Top interview ways to NOT get the job (New Grad RN)

whoknows56 · May 30, 2009

I'd extend this to instructors as well. I cannot believe how many times I've been with a group of students and an instructor, and one of the students begins ranting about how horrible instructor so-and-so is. I *wince* every single time because you just have to imagine the instructor is listening to this and thinking "so this student would rant about me next semester, to their classmates and future instructors."

Agreed. Once you are out of school and have graduated, it is time to leave the "hate/dislike" of that and that from school behind and move on. Just give a positive tone to stuff.

greenfiremajick · May 30, 2009

- When detailing some great accomplishment of yours, qualify with " Of course, I was totally hammered at the time."
- Highlight your ability to swipe supplies undetected.
- Ask if the interviewer minds if you sit in the floor.

This one made me laugh hysterically!

rnffemtguy, BSN, RN · May 30, 2009

7. Balding candidate abruptly excused himself. Returned to office a few minutes later, wearing a hairpiece.

Awww, crud, I thought they didn't notice that, and I sure didn't think it would show up on allnurses.com!!!!!

life_aknew · Aug 7, 2009

things not to do during an interview

this is a list of actual interview incidents (from a consultant who surveyed 100 top executives for their most unusual applicant experience).

said he was so well-qualified, that if he didn't get the job, it would prove that the company's management was incompetent.
stretched out on the floor to fill out the job application.
brought her large dog to the interview.
chewed bubble gum and constantly blew bubbles.
candidate kept giggling through serious interview.
she wore a walkman and said she could listen to me and the music at the same time.
balding candidate abruptly excused himself. returned to office a few minutes later, wearing a hairpiece.
applicant challenged interviewer to arm wrestle.
asked to see interviewer's resume to see if the personnel executive was qualified to judge the candidate.
announced she hadn't had lunch and proceeded to eat a hamburger and french fries in the interviewer's office.
without saying a word, candidate stood up and walked out during the middle of the interview.
man wore jogging suit to interview for position as financial vice president.
said if he were hired, he would demonstrate his loyalty by having the corporate logo tattooed on his forearm.
interrupted to phone his therapist for advice on answering specific interview questions.
wouldn't get out of the chair until i would hire him. i had to call the police.
when i asked him about his hobbies, he stood up and started tap dancing around my office.
had a little pinball game and challenged me to play with him.
bounced up and down on my carpet and told me i must be highly thought of by the company because i was given such a thick carpet.
took a brush out of my purse, brushed his hair and left.
pulled out a polaroid camera and snapped a flash picture of me. said he collected photos of everyone who interviewed him.
candidate asked me if i would put on a suit jacket to insure that the offer was formal.
said he wasn't interested because the position paid too much.
while i was on a long-distance phone call, the applicant took out a copy of penthouse, and looked through the photos, stopping longest at the centerfold.
during the interview, an alarm clock went off from the candidate's briefcase. he took it out, shut it off, apologized and said he had to leave for another interview.
a telephone call came in for the job applicant. it was from his wife. his side of the conversation went like this: "which company? when do i start? what's the salary?" i said, "l assume you're not interested in conducting this interview any further." he promptly responded, "i am as long as you'll pay me more." i didn't hire him, but later found out there was no other job offer. it was a scam to get a higher offer.
an applicant came in wearing only one shoe. she explained that the other shoe was stolen off her foot in the bus.
his attache opened when he picked it up and the contents spilled, revealing ladies' undergarments and assorted makeup and perfume.
he came to the interview with a moped and left it in the reception area. he didn't want it to get stolen, and stated that he would require indoor parking for the moped.
he took off his right shoe and sock, removed a medicated foot powder and dusted it on the foot and in the shoe. while he was putting back the shoe and sock, he mentioned that he had to use the powder four times a day, and this was the time.
candidate said he really didn't want to get a job, but the unemployment office needed proof that he was looking for one.
asked who the "hot babe" was, pointing to the picture on my desk. when i said it was my wife, he asked if she was home now and wanted my phone number. i called security.
she threw-up on my desk, and immediately started asking questions about the job, like nothing had happened.
pointing to a black case he carried into my office, he said that if he was not hired, the bomb would go off. disbelieving, i began to state why he would never be hired and that i was going to call the police. he then reached down to the case, flipped a switch and ran. no one was injured, but i did need to get a new desk.
asked if i wanted some cocaine before starting the interview.

omg! this had me mouth agape and rollin with laughter. i'm so printing this out lol.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Aug 7, 2009

my :twocents: wondering why you can't get hired or promoted: resume + interview hints!

Sensoria17 · Aug 7, 2009

What do you ask when an interviewer has already answered every question you would have asked? I've only had one official interview at a nursing home (at another, they weren't actually hiring but the DON wanted to speak to me anyway) and since I completed almost all of my clinical time in nsg homes, I feel like I already know how they operate and I really just don't have much to ask. I couldn't help but feel bored during the interview. The woman started telling me about her daughter's asthma and how everyone was "like a family" at this facility. I don't know why, but when a potential employer starts talking like this, it's a turnoff. My last employer said this and it was anything but a "family".

SamAcct · Aug 7, 2009

After attending a recent interview, I swiftly decided not to accept the job offer because of the comments being made by the interviewers and the types of questions they were asking.
I felt it was none of anyone's business when one of the managers asked, "So, will this really be your only source of income?"
The same manager also commented, "You're older. Why did you become a late-entry nurse?" I'm 28 years old and I don't consider myself an 'older' person or a late-entry nurse, so that question really offended me.
Another manager was staring me as she commented, "You look nervous. Smile more!" Her observation was probably true, but the nervousness came after the strange comments and questions.
They offered me the job immediately after the interview concluded, but I declined to accept the offer. They were persistent, even going so far as to call me twice weekly for 1 month afterward to see if I was still interested. This is an example of how the interviewer can effectively drive away the interviewee!

Wow, I'll be 31 when I'm done with the RN education, that will be such an awkward question to ask!

teeniebert, LPN · Aug 10, 2009

Wow, I'll be 31 when I'm done with the RN education, that will be such an awkward question to ask!

I just got my LPN at 32...I'll most likely be in my 40s by the time I get to BSN...wait, where did I leave my walker?

MirandAck!!! · Aug 10, 2009

OMG people are insane!

PopeJane3rd · Aug 10, 2009

I wouldn't say things to make the interviewer think you are only using this job as a stepping stone. For example saying, "I would like to get this job so hopefully I can transfer into such and such department".

Also, I wouldn't ask too much about overtime. That might make them nervous if you say something like you can't do too much overtime. But alot of it is just common sense stuff like not asking too much about pay or demanding a certain schedule or saying you can't work such and such days.

You might also not want to bad mouth your last employer as that doesn't look good.

I made the mistake one time of asking an employer, "Does this company lay off very often?" What a stupid question I asked. I was young then, and I never heard back from her.

Another thing is try not to look agitated with the seemingly nosey, irrelevant questions the interviewer asks. I think I lost a potential job once for getting a little impatient with the interviewer.