CNA position interview, help please

[mikejjmay]

So here is the situation,

I am a newly certified and registered CNA, and have two job interviews next week, both on the same day. One is for a business position (which is what my bachelors degree is in), then other for a CNA position. Benefits of both - they are both better then my current job.

The business position is much more money and standard hours (9-5). This should allow me to pursue nursing school at night as my current business work has me working crazy hours and i cannot do it now.

The CNA position is full time (72hrs per pay period which is 2 weeks), and is at a 5star medicaid rated facility. My grandma stayed there actually when she got toward the end. great facility, great people, and would give me really good experience i wouldn't get in the business posiiton. Downside - about a 30 minute drive from my house.

So here are a few questions. The CNA place want me pretty bad i feel because of my educational level and the fact that i will be a nursing student. The pay cut is going to be tough. I feel i would need to get like $14 an hour to compensate, which is tough to get as a new CNA. Tough, but not unheard of. Are there any tips for trying to get a higher salary? Any ideas?

So i will interview for both jobs on the same day, but if I got offered the business one i would think i should take it just cause of the pay and the fact that it is som much closer to my home. How should I say this at the end of the CNA interview? If I am offered the position should i just say "I have another offer i need to consider, when would you need my response by?"

Also with regards to the CNA position, it would help a little if it was 40 hours a week instead of 36, as thats like an additional $50 a week. Is there anything i could say about that? Can i ask about the availability of overtime or picking up extra shifts? But the way, the shift is the morning/first shift, so no chance for shift differential (although it is every other weekend so maybe a weekend differential????) Let me know what you guys are thinking!!

[NP Sam]

It is definitely tough to get a higher salary as a CNA, depending on where you work. I will have my bachelors next semester and I currently make 13.25 hr, but I'm PRN though. But you would be working the 7-3 shift? yeah, no differentials there. When you say it is every other weekend do you mean you work during the week with weekend rotation? Or would it be 12 hours shifts? Maybe it would be best to take the business job, and possibly take the CNA job PRN. That may be too much, but where I work PRN people are only required to work once every 60 days. But of course I work way more than that. I think you should definitely say "I have another offer i need to consider, when would you need my response by?"

[mikejjmay]

Yeah the way they make it sound it would be a weekend rotation. It would just be really hard for me to take that kind of a pay cut, but if i do not get extended the business job, but am offered the CNA position, I think i would opt for the CNA position simply because i HATE my job now....What about the availability of overtime? Can you sort of "count on" having extra shift available to pick up more money? Have you found that available in the CNA line of work?

[NP Sam]

Overtime should definitely be available. At my job you can look at the "books" and see exactly who is working where and places people are needed in the facility. I know people who give out their number to employees if they want someone to work for them. What I personally do is go to the supervisor's office and tell them to call me if they EVER need someone to work. I pick up shifts like that. Or you can just call the supervisor's office the day you want to work and you never know...