bizarre interview

[JessLP]

I have no idea what to think of my interview with SHC. The interviewer seemed upset that I hadn't completed my CNA class yet, but I was very upfront about that I'm still in class on my application and to the recruiter during the phone interview. Overall, however, she really seemed to like me, my background, annd answers to questions. The interviewer told me at the end of the interview that because they were an equal opportunity employer they had to hire every single applicant. The SHC website clearly states otherwise. HR said they were looking to fill 2 spots on November 17 but the interviewer said she had 5 spots and that it was going to take weeks to get back to everyone. This was so strange. Has anyone else had a weird interview experience like that?

[Jolie, BSN]

It sounds like she was an inexperienced interviewer and/or the facility is extremely dis-organized. Neither of those possibilities is good. What is the turnover rate there, of CNAs, nurses and administrators?

I wonder if they are so lacking in experienced employees that they had to have someone interview you who has no experience doing so. Being an "Equal Opportunity Employer does not mean that they have to hire every applicant. She clearly did not know what the hiring process involves, or she would have given you accurate and consistent information on the steps in the process.

If the interview was this bad, I can only imagine what working there would be like. Please ask to meet and talk with current CNAs and shadow one for a few hours before you consider taking this job. Ask about patient assignments, adequacy of staffing, job satisfaction, accuracy and timeliness of paychecks, etc. You may also be able to get information on reputable facilities from your course instructor.

Good luck!

[Glina]

I can't believe she told you they have to hire everyone who applied. You don't have to be smart to know what an equal opportunity employer is, but to think you have to hire every single applicant is just...

[JessLP]

I can't figure out how to edit my original post, but I severely misspoke. She didn't say she had to hire everyone. She said she had to interview everyone. I'm sorry!

[groovy jeff, RN]

This is usually how it works:

1. They look over all the applicants and start weeding out
   
2. They start phone interviews and start weeding
   
3. Some places will go to the hiring manager at this point and say these are our top 3 or 5 or X candidates, who do you want to interview? -OR- Many times on low level positions, HR will just schedule interviews with the top 3 choices and make a hiring decision.
   
4. They may only have 2 positions advertised and have more positions for the same thing
   
5. Many times companies do not have open positions but will leave their job postings in place in order to keep the candidate pipeline full in case they have openings (also contrary to popular belief, this is not illegal)

Just give them a call in a week and ask if the positions are still open and reinterate how much you want to work there.

Also- Today- Go buy a thank-you card (nothing real fancy) and send it to the person who did the phone interview, thanking her for taking her time to talk to you!!!! If you do this one thing, you will be at the top of her list.

Good Luck

[JessLP]

definitely! i already have thank you notes in the mail.

thanks for all the help, Jeff. i really can't thank you enough. you've been awesome.

[TinkRN8]

Hey JessLJ,

I too had a couple of interviews with SHC a couple of weeks ago for a Reg Rep position in the ED. I got called literally 2 days after submitting my application, and I was so excited as I have been submitting applications for over a year to both Banner and SHC and always get the form letter "we are looking at other applicants...blah, blah." So, I was just excited to get an interview. Anyhoo, I was told that I would have an interview at HR and then if they liked me I would be sent to the supervisor at the hospital to interview w/her. I got a call the day before my scheduled interview with HR from the supervisor at the hospital asking if I could come and see her that day, which I did. She was very nice. Well, when I went into the interview for HR the next day the guy who was interviewing seemed a little upset. He asked if I had done the interview the day before and I said yes, and he informed me that that is not how things are supposed to be done and that if I had seen him first he would not have even sent me over for the 2nd interview based on the fact that I live in Queen Creek. The job was at the Osborne campus, and I guess he felt that was too far and I would flake out and end up quitting due to distance and gas. Nice way to start the interview..... He didn't even know me or know that I was willing to make the drive, etc. He kept bringing the distance thing up during the interview, and I tried to reassure him that it was not a problem for me. It was an on-call position, so it isn't like I would be driving in every day. He ended up being a nice guy, and the interview went as well as could be expected. I didn't get the job, which I knew I wouldn't after that interview, but that is OK. It was a good experience and now I know what to expect in interviews and will be more prepared in the future. LIke you it was just an odd experience. The fact that he was so visibly upset when I first sat down with him was a little disconcerting.

I would still apply for a job again at SHC, it is slim pickins right now, though. THis was definately a learning experience for me.

Good luck and I hope you get the job, if not, don't get discouraged as this will be a learning experience and you will get the next one!

[Staric]

i can't figure out how to edit my original post, but i severely misspoke. she didn't say she had to hire everyone. she said she had to interview everyone. i'm sorry!

ummm eoe still does not mean they have to interview everyone- means that can't not hire you just because you are old, or not white, or handicapped, or pregnant, or female- etc.. things like that... maybe she is just clueless- keep calling.. good luck..