Bordeline illegal interviewing process hospitals are getting away with n this economy

whoknows56 · May 15, 2009

Hospitals are getting away with "murder" in this economy. O.k. so I am so beyond flustered and I am hoping for some feedback or any advice would be greatly appreciated. I am a new graduate (May 2008)..I waited to look for a job, since I was pregnant my last semester in nursing school... now it's impossible to get a job.. I have been applying for jobs since January. The only interview (1 repeat I have had 1 interview and applied for more jobs than I can count) was from my nursing school where I did my clinical and I came across (1.) I have also come across (2.) and (3). too many times in the five months I have been applying for jobs.
(1.) Illegal questions during interview
(2.) Stating jobs that they will only hire internal candiates causing a great waste of time for external candiates: applications can take many hours
(3.) Treating job applicants like dirt... not returning phone calls and be down right rude!
Please share your experiences and give me some advice, please!!
Here are some of illegal questions I was asked during my interview, which made me feel very uncomfortable and of course caused me to interview poorly!
What are ages of your children, what does your husband do for a living, where does he work, where do you live, do you have family support? By the way... I called the HR department and told them what happen and they said that they would try and get me another interview in other department and they have told me no openings...I have been calling every month and keep telling me to call back! This is the hospital where I would be considered an internal candidate!

It does suck right now but it won't last. Soon employers will be bagging for nurses again. Once people get back to work and more people have access and coverage for health care, there will be a demand again.

NursingStudent5548 · May 15, 2009

Im sorry but on what planet and in what scope of practice is an RN EVER allowd to remove a cyst an suture them up??? I sincerely hope you are grossly exaggerating.
As for your clerical experience, I type 50 wpm but seriously doubt that a typing test is even a factor in
the screening process. Med. terminology should not be an issue, as the ap 1/2/micro/chem pre-
req's should more than suffice.

No this is not grossly exaggerating!!!

In the Army you see it once then once supervised....Then your on your own!!!

As a civilian Nurse this doesn't apply....but as an enlisted medic sure!!!

ccjus123 · May 15, 2009

I've read somewhere on interviewing tips that it is best for married women not to even wear their wedding bands/engagement rings. Companies see married women as risk since they are more prone to have children and take maternity - which is costly. I never knew this and ever since learning this I never go on an interiview with my wedding band/engagement rings on.

Another one I heard is that sometimes Agencies post pics up of their kids to see your response then in turn they will prompt you if you have children starting an "informal" conversation just to see more into your personal life.

I got caught out there one day with an agency (non-nursing). The guy had a really cute pic of his baby up (and me being a mom), and I just had to comment on how cute she was and ask how old she was. I guess this was the perfect way for him to pick up to see if I had kids too - he asked if I had kids and then I began....

Well the interview ended in him asking if I had childcare arrangements. He said he had a job lined up for me to start immediately the next day and told me the hours. Being put on the spot I had to step out and call my mother-in-law to see if she could help considering the hours. Well she wasn't able to help out and I couldn't get the job.

Live and Learn.

Personal questions are irrelevant during a job interview. Politely decline to talk about your personal circumstances and be assertive on the skills that you bring to the table.

Good Luck everyone!:imbar

FireStarterRN, BSN, RN · May 15, 2009

No this is not grossly exaggerating!!!
In the Army you see it once then once supervised....Then your on your own!!!
As a civilian Nurse this doesn't apply....but as an enlisted medic sure!!!

Maybe civilian medicine has something practical to emulate here. :twocents:

PennyNickelDime_RN · May 16, 2009

I was asked my age when interviewed by HR of a very large hospital group. Btw, I'm 54, they never called me back to set up any interviews...it was humiliating and it made me very angry.

coffee4metech · May 16, 2009

When I was hired for my first healthcare job as Nurse Assistant with an agency , my daughter came up in the conversation . The reason for this was my gap in employment I went on maternity for 4 months they were hesitant but I assured them I had support at home and had childcare available. I was hired on the spot and love my job . I feel that you do need to divulge some info because you are an investment to the company and they want someone who is able to work with out any restriants(timewise) and distractions so everybody is successful including yourself!!!!

Saifudin · May 16, 2009

I hope that after this recession, if it ends on a positive note, that values are re-evaluated and integrity returns not only to the work place but amongst and between individuals.

I understand how frustrating it is to not receive feedback from prospective employers. Fortunately I am employed but when I considered repatriating back to the States this summer (before the 'crash' really hit) I attended an online job fair via nurse.com. First, few hospitals attend and those that did did not fit what I was looking for, but I uploaded resumes. Not a word. Not thanks, or a 'No', nothing. Frankly, I'm not surprised but none-the-less, there should at least be an etiquette of a notification of some sorts. Funny how recruiter ads don't fit the reality.

With a glut of available nurses (seems strange to say after years of hearing 'nursing shortage') for what jobs are available, recruiters can behave in this fashion.

There has been thread running now for maybe a month or more about nursing and customer service. It garnered quite a bit of emotion. if patients are customers and customer service is viewed as an important part of gaining a competitive edge especially in tight health-care markets, then some of that energy should be placed in areas like recruitment with the demand to treat prospective employees with value as well.

NursingStudent5548 · May 16, 2009

I have a related question to add....

I am 7 months pregnant and gladly could pass as just having a slight bulge like a lot of people.

On the other hand how should I best handle this during my interview next week.

I could easily ignore it and be almost misleading (which I feel would be very wrong)

Or I could address it and attempt to assure them I have numerous resources for child care.

I am desperate for a job, I have no intentions on "burning them". I hope to get back to work ASAP after the birth. In fact, I think the factor that will slow me down the most is finding child care for a newborn.

So any suggestions anyone???

Rnandsoccermom · May 16, 2009

Been in nursing a long time here, and have pretty much been asked every question under the sun. In my experience an "illegal" question would be asking about sexual orientation or something like that. I have never been asked that either. Pretty much everything is fair game.

That being said, I have also done interviewing and while I don't ask specific family questions, asking someone to "tell me about yourself" often opens that can of worms. Most good interviewers look for sincerity, integrity, honesty and intelligence. It's quite easy to spot a whiner, complainer or faker, they give themselves away.

On that note, I live in the Chicago area, we have 4 LPN's where I work completing their RN, they have all gotten jobs. Everyone I know who has changed jobs in the last 2 years has not had a problem finding one here.

And yes, if you are pregnant you will have a hard time, it's been like that for 24 years, I don't see that changing any time soon-sorry.

whoknows56 · May 16, 2009

I always hate it when the first question you are asked is, "please describe yourself." I hate starting an interview like that because I know they are looking for an exact type of experience and if I don't say that exact type of experience, the interview is basically shot from that point on and you are forced to try and defend the experience and skills you can bring to the position. Grrrrrrrrrrr. When I interviewed for a clinical research coordinator position a few months ago, they said in the interview that they wanted a person with significant patient education experience. What I don't get is why the hell they even interview people with no direct experience in patient education.............I hate driving for three hours (or any other random length of driving time) just to be pulled into an interview when the person that is interviewing never even looked at the resume in any kind of detail before hand. Grrrrrrrrr. I swear I met some really, really stupid people that make hiring choices and I can see why they go into those positions as they can't handle the real deal in a business.