The Best Answers To Interview Questions About Handling Stress
Whether you want to make a linear or vertical movement in your nursing career, you will probably run into interview questions about how you handle stress. It is an essential issue for just about any workplace, especially in the last couple of years.
According to the NHS Staff Survey, almost 44% of healthcare workers report feeling stressed daily.
Naturally, employers are concerned about this situation. The hiring manager may ask you about how you juggle demanding workloads and challenging patients and colleagues. They may even try to find out what is going on in your personal life and how that could affect your behaviour in the new job.
You will probably make a more favourable impression if you think about your answers in advance. Try these tips for talking about stress during a job interview.
Tips for Your Interview:
Tell stories. You can make your responses more memorable and effective for any interview questions by giving specific examples. Develop a collection of stories about how you look after your health and wellbeing to improve your stress response so that you can pick something relevant to each situation.
Be positive. Steer clear of any details that might prevent you from being hired. Talk about how you use stress to your advantage by letting it motivate you and open up opportunities for change.
Focus on productivity. Remember that your employer is primarily interested in how stress might affect your ability to do your job. Finish your story by describing what you accomplished while under pressure.
Gather information. As long as you’re already talking about stress, this can be a chance to find out more about what your future work conditions would be like. Ask the hiring manager what they think the significant challenges are for their organisation and the service you will be working in or leading. This includes the position you’re considering.
Share support. You may score bonus points if you show any interest in helping your co-workers deal with stress. Listen to what they say about their organisations' wellness programs. Maybe you can make some suggestions based on your own experience.
Look calm. It is ironic to discuss stress while an interview increases your anxiety levels. Ensure your body language matches your words. Relax your muscles and resist the urge to fidget. Drink water during your interview.
Tips for managing stress in your work life
You have now got the job you wanted. How do you follow through with your promises in the interview:
Take breaks. It is essential to pay attention to what you do each day and what you say during an interview. Start by pausing at least once each hour to keep stress from building up. Stretch your muscles or take deep breaths.
Use vacation days. Research by Westman and Etzion (2007) shows that going on vacation helps protect your mental and physical health. Use your time off to reconnect with your loved ones and explore new places.
Avoid excess overtime. Productivity declines dramatically if you frequently work more than 50 hours a week. Prioritise your tasks and limit distractions. Start your day with your finishing time in mind.
Limit multitasking. Try to focus on one activity at a time. Otherwise, you risk making mistakes in the workplace. Research by Tobias (2020) shows that switching between tasks for a prolonged period causes stress and fatigue to the service provider.
Set realistic expectations. Are you trying to do too much? Calculate how long your primary responsibilities take and budget enough time to complete them without rushing.
Stay active. Regular exercise is one of the most constructive ways to relax. Make it part of an overall healthy lifestyle that will keep you strong and resilient.
It is helpful for you and your future employer to recognise the impact of job-related stress. Your interview could be a starting point for maintaining a healthy and supportive work environment.
Beaulah Chizimba is the Founder of Limitless Nurses, a senior nurse leader, leadership coach and speaker . She writes about how health and care leaders at all levels can raise self-awareness, grow leadership skills, thrive and advance their professional success