Why it takes so long to get approval for a job !

I agree with you. I applied to a hospital, they called me after 2 weeks. The nurse recruiter asked me why i did not follow up with my application. I thought probably they did not need nurses anymore that is why they did not contact me...and finally the recruiter called me and asked me to come for interview....i told her that i will check my schedule and let her know which date will be good. I wrote to her a week ago..with list of dates that i am available for interview...she still didn't get back to me.

I went through the same thing in 1996.

Before you go on an interview, find out as much about a facility as you can, you can get that from their website, how many beds, the new expansion on the Mother Baby ward. If they have Magnet status, If they are on the solucent list of "most wired" hospitals, if they do electronic charting. ANY accolades that you can mention on the interview means to that person that you took your TIME to find out about the facility. THAT shows effort and a future conscience employee......

Whenever you go on an interview, follow up with a thank you card, or better yet, if they have given you a business card, their email address. Or even a call. But if you do write an email, point by point mention things discussed in the interview. Squeeky wheel gets the grease, the more the person who interviewed knows your name the better. Even with managers secretary or anyone you come in contact with, remember and use their name, people LOVE to hear their own name (i'm not being weird, it's true, also it's a show of respect). And eye contact is important too.

ALWAYS take notes on an interview...just like you were getting report from another nurse. This practice helps with your thank you email.

They will always ask you questions like "tell me about your worse manager,"
or something like that--the best way to answer that is not to attack them personally, but professionally--if you have witnessed neglegent conduct--and talk about how nurses should be held to a higher standard (that gets me the job everytime--and it is the truth, i witnessed a manager, when we were short staffed, her 1 patient.)

Always talk about how you were happy with your former employers. Anytime you have left a position it was to pursue "opportunites", not just money. Work into the interviews areas which you have succeeded in other careers, anytime you were a preceptor, or a mentor....anytime you were an EXAMPLE for a new employee to emulate...because an interviewer will then SEE YOU as an EXAMPLE.

Always maintain eye contact. Think thoughtfully before you speak.

Managers usually follow a script given to them by corporate, and you will get good at interviewing. Just today, I went to an interview, and she wanted to low ball me, but I recanted and asked for her "friendliest offer." Remember it's a negotiation. <<BTW I got what I had asked for, and a job offer right then...i've only gotten good at interviewing in the last year>>>>>>>

AND if someone gets onto you because you have no experience, have them "consider it an investment for the future." even say things like "I plan to retire from this facility." Especially if in other jobs you have been at one location long term....mention this, I always do.

What do you like in a manager, is another good question: "someone who will work along side me, and will help in a pinch, or when short staffed." "looking to a manager as a mentor, someone I can emulate as a successful nurse who has achieved excellence."

ALWAYs remember, to FAKE IT, TIL YOU MAKE IT. i'm big on those tony robbins tapes about speaking with passion, and I tell you it WORKS. See yourself getting the job. and when you leave an interview, make eye contact and shake the interviewers hand and let them know that you "appreciate your taking the time to explain the benefits of working for __________________,whatever facility you are interviewing with.

Another thing, I ALWAYS wear scrubs to interviews, with my name embroidered on the shirt. also, i'll wear my badges from my other jobs; as this shows 2 other facilities have me as employee and it makes them think they are missing a good nurse if they don't hire me.

Just a few experiences from a seasoned nurse...up to last year, i wasn't confident in interviewing and the offers I received reflected that. Just think about what you need to say before you say it. You will do FINE!!!!

linda

one more thing, if you go to a facility and hand in your resume, and they don't offer you an interview; go to each floor and ask who the manager is, go to thier office and introduce yourself. If you present yourself well, they may well walk back to HR with you and you will get an interview right there.

Be confident and you will succeed.

Alot of times the HR folks don't get the resumes to the managers. One of the girls I work with, it took her 4 yrs to get into my facility and that was with 12 years ICU experience, and she was an instructor for a local tech school for the LPN program----and she was ALWAYS at our facility with her students and they wouldn't give HER an interview:::::::::::::then when she DID get an interview, she only got an offer for MEd/Surg...................and there were openings in the ICU on both shifts?????????????????that was just whack. It took me to walk her down to the ICU department and introduce her to the manager.....I'm telling you, Squeeky wheel gets the grease!!!!! BTW: now she is working in the ICU.

Linda

You will find too, i've made folks wait a week to talk to me, and I was open about other interviews, and where they were at. I still haven't heard back from the last one, a hospitalist nurse to round with a pulmonologist...if I get it I do, and if I don't there is always something else.

linda

I use to take an actual prefilled out thank you note with me to the interview, leaving it in the car while I was inside at the interview itself.
Then, upon returning to the car, would finish filling it out with the name of the person who interviewed me in the salutation, any info in details referring to the designated position I'd been interviewed for, that sort of thing.
It really speaks volumes to receive a prompt thank you note in writing, not via email. The snail mail route may take a day or two, hence, my haste in signing, dating, and mailing on my way home from the interview.
Then follow up promptly with a phone call two or three days after the thank you note would've gotten to them if you haven't heard back yet.
Just continue the follow up phone calls, not emails, to them once per week.
If this doesn't work, try finding out who it is if there is someone above them on a unit looking for a slot to be filled, what their name is and call and ask to speak with them directly. You're not going over anyone's head on this.
You're following up to the inth degree. Don't worry about the NM or whoever feeling like that. She, in fact, didn't get back with you. Tell the person you're still interested in the position. But that you are interviewing else where and have been made an offer that you're considering. Tell them you didn't want to pass on a chance at their facility...etc.
It's not lying...exactly. It may pave the way for a slide in to that coveted spot you did interview for....and you're still looking elsewhere in the meantime, right?
Also, network via the internet. Go with gross amounts of faxed, mailed via snail mail, forwarded thru internet addressing to facilities, even if they're not advertising for hire at the moment. You never know .... they may be regrouping on the advertisement bit for a few days or a week or so to post it in house....don't give up...just think BIG...as in more than one or two per week....go for about a dozen or so on Monday morning bright and early.
Or tomorrow....don't wait 'til after the holidays, etc. Get your foot in the door asap and don't give up. Make looking for a job, a fulltime job in and of itself. GOOD LUCK!