Barganier, Sharon

In self-reflecting over the previous four months of this course, I have learned a lot about
interviewing. All of the information I learned from the modules and assignments is vital to
having a successful interview. After deciding what was my career interest, I was able to search
for a job that I have could have a long-term career in. My experiences and diverse background
was a great match in choosing the Nurse Manager Home Telehealth position as the job I would
like to pursue. The position I am interested in is at the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care
System in Montgomery, Alabama. The job is a management position within the nursing
department overseeing nursing staff. Some of the duties included in the position were: hiring and
maintaining nursing staff, overseeing the department financial budget, ordering supplies,
ensuring quality nursing care is being serviced to veterans, developing and implementing
policies, and etc. The salary range is from $71,000 to $111,000 per year, based off experience
and education. The minimum education for the position was an Associate of Nursing degree.
After reviewing the job summary and description, I would meet the requirements and
qualifications to apply.
The resume is very important when applying for a job. I took the feedback from my
resume assignment to edit and my resume to ensure it would be free of errors and so it would
attract the employers attention. The cover letter was also developed to introduce myself and to
inform the employer of my interest in the position. The resume and the cover letter are both
important to get the attention of the employer in an opportunity to set up an interview.
Once an interview time and date has been established, the next thing to do to have a
successful interview is to think of interview questions and practice answering the questions prior

to going on the interview. Practicing questions not only prepares me to answer on the spot
questions but it also helps to build confidence and ease my nerves. Interviews can be
intimidating if not prepared in answering questions. The more questions I answered the more
comfortable I became with the questions.
The mock interview was another assignment to assist in having a successful
interview. I was a little nervous throughout the beginning of practicing the interview. Again, the
more I practiced the mock interview it helped build a level of confidence and eased my nerves.
My experience with the mock interview, I learned that it prepared me for the real interview. The
mock interview also enhanced thinking quickly in answering situational questions. Although I
may not have known the questions that was asked, participating in the mock interview helped
me hone in the skills necessary to answer on-the-spot questions and with becoming more
confident and having clarity. I have identified this is an area of improvement to which it helped
me become more prepared for a successful interview. The feedback on strengths and weakness
offered me areas I needed to continue to improve in. For example, a strength identified in the
mock interview was eye contact and clear verbal communication. Another area I improved in
was not elaborating too much and getting off the subject. Again, the mock interview experience
taught me to become more polished in my interview skills and become more confident in
answering questions.
The thank you later was another vital assignment in ensuring a successful
interview. The thank you letter is a not only a courtesy tool to the employer but also to
summarize the interview experience. The thank you letter is a soft and polite way of reminding
the employer of the my interview with the interviewer and to keep the employer informed of the
my interest in the position I have applied for.

Overall, the Career Success class has taught me a lot. The feedback was vital in
supporting and assisting in my success to having a successful interview. Everything I have
learned will be taken away with me to enhance my career success.