5 Interview Tips for the Alzheimer’s Caregiver or Nursing Home Administrator
November 28, 2007 by Mary Emma Allen
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Don’t think you’ll ever be interviewed? Never say “Never!”
With Alzheimer’s so prominently in the news, caregivers and administrators may find themselves the subject of interviews. Those who write about Alzheimer’s and caregiving often are in the news or interviewed online.
The next question…“What do I do if someone wants to interview me?”
You’ll find 5 great tips at the b5media Business Channel’s Home Biz Notes (5 Top Tips for Newspaper Interviews) with further expansion at Pimp Your Work (Top 5 Interview Tips).
Part 3 of the Business Channel’s “Apprentice” type challenge consisted of our giving interview tips to Kay whose prototype business supplies chef’s hats and aprons for kids. A newspaper reporter has asked Kay for an interview; she wondered what to expect and how to prepare.
The tips are fairly general. So if you’re asked for an interview from a newspaper reporter or magazine columnist, you should find most of these helpful, even if you’re not operating a business.
If you’ve been interviewed, perhaps you have some other tips to share.
(Interviews via e-mail for online publications are a different story, but very popular nowadays.)
Firstly thank you for sharing this experience, as no doubt there are many others out there who have gone through the same experience. I can also understand why you are confused, as you have done all the preparation and clearly have a strong ‘personal brand’, which is why they invited you to interview with them.
I suspect there are a few things going on here and would ask you to consider the following:
- Perhaps they thought they wanted a superstar, however when they saw what a superstar was like they became afraid – they found you too dynamic and thought you may either show them up or force them to change which would clearly make them uncomfortable
- Interview feedback is not always authentic! They may have offered this feedback as there was nothing else to fault you on (given they invited you to meet them). Their business situation may have changed and they don’t have the funds to employ you and given your with a competitor they don’t want the market to know etc. I am purely speculating however my point being don’t necessarily believe the interview feedback, particularly if it does not stack up
- It appears as though you have done all the right things, however maybe it is a case of cultural fit – which ultimately is important for you and them. If you had been hired by this company chances are you would have been disappointed as they may think they want talent and superstars however the reality is they want to keep the status quo
Added to this panel interviews are always difficult for the interviewee as you essentially have to connect with and engage four different people at the same time, which is not easy. However that said, it sounds like you managed to do this, so well done. You also don’t know the dynamics of the panel, no doubt there was a ‘leader’ here who may have found you threatening to them and their role – I have seen a lot of people hire people who are non-threatening rather than the best people.
In my view, put it down to experience. You are clearly good at what you do and the loss is theirs not yours. If you are keen to move jobs, source out other competitors or organizations in the market who actually want a superstar not a plodder. They are out there and will welcome you with open arms.