Bad Interview...

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I just came back from an interview and I really feel like I didn't do well.... now I'm beating myself...

One thing I don't understand is this... I applied to a position (I am a NG) that I once interned for 1 summer ago. The nurse who preceptored me also interviewed me today along with the nurse supervisor. Now, it's been awhile since I've seen my nurse preceptor but today during the interview, she only had one question for me... the question was, how do you plan to be dedicated to our hospital when your bf lives 3 hours away? I remember when I precepted with her, I had told her that my bf of 9 years lives 3 hours away.

My reply was that, "I plan to stay for at least 2 years but things may change. He and I still have issues we need to sort out. My bf and I have discussed this and he understands what committment I will have to take on if I am offered a position. I understand that training a NG is expensive and I don't have any plans to abruptly leave. I plan to relocate to the area if I do get hired on."

Now when I think back, I feel that my reply was a terrible response. Is it? I feel like I'm doomed for letting my nurse preceptor know about my bf and the fact that I won't be staying long if hired. Now what??? :confused:

I really don't know why today when I saw my nurse preceptor I was intimated by her and bc of that, it made very nervous throughout the interview.... I just felt that she wasn't supportive of me....?

It was a completely inappropriate question on the interviewer's part and I think it was meant to catch you off guard. It was also kind of mean on her part to throw something in your face that you had told her outside of the interview setting. In the future never tell a prospective employer how long you plan to spend with them, just say that you are 100% commited to the position and that you are greatful for the opportunity to work at their institution (corny I know). Flat out tell them that your personal life is off limits and that you don't feel comfortable talking about it during the interview.

If you don't get the position don't beat yourself up over it. Just move on and take it as a lesson learned. Good luck to you.

Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

I've had managers and charge nurses bring up incredibly awkward questions during interviews as well. Normally I try to quickly brush off the question, but it still makes the situation awkward.

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Yes I agree, it was not a good idea that I gave a number of years I assume I would be there... omg... what a learning experience. I have to be better next time. :eek:

hmmm, I wonder what their decision will be ... :rolleyes:

It was a completely inappropriate question to ask you and if you had not known her it would not have been asked. Sounds to me like she was gunning for you. Is this person normally apart of the interview process? There are pretty specific requirements with the EEOC for equality in the work place. I would write the director a letter and personel......I would also in the thank you note to the interviewer that while you thank her for her time and the interview.....that you are looking forward to become apart of the "team"......you were extremely uncomfortable with the question about you personal life and even though you answered it you felt extremely pressured in to answering..........and felt the question was not pertinent to your work ethic..........let her know you are looking forward to joining the facility. But I would be very careful about joining this facility if this is the way they behave in an interview. If they are accustom to this line of behavior you don't want to work there....it is a set up for failure (your perceptor) and does not appear to me a set up for sucess....if you do take the job......personal life remains outside and watch your back.......:redpinkhe

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I just came back from an interview and I really feel like I didn't do well.... now I'm beating myself...

One thing I don't understand is this... I applied to a position (I am a NG) that I once interned for 1 summer ago. The nurse who preceptored me also interviewed me today along with the nurse supervisor. Now, it's been awhile since I've seen my nurse preceptor but today during the interview, she only had one question for me... the question was, how do you plan to be dedicated to our hospital when your bf lives 3 hours away? I remember when I precepted with her, I had told her that my bf of 9 years lives 3 hours away.

My reply was that, "I plan to stay for at least 2 years but things may change. He and I still have issues we need to sort out. My bf and I have discussed this and he understands what committment I will have to take on if I am offered a position. I understand that training a NG is expensive and I don't have any plans to abruptly leave. I plan to relocate to the area if I do get hired on."

Now when I think back, I feel that my reply was a terrible response. Is it? I feel like I'm doomed for letting my nurse preceptor know about my bf and the fact that I won't be staying long if hired. Now what??? :confused:

I really don't know why today when I saw my nurse preceptor I was intimated by her and bc of that, it made very nervous throughout the interview.... I just felt that she wasn't supportive of me....?

