What It’s Like to Interview at Northwell
Searching for a new job can trigger a wide range of emotions—from hope to anxiety—and for many, the interview is the most intimidating part of the process.
But it doesn’t have to feel that way. After all, a request for an interview means your resume and application have spurred a company to want to learn more about you! The interview allows you to share more details about your experience and skills, as well as your personality. At the same time, you can learn more about the company and role beyond what you read in the job description.
Get to know Northwell’s interview process and read advice from our recruiters to help your next interview be a success.
What is the Northwell Health interview process?
While our most common steps are outlined above, your process may differ given the variety of positions at Northwell Health. Our Talent Acquisition team engages with candidates across a variety of ways such as texting, video, virtual or in-person interviews. For example, given the many pandemic-era adjustments that businesses and candidates have had to implement, virtual interviews are far more prevalent now than ever before. No matter how you’re interviewing with us, we’ve collected some great tips to help you prepare for a successful interview experience.
What’s expected in an interview
Whether you’re interviewing for an entry-level position or a more seasoned role, our recruiters recommend that you:
- Arrive on time
- Dress professionally
- Bring copies of your resume
- Come prepared with questions
First impressions matter. Vikash Ramnarine, a senior talent acquisition specialist, reminds you to treat a virtual interview the same way you would if it were in person: “Make sure you’re dressed professionally—and don’t forget the camera is always on!”
Talent Acquisition Specialist Sade Somorin says if you’re attending an in-person interview, “Have your resume on hand. And read your resume to be prepared to answer questions pertaining to your job history.”
Sade looks at not just alignment between the candidate’s background and the role’s requirements, but also “the value the candidate will bring to their team and the organization as a whole.”
That means being specific. Sade suggests, “When you share a team project or assignment you participated in, explain the task, action and result that contributed to its success.”
Attentive listening is important, but an interview is a conversation, not a one-way street. “Candidates should have questions prepared to ask at the end of the interview about the position to ensure it is a good match for themselves and the company,” says Nicholas Franzini, a senior talent acquisition specialist. Asking pointed questions also demonstrates that you’ve done your research and have a true interest in the role and the company.
Preparing for your interview
Our recruiters advise:
- Do your research on the position and the company
- Troubleshoot ahead of time
- Plan and arrange your setting
Senior Recruiter Shannon Skaee stresses doing research before the interview so you can better explain how your experience and the job’s expectations line up. “Demonstrating that you’ve done your research can set you apart from other candidates—and may impact the final hiring decision.”
Coaching legend Vince Lombardi once said, “If you are five minutes early, you are already ten minutes late.” That’s good advice on the gridiron as well as in the job market. “Candidates should also map out a route to ensure they arrive 15 minutes early,” says Nicholas.
This applies even if you’re interviewing from your kitchen table. You won’t have to worry about traveling to your interview, but you should still allow yourself at least 15 minutes to identify and address any technical issues that may arise, especially regarding your internet connection.
In a virtual setting, be mindful of your surroundings. Conduct the interview in a quiet location that minimizes background distractions and potential interruptions. A tabletop setting, such as a desk or dining table, works great because it provides a professional feel of sitting across from the recruiter. “Avoid using a phone for a video interview,” Vikash adds, “but if absolutely necessary, prop it up on something stable so that it’s not shaking.”
Other advice? Relax! Be confident about your skills. Let your experience and knowledge shine. At Northwell, we value being “Truly Ourselves”—expressing your personality during the interview can leave a positive and memorable impression on the interviewer.
After your interview, don’t forget to send a thank you note to everyone with whom you interviewed while you wait for your recruiter to reach out regarding next steps.
Now that you know what it’s like to interview at Northwell, it’s time to apply so you can become a Health Raiser! Explore careers today.
It is important to note that Northwell recruiters will always have an @northwell.edu email address and our communications will always be clear that they are from Northwell Health.
Subscribe to our blogs
Stay up to date with stories you want to know more about right to your email inbox.
Helping our new hires get ready for their Northwell career journey
At Northwell Health, we strive to provide the best experience for our incoming team members to ensure they are fully prepared to start and experience a career well cared for.
