I am a new graduate, so I ofcourse I need guidance from what I call real nurses.
I had an interview at a hospital with a nurse manager who ended up sick on the day of the interview for the CSU or ICU. The HR person set up for me to interview with the Chief Nurse for the whole hospital (talk about nervous) on the same day. I interviewed with the head nurse and I received a call that friday (interview tuesday) from the HR person saying that they wanted me to join the ___________ Hospital team. However, it happened that the position I was called to interview for did not exist. I was also complimented with the statement that the head RN thought that I interviewed with extreme professionalism and she is impressed with me. (Totally took me by surprise because I was so nervous). So, the HR person said she would call back with a new interview with a nurse manager from another area that had an opening.
The hospital system was my focus, not the exact area. This facility focuses on holistic healing and provides care to the patient that is based on compassion as much as skill. The patient nurse ratio there is low purposely for the nurse to do the extra things that most do not have time to do. That was my reason for wanting to work at this hospital and that was clear to all.
I came in for a second interview. I interviewed with the HR person, nurse recruiter who stated that the head nurse had said that she wanted me hired for any position in the hospital. I interviewed with the HR recruiter for at least 45 minutes to an hour at least. The interview part seemed to go well. She explained what rate of pay I would receive and how it changed during training. She explained training to me in depth. She provided me with a list of benefits that I would get after starting working. In depth benefits.
She then took me to the nurse manager who could not be found for a while. When she was found, she was upset and angry making negative comments I just ignored. We went into her office, and she asked me a few questions quickly. She explained how everything worked on the floor and it was hurried. I understand her time is valuable and she is busy. She told me of the upcoming changes that I was happy to hear about. Everything seemed good. She told me that I would hear from HR by end of week to early following week because she was interviewing until end of following week of my interview.
I was optimistic about this position, especially because I had the head nurse on my side who wanted me hired.
I sent my thank you letter at the end of the week she said she would be done interviewing to her. On tuesday of the last week she said I would hear from her I got the generic letter saying that other candidates that better meet the qualifications got chosen.
At the very last part of the interview, I saw a classmate that failed into my nursing class. I was not a socializer and I was a top performer, so I think I got a bad reputation. I had no time for socializing and I do not gossip, so I just stuck to myself and my one friend. I do not want to be overly presumptious, but I wonder if she said something bad about me to cause this.
I wrote a letter to both the head nurse and nurse manager asking for constructive criticism, but neither replied. I found that odd? Am I entitled to find out why I did not get the job? I really want to know if I did something wrong, what did I do so I never do it again? I am planning on calling human resources with the question. I am even questioning if something is wrong with my checks? I know there should not be, but maybe something happened and information was incorrect.
I know they are not going to hire me, so I feel that I must be persistant to see what went wrong? Do I have a right to know? Do people normally not answer request for constructive criticism? How do I best handle this?
Good point. To be honest, for my hospital interviews, most have been rushed like that (not all though). Its nice to hear what real nurses have to say because I dont see the things that a real nurse sees.
See as much sense as you make, I cant help but think in the back of my mind that I did something wrong, horribly wrong. I was in retail management prior to nursing, and I never interviewed for a position I didnt get. I think I have a unrealistic reality in regard to nursing and crossing into the professionalism aspect.
Plus, I wonder if my lack of confidence shows. In retail, I knew it all back and forth and I was confident. In nursing, I know where my place is as a new grad and I do not feel confident at all.
You are now a real nurse
You're not supposed to feel confident. Nursing school teaches you how to not kill someone on purpose The confidence comes with experience. You may have to work someplace you don't really like until you can gather the experience and go back to the hospital. I don't have a clue about what happened, but it's all over this forum about how many applications/interviews/resume' sending people are doing. :)
:hug: Just find something- and look at it for the experience you can get from it (don't rule out anything). I learned from EVERY job I ever had- and all of it overlaps into other areas.
If that aint the truth!!!!!!! I wish they would prepare for reality in school rather than making everything seem so easy and simple with bad advice. GREAT POINT! I'll start there.
You're not supposed to feel confident. Nursing school teaches you how to not kill someone on purpose The confidence comes with experience. You may have to work someplace you don't really like until you can gather the experience and go back to the hospital. I don't have a clue about what happened, but it's all over this forum about how many applications/interviews/resume' sending people are doing. :)
:hug: Just find something- and look at it for the experience you can get from it (don't rule out anything). I learned from EVERY job I ever had- and all of it overlaps into other areas.
Thanks for the advice. Your right why am I sitting here worrying about that when it is SO hard to get a job. I don't mind where I will have to work because I know I am at the bottom of the food chain right now.
Lol, about not killing someone on purpose!
I am glad I am not supposed to feel confident.
I call myself a fake RN because I have no experience. I call the nurses I know to confirm stuff I am 99.9% sure I know.
