Dealing with rude people when applying for positions

[RNdynamic]

I have worked in the same hospital for 3 years. There is a certain department within my hospital that I have wanted to work in since I first was employed on this hospital in a different specialization.

A few months ago, a position finally appeared for the unit that I have been aiming for. I applied, even shadowed in the unit during my own free time to get a feel for it, and have been waiting for 3 months to hear back. That is fine; I understand the hiring process can be protracted and that interviews take time to be set up. But I was never once contacted by the manager to at least interview in spite of my existing qualifications. What do you suggest I can do at this point to improve my chances?

I left a polite message on the answering tape of the recruiter who takes care of screening hires for the unit. I very politely asked what I could to to strengthen myself as an applicant, asked what the manager was looking for in applicants. I received a voicemail back stating that it was not appropriate to call about this and that if the manager was interested, I would be informed.

Uhm, excuse me? I didn't pester HR and demand an interview. I *asked* what advice the manager had in case I didn't get interviewed this time. How am I supposed to know what the manager is looking for if she doesn't (1) post more than a little vague, canned paragraph about the position which is copy and pasted from every other position on the website or (2) she meets with me and explains a little bit about the position and what she needs.

Does anyone want to weigh in? Am I just crazy for wondering what the manager wants so that I could strengthen my application for next time a posting for the department appears, if not for this one? You would think they would want people who are trying to improve their qualifications based on the needs of the positions.

[Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN]

... this post could be taken by some as coming across arrogant and abrupt or maybe rude...

Sounded a little snippy to me too. Just sayin'.

[CP2013]

I have worked in the same hospital for 3 years. There is a certain department within my hospital that I have wanted to work in since I first was employed on this hospital in a different specialization.

A few months ago, a position finally appeared for the unit that I have been aiming for. I applied, even shadowed in the unit during my own free time to get a feel for it, and have been waiting for 3 months to hear back. That is fine; I understand the hiring process can be protracted and that interviews take time to be set up. But I was never once contacted by the manager to at least interview in spite of my existing qualifications. What do you suggest I can do at this point to improve my chances?

I left a polite message on the answering tape of the recruiter who takes care of screening hires for the unit. I very politely asked what I could to to strengthen myself as an applicant, asked what the manager was looking for in applicants. I received a voicemail back stating that it was not appropriate to call about this and that if the manager was interested, I would be informed.

Uhm, excuse me? I didn't pester HR and demand an interview. I *asked* what advice the manager had in case I didn't get interviewed this time. How am I supposed to know what the manager is looking for if she doesn't (1) post more than a little vague, canned paragraph about the position which is copy and pasted from every other position on the website or (2) she meets with me and explains a little bit about the position and what she needs.

Does anyone want to weigh in? Am I just crazy for wondering what the manager wants so that I could strengthen my application for next time a posting for the department appears, if not for this one? You would think they would want people who are trying to improve their qualifications based on the needs of the positions.

Your original post is above....maybe YOU should re read it because you state:

"wondering what the manager wants do that I could strengthen my application for next time"

That sounds like the manager has made a decision and doesn't want to pursue you as an applicant. Move on to the next job.

[CP2013]

Or maybe it's you-you could have a reputation in the facility that makes you less then desirable. You may be the best nurse in the building but you can lack in other areas.

^This.

If the NM was interested, as you have been working there previously....he/she would have come to you and said "Have you considered x or y" and prompted you to pursue those options for a position at a later date. I get the feeling you are a snippy person and that probably translates to your work, and you reputation precedes you.

[CP2013]

I disagree with you Kooky Korky if you are referring to HR. They are supposed assist all customers. Those customer are applicants and managers. The response was very toxic to it's recruitment mission.

I don't think HR ever knows what the NM is looking for, because HR is not always comprised of nurses. Some recruiters just stick to the criteria they have been given by NM and may not recognize what exactly that means. They are never going to be able to provide feedback to every candidate because maybe the NM just doesn't "click" with that applicant. This isn't some person off the street, the OP worked at this facility and handier the unit, if the OP didn't think to ask the NM what would hep to strengthen them, HR may not be able to give them an answer because maybe it was a personality clash or they had someone else in mind for the position, but HR was never told, so how can they tell the candidate?

[Sun0408, ASN, RN]

Op, you were the one talking about how understanding you were re: setting up interviews, how much time it takes etc, so yes that gave me the impression you still had hope for THIS job now. After 3 months, it is time to move on (which was the point of my post)and no HR is not there to help you become a better applicant. They screen and pass along the applications that meet the NM criteria, sometimes not even doing that..

I do find it rather funny, you calling them rude but don't see yourself as such. Pot meet kettle

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

I disagree with you Kooky Korky if you are referring to HR. They are supposed assist all customers. Those customer are applicants and managers. The response was very toxic to it's recruitment mission.

I bet HR doesn't consider applicants as "customers". They are job applicants, to be weeded out and the best sent on to the hiring manager. HR's customers are those who are relying on them to find employees.

[RNdynamic]

Or maybe it's you-you could have a reputation in the facility that makes you less then desirable. You may be the best nurse in the building but you can lack in other areas.

What are you basing this perception on?

[Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN]

I bet HR doesn't consider applicants as "customers"...

That may be so, Sweet.

But, in reality, applicants are customers of the HR function.

[ktwlpn, LPN]

Oh ,just throwing that out there....there must be a reason why they are not interested ,right?