Our pre-boarding and onboarding teams in the Talent Acquisition Department support our new hires from the moment they accept a job offer through their first day. They aim to provide a smooth transition from candidate to team member with guidance along the way.
Steps these teams help our future team members complete include:
- Health and pre-hire appointments for medical clearance and required onboarding paperwork
- A visit to security and human resources for certain requirements and an ID badge, as well as other verification processes
- Preparing for our Beginnings orientation to help our newest team members be set up for success in their new career with us.
There is a great deal of coordination to ensure everyone is ready to begin in their new role at the right time.
Meet some of our amazing team members from our pre-boarding and onboarding teams :
Deziree Brandi, Supervisor, Talent Acquisition
Deziree has grown into her career at Northwell since starting as an admin support associate with FlexStaff in 2018. As a supervisor for talent acquisition in Human Resources, she supports the talent acquisition onboarding team by providing guidance for various projects and processes, ensuring that start dates are met, and helping to integrate new technology. “I always love working hand-in-hand with the candidates to provide them with the support and understanding of what is needed to start their new positions and future with Northwell,” says Deziree.
Deziree has also been able to grow her career at Northwell. “My previous and current managers have supported my growth by providing me with the tools and guidance to take on stretch assignments, develop professionally, and to build my confidence so I was ready to move into the next stage of my career,” says Deziree.
Aaron Weeks, Associate Talent Acquisition Program Manager
As a talent acquisition associate program manager for the Advanced Clinical Practice (ACP) team, Aaron helps facilitate a smooth and efficient onboarding experience for new ACP hires by partnering with medical staff services, hiring managers, and organizational leadership. “Interacting with the new hires is my favorite part,” says Aaron “I’m passionate about the customer service I provide, and I love making a difference in someone’s life no matter how big or small.”
Aaron has also grown his career here at Northwell. “Northwell has been impactful to my growth and development in many ways,” says Aaron. “My colleagues and leaders played the biggest role in my growth and development because they challenge me to be my best daily.”
Jeniece Devita, Talent Acquisition Representative
As a talent acquisition representative, Jeniece’s role is ensuring new hires are prepared for their appointments and verifying work experience, education, and credentials. Once the new hires have completed all of their requirements, she ensures they are set up for Beginnings, which is our new hire orientation, site orientation and any additional trainings required for her new team member journey. “There are many things I enjoy about working in onboarding,” says Jeniece. “I’m someone who likes to understand how what I’m doing fits into the bigger picture. It’s one of the things I find rewarding in my role. I can see how the work we do as HR professionals enables employees and the overall organization to reach their objectives.”
Subscribe to our blogs
Stay up to date with stories you want to know more about right to your email inbox.
Northwell Heroes Challenge promotes team member well-being while giving back
When our team members need help, you can expect everyone to rally behind them. The culture of giving runs strong at Northwell. That shined through during our first Northwell Heroes Challenge.
Inspired by a team member hoping to run a marathon to raise money for Northwell colleagues in need, a cross-functional team created the Northwell Heroes Challenge. This challenge was a way to encourage team members to focus on their well-being while raising funds in support of their colleagues.
Participants were encouraged to choose an activity and distance that fit their lifestyle, whether it be bicycling, running, swimming, walking, lifting, dancing or more. Over the next four weeks, team members trained and tracked their activity and movement on Northwell’s myWellness platform to meet their goals leading up to the first weekend in August when the challenge took place.
Partnering with Northwell’s Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation Services (STARS) rehabilitation team, stretching and recovery exercises were shared throughout the challenge. Training materials were also provided including goals for beginner, intermediate and advance levels from the New York Road Runners, a Northwell non-profit partner that helps and inspires people to run the New York Marathon. Northwell’s wellness team also curated a nutritional guide featuring recipes for training and race day. These resources and more helped take care of our team members have fun and achieve their well-being goals.
“During the height of the pandemic, the well-being of our team members was something that we passionately invested in as an organization,” says Pat Flynn, assistant vice president, Employee Wellness. These trying times only brought to the forefront the importance of physical, psychological and emotional health, and it was inspiring to see our team members using all forms of movement to improve their own health and well-being goals while so generously supporting our Caregiver Support Fund.”
