Penalized for too many interests

I wouldn't take it personally. The current economic situation enables employers to be choosey and to judge by harsh criteria.

Yep, these days it's such a harsh climate for job searches. But things are starting to slowly look better. Hopefully we'll stay on that course and things will ease up...

Many years ago I was so frustrated during a job interview that I blurted out that I needed the job because I was tired of living in my car. Not only did I not get the job, (judging from the interview, she wasn't going to hire me anyway), the DON threw me out of her office. Employers have always enjoyed the position of superiority when choosing new employees. After all, they do have what you want!

are you sure you are not a little defensive about your situation? That may be throwing people off. There is a lot of smiling to be done during an interview.

It is a buyers market, veritable banquet of good pickins so they are going to toss out anyone they see on paper as less worthy.

Not necessarily true that they are less than, but that is the way it is these days.

The only way to get around it is to network and bypass the gatekeepers.

I had an interview GRILL me on my reasons for leaving a job prior to finding another. Like, would not accept my diplomatic answers to the effect that I was ready for new opportunities and wanted to be able to focus on my job search (translate- I HATED the job and wanted out). She just would not let it go and got really antagonistic about it. I didn't get that job...but here's the thing, I would have been miserable working for her.

It is just not the right setting for you then. I have been a nurse for a few years now and have had more jobs than years of experience. A lot of it was concurrent, but a couple were just a poor fit all around. I have had employers ask me about them but never harp on the fact that I have worked in several fields, and I have been offered almost every job I've interviewed for. Go into the interview with the attitude that you are also interviewing them. You want to see if this is the right fit for you and your life, and a place you can grow into. Use your past experiences in a way that displays you in a positive light. If you can use references from those past jobs, bring it up in a polite way that you still have ties with them.

Keep in mind that those hiring want to get a feel for why individuals job jump. They are going to be putting in an investment to orient and/or train in in some instances and want to get a bang or their buck. They want to find good employees and keep their staff turnover low. I want to know this information when I am interviewing so I do not put the huge effort to train someone and then have them leave and go get another job on another PICC/IV team. So just provide them with a decent explanation of why you left. I always look for someone who has a passion for the the subject matter and will not cause a lot of interpersonal conflict and can work well in a team as opposed to someone who has priority for the the hours, the pay and benefits. Those things are important but when they become the focus of the interview I usually tend to dismiss that candidate. I like to save that info towards the end of the interview.

While interviews are designed to uncover behavioural traits, it's still a two way street. Yes, the interviewer always has the upper hand, BUT the interview allows you to decide whether or not you want to work there. If an interview leaves you feeling uncomfortable, or the interviewer is deliberately antagonistic, you probably won't enjoy working there. Something else will come along.