Getting a job - from the employers perspective

MrChicagoRN, RN · Oct 10, 2012

Your resume may end up getting faxed or transmitted electronically. Make sure your your font is large enough and clearly legible to be read. If if I can't read it, I'll toss it.

cienurse · Oct 10, 2012

I have felt your pain and I have a couple of additions: First, I know you're anxious for the interview but please don't show up a half hour early and expect me to drop everything I'm doing for you. There's a reason why an appointment is made-contrary to popular belief, LTC DON's actually do actually have a very busy job which I am trying to get done in order to be ready for your appointed time! Second, don't ask me about salary within the first few sentences of your interview. That tells me that you're only interested in money and not what I have to say about the facility, our philosophy, and my management style. Lastly, please do fill in ALL

Susie2310 · Oct 10, 2012

I am the DON in a LTC facility. I currently have ads on careerbuilder for a full time CNA position as well as a full time LPN/RN position. Both positions are clearly advertised as 3-11 positions. I spent my day going thru what seemed like a hundred resumes for my 2 open positions. While thinking of all the "job needed" threads here, I decided that I must share my absolute frustration in hopes that someone will learn something from this.
- One resume with NO NAME. Seriously people. This isn't 2nd grade. If you can't put your name on your paper...YOU'RE OUT!
- 3 resumes (all submitted within 72 hours) without a WORKING phone number on them....you're out!
- 10...as in TEN, seemed to be surprised that I only have a 3-11 position open. "Don't you have a day shift"? "Don't you have something in management"? Umm, No, which is why I didn't advertise for that.
- At least 10 that haven't held the same job (any job) for more than 3 consecutive months over the last 3-5 years. (Why go thru this hell just to start again in a couple months).
- Several for a CNA position that live at least an hour or more away. (There are numerous facilities between home and here. Surely that drive..in a snowstorm..is not going to worth the $9/hr I plan to offer).
After several hours of weeding thru resumes and trying to call people, I have a whooping 4 interviews tomorrow. Hoping the interview process is better than the screening process! Also slightly worried that amongst all the crap I missed the hidden gem!
-

I hear your frustration, and agree with your points except "At least 10 that haven't held the same job (any job) for more than 3 consecutive months over the last 3-5 years" and "Several for a CNA position that live at least an hour or more away. . . "

Given the recession of the last several years, and the fact of higher unemployment, job losses and decreased hiring, it isn't surprising to me that some people haven't been employed for more than 3 months consecutively. If your advertisement indicated to people that they would meet the minimum requirements for the position you are advertising I certainly understand why someone who worked for no more than three months in the last 3-5 years would apply: They are likely wanting to put food on the table, pay bills and support their family.

The drive for someone wanting the CNA position may be worth it to the person if they really need the position to gain experience as a CNA and have been unable to find work closer to home.

I think in your search for the best candidates you may be screening out some people who could be suitable employees.

T-Bird78 · Oct 10, 2012

I applied for and got an interview with an office (they called me to come in to interview after reading my resume) but I got to looking at the job posting again and wonder if they're setting me up to fail. The posting clearly states must have 6 months related experience (I don't have any in that field) and ACLS (I only have BLS). Are they really taking a chance on me or will they overlook that if I rock my interview? I interviewed with that company before and didn't get the job, but two days after I emailed the "thank you for meeting with me" note I got the call for this interview (which was 4 weeks after the initial interview). Hope I get it!

joanna73, BSN, RN · Oct 10, 2012

I got my current job through CareerBuilder, and use it whenever we have staff vacancies. Even when we weed through applications, we still occasionally interview a real winner.......like the woman who came in last week. A refugee from the local multiplex, she believed her experience at managing a theater and cleaning up after people somehow qualified her to take care of frail elderly folks. But wait, it gets better: she brought in not only her resume, but 14 years' worth of employee evaluations that were fair-to-middling at best, and terrible at worst. And the coup de grace---she even brought in copies of her write-ups!! I still think she just interviewed with us to fulfill the job-search requirement for unemployment benefits......surely no one who really wants a job would bring less-than-stellar evidence to showcase her, um, talents.

Thank you for this post. I had a good (much needed) laugh. Also reminds me of the individual who handed me their resume years ago...printed on 8 cue cards.

AheleneRN · Oct 10, 2012

I received a resume that had ALL identifying information blacked out! Name, phone number, address, the names of schools attended, as well as the names of previous employers. The cover letter indicated that privacy concerns and fears of identity theft prevented her from sharing this information with a 'total stranger'. She signed her letter with her first name and included an email address that she apparantly created to hide her name and also communicate her professionalism, FoxyRedHeadPartier@____ .com

You've got to be kidding me?!!!! ROTF LMBO!!!

**NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN** · Oct 10, 2012

I applied for and got an interview with an office (they called me to come in to interview after reading my resume) but I got to looking at the job posting again and wonder if they're setting me up to fail. The posting clearly states must have 6 months related experience (I don't have any in that field) and ACLS (I only have BLS). Are they really taking a chance on me or will they overlook that if I rock my interview? I interviewed with that company before and didn't get the job, but two days after I emailed the "thank you for meeting with me" note I got the call for this interview (which was 4 weeks after the initial interview). Hope I get it!

Depending on your background they may view you as worthwhile to train. ACLS is a 2 day class which the hospitals offer routinely, so that part can be overlooked sometimes. :) Good luck!

LJohnson11213 · Oct 10, 2012

If I was the DON i wouldn't put a resume to the back burner because the person lives far away. Sometimes jobs close to home say they are hiring and they are not. It is very discouraging for some CNA to find job, especially me. I applied to a lot of facilities that are far but I am willing to travel because this is what I want to do and I'm sure some Cna feel the same. Are you in NYC ?

LJohnson11213 · Oct 10, 2012

But I understand the unprofessionalism. That's not good when it comes to applying for any job

Nascar nurse, ASN, RN · Oct 11, 2012

If I was the DON i wouldn't put a resume to the back burner because the person lives far away. Sometimes jobs close to home say they are hiring and they are not. It is very discouraging for some CNA to find job, especially me. I applied to a lot of facilities that are far but I am willing to travel because this is what I want to do and I'm sure some Cna feel the same. Are you in NYC ?

Not calling you out in particular - just making a point and using your post to demonstrate so no offense intended personally. Ok!

If you were a DON you would understand that this hiring blitz I'm currently in the midst of is an additional task in amongst all the other crap pouring onto my desk by the minute. While I'm sorting thru 50-100 resumes I'm NOT doing the rest of my duties. While I'm spending time on the phone trying to call people to setup appointments, I'm NOT doing the rest of my duties. While I'm spending time interviewing, I'm NOT doing the rest of my duties.

My point to anyone looking for a position that is posted a distance away from your current location...add it to the cover letter that you realize you are a distance away but a) intend to move to the area b) acknowledge you are aware of the distance and feel the commute is workable for you. Because of this thread & all your comments I did take the time to call 3 candidates that I had previously put in my due not call pile. I kid you not, ALL 3 HAD NO CLUE where the facility was even located and one voiced her shock that I was 2 states away. I did go back and look at my ad and it clearly states the street, city and state address. This turned out to be a complete waste of time but it is educational for all of you - acknowledge that distance in a cover letter so you are not automatically disqualified. I'm sure I'm not the only hiring manager who would otherwise see it as a waste of their time.

Had 5 interviews scheduled today. 1 great candidate, 1 so-so candidate, 1 called early to politely reschedule, 2 no-call no-shows! :no:

sjbrk · Oct 11, 2012

Listing clinicals as employment ... ?
OK, now I've had my "now I've heard it all" moment for the day.

At our school, we are encouraged to make a "nursing" resume and put our clinical hours on it -- under nursing experience. Many nursing students apply for aide jobs after the first year of school - why should they not list that they have some floor experience?

I have worked since I was 16 (21 now). I have a decent resume, but I still put that I'm currently completing clinical hours in oncology/med/surg/wherever.

Many of the students in my class have not worked besides the odd babysitting job. What other experience do they put down?

Nascar nurse, ASN, RN · Oct 11, 2012

At our school, we are encouraged to make a "nursing" resume and put our clinical hours on it -- under nursing experience. Many nursing students apply for aide jobs after the first year of school - why should they not list that they have some floor experience?
I have worked since I was 16 (21 now). I have a decent resume, but I still put that I'm currently completing clinical hours in oncology/med/surg/wherever.
Many of the students in my class have not worked besides the odd babysitting job. What other experience do they put down?

List your clinical experiences under education. List any odd jobs you may have had (actually I get the best references from some of these people - those employers tend to absolutely "gush" over how wonderful so & so is!). If you haven't had any jobs at all, that's OK too (give me a reason to like you and make me believe you will show up & do your best to fit in with my team and I just may hire you over someone with 20 years experience and a huge chip on their shoulder. :yes: )