Strange job interview...thoughts on this?

[RNpandoraRN]

i've been a nurse now for 16 months and finally got an interview for my "dream" unit; however, the interview was odd. it was with the director of the unit (not hr) and while she did a fantastic job of explaining/describing the unit (which automatically answered any questions i had prepared), she never really asked me any questions! i was prepared to answer why i am interested in that field, why i'd be a good addition to her team, describe a situation in which i excelled, etc etc. she never asked a single one! then we toured the unit and it was over. i think the whole interview took maybe 30-40 minutes. maybe she has already chosen someone but had to do my interview because it was already scheduled? i'm feeling pretty bummed because it's taken me months to even get the opportunity to interview for my ideal position, and i feel like i didn't get an opportunity to promote myself and probably was already not considered before i even walked in the door. i can't think of any other reasons she would not have asked the customary interview questions...

has anyone ever had an interview like this? was the outcome in your favor?

[3boysmom3]

Not really so strange- some of my interviews over the years have been like that. As others have said, she had already seen your application/resume, and a manager really does get a strong impression from that. And, she probably knew within a minute after talking with you whether she liked you. If she isn't an experienced manager, maybe she just didn't have interviewing skills. If she's an old hand at it, she probably feels she can size you up just by your appearance, demeanor, and attitude. And last but not least, sometimes if they've been trying to fill a position for a long time, or they're in a hurry to fill it, they're happy to take the first app. (I know that's not the case with you, just one of many scenarios!

Chances are you have a good shot at it. I doubt she'd have spent 30-40 minutes on the interview otherwise. I'm a nurse manager and if I get a poor impression of an applicant, believe me, it's a pretty short interview. 30-40 minutes is a luxury!!!

Good luck!

[RNpandoraRN]

oh my goodness! thank you all! reading your responses has helped lift my spirits. it hadn't occurred to me that the lengthy 20-question-type interview that i had for my first (and current) nursing job was....well....because i was a new grad and it was my first nursing job! in answer to a couple posters' question - i don't think the director is new in her position or in interviewing; i got the impression she's an "old hand" at it. i should know by tuesday (5/5). i sure hope the majority of you will be correct! :)

[Nurse_FF_EMT]

I think that more managers realize that we are shopping for a job, just as much as they are shopping for an employee. They realize that we have more options as far as positions go.

It sounds like you might have already sold yourself to the employee, and not it was her turn to sell the job to you.

[diane227, LPN, RN]

Yes. They wanted me so bad that they were trying to impress me in order to get me to take the job. The manager did not ask me one question. She looked at my resume and that was it.

[UM Review RN, ASN, RN]

I've had a few like that, that went either way. Once I got in, I realized why you don't take it personally. Examples:

• Unit was hiring for months because people left. Suddenly there was a hiring freeze and we were "fully staffed." All the folks who'd been trying to get in for months, couldn't. But because the more expensive travellers had already been contracted before the freeze, we had to keep them. All the folks who'd had their resumes in for less than three months never got called.
  
• Unit was given a bonus for coming in under budget. Voila, we "wanted to improve nurse-to-patient ratios" and hired 4 new people. Practically on the spot.
  

It's really a money game, and each unit manager staffed according to what she thought her budget allowed for. Terrible system. But there ya go.

Seems to me that once you get past HR and talk to a manager, you're in.

[chicookie, BSN, RN]

I don't know sounds like you most likely got it to me. ^_^

[country mom]

It's a good practice to send a thank you note following the interview. It puts your name in front of them once again, and, it shows good professional etiquette, that you appreciate their taking the time to interview you. Where I work, there is a scoring sheet and potential candidates get "bonus points" when a thank you note or call is received following the interview.

[MB37]

My interview for my "dream" job as a new grad was like this. I had prepped like crazy, come up with all kinds of answers for typical interview questions, etc., and then my interviewer didn't ask anything except, "why are you interested in critical care?" Then she explained how the training was structured, and let me ask a few questions - thankfully I had several prepared, and asked 3-4 at the interview. I walked out, sure I hadn't gotten the job, and went home to fill out more applications and make some more calls. Sure enough, I got the job a week later - and they interviewed 75 people for 16 positions. Maybe it was to make sure we dressed appropriately and were polite, and that was it. Who knows?

[whipping girl in 07, RN]

My interview for my first nursing job was in a restaurant at a luncheon thrown by the hospital. The nurse manager sat down with me at a little table, we talked about the two units she was over, I expressed some apprehension about going into ICU as a new grad, she told me I'd be fine but she'd hire me for whichever unit I wanted. It was weird. She'd seen me at the hospital when I was doing clinicals (although, strangely, not on her floors...I'd pulled her into a patient room on the 5th floor when she was walking by because I needed some help!) and I guess she remembered me.

I was fortunate when I graduated we had a nursing shortage (at least in SW Louisiana).

Good luck...job interviews are not always a "rake you over the coals" process!

[jjensen]

This was my last interview... I was all ready with case studies and how I handled certain situations etc... I was not asked one question... BTW, I got the job and love it... Good luck to you...