Your right I should be focusing on getting something, anything not this other stuff. You make a lot of sense. I appreciate all your input really.
You did nothing wrong. But it is okay to contact HR and ask them to keep your resume' current, to be considered for other positions as they open up. If they don't have a method to do that, then just keep applying.
It is unfortunate that there is little time to get back to individuals to tell them why they didn't get a particular position. Do not take it personally.
However, I think it's important that you not personalize this to the degree apparent in your first post.
I do not think that your school classmate had anything to do whatsoever with the outcome. Why would you think this? During your interview, was there a point in the conversation that you were asked to discuss other candidates? If not, what makes you think that some such thing was part of that person's interview?
As far as the "rushed" interview -- when you are the interview-ee that is your sole focus. But consider that for the interview-er ... it is one item in what is likely a full day of activity. No need to take that personally or negatively. It is what it is.
For an entry-level staff position (in any field) -- it is likely that a pool of similarly (minimally) qualified candidates are interviewed. One is selected, the others are not. If you are sure you are well-dressed, followed appropriate etiquette, had reasonably well-spoken answers to questions, etc. ... there just may not be much to say to explain why you were not chosen. Consider that before you press for specifics.
My guess is that the head nurse genuinely liked you, but that the nurse manager already had someone else in mind for the opening and didn't appreciate being pushed to interview someone else -- that's why she was upset and angry before she ever even spoke to you (of course this is a guess -- no way to know for sure!) This is totally not your fault. I'm guessing the head nurse let the NM hire her preferred candidate, and that's why you didn't get the job -- again, nothing to do with you, nothing you did wrong.
Of course it's a bummer to not get the job, but I would let it go. I think you should be encouraged about the fact that the head nurse liked you. If I were you, I would write one last letter to the head nurse, thanking her for the opportunity to interview and asking to be kept in mind for future openings. Then if there are any more openings, apply for them. Keep applying elsewhere too. Do NOT go into HR -- they won't be able to tell you anything, and you will start to look like a stalker, which might decrease your chances of ever being hired there.
It is unfortunate that there is little time to get back to individuals to tell them why they didn't get a particular position. Do not take it personally.
Best wishes!
In this day and age it is easier than ever to notify someone they are not selected by pressing
a send button and sending an email.
It is cruel for anyone who is seeking work (nursing or otherwise)and spent their time, expenses to interview are told they have a job, then hear nothing. Maybe todays reality, but it unsporting and again cruel.
Employers have their right to change their mind, but sending a quick email to advise a candidate like the OP would show class and consideration.
I've used this analogy before in threads like this: the "He's Just Not That Into You" comparison. There are times in life, where we just don't get the answers we want. Like in a relationship, not everyone feels the need to explain why they didn't choose you. Sometimes you're just not the right fit. Oftentimes, I think people avoid explanations; it's easier. And if you entertain an explanation, it inevitably turns into someone begging and pleading, and that "just give me a chance" phrase.
But you may not have made a mistake !! Don't dwell on what you can't change. It's hard to not get in where you want to work- I didn't get the job I thought was my 'dream job' in school, for 17 YEARS- and then found it to be a hot mess.
Don't analyze what you can't know- like the other candidates.
I agree. You could do everything perfectly right down to the smallest detail and still not land the job. You can't control what the other candidates had to offer, nor could you control what criteria the hiring person went with in the end. And you're not the first/only person this has happened to: I've had interviews where I felt it was all but certain that I had the job in the bag and yet it fizzled out. Yes, it stings...especially when you hear nothing back.
There could be many reasons why you didn't get it: someone else had more experience or more references, was an internal candidate, had a certification or skill you were lacking, was willing to work different hours...it could even be something as stupid as someone else just happened to be in the right place at the right time.
Nothing wrong with asking for feedback, but as other posters have said, they don't "owe" it to you. You already called once and I would leave it at that--if they want to call you back to give it, they will. Keep hounding them about feedback and you run the risk of them seeing you as a pest rather than a possible candidate for the future.
I'm sorry it didn't work out. Let yourself mourn for a little while, then let it go and move onto the next challenge. Don't give up!
The confidence comes with experience. You may have to work someplace you don't really like until you can gather the experience and go back to the hospital. I don't have a clue about what happened, but it's all over this forum about how many applications/interviews/resume' sending people are doing. :)
xtxrn, ASN, RN
4,267 Posts
You are now a real nurse
You're not supposed to feel confident. Nursing school teaches you how to not kill someone on purpose
The confidence comes with experience. You may have to work someplace you don't really like until you can gather the experience and go back to the hospital. I don't have a clue about what happened, but it's all over this forum about how many applications/interviews/resume' sending people are doing. :)
:hug: Just find something- and look at it for the experience you can get from it (don't rule out anything). I learned from EVERY job I ever had- and all of it overlaps into other areas.