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Nurses Job Hunt

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I just had an interview that was something I have never experienced before. My first interview went really well. This interview was with HR. The HR rep even mentioned to me that she woundnt be surprised if I didnt get 2 offers. She went ahead and scheduled me for 2 interviews and I felt very confident. I did my research and practiced common interview questions. My 1st interview went well, common interview questions. The 2nd interview is my concern. It was too informal. It was a panel of 4 hiring managers. They told me about their floor and their role and asked if I had any questions. That was it! I asked a few and that was it. They did not ask me 1 question other than if I had questions for them. One of the hiring managers even pulled out their cell phone. I was shocked. Please help me understand what this means. It felt like they were just going through the motions, and had in mind who they wanted to hire (certainly not me). Please share your experience or offer any advice. I am new grad and feeling defeated. Thanks

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
It felt like they were just going through the motions, and had in mind who they wanted to hire (certainly not me). Please share your experience or offer any advice. I am new grad and feeling defeated. Thanks

Based on what you wrote, I think you got it exactly right. I recently had an interview like that as well. It's very disheartening! I hope you get an offer for that first job!

You nailed it: Interview #2 was not interested in you. Try not to take it personally; they didn't even hint at wishing to interview you, so you didn't fail to win them over. They weren't interested from the get-go.

With any luck, #1 does want you :)

I remember one interview I went on where the hiring manager took me on a tour, told me about the unit, never asked me a single question. I asked him a couple of questions as I hurried behind him on the tour. I thought for sure he was not interested, thought it went terribly. I got the call with a job offer a couple of days later. He said I wasn't afraid to ask questions and seemed enthusiastic and willing to learn. Later he told me my resume impressed him (well written) and the interview was just to get a feel if I would fit in on the unit. He was a great boss. Anyway, I just wanted to give a different perspective. They might have had their mind made up before the interview but it doesn't mean it wasn't made up to hire you. And if they had their mind made up for someone else it had nothing to do with how you presented yourself.

Specializes in PACU.

I am agreeing with what the others have said: they weren't interested and probably are not going to offer you a position. I work in HR, and usually second interviews that end like that do not end with a position being extended. 2nd interviews with engaged managers are usually an indication you are more likely to be offered a position (but not guaranteed).

You will never be sure why interviews turn out this way. They could've interviewed someone else after you they liked more, but for some reason decided not to cancel your 2nd interview. They could have suddenly had an internal candidate. You'll never know...

I figured that this was the case. My friends say that I am being negative but I have been on enough interviews to know that they should ask me more questions that I ask them. I am really sad about this. I am praying for the first interview. My heart was set on the second.

Thank you for your response. I appreciate your response.

Thank you for your response. I do not believe that I will have the same result. One of the hiring managers pulled out her cell phone in front of me...lol

I totally agree. To not have asked 1 single was question was pretty obvious that they had who they were hiring and have moved on. I just wonder why the HR manager was so confident that I would have 2 offers and 1 of the offers was pretty much null in void. But youre right, I will never know. Thank you again.

Specializes in NICU.

I had the opposite experience. I had a 9 minute phone interview with the hiring manager, then was brought in for a in person interview with an assistant manager. It was very informal, mostly about my capstone. We spent most of the time on a tour. I got the job offer 4 days later. I thought the experience was a good sign because they wouldn't make me drive 3 hrs. for an interview if they were not seriously considering me and the lack of questions indicated they had their mind made up to hire me before the interview.

Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

In my hospital system, unit managers are *expected* to be responsive via cell phone/text instantaneously pretty much 24/7. Don't sweat it.

My first thought was 'what kind of dog and pony show is this??'

Really, you wouldn't want to work for such a bunch of unprofessional, disrespectful buttheads anyway. Imagine going to them with a real problem? You are worth something :) You worked hard for your license and your experience, you plan to do your best, you have excellent motivation and energy. These clowns don't strike me as taking their own jobs seriously. The HR person who interviewed you only knows her "HR" end of things. It's so easy to go right into 'what is it about me??' but trust me, let that go. If all of your interviews were like that, then wonder about yourself :)

Getting a job is just as much you interviewing THEM as vice versa.

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