Fired After 50, Part II: Interviews---The Good, The Bad, and the Utterly Ridiculous

Second in a series about what it's like for a nurse to find her/himself out of work after age 50, smack-dab in the middle of the worst recession in our lifetime. This blog post describes the 'fun' I'm having while searching for my next job, which---as of this writing---still has yet to materialize. Please join me on my "Adventures in Interviewing"! Nurses Announcements Archive Article

Fired After 50, Part II: Interviews---The Good, The Bad, and the Utterly Ridiculous

Mamma said there'd be days like this.......what she DIDN'T say was that there'd be so durned many of them.

Of all the things in life that I hate the most, interviewing has got to be right up there near the top of the list. I loathe interviews. One reason is rather petty---I have an intense aversion to pantyhose and heels---but getting dressed up is far from the worst aspect of the ritual. Being a little OCDish, I'm always worrying about arriving on time; being directionally dyslexic as well, I am also apt to get lost. I mean really, REALLY lost. But the worst part of it is the digestive upsets that befall me every time: my stomach tends to revolt at inopportune moments (last week the dreaded Green Apple Quick-Step hit me minutes before this huge panel interview), and at the very least I'm often beset by a bad case of borborygmi during the ordeal.

I've had several interviews since my last blog entry, and the best I can say at this point is that they've been quite a learning experience. Meaning, I'm learning a lot of humility. The first one, I left an hour and a half early for a trip that should've taken 45 minutes, and promptly got myself totally disoriented. I wound up having to pull over in the parking lot at the state prison (!) and call the company for directions. Turns out I was all the way across the city from where I was supposed to be. I did my best Jeff Gordon impression in cross-town traffic, but even so, I was fifteen minutes late. Great way to make a first impression. I didn't get the job. Can we all say, "DUH"?

Next, I was called for a two-part panel interview at the county health department, first with the interdisciplinary team, then with the medical director and the operations manager. Against my better judgment, I'd applied for a position as the clinical services manager, never believing I would be considered for it; accordingly, I was stunned when they called me a few days later and asked me to come in. This marathon, two-hour-long session actually went better than I would've thought, possibly because of the rare stroke of genius that prompted me to bring in a portfolio of policies and procedures I'd written some years ago, along with instructional materials I'd created for several different literacy levels.

I haven't heard back from them as yet, and I don't really expect to; not only am I vastly UNDERqualified, but in my heart of hearts I know I was wearing my deer-in-the-headlights expression for at least half of the time I was there. I was in way over my head, and nobody in that room knew it better than I. But by gosh, no one at the employment office will ever be able to accuse me of NOT 'actively searching for work', as required by the rules and regs.

Then, today. It was back to the big city where I'd gotten tangled up last week; this time, I left TWO HOURS early. And got lost. And was perilously near to being late again. But this time I made it with four minutes to spare, and had a great interview with a manager whom I can easily imagine working for and getting along with really well. Actually, I would BE the manager of that office.........it's a small hospice with only a few nurses, she wants someone with management experience and is willing to teach the hospice part. Sounds just about perfect for a nurse who wants to break into hospice nursing, right? Yeah, I think so too. But just as she was looking over my resume........in a burst of quiet........my belly chose to announce its outrage that lunch was overdue.

~sigh~

One of these days, I'll get it right. I won't have gotten lost, I'll be relaxed and have a full tummy, I'll have the right outfit on, I'll walk into a building wearing a confident smile, and I'll knock their socks off with my intelligence and witty repartee. And then---please God---I'll land a job that will keep me in toilet paper and gasoline for the next 18 years, because when this is all over, Lord, I don't EVER want to have to go through anything like it again. Amen!

VivaLasViejas

About VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide

I'm a Registered Nurse and writer who, in better times, has enjoyed a busy and varied career which includes stints as a Med/Surg floor nurse, a director of nursing, a nurse consultant, and an assistant administrator. And when I'm not working as a nurse, I'm writing about nursing right here at allnurses.com and putting together the chapters for a future book about---what else?---nursing.

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Specializes in chemical dependency detox/psych.

I don't think that your "tummy talk" is going to blow an interview for you. :) Just have a sense of humor about it, and say something like, "See, even my gut is telling me that I'm a good fit for the position. "

P.S. maps.yahoo.com (or maps.google.com ), and do the driving directions from point A to point B.

Specializes in pedies and er.

I am thinking hopefully, probably, that you have a cell phone. ??? It sounds as if you may be "geographically challenged", as I fully admit these days cuz I dont give a flip, lol. so...I have gps on my phone and I love it. It really helps. maybe you might want to consider something like this? your blog was quite funny too!

Have you used mapquest for directions?

I hate interviewing, though it doesn't make me nervous anymore. The only thing an interview proves if you're a good or bad interviewee. I must be bad, because I've interviewed for several jobs I didn't get.

Keep us posted

Specializes in ICU and EMS.

You must be my sister's long-lost grandmother!! She can't tell left from right, up from down... let alone follow directions! I just had her read your post, and she was almost on the floor in laughter!

I just went through a long 3 month period of unemployment, but after 8 interviews, I have finally been offered and accepted a position in the ICU of my number one choice hospital. I'm in an area full of unemployed experienced and unexperienced nurses, so if I can find a job with one year of experience, I have faith in you!! My family is no stranger to unemployment benefits-- my mother has repeated bad luck with being laid off. The system is designed for otherwise successful professionals that find themselves out of work. Unfortunately, some have found ways to milk it for all it's worth, and have created the stigma notorious of unemployment benefits. Please don't feel bad about utilizing the services in the community! It does not make you any less of a person!

Best of luck to you on your job search! I'll keep my eye out for your updates!!

Take some Gas-X an hour before the interview! That isn't always hunger that makes your tummy noisy. :-)

I hate interviews too - with a purple passion. And I get the green apple syndrome too.

So - I'd LOVE for you to come here and manage our hospice!!

Too bad you live so far away.

Best wishes kiddo!

steph

I'm 53 and gearing up for a job change. I, too, hate the interview game. Any suggestions or warnings regarding the types of questions they ask and what they are looking for in "the perfect candidate" these days? By the way, I get lost easy---the GPS has really helped me save gas! Hope you get the job you really want. Life is too short to not enjoy what we do for a living.

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

2 words:

1. Immodium

2. Kava

Also, I like to make a "trial run" any time I have to go to a strange place for something really important. I at least drive by the building to make sure I can find it, see where parking is, etc.

The fact that you're getting interviews seems like a good sign to me. It indicates that your applications/resume are strong enough to get past the first screening.

Good luck!

OK, one thing that has helped me in a big way is to do a drive-by a day or so before the interview. I have done this many times. Even though it may cost me in gas and time, it really takes away that particular worry that you can't find the place on time. Once I have found it on the drive-by, then I track the mileage home and amt of time the drive takes. This will help you plan accordingly for the actual drive to the interview. Many times I have my hubby along on the drive-by, cause he's got a good sense of direction. This almost always ends up as a lunch or supper out after the mission. Oh I hate interviews, but keep it up, I found something and I'm 60. We aren't washed up yet! :)

Good luck! I hope you get the job.

I really don't think that your stomach will have any great affect on their selection, unless they plan on hiring a robot.

Specializes in home health, dialysis, others.

You obviously have a computer. There are a variety of good mapping sites. Use them! If necessary, do a drive -by the day before.

And always ask about parking - some places have really good parking facilities, others don't.

You're getting interviews; that is a good sign.

Best wishes!

Suggest you invest in GPS for your car or at least get the app on your cell phone. This is one of the best innovations around lately. Good luck with those interviews, at least you are getting that far!