Did I just made a mistake by declining an interview?

Nurses Job Hunt

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I applied to the Med Surg unit at a local hospital. Last week, a recruiter called me and asked me to an interview. I was sooo excited at first, until I asked her who will be at the interview she told me it was the DON of postpartum/L&D unit. She said it was for post-partum & L&D new grad position. Now I learned, apparently new grad. application gets circulated in the hospital! ha..

I told her I'm not interested in women's health. and declined the interview.

Today, the head recruiter called (turned out last week was recruiter's assistant), basically just to confirm that I was offered an interview but declined? I again explained to him, I am not interested in post-partum/L&D unit. I asked if there are interviews going on for med surg or other units? He said maybe if selected next week they'll start calling..

I don't know, I just felt bad -- should I have gone to the interview? even tho I have absolute no interest in OB (don't feel comfortable too)?? :( I am afraid I won't even get a call back from med-surg now. It's my first time getting a call back! sigh.. I don't understand why the recruiter called twice and even just to confirm that I declined an interview? was it bad? is it a no-no in job hunting?

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

An unemployed person who declines a legitimate interview is implying that he/she is willing to remain unemployed.

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Oh, yeah... major mistake.

I've had 20 interviews int he last 6 years (travel and agency work).

You never know what will come from an interview.

So sorry, can you call back and grovel?

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Specializes in LTC and School Health.

You know how many people are dying to get an interview. You should have went, even if for practice then declined. Lesson, learned.

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Specializes in Acute Mental Health.

I would have definately scheduled the interview and gone through with it, but would have found a way to imply my interest is not mother/baby. I would not take a position on that unit. Not for me, hated it in school, have children of my own, and am done done done with that part of my life. However, I do understand my talents/interests lie elsewhere and would have done my homework on the facility and worked the interview that way. If I still was crossed off the list, oh well.

I love your attitude that yes, it may have been a mistake but there isn't a whole lot you can do about it at this point. Just remember that interviewing is a skill that you could always practice. I don't blame you at all for turning it down. Just thinking about that position makes me .....ick!

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

Are you sorry you asked?:smokin:

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I'd have to agree. Knowing the "culture" of healthcare, and especially nursing, add in the current economy and I'd say you might have just pulled a real princess move there, OP. I am telling you that hospitals are literally floooooodeeeeeed with new grads seeking a chance. Just not answering the phone when they first try to contact you can mean your resume gets deleted because they can go to the next one of you on the list - they did not contact you because you stood out really, they just took the first handful that passed the computer screen.

Hope you get another call.

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Are you sorry you asked?:smokin:

haha no and yes. No, because I am thankful for all the honest opinion. Does it sucks to repeatedly hearing how bad I've messed up? Yes. Feeling even more stupid and like an idiot especially after all these comments. Thank you all, you guys really helped "reinforced" this costly lesson..

I like the idea of sending a note to the recruiter & assistant suggested by Tina, RN. Any suggestions - handwritten note? or email? Even if I'm already on the blacklist for the hospital, I still would like to be polite and I really do appreciate they called me.

I know it is a privileged and I am really grateful that I even got a call. OB is a very unique specialty, I have high respect for the nurses. However, I also know it is the one specialty I know that it's not for me. I'd feel sorry for my patients to have a nurse lacking the passion for the specialty. Prior to nursing school, I volunteered 80+ hours at an 40 bed mother/baby floor. I did well, even got recognize for it, but never liked it. During nursing school, despite doing well in the OB clinical, the rotation just confirmed that OB isn't for me. I loved learning all the new information, but not once felt the excitement and passion.

Yup, I should've gone to the interview for the sake of practice... very good point. That's what I'll be doing from now on! hopefully I will get more call.

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Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.

Did you mention that experience on your resume/application? If so that's why you may have been contacted for a OB position because they may have assumed you had a passion for it.

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Did you mention that experience on your resume/application? If so that's why you may have been contacted for a OB position because they may have assumed you had a passion for it.

nope, I didn't, because I didn't want to apply for OB.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Pretty big mistake, yes.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

As a new grad, you should NEVER turn down an interview. The biggest reason is that it may be a long time before the next interview comes along.

But I'm sure by now that you figured that out from our responses. :)

You could try sending that note that Tina suggested--after all you have nothing to lose. I've always been partial to hand-written thank-you notes, but given that time is of the essence for you, especially if they start selecting candidates for the new grad spots next week, an e-mail may be better.

Best of luck!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Neuro, ICU, travel RN, Psych.

I agree with sending a thank you card or something, with a short message in it. You could just quickly state that you are looking to build your overall skill set by working on M/S, and did not want to take the chance from someone else who is very interested in that specialty. That you are very interested in working for that hospital, and hope that they will still consider you for other positions. It can't hurt anything, and with any luck it will be a recruiter that is understanding of not wasting people's times for a position that you didn't feel would be a good fit for you.

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