Denied employment without checking excellent references!!!!

[kstec, LPN]

:oMy dilemma is that I applied for a prn position as a LPN at a convenient care/occupational medication clinic