Chapter 14: Career Readiness
Kristen Hosey
Appropriate Attire
For the job interview, the applicant must dress professionally. This includes dress pants or a skirt, a professional shirt, and a sweater or blazer. Suppose the applicant is working in a clinical setting. In that case, they may be able to wear scrubs to an interview, or another alternative is to wear a lab coat over professional attire.
In the healthcare industry, some items should not be worn on the clinical site while working, so they may not be appropriate for the interview. For example, if interviewing in person, the applicant should be aware of their cosmetics, jewelry, and fragrances. Cosmetics, if worn, should be natural-looking, and fragrances, including lotions, colognes, or perfumes, are generally not a good idea. Fragrances are not generally permitted because colleagues and patients may be sensitive to fragrances. Strong smells can cause migraines, nausea, and vomiting, for instance. Jewelry should be conservative and natural, and facial piercings should be removed for the interview.
In the clinical setting, nails typically should be short. Nails should not be visible when looking at the palm. They should be clean and well-rounded. Nail polish, artificial nails, and any nail enhancement are not generally allowed in the clinical setting, so the applicant should consider not having them for the interview.
Jewelry and adornments in the clinical setting shouldn’t interfere with clinical performance or personal or patient safety. Therefore, the applicant should consider not wearing large earrings but shifting to smaller piercings and studs in the ears. Hair should be clean and well-groomed, including beards and mustaches. Applicants should not chew gum in the interview.
Interview Modalities
Some jobs will require an interview as part of their application process. An interview can be conducted in person at the clinical site or in an office; it could be conducted over the phone, or more recently, it is common practice to utilize online interviews such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Many employers use panel interviews. Applicants may be interviewed in a group setting with several people present in these settings.
For Zoom or other online interviews, the applicant should ensure they have an adequate internet connection to attend the meeting. The applicant will also want to ensure they have the correct link and time for the interview in their calendar. It is good to be on time or even in the waiting room 10 to 15 minutes early to ensure that the network and technology function adequately. Applicants will want to be sure the background holds no distractions or use a filter that blurs out the scene. Applicants also want to make sure they have a quiet space to hold the interview. Interviews should be held somewhere private, like a cafe, because the applicant cannot control the environment. If the interview takes place in the applicant’s home, the applicant must find a quiet room to conduct