And what is with the wacky interview questions?

flashpoint · Mar 20, 2005

I was once asked, "If (insert hospital name here) were a dance, what would it look like?" I said that it would be smooth and organized, get gentle and soothing...LOL...just the first thing that popped into my head. I've also been asked questions like my favorite color, how many pairs of shoes I won, and what kind of car I would buy if I could afford whatever I wanted...sigh...

Da Monk · Mar 20, 2005

I think susannyc has an interesting perspective here. I'm 57 and had a number of contacts and interviews for management positions over the past 15 months. I have continued to hear about the nursing shortage and have seen evidence of it in the number of open positions on various institutional websites. I've been an RN for about 30 years and have an MSN degree. I ran into a number of excuses for not being hired such as:

1. I'm sorry. I just got off the phone with our HR VP and we've decided not to fill the position.

2. I'm sorry. It's going to take us about another 6 months to fill the position. It's been put on hold for now.

3. I'm sorry, but your lack of experience in Rehab was a problem (the Psych Manager position included having to manage the Rehab service-What a combination!).

4. I'm sorry. But, you couldn't make up your mind soon enough (4 days later!).

5. I'm sorry but you OR experience is too old. You'd never be able to catch up with the new technology.

And the most insulting institution was the one who refused to call me back after the interview.

So I eventually decided to forget management positions and have taken a position as a staff RN.

I got the definite feeling that some of these places really did not want to fill the positions they were advertising. I think some of the people who interviewed me who had less credentials than I have, were afraid to hire me, fearing being replaced by me later. I know that might sound conceited or defensive, but many of the interviewers were less educationally prepared.

It used to be that an RN walked into a hospital with a valid license, asked about a job, and were asked when exactly could they start work? Not anymore!

This experience has been very upsetting for me. But, I have decided to make the best of my situation, take the staff job (my last before retirement), and get on with it.

In all of my interviews over the years, I have never been asked such vague questions such as the one's posted in this thread.

I think I got off the subject. Sorry.

susannyc · Mar 20, 2005

DaMonk--

Woman, where are you? I swear you were at some of the same interviews I was involved with!

I have a BA in French Lit and a JD. I really think it was the JD that kept me from getting some of the jobs. I was told by friends to take it off my resume, but I'm too honest for that. I did consider it though. Nobody cited my lack of a BSN for hiring me, it was always "At this point in your career path, do you really want to (fill in job here.)" Yes, I did want to do home care, med-surg, ICU. No, I'm not wild about working nights, I'd rather work 12 or 10 hour days. No husband, no kids, so my time is my own, I can be available on short notice if needed. Nobody was interested in that. If they really wanted to hire someone, that would have been a BIG plus.

An interesting thing happened at one interview.

I was interviewing for a job in a Gastro Clinic. I've worked in this area for nearly 30 years, so I wasn't too surprised to recognize the clinic receptionist as some one I had met many years ago. I spoke to her briefly, then sat in the waiting room. There was a younger woman there also, wearing a revealing outfit that included black thong panties, a tummy tattoo and naval ring. She was called into a room. I was interviewed a few minutes later, and given the old "You are over qualified, we'll call you soon" routine. I got a cell phone call from the receptionist a few days later. She said she felt she owed me an explanation "for old times sake." The woman in the revealing outfit was an RN who had also been there to interview for the job! She was hired! I had been wearing a tailored dress and pumps. The receptionist said the MDs thought I was too "old and prissy" to work with their patient population!

Susan in NYC

Da Monk · Mar 20, 2005

I hate to break it to you, but I am a man. Anyway, I think our point is made. There is age discrimination out there, no matter which sex is involved. And I may have been the victim of silent sex discrimination in a female dominated profession. Plus, I must admit that some of the men I have worked for are true SOB's. They seem to see other men as rivals rather than colleagues with something to offer and the younger females with possibly something else to offer. One other thing. Managers have the opportunity to keep their department under budget when their personnel budget allows for a slot and it's not filled. That is so shortsighted. I think what is so disheartening to me is that I have a proven track record as a manager, but no chance to continue with it. So be it. I do not look forward to getting older, but I do look forward to retirement, spending more time with my wife, and watching my children continue down life's path.

talaxandra · Mar 20, 2005

I wonder how much of it is that they're unhappy with applicants, and ho much is that they want to promote from within (or have a desirable candidate in mind), and have to externally advertise.

Some time ago a prominent position at my institution was advertised internationally. Although everyone within the hospital knew that there was only one person who had a chance, they still spent a bundle flying candidates in, putting them up in hotels... then called all the applicants together for a coctail evening (which is one of the weirdest things I've ever heard of). All the applicants thought there was still a contest, until the shoo-in started talking about their plans for the position "when I start next week"!!!

princess99 · Mar 20, 2005

Actually, I just had an interview where the HR person doing the interview went through a set of 40 questions which contained,
"Have you ever experienced flow?"
"Do you consider yourself an optimist or a pessimist?"
etc...
It looked like a standardized packet of questions. I'll bet the interviewer in the case of the original poster just took those questions and modified them a little bit.
Having just been through 20+ years of corporate life, I was not surprised by the questions. How your answers actually correlate with your performance as a nurse, however, I'm not sure.
The best way to answer questions like the "flow" question is to either ask "What do you mean by flow?", or, say, "Well, I interpret the question to mean that flow is when you are so involved in something, you forget yourself...blah blah blah and I experienced it when..."
If you come across as a smartass, the hiring folks will remember.
BTW, I got the job, and start in July.
Oldiebutgoodie

Actually, that might have been the exact question- there were two questions on flow, including the one you quoted.

I don't know how they can tell if I will be a good nurse- they seemed to be trying to figure out my personality type- a lot of optimist/attitude questions and team player questions. They switched back and forth, probably trying to find inconsistencies in my answers.