’ll be late to work, too, which is not an ideal first impression. If you’ve never been to the location where your interview will take place, it may not hurt to visit the day before to ensure you know exactly where to go.

4. Dress for success.

A CNA job will likely require that you wear scrubs every day. But that doesn’t mean scrubs or casual attire are appropriate for your job interview. 

You don’t necessarily have to wear an expensive suit or designer clothes, but men should consider wearing pressed pants and a collared shirt, and women should either wear a nice dress or pants and a top. 

Remember, the goal of your interview is for your personality, professionalism, and skills to shine through. You don’t want your clothing to create any unnecessary distractions.

5. Be prepared to answer interview questions.

There’s nothing worse than walking into an interview and being asked questions that make you look like a deer caught in headlights.

It’s absolutely okay to take a few seconds to collect your thoughts when you are asked a question. However, when you anticipate the questions your interviewer will ask, you will be better prepared to answer those questions during the interview and it will make the whole process a lot smoother. 

Here are a few questions you can expect to be asked in a typical interview:

• Tell us about yourself.
• Why did you decide to become a CNA?
• Where do you see yourself in five years?
• What are your strengths (positive personality traits)?
• What are your weaknesses?
• Why did you leave your last job?
• Tell me about a time when you had to do something different or difficult.
• What would you do if a patient refused care?
• What would you do if you saw a co-worker yelling at a patient?
• What would you do if a patient became aggressive or combative?

You don’t need to memorize your answers to these questions because you may not be asked all of them, but practice what you might say if you were asked. 

Need more tips? Dig into our interview resource guide!

We know you have what it takes to crush your next CNA interview. For even more tips and tricks, check out our extensive Guide to Crushing your Next Job Interview. 

Good luck! You’ve got this. 

Looking for your next CNA job? You can find it with Interim HealthCare.

Click here to check out our CNA openings near you.