Job dilemma ..

[Rngirl832]

Hi - I am new to all nurses forums! I have a little bit of a job dilemma and want some opinions. I am a nurse and have been applying for new jobs for about 2 months . Sent my resume out to multiple different hospitals and positions . Luckily quickly set up and I had an interview at the hospital I currently work at but on a different floor . ( my friend works on that floor and helped me to get the interview - which I very thankful for ) . I went to interview and got a phone call before I was even home with a job ( part time night 7a-7p- which I'm not crazy about --- but I need to get off my current floor ) I accepted this over the phone . Next day I get an email from human resources from one of the leading children's hospitals in the WORLD to come in to interview - of course I accept to go on the interview . I interview - went great !- then I shadowed on the unit - went great. I spoke with the hiring manager after and I felt like it was appropriate to tell her that I am set up to start a new jobs at the current hospital in the new year . The manager I was interviewing with laughed and asked me where do you want to work ? And said that if she were my current hospital and I now declined the job I had already accepted she would be upset and I would be burning bridges . She said she wasn't trying to "school" me but that professionally I shouldn't take a job then back out .

I was so upset that I really didn't explain myself to her . She told me I would hear about this position within a week . I was do upset I cried as soon as I stepped out of the building - thinking I ruined my chances . I sent her a very nice thank you email and explained that I had accepted the new position at my current hospital well before her hospital ever contacted me . And that i shared this information with her so if I needed to I could get my new manager ample warning if I were to accept at the other hospital . I said that I am flattered that you are considering me and very hopeful . I haven't heard back from her .

What do you think ? I'm so upset how I left the interview I felt like I needed to explain myself . The hospital I just interviewed with is a full time rotating days and nights - which I would like more .

[NurseOnAMotorcycle, ASN, RN]

Oh that stinks! I hope the second place calls you back anyway! And stop telling them about having accepted the first place!

[OldDude]

I'm not sure what it is you're wanting an opinion on. If I read your post correctly, you've made a decision.

[Libby1987]

I think the big lesson here is that you need to slow down and consider the situation before saying something you can't unsay.

You didn't need to tell her you had just accepted a position, only that you need to give considerate notice to your current employer.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

The ball is in the manager's court. if she calls you back to offer you the job at the world-class children's hospital, I say you take it. But be darn sure you mean to do everything in your power to keep it.

But wait! If you don't have an offer IN WRITING from the first place, you are still a free agent! Call her back RIGHT NOW and tell her they didn't follow up and you want to work for her!

As other considerations:

One of several things may happen:

1) You will fall in love with the job you accepted, and after a year, decide to stay there after all

2) You will absolutely loathe the job you accepted, and within a decent interval, say, eight weeks, decide you made a serious error and want to go to the world-class place you interviewed at

3) You might not be crazy about it, but it might be getting better, or at least tolerable

In the case of (1), you're all set. For (2), a few weeks in you might call the children's nurse manager you interviewed with and tell her that the job is not working out the way you hoped when you accepted it. Your plan is to stay for two months to see if it improves, and if it doesn't, would she be willing to reconsider you? For (3), stick it out for a year, but stay in touch with that other manager so you'll know when her next vacancy comes up.

Finally: Never, never, never overshare. If you hadn't told her this, you wouldn't be in this position. PLay your cards closer to your vest next time.

[firstinfamily, RN]

Sometimes being too honest can bite!!! You really didn't have to tell her about the new position. She may not want someone who is not committed. Hard lesson to learn. Try the new position at your current work place and if that does not work, then try again for the world-class pediatric organization. OR at least see how long your application will remain on the active list.

[Lucky724]

As others have said, do not mention the other job offer(s) you've received to other prospective employers..while you are being honest this information can be interpreted by the others you are interviewing with in many different ways....there is nothing you can do now about this. I would not contact the person you interviewed with at the childrens hospital again, she is clear on what you said and why. If you don't hear back from her one way or the other in a week or so I would contact the HR dept only & ask about the status of your application/interview & see what they say. There is no reason to explain this to them - they have no control over what her decision is. You've learned a lesson that thousands of others have so try not to be too hard on yourself. If you end up having to start the other job keep on applying at places you are interested it & something more to your liking will open up.