Rejected..No Facebook?!!

[cosmos2007]

I was really excited! Someone actually called me for an interview!! All of us LPNs were laid off in favor of medication aides over a year ago. Unemployment ran out long ago. I am an experienced LPN of eight years in many areas. I am also 55yrs old. It has been a long, very depressing time trying to find work. Some days dont even get dressed and leave the hair up in the ever present bun on top of my head. You know, the sweatpants, and wheres my bra again? So it felt nice to doll up and head out for an interview. Arrived 10 minutes early and waited for 30 minutes. DON finally comes for me, gives me a tour and we sit to interview. Its going well, we talk nursing and patient care. I felt like a nurse again. Tells me that they don't pay for experience there. New grad and eight year nurse make the same. uh,,ok. Then she says the position is only for one eight hour shift a week. It was listed part time. uhh...ok. Talks about orientation, etc. Its feeling good. THEN...she says " I searched for you on Facebook, I couldn't find you?" Trying to keep my jaw from dropping I inform her that I do not have a Facebook account. " You don't?! Why? That's how I track my employees, are you planning on getting one?" I informed her that I did not. I was then given the " I have other applicants to interview, and the interview was abruptly over. No one wants us older experienced nurses. Its time for me to face reality. Anyone have any suggestions for work from home nursing?? Thanks for listening

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

That's bizarre. I've never had anyone comment about Facebook. Let alone make a comment about GETTING a Facebook to track you. I'd say you dodged a bullet. Even though you want a job any boss who wants to keep dibs on their employees like that is not someone I'd want to work for.

As for work have to tried looking 30-45 minutes away from where you live? Good luck!

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

I would have just said "sure, I am going to get one" and done what I wanted.

You are depressed. 55 is not that old! There are jobs to be had. Sitting around all day in sweats with the girls roaming free is not what will get you there. You need to be aggressive in your job search. Also, get out there and network. Do what you need to update your look. Be energetic and you will seem younger and the job hunt will be easier.

I am 52 and I know what you are facing, but if you act old you will be perceived that way.

Please take this for the concerned and caring kick in the hiney it is intended to be.

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

I agree with Crunch.. Don't fall into a slump. BTW I cannot fathom why a manager would want an employee to have FB other than to micromanage you in and out of work. No thanks.

[LittleCandles]

What?? You didn't get a job because you don't have a Facebook? That was definately a job you probably didn't want anyway. How ridiculous. I'm so sorry. Just keep looking! Hopefully something comes up.

[RNperdiem, RN]

A DON that tracks her employees on Facebook! How creepy! You don't want to work under a controlling person like that. You dodged a bullet.

[GrannyRRT]

It wasn't that long ago when applicants were rejected because of no email address. The telephone wasn't enough anymore. We thought that was outrageous back then but quickly accepted later as a common everyday thing.

Some employers now want you to like or friend them on FB so they can post updates and training dates. The ironic thing is most of those employers view accessing FB from a work computer as a violation.

Employers had in the past allowed you to access work info and updates via the company email on your home computer. But, some labor unions viewed this as work time. FB is a way around that.

[WookieeRN, BSN, MSN, RN]

That is really weird and overstepping some crazy boundaries. I have had multiple potential employers say they weren't able to find me on Facebook, but I have a ridiculously common name and I am hard to find because I don't put everything on Facebook (college, high school, etc).

I plan to keep it that way, not that I use it much to begin with. How I use Facebook has nothing to do with my ability to do a job or work at all. I don't even post about work, period.

You don't want to work for somewhere that tries to overstep their boundaries like that. No one needs to monitor their employees when they're off the clock like that.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Appreciate your sense of humor. (haven't seen a bra in quite awhile).

There are jobs from home for you. Start by searching this site, the job boards , and major insurers web sites.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Agree with all of the above:

1. Totally weird they even asked about FB. Many posters have stated though that their employers DO look them up on FB but more for a reason NOT to hire them.

2. No increased pay for 8 years experience? Again kinda out of the norm.

3. One day a week? Is this the type of part time schedule you desire or were you trying to just get your foot in the door.

4. 55 is NOT old (I'm older than that and I'm not old - lol).

5. What about going back to school? Nursing Informatics is a wide open career field and certificates are offered for that. You could consider going back for your RN. I was an LPN first also and unfortunately the writing is on the wall. And nope you are not too old to go back to school either.

6. Network with your states nursing organization.

7. If you truly feel that you are depressed, please do seek professional help. Life is good, enjoy it.

Best wishes.

[sbtr50]

Sounds like you wouldn't want that job.Alot of places have policies against social media anyway. I will be honest,I saw a scenario where an candidate was interviewed and turned down for the job just because of something silly he had posted on his facebook page. It was very unprofessional of the interviewers in the way they did it.Good luck with your job prospects. Your experience goes a long way. Think outside the box and maybe you could find something else that your nursing degree would be a benefit to as well.

[llg, PhD, RN]

I your situation ... I would have said that I didn't have a Facebook account ... and then asked if it was something that they would like an employee to have? If it was something they wanted employees to have, I would have promised to get one. Then I would keep the account open, but use it minimally -- only for the purposes they wanted me to use it.

Just because you have a Facebook account doesn't mean you have to use it for personal stuff you don't want to post. It's not worth losing a job you wanted over. And in your situation, a part time job is better than no job at all.

(Personally, I have a FB account -- but I don't post anything on it that I would not be willing to have the people at work see.)