Negative Feedback from GN Interview - HELP!!!

[jtnurse13]

I am a new grad and have gone on several interviews without receiving an offer. Nursjng is a second career for me and previously I was in a corporate environment. I was in a senior level position but hated my career. I finally had the opportunity to go back to school and get my BSN and was so excited to finally graduate. In the past, I have always interviewed well. The only reason I know this is bc I was offered basically every job I ever applied for and got great feedback from the people that interviewed me. Things are different now!!! I received feedback (thank goodness) from the HR recruiter regarding my last interview. He said that based on my background he could tell that I interview like a person coming from that business sector. He said that although the hiring manager really liked me that I was assertive, but too assertive. He said that I have to remember that this is healthcare and managers are looking for different things then corporate world. He then told me that although i was probably just trying to let them know that i was definitely interested and excited about the opportunity that it just didn't come off right. He also said that he knows I'm an excellent candidate and he really wants to get me hired on into their GN program, so he set me up for an interview with another unit.

I'm honestly not sure what to do! I went over interview questions and found that most of the ones I was asked I was able to answer. Maybe I answered too quickly? Would that come across as over confidence or assertive? When asked what I wanted to be doing in 5 years I explained that I would like to have completed a FNP program but still be working at the bedside. Is that too definitive?

Any advice would be great!!! I really want to do well in this next interview!!!

[MommyandRN]

I agree with so many responses above. I think a business interview, you shouldn't admit you will make mistakes. But in a nursing interview, especially as a new grad, you should say that you expect to make mistakes. You have SO much to learn from the experienced nurses on the floor.

Also, the "where do you see yourself in 5 years" thing. Even if you want to be FNP and outta there in a year, lie. Say you would possibly still be on THAT FLOOR. (where they want you to be)... involved in unit meetings, acting a charge nurse or as a preceptor etc. It is okay to say that you are interested in FNP as a possibility "down the line". But they don't want to hear that you are going to ditch them once you get some experience and tuition reimbursement.

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

I interviewed a nurse awhile back, experienced nurse, but also business experience.

Her answers were articulate and confident, but she was way too smooth & artificial. It felt like she was trying to sell me something vs letting know what she was really like. I look for the ability to relate to others, and she exhibited a superficial connectivity. If I don't have a sense of who someone is, how can I hire them.

Also, I have no issue with a candidate with ambition. If you plan to become an APN in a few years in my specialty, I can get a few high quality years out of you while you become educated. However if I think you only want a year of any kind of experience, might as well keep moving.

[tmremramr, MSN]

I really like this advice! I wish I could interview with you, lol!

[tmremramr, MSN]

While everyone has a different interview style, I think that we all try to get at the root of the issue. As a hiring manager, I don't always ask the most conventional questions because I am looking to get a read on what type of person you are. Nursing is a feeling profession. Not everyone can do it. You can know your stuff inside and out, but still not "get" what nursing is. My goal is to find out if you do "get" it. I don't want you to reheorifice. I don't want you to quote me stuff. I want you to be you. Sell me you. Confidence is cool, but if it comes off pretentious, I am gonna turn you off. I want you to tell me your best day, your worst day and how that made you feel. What you learned from it. You are a new grad. My job is to mold you into a long term, fabulous nurse. You job is to tell me why I should give you that shot.

Remember this. Nursing is not predictable. Ever. Why would you give predictable in your interview. I want to see you react. I want to see you think. I want to see how you deal with uncomfortable, unfamiliar....crisis. This will give me what I need to make a decision.

I wish you luck. Be a rock star...

I really like this advice! I wish I could interview with you, lol!

[P B and J]

By the by... no feedback is negative if you learn from it!! :)

[babyktchr, BSN, RN]

I really like this advice! I wish I could interview with you, lol!

Thanks!! If I could hire a lot of nurses from this forum, I would have the perfect unit!!

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

I have been interviewing a lot lately and have three job offers on the table. I have not quite two years of experience. From what I am experiencing in my interviews, it is SO important right now to take note of a few things:

1. Budgets are shrinking, therefore hiring the "right" person is more important that ever. Everyone is nervous with the new healthcare initiatives going live in January. Positions are being cut left and right simply out of nervousness. Therefore opportunities are shrinking even more, particularly for new grads. Every interview I have had has stated how they were wanting to hire XYZ number of people but now can only hire two as next year's budget just unveiled.

