Juggling Job Interviews and Offers

[little_RN]

First off, I am a new graduate nurse who recently passed the NCLEX. I interviewed a little over a week ago for a unit which did not offer me a job as they decided to hire nurses with previous experience. However, the nurse manager put a recommendation note in my resume file at the hospital.

The next day (last Friday) I was called in for an interview on a renal unit at the same hospital. This job would be full-time, but it would be night shift. I believe the interview went okay, but for one hiccup. The nurse manager commented on my senior student preceptorship on an OB unit and I expressed that although I had an interest in OB that I realized I needed a strong foundation in Med/Surg. The nurse manager did not seem impressed, and commented that she was looking for a nurse who wanted to specialize in Med/Surg specifically. I know I made a mistake with this, but besides that I think the interview went fine.

The nurse manager asked me to call her the following Monday (which is today) to touch base. I am unsure of whether she will offer me a job.

The problem is that this morning I received a call from another unit at the same hospital to come interview today for a cardiac unit. I am certainly going to the cardiac unit interview, but I am unsure of when I should call the renal unit.

I am nervous that the renal unit will offer me a job when I call today. I don't know about accepting the offer right away on the phone since I'm also interviewing today for another position that I might want more especially if the cardiac unit is day shift. How do I politely say I need some time to consider the job offer without sounding like a don't want the job?! I don't want to screw up a potential job for another one that is in no way secured at this time!

Please help!

[llg, PhD, RN]

Is there someone in the Nurse Recruiter's office that you can talk to? Such a person could not only give you some advice (based on her knowledge of the particular people involved), she may also be able to help you coordinate interviews & offers so that you don't get put in this position. I would try to contact someone in the Recruiter's office before you get back in touch with the renal manager.

If you can't get that done today before you talk to the renal manager ... I would ask for a little time to think, saying that I was "confused." While I wouldn't outright lie, I would say that I needed to sort things out with the Nurse Recruiter as I was getting multiple messages from the hospital about a couple of different positions and that I wanted to sort it out with the Recruiter before making any firm committments. Emphasize your positive impression of her unit, but say that you don't want to offend anyone by making a committment before you clarify things with the Recruiter. Let the "blame" for your needed delay fall on your confusion about the multiple messages and not on any doubts you have about what a wonderful place to work her unit is.

In other words, stall a bit ... while you get with the Recruiter and clarify the situation. Has she submitted your name to multiple units? Will you be getting additional calls for additional interviews? etc. She may be able to delay the extending of an official offer until you have had a chance to complete all of the interviews.

There is a bit of a risk in that approach ... There is always a chance that she will interpret the situation correctly and think that you are just stalling for time while you wait for a potentially better offer. But that's a risk only you can know whether or not you are willing to take.

[lpnpgh123]

If a job offer is extended, just say that you would like to discuss all of the specifics with your family, and that you need a couple of days to think about it.

[macgirl]

You here's an Idea, ask if you can shadow, no decent job will say no. It buys you time and you get to meet those you will work with. In fact if you shadow both, you will have a better chance of making the right choice. Can you call after the cardiac interview or will it be too late?