turned down for four band 6 posts what am I doing wrong?

jenne · Dec 2, 2013

this is exactly what has happened to me. I am an experienced critical care nurse who has done a critical care post registration degree and I have been passed over by someone who has done no post reg study at all and has worked in the unit less time than me due to te fact she did a better interview.

Do you have someone in higher management that you can get interview coaching off? I have to say I've decided to leave critical care and am job hunting now. I have lost all enthusiasm for it at the moment x

Gem1210390 · Dec 3, 2013

Sadly this is the nhs for you. Where I work they have taken someone as a band 6 even though clinically she is not great (known on the unit by management) well she doesn't know how to plug oxygen in to the wall or set up cpap been working on the same unit for 6 years. But because she scored high on the interview she gets the job over other people that are excellent clinically.

The interview system is a joke. Did they advertise the jobs as full time posts? Cause they say they would consider part time but never seem to. We have had band 6's go back to a band 5 because they are not allowed to reduce hours.

allnurses Guide · Dec 4, 2013

I work in a general critical care and have had two interviews for band 6 posts. Feedback from first was that i was really good but should increase my hours 'to be seen more' so i now do 30 this time there were three posts and i was told it was close but it can down to points on interview but all staff who got the job were willing to do 36 hrs... and she was really trying to push me to increase my hours but i have children so difficult.
I really want to discuss this with my manager but feel it is really due to my hours i want to ask her if i had done brilliantly in the interview would she have given me a band 6 post on 30 hrs?
Not sure what i should so as i feel like it is a big vote of no confidence in me...... as one of the people who were successful had less experience than me.... dilemma any advice?

Have you been for interview feedback to see where you can improve, and did you talk to senior staff prior to interview to see what they were looking for?

If you feel that your hours are contributing then it's worth a discussion with your manager also without knowing your unit, and the challenges of managing your unit it's difficult to offer any more constructive comments. Here are some thoughts and ideas, I'm just throwing what's in my head out so if it doesn't apply feel free to disregard it

In the past I have appointed a less experienced nurse in favour of a long standing nurse into a senior position because I felt the unit needed a very different style of clinical leadership and in order to change that culture I needed a different type of leader.

My advice would be get some feedback, not only about your interview but about what your bosses are looking for

Why do you want a band 6?

The reason I ask is, is it because you want to progress the unit and yourself professionally and improve the service that is provided, or is it because you've been around a while and feel that you should get promotion over those who haven't had as much time served? (I'm not suggesting either just asking you to reflect on your motivation)

Have you worked elsewhere? It's always good to get experience from other units to help you progress and improve you practice, it gives different perspectives and helps shape and form new ideas and innovations

Have you sold yourself on the unit, demonstrated you can go above and beyond, use initiative and support both both junior and senior staff

Have you had an appraisal, is this somewhere you can ask for support and guidance to achieve career progression

cazzahill92 · Dec 5, 2013

Thank you for your comments. Having feedback soon x yes do feel as if i need to see how i am per-sieved. Every PDR i have had has been positive. Its hard to demonstrate your ability i acted up qite soon after finishing my ITU course which was about 5 years ago and went part time for a while. Have demonstrated that i am keen to act up again but we have lots of nurses completing the course and so lots of people wanting to act up.

She short-listed 10 candidates so lots of competion and the interview was hard lots of tough questions but curious if it was interview or hours. Worked elsewhere but not in critical care. Just wondering what to do next....... more education I have a degree so maybe masters? we will see after feedback just wondering how to make myself stand out _ in a good way!

mmsparkle · Apr 30, 2014

The interview system relies solely on points, given depending on your answers and if they meet the pre-selected criteria. As an interviewer, it can be very frustrating when an excellent nurse fails to perform as well at interview as a mediocre nurse; as there is very little scope to exercise judgement. Hours are not always a problem as potentially 2 part timers could share one f/t job. However interviewers are often aware that if not all the available hours are used, the funding can be withdrawn..

I would advise however working in other areas / other ICUs to gain a broader experience.

vlgriffiths · May 5, 2014

i am afraid i know exactly how you feel. it is like a wrote your post myself.

I know i am probably not the best at interviews, but it is so frustrating that the system is based solely on interview. and not on clinical ability. i know they have to make it a fair system for external applicants etc but when it is an internal thing it is demoralising.

the part time issue is also a difficult one. as i too am part time 2 shifts a week with 2 young children (preschool) but i feel i work as hard if not harder than some full time staff just to show the same amount of willing/work. it feels like they are employing young less experienced staff who are full time but are at the stage where they too are going to be having families soon and going part time, but they will have the job already. aaaah sorry rant over just stressed as going for yet another interview for that longed for job