Illegal Interview Questions

Employers should not ask about any of the following, because to not hire a candidate because of any one of them is discriminatory:

  • Race
  • Color
  • Sex
  • Religion
  • National origin
  • Birthplace
  • Age
  • Disability
  • Marital/family status

The question your preceptor posed is one that crosses the boundary of inappropriateness. However it is valid and could have been posed correctly. As everyone stated, it's to make sure that you don't leave right after training. That it takes a long time to train a new grad and is very expensive. They definitely want to make sure you can commit to them. Now in terms of answering, never limit your years that you will work at a facility, just state that you would love to be with them for the long haul. I think this is a learning experience for you. In terms of telling your preceptor about your bf, that should not be in the workplace. Pretty much don't say anything that might come back to bite you. An expensive and costly lesson learned, but hopefully you learned it.

Federal law guidelines are as follows:

Prohibited Practices

What a costly lesson learned... I am still thinking about it. I will hear from them at the end of this week...

oh goodness, it was just bad interview overall.... i blew it! it was my very first interview since graduating in December!!! OMG...

But some of you guys are right about thinking twice of working for such a place. For some weird reason that morning of the interview, I felt intimidated by my previous nurse preceptor . I just didn't like that feeling... and would not like to deal with intimidation at a workplace...I felt the feeling that she didn't think I should work there...I would assume it's because she thinks I won't be there for the long haul. I remember when I was doing a preceptorship there one summer ago and they recently just hired on a NG who was commuting 45 mintues away and I clearly remember her saying that she is almost certain he would only last a few months and would quit on them and leave for another position close to where he lives. To my surprise he is still there! I am 99% sure my nurse preceptor has the same thought for me!

Violet,

I, too, share your concerns since I endured similar questions in my interview last week. My interview was for an new grad RN position in a unit where I never had experience. I felt the interview went well until the end where she asked me if I was married or if I had a boyfriend. I was wearing a ring on my left ring finger.

Then she proceeded to say, "I was trying to figure out your ethnicity from your last name. What are you?" I told her. She said, "Oh. You don't look it." Now that I have spent a few days pondering the inappropriateness of those two questions, I feel slightly down in the dumps as I think it may have changed the outcome of the interview. Maybe, I am just looking too much into things.

In the future, when someone asks about your personal life (relationship status), don't answer, but deflect. An example for your case, " Now, (preceptor's name), I don't think my love life is of much concern to you all.

More illegal interview questions:

Illegal Interview Questions

Eh...that's probably not a good thing to say either. While I agree its none of her business, that sounds like you're insulting her ability to conduct an interview. She'd probably take offense to that. Man, that's really a caddy question to ask. I think you did well though. You were honest and people always appreciate honesty. If you meant what you said, that it won't affect your ability to do that job, then she'll be able to sense that. Also, you sounded educated in the fact that you knew that training ng's is costly and youre fully aware of the role and responsibility that you'd be taking on...again, another thing that they can sense you're being honest about.

Don't stress. If its meant to be, good if not, then good too. Honestly, I'm not sure I'd want to be working for someone that's "all up in my business" like that. :)

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Violet,

I, too, share your concerns since I endured similar questions in my interview last week. My interview was for an new grad RN position in a unit where I never had experience. I felt the interview went well until the end where she asked me if I was married or if I had a boyfriend. I was wearing a ring on my left ring finger.

Then she proceeded to say, "I was trying to figure out your ethnicity from your last name. What are you?" I told her. She said, "Oh. You don't look it." Now that I have spent a few days pondering the inappropriateness of those two questions, I feel slightly down in the dumps as I think it may have changed the outcome of the interview. Maybe, I am just looking too much into things.

Are you kidding me?????????? :eek: That is way out of line and ILLEGAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you don't get the job I would call the EEOC!

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