2. The BIG push right now is patient satisfaction scores. Reimbursement is going to be directly linked to this. Therefore if you come across phony, fake, practiced or cocky, you are going to get shot down every time. They are looking for what the patients want to see - warm, fuzzy, passionate about nursing, compassionate and present in the moment. They need to see you are going to be LIKEABLE. Someone they get along with. Someone who cares whether or not the patients are happy and someone who is able to turn around difficult situations and difficult people while still having great core clinical skills. As a new grad, the only part of that equation you bring to the table is being LIKEABLE. If you don't come across as likeable, you have nothing, as you do not have much in the way of clinical skills yet. Sure, you were a business big shot and recognizing the role of business in healthcare is a plus, but not if you come across as thinking you are all that and a bag of chips. You are a new grad. They are looking for humility, not showmanship. In this brave new world you jumped into, you are brand new again and your business savvy means diddly except for your ability to recognize the importance of patient satisfaction to the bottom line of the hospital budget. Your focus in interviews needs to be solely that of a NEW NURSE. Not a business savvy person. Your previous experience hinders you more than it helps in this instance. New nurses are scary enough without being overly confident based on experience that has zero meaning when a patient is turning south or when a family is upset about something.

3. I would avoid answering about an FNP in a five year time frame. Anyone who knows how nursing schooling works knows that means you will be quitting within two years or less and that your focus won't be on learning to be a good floor nurse but on how to make the next step. Less than two years = little payoff on the investment they are making in you. This is why most internships come with a minimum two year contract to work. I'd change your answer to something along the lines of wanting to learn to be a great nurse and in five years hope to be continuing your education to that end. Not a lie but not so in-your-face that the job you are applying for isn't really the job you want. Education and advancement are very supported in nursing, but you have to learn when to unveil your ultimate goal. Your focus right now should be on the short term goals when it comes to interviewing. Learning to be a safe nurse, a smart nurse, a high-patient-satisfaction nurse, a nurse great at assessment and core measures and evidenced based practice and time management are your short term goals. Your five year plan as far as interviewing goes needs to be a reasonable extension on those things.

4. Can't say it enough - be LIKEABLE. Present humility - not self derision, not self deprecation. Share what you loved about nursing school. Share the challenges you look forward to tackling. Pick one or two things that make your new nurse heart burn hot inside and share that. Love patient advocacy? Share that. Love the excitement of starting IVs? Share that. Good at making unhappy people happy? Share that.

Best of luck. I commend you on your self assessment. That is a mark of a good new nurse.

[sunmaidliz]

Bottom line is that you are trying to sell them on the idea that you are a good fit for their unit and that you will be easy to work with. Once they get that sense, experience, skill level, background means nothing. If the manager can picture herself working with you and not creating problems, then you are in like Flynn. If she is turned off by you, then it doesn't matter how well you can do the job. Nursing is in two parts: safe patient care and working in a team. If you can practice care with out making the facility liable or you not losing your license, if you are safe, you are good. The second most important part is getting along with your coworkers. If people aren't "feeling" you, then it's going to make for a unhappy work environment and the happier the nurses are, the nicer and better they are to their patients.

[jtnurse13]

Well, I went in my interview today! I appreciate all of the advice and what all of you said definitely made sense! In a business interview you really are trying to sell yourself, your skills, and show that you not only want the job, but will be the best. After reading all of your comments I completely tried to change the way I interviewed. I focused much more on the patients, teamwork, and my desire to make an impact and help people. I really reviewed all of the comments here, but honestly tried not to "reheorifice" the right answers to other questions. I was just much more "me" in this interview. The director seemed to really respond and I even got several "good answer" comments! I also interviewed with 2 of the staff nurses and they seemed to like me as well. I won't know for a couple of days if I got the job, but even if I didn't I am looking forward to the feedback I get. Although nursing school is a learning process, for me, this has been a learning process too. I'll update everyone and let you know what I find out! Thank you all again so much for your help!!!

If anyone else has any additional advice, please post it! I know I still have things to learn on this subject and different opinions and suggestions are certainly helpful!

[MsPebbles]

So glad to hear it went well! Keeping my fingers crossed for you! :)

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

Super! So excited for you and can't wait to hear the outcome!

[Greenclip]

One thing I like to say in interviews, as far as where I'd like to be in 3-5 years, is that I want to be the team member that someone can turn to if they have questions or need help. That lets them know you have staying power and it presses the teamwork button too. If you're interviewing on a specialty unit you can say that you'd be interested in getting the certification for that specialty. That does not have to be untrue...you can express interest and decide not to do it...also, even if you want to be outta there in 3-5 years, it will never look bad to have a certification under your belt.