Recruiter will not let me interview (long)

[pbajil]

I applied for a certain job over 2 months ago. I didn't hear back, so I applied for a different position in that hospital. I spoke with a nurse recruiter a while back and it was discussed that my goal was to be in the unit I originally applied for, so she said that a separate recruiter would speak to me about that. I called them again to inquire and was told I would get a call. The second recruiter finally sent me essay questions via email, and I answered them. A week or so later (last week) I spoke with her on the phone at least 3 times, and spoke with the nurse manager on the phone. The recruiter finally asked me to come in for an interview, and had only ONE time available that week, and after that, none available until over 3 weeks later. I have kids and was not able to accomodate their one available time. I asked if I could please be squeezed in sooner than 3 weeks because I am looking at other positions, and need to figure out my situation fairly soon. She called back and said no, there are no other dates, sorry, and to have a nice day. I then asked if I could be scheduled for that far-away interview date anyway, and she said NO. Because she does not think I am "devoted" to this position since I am looking at other jobs, and that they feel they have been put on the back-burner, that I have made timing more important than working at this hospital. I explained that I applied a long time ago and that I felt I was put on the back burner for 2 months. She apologized that I had to wait for over 2 months, but still refused to schedule me for an interview. I told her that this is reality, and that most people look into multiple jobs at the same time, and that if I am a bad candidate for this job because I need employment soon, then that is ok with me. I then called the nurse manager and left a message, gave a brief synopsis of what is going on in their nurse recruitment office, and to clarify my situation.

Seems like a messed up situation. How do they expect to hire anyone with this behavior? I guess since this hospital has such a "great reputation" they think that nurses should be dying to work there. Well, they just missed out on a great nurse who would have given a lot to that position!

[Medic/Nurse, BSN, RN]

Wow!

Something like THAT does make a choice easier, don't you think?

Good Luck.

There are lots of great jobs out there - many without having to beg -

[Jolie, BSN]

I understand your disappointment and frustration with the interview process. But allowing that frustration to get the best of you won't help you to find employment.

The interview process, especially for new grads can be long and arduous. There may be multiple steps intended to "weed out" candidates. Managers may not have immediate positions available, but instead may be interviewing to fill future openings. (Positions that are anticipated to open in the next few months, or may be pending funding approval.) Some positions may be "reserved" for current employees with tuition pay-back contracts. Start dates may depend on scheduled hospital orientation sessions or the availability of preceptors. Hiring decisions are rarely made by nurse managers alone, but jointly by managers and HR. So, it is never a good idea to "vent" to anyone involved in the hiring process.

All of this can be very frustrating for someone needing a paycheck sooner rather than later. But no hospital "owes" you an interview or a position. If they get the sense that you are unwilling to be patient and flexible with the interview process, they may surmise that you will be "demanding" as an employee.

No good manager or HR representative expects (or wants) a candidate to accept a position without exploring other options, but nor are they obligated to speed up their established interview process to accomodate your decision making.

Be aware of how you are presenting yourself to your potential employer(s), and you will do fine.

[RN1989]

This sounds weird to me. It sounds as though they really aren't planning to hire for the positions they advertise for or they have too many responsibilities for one person to be able to get everything done. IMO - I don't think I would want to work there.

[gonzo1, ASN, RN]

All this is a warning that you probably wouldn't want to work at this place anyway. But, that said, I think it is best to not give out to much info to these people. I would not tell them I was looking at other places or that I need an offer within a certain time frame. The less said the better off you are. Otherwise you can get some power hungry HR person who thinks its fun to toy with you.

I can't know for sure, but it sounds like these people have no intention of hiring you.

Hope you get a great job somewhere nice soon

[angelwingsamy]

good luck to you. i wish you the best.

[pbajil]

Yes, exactly. I'm not into begging. Makes my decision easier. No, I am not a new grad. I have a lot of experience actually and was really not demanding or unreasonable. I was simply honest about my situation and asked for a sooner interview date, rather than (a) one exact time that week, or (b) in over 3 weeks.... since hey, a lot can happen in 3 weeks. And because of that they don't like me? A little ridiculous. But oh well!

[Batman24]

Sounds like you were the victim of a power hungry HR person. Better off moving on. Think of them as having done you a favor. You can take your experience and hard work elesewhere.

[RN4NICU, LPN, LVN]

Wow, most places wait until you actually work for them before they start insisting that the rest of your life revolve around them. If this place is starting with that type of crap during the pre-interview process, it doesn't sound like a place worth working for anyway. To expect someone seeking employment to not consider more than one potential employer is ridiculous.

Something I always consider when job seeking is that I am not the only one who should be looking to impress - just as the potential employer has other candidates to consider, I have other potential employers to consider. If I'm not impressed by what I see and hear, I move on - just as the interviewer would if I were not the type of candidate he/she was seeking.

[Dolce, RN]

Did we apply to the same hospital???

Last month I was interested in a position at a "Magnet Hospital." Because there was no information on the website about the job description (they only listed the unit) I called to inquire. I gave the recruiter a synopsis of my skills and experience and asked for more information. She told me she would have the manager call me back right away. I waited a few days and didn't receive a call. So, I called the recruiter again. She apologized and promised that the manager would call me right away with information about the job. Waited and waited. No call ever came. The job was posted the beginning of December. I called the beginning of January.

Want to know the funny part? The job is still open. They never called me back to respond to my inquiry. But, now I know that I really don't want to work for them because that is really unprofessional.

[justme1972]

I am very, very sorry that this has happeend to you, but here is some advice.

1. Never tell an employer that you are looking for work with other companies unless they are either soliciting you for the job or you are applying for upper-level manager. I know that some recruiters ask this quesiton, and I don't advocate lying in an interview, but to me....it's a stupid question, none of their business, and they'll hold any "yes" answer against you.

If they don't ask, you don't volunteer.

Beat them at their own game.

2. When you have no job...and need a job, that has to take priority over everything...absolutely everything....If I had to pay a neighbor $100 to watch my kids for 2 hours if a recruiter called me at the last minute....I would have paid it.

Only one time in my life was I unable to make an interview and it's because I broke my foot that same day...but came hobbling in the next day minus a shoe (which I profusely apologized for, and explained, it was too painful to put one on)...I got the job.

You have to make the recruiter think that you want the job...if you couldn't make the inteview b/c of your children, their assumption? You won't be able to make it to work either.

3. Never debate anything with a recruiter....as long as you need the job, you have to suck it up. As soon as you told them that "you felt like you were put on the back burner" your application went in the circular file.

It's a cruel world out there.

[irlandska]

pbajil,

Unfortunately this happens, one does get recruiters who are on a power trip and not considerate at all of the candidates before them.

The golden rule -Treat others as you would want to be treated - appears not to apply to some hospitals who think they are elite. I felt like being interviewed for a ghost job.