490 team members rose to the challenge, raising $54,850 for our Caregiver Support Fund. This fund provides rent relief, mortgage relief, money for food and other necessities for team members who need it most. Big or small, every contribution helped to make a true difference in the lives of colleagues in need.
“The enthusiasm and generosity of the Northwell team is incredible. Providing support through the Northwell Heroes Caregiver Support Fund is a critical and timely need, and we are grateful to everyone who has donated to this important initiative,” says Brian T. Lally, senior vice president and chief development officer, Northwell Health Foundation. The Northwell Heroes Challenge is an extraordinary example of our mission and values coming to life through the Northwell team.”
And while giving back is a reward on its own, those who fundraised had the ability to reach three different goals with rewards including a certificate, points on our team member reward platform myRecognition, Northwell branded swag, and the chance to win the grand prize – a Peloton bike and one-year Peloton digital membership!
Julie Argueta, a unit service associate at Huntington Hospital was the lucky winner of the grand prize. “I joined the Northwell Heroes Challenge to honor the heroes who work with me at Huntington Hospital,” says Julie. “Their bravery and courage during the height of the pandemic inspired me to take challenges and reach goals with pride. What an honor for me to win this, I only wish I could get one for all the heroes on my unit. My daughter Alexus and I cannot wait to cycle to nowhere!”
Hear from some of our Northwell Heroes Challenge ambassadors, who led the way throughout training with motivational posts and tips:
“Having the honor of being ambassador for the Heroes Challenge, I witnessed firsthand how team members supported and motivated each other to meet their fitness goals. It was so inspiring and outcomes of the challenge surpassed my every expectation I had at the beginning of this journey. If we keep moving forward together, anything is possible!”
“When I learned about the challenge, I knew I had to take this opportunity to give back to Northwell to say thank you for investing in me, my co-workers, and my family. I also used it as a platform to encourage my friends and family to continue to invest in self-care by living a healthy lifestyle. I always tell them that you only fail when you stop trying.”
“Under normal circumstances, I’m a very active person. However, during the pandemic, I lost motivation. And seeing how our front line workers battled the virus, I wanted to help as much as I could. The challenge was an excellent opportunity for me to help my fellow Northwell coworkers and get back on track. It was a great feeling to raise money for a good cause, train together, and support each other.”
“I participated in the Northwell Heroes Challenge because I felt it was the right time to challenge myself. After months of just going into the hospital for work and returning home, I needed something to get me back into a healthier regimen and this good cause was the perfect motivation.”
Subscribe to our blogs
Stay up to date with stories you want to know more about right to your email inbox.
Celebrating acts of kindness among our family of Northwell heroes
Though we span across 23 hospitals and more than 750 ambulatory locations, our Northwell Health team is one big family. And as a family, our team members are committed to not only delivering the best patient care, but caring for each other and our communities.
Check out these stories of our clinical and non-clinical team members alike working to bring moments of positivity, hope and support amid COVID-19.
Finding Connections Hospital to Hospital, Unit to Unit
Kindness is connecting our teams across Northwell through video messages, photos, cards and other countless examples of ongoing support and humanity. For example, Krista Griffin, a patient access team member at Southside Hospital, raised money with her family to have catered food delivered to overnight workers in the ED. Also, the NICU team at Cohen Children’s Medical Center created and delivered care packages to other Northwell hospitals, and our nutrition and dining services teams baked fresh cookies for workers to bring home after a long day.
Bringing the Grocery Stores to our Team Members
Hospitals across Northwell realized the need to help support our healthcare heroes get the necessities they need at home. Hospital cafes have turned into temporary grocery stores, where our nurses, environmental services workers, physicians, therapists, transporters, techs and others can safely shop to stock their pantry or choose a freshly prepared meal to take home.
Stitching for our Heroes
Gloria Medina, a booking clerk at one of Northwell’s endoscopy practices, posted a call to action for all stitchers to help create artwork for our heroes. These custom portraits are being delivered to our healthcare heroes on the front lines as a way to say thank you and make them smile.
Finding Inspiration at Glen Cove Hospital
The 1 South Rehab team at Glen Cove Hospital created an Inspiration Tree within the hospital to leave small tokens of wisdom and motivation for team members and patients. These messages help them to find optimism and the importance of what matters most.
Chalk Art Acts of Kindness
Throughout the health system, chalk art has been popping up outside our hospitals. Messages from team members and our communities are being drawn to thank our workers and give them something bright and cheery to look at as they walk in and out of work.
Take 5 for YourSELF Fridays
The Employee Wellness team collaborated with myHealthBody to start a weekly series to encourage team members to take five minutes to care for themselves with “Take 5 for YourSELF Fridays”. The weekly videos and printouts include guided stretches and exercises to help relieve tension and grant wellness benefits that last all day.
We are all filled with gratitude for our wonderful Truly Together team. Their passion, dedication and kindness inspires us daily. To all healthcare heroes here and everywhere – THANK YOU!
Subscribe to our blogs
Stay up to date with stories you want to know more about right to your email inbox.
We’re breaking ground on a groundbreaking Microbiology laboratory
Northwell Health and NYC Health + Hospitals have started work on a brand new shared lab! The $47.7 million, 36,000 square-foot lab in Little Neck will primarily perform microbiology tests and will provide enhanced service levels to the physicians and patients in our community while bringing additional jobs to the city! The new lab will be the largest, nonprofit, hospital-operated lab network in the nation and will be processing over 50 million tests annually. This means enticing career opportunities for lab professionals to be the first inside this new lab!
The Microbiology lab is in an exciting phase of development. Northwell Health will be implementing cutting-edge technology in our transition to this new space. It will be the first lab in the country with two total lab automation system lines (TLS), which includes automatic specimen processing and digital imaging and to supplement classical microbiology methods, the lab uses MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. This new automated Micro equipment will be known as Kiestra.
“Having Kiestra at Little Neck Parkway will introduce a new beginning to the Microbiology World with new automation,” said Ebru Turk, Microbiology Technologist.
This new lab is just another way that Northwell Health is rising to the challenge that we’re Made for. We are actively recruiting enthusiastic and capable technologists to help us realize this project to its full potential. Explore opportunities inside this brand new, state-of-the-art facility here.
Subscribe to our blogs
Stay up to date with stories you want to know more about right to your email inbox.
Rain or shine, Northwell employees Rally on
At Northwell, we’re flexible and not afraid to push boundaries. So, the forecast and eventual onset of rain that showed up at the finale of this year’s employee Rally didn’t stop our team members from making unforgettable memories together and celebrating the “Story of us.” There was nothing but sunny and smiling faces at the Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater on Saturday, July 21 when thousands of Northwell team members gathered for this incredible event.
This year’s Rally was all about storytelling and started at the Wellgate, our healthy version of a tailgate. In the “Story of Us” zone, guests could visit “Did You Know?” tents to learn about different initiatives for Northwell team members– such as myWellness, the Gift of Life (Northwell’s organ donation partnership program) and the work of our Foundation (we are a non-profit after all).
It was in this zone that Northwell even beat a world record! Rally guests worked together to help Northwell break the Guinness World Record for the most color by number contributions. 829 participants colored in a giant mural depicting our health system, beating the previous record of 455 participants.
In the “Story of Life” zone, Rally guests experienced the power of connection. Here guests could taste healthy choice recipes crafted by 12 Northwell chefs from our hospitals. They also discovered the healing power of pet therapy, getting the opportunity to meet with Northwell’s furriest team members. Poetry was also part of the day, with poets writing a personalized haiku for guests based on their own stories.
Rally guests could then walk through the different features highlighting our “Stores of Curiosity”. Guests could participate in training in an ambulance simulator or support one of Northwell’s next innovations by signing the “What if” wall which gave an inside look into some of our health system’s next big ideas. The zone’s Hall of Innovation was another big hit at the Rally. From a telehealth bike that gives patients access to supervised pulmonary rehabilitation therapy remotely, to a Northwell Health skill for Amazon Alexa that delivers current wait times for our patients, Northwell’s team members are developing innovations that will help shape the future of health care.
Other featured initiatives included: the Fin (the first 3D-printed, amphibious, prosthetic leg that allows amputee swimmers to navigate in and out of the water), Bottle Cap (an app that provides patients with automated text messaging and online coaching to learn about and reduce their consumption of alcoholic beverages,) and Project Polaris (a multi-year journey to reimagine HR processes).
In our “Stories of Celebration” zone, we celebrated our diverse and growing team of more than 66,000, including the stories of our President’s Awards winners and finalists, service awards recipients, and those who volunteered for service in last year’s Hurricane Harvey and Maria relief efforts. Our employees are so much more than their scrubs and stethoscopes and Rally guests were able to look, listen, touch and feel the exceptional stories of their fellow team members in our immersive display celebrating Northwell’s every day heroes.
Finally, at the Activity Stage, employees moved to the beat at the Zumba class led by a Northwell team member, Daniel Manalo, and danced to the music of the Hot Seeds, our very own physician band.
After the Wellgate experience, attendees entered the amphitheater for the main show, an experience that won’t soon be forgotten. From a guest speaker to President’s Awards Winner tributes to the grand prize drawing of our employee walk challenge to special performances, team members danced and cheered all night long.
It of course wouldn’t be a Rally without Michael J. Dowling, Northwell’s President and CEO. It’s not often your CEO make their big entrance on a boat! His remarks, as always, inspired everyone in attendance and he reminded team members to continue to innovate for our patients and our community.
Advancing Northwell’s spirit of innovation was the Rally’s guest speaker, Mick Ebeling. Mick founded Not Impossible Labs and works hard to expand the possibilities of technology to provide solutions for fundamental human needs, causing waves in and out of the world of healthcare. His powerful speech inspired Northwell employees to continue to view the world differently and to challenge the idea of impossible.
Closing the 2018 Northwell Rally was a spectacular performance from Michael Elroy and the Broadway Inspirational Voices and a moving display from The Silhouettes.
The excitement in the air was contagious, with team members feeling reinvigorated for what lies ahead. Of course, the excitement was never higher than when it came time to announce the big winners for the Walk to Dublin employee step challenge. The winning team was announced, with all ten members receiving a free trip to Dublin. But that wasn’t all – as a surprise, two more teams were awarded the grand prize for a total of thirty employees headed to Dublin!
As the event came to a close, there was one impassioned thought running through the crowd: we can’t wait to see what the Story of Us brings next year!
Are you Made for a career at Northwell? Explore current job opportunities across our health system.
Watch the Rally Recap Video for a glimpse of the day and incredible moments that unfolded!
Subscribe to our blogs
Stay up to date with stories you want to know more about right to your email inbox.
A Pulse Check on Healthcare Careers: Q&A with our SVP & Chief People Officer Joseph Moscola
For the first time in history, healthcare was the largest source of U.S. jobs for the last quarter in 2017. With job opportunities in healthcare surpassing both retail and manufacturing, there’s never been a better time to start your career with Northwell. We checked in with our SVP and Chief People Officer Joseph Moscola to see how and where Northwell’s careers are booming amidst the growing demand across the industry.
Careers: With unemployment at 4.1%, Northwell Health is still hiring over 200 people each week ranging from clerical to clinical administrative. Why does Northwell’s career opportunity continue to be so prevalent?
Joseph Moscola: I think we are seeing two factors at play. The number of jobs in healthcare is growing, a trend that has continued for the past couple of years and will continue in years to come. As the Baby Boomers reach their senior years and the population ages, there are going to be more and more opportunities in healthcare. The second factor is the growing brand of Northwell as well as our growing reputation as an employer of choice. In 2018, we were named one of Fortune’s Best Places to Work in Health Care and BioPharma.
C: In March, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said that healthcare added 22,000 jobs and that the biggest gain was in ambulatory health care services. At Northwell, our ambulatory care is growing. Why does ambulatory continue to be a top need, what positions are we looking to hire for and how is it impacting care and careers in our communities?
JM: Care continues to shift out of the hospital and into the ambulatory space. This is a result of better technology, less invasive treatment options available to patients and healthcare plan incentives. We’re always looking for RNs, Revenue Cycle roles, Medical Office Assistants and Advanced Clinical Providers (ACPs). We’re able to take a more holistic approach to the patient and bring the highest quality of care to our communities, including our own team members. It also opens up more opportunities for different careers within the community.
C: What are some other growing areas at Northwell that candidates should watch out for and why?
JM: We continue to see growing opportunities for ACPs, RNs, home health aides and roles in perioperative care. As care continues to transition from the hospital to ambulatory facilities and to the home, we will continue to see a growth in support service type roles. Also, with advancements in technology and a focus on finding data driven solutions, roles in healthcare IT will be more in demand. There will be more and more of a need for analysts, data scientists, software engineers and computer programmers.
C: For students looking to go into healthcare sector, what are the jobs you recommend they consider?
JM: There are some really great opportunities to start your career in healthcare before you’ve earned your college degree. If you are looking to enter the workforce sooner, you can begin with a “Middle Skills” position, including specialty technicians such as EEG, EKG, surgical techs, sterile processing techs, radiology techs and careers as medical assistants and phlebotomists, etc. There are many benefits to starting your career in one of these high-demand jobs and opportunities for advancement and different career paths you can take from initial hire.
C: How does Northwell retain employees and allow them to grow within the health system?
JM: We retain our team members and encourage their growth by creating a positive and rewarding work environment where team members are empowered to challenge the status quo. This is not a normal 9 to 5. Our team members are flexible, hardworking and not afraid to push boundaries to go the extra mile for our colleagues, our patients and their families. This is a calling and our team members truly feel that when they are at Northwell.
C: One piece of advice for anyone looking to go into a healthcare career.
JM: Healthcare is the one industry where all types of professions have the common goal of caring for people, patients and communities. Whatever you want to do, whatever path you choose to take, can be done in healthcare. Most importantly follow your passion!
Are you Made for a career at Northwell? Explore current job opportunities across our healthcare system.
Subscribe to our blogs
Stay up to date with stories you want to know more about right to your email inbox.
How to start your career in health care before you’ve earned a college degree
You don’t need a college or advanced degree to begin a rewarding healthcare career that can really take you places. Whether you’re not sure if a traditional four-year degree is for you, or you would like to enter the workforce sooner, you can begin your career journey in a middle skills position at Northwell Health. There are huge benefits to starting your career in one of these high-demand jobs, and that’s why we’re spreading the word about these opportunities.
“Middle skills” is defined as anything above a high school diploma but lower than a baccalaureate degree including certifications, trade schools, associate degrees and certain licensing. Opportunities include specialty technicians such as EEG, EKG, surgical techs, sterile processing techs, radiology techs and careers as medical assistants and phlebotomists, nursing assistants and more.
A middle skills position offers you opportunities to create a robust career. From initial hire, there are multiple career pathways available– complete with competitive pay and benefits packages. Imagine this…
You begin your career as a central sterile technician, ensuring surgical equipment and instrumentation is sterile, and begin to gain essential work experience in the healthcare industry. You decide that you want to work directly in the operating room, and pursue education as a surgical technician (did you know Northwell offers tuition reimbursement for qualified employees?!). After that, you decide to go back to school to study nursing, and eventually, you could put all this experience and education into becoming an OR nurse. Perhaps you decide that’s not the direction for you and continue to management in your particular role. We’ve seen it happen!
The real attraction of working in middle skills is the demand. There is a shortage of people working in these essential jobs across the country and these positions are critical to the healthcare workforce. Starting in a middle skills job can give you the experience, the network, the demand, the education and the opportunity to succeed in the health care field without a college degree.
About Workforce Readiness
We’re spreading the word about middle skills opportunities through Northwell Health’s Department of Workforce Readiness, which partners with educational institutions and creates initiatives to support the workforce of tomorrow. We work collaboratively on local, state and national levels to increase awareness and address the STEM workforce gap. We provide a collaborative voice between industry and education.
Students: Start your healthcare career journey at Northwell Health. Visit NorthwellCareers.com/Students. The opportunities are endless.
Subscribe to our blogs
Stay up to date with stories you want to know more about right to your email inbox.
