The TERN interview process: a step-by-step guide

Yuliia has prepared numerous international specialists for job interviews at TERN - and knows exactly what is important. As a medical student from Ukraine, she also brings her own experience as an applicant in the German healthcare system to the table. Here she shares her experiences and gives tips for a successful application process.

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TERN (T): What advice can you give candidates who want to prepare for an interview as a nurse?

Yuliia (Y): It's normal to be nervous before a job interview. It's understandable and it takes an extra dose of courage to go to a foreign country for a new job. It helps if you focus on your goals and try to remain calm and level-headed during the interview. To do this successfully, it makes sense to prepare well in advance for how you will present yourself and the skills and experience relevant to the job and to practise this a few times in front of the mirror. There are no uniform standards that need to be met and therefore no right or wrong answers. However, it often helps to change your perspective and ask yourself: Why should the employer choose me? This allows the applicant to focus on their own strengths and skills and emphasize these in the interview. Otherwise, stay cool - if you've made it to the interview, you've already made it 60% of the way through the process!

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T: What questions are typical for a job interview as a nurse?

Y: Motivation is often very important for employers. Leaving your home country for a new job can be a great opportunity for both the employee and the employer in Germany, but it also comes with some obstacles and challenges. That's why both employers and international talent want to make sure it's a good fit for both sides. Questions about why a candidate chose the job and what tasks and responsibilities are expected of the job in Germany often come up during the interview. On the other hand, applicants often ask about the procedure regarding further training and recognition of their professional qualifications or how they will be accommodated.

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T: What else can you do to successfully master the job interview?

Y: Appearance and good manners are particularly important. Of course, qualifications play a major role, but if you have already made it to the interview, it is particularly important to present yourself well and make as good a personal impression as possible. Healthcare professionals deal with sick and debilitated people of all ages. A friendly, open and calm approach is therefore very important. Appearance is important and applicants should make sure they are dressed appropriately. Even if the interview only takes place virtually, appearance can unconsciously influence the assessment of a candidate. A good appearance also includes polite manners. This includes, for example, not chewing gum during the interview, thanking the interviewer for inviting you to the interview and saying goodbye appropriately. However, the most important thing is to stay focused, answer questions in a friendly and precise manner and present yourself as competently as possible.

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T: Tunisia is a key country for TERN when it comes to recruiting healthcare professionals. What are the differences in recruitment between Germany and Tunisia?

Y: In Tunisia, a lot of value is placed on relevant references. A positive letter of recommendation can sometimes make up for a bad grade or two. This is probably due to the strong competitive pressure. Competition is fierce and jobs are scarce. Applicants are therefore under great pressure and, in addition to the soft and hard skills relevant to the profession, must also demonstrate stress resistance and resilience in their job search. In Germany, on the other hand, the labour market in the healthcare sector is characterized by a major shortage of skilled workers. German employers therefore tend to prioritize personal qualities when selecting new employees and offer their staff on-the-job training according to their needs.

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T: And finally, your best anecdote about a job interview organized by TERN?

Y: I will remember one interview for a long time to come. The interview went very well, the candidate and the employer had had a fruitful exchange about work-related issues up to that point. However, the conversation took an unexpected turn when the candidate asked a question that neither I nor the employer had expected: he actually asked if he could bring his cat to Germany. Funnily enough, the employer also had a cat. So the conversation ended up being less about how the candidate could find his way in the new environment and more about recommendations for cat food and scratching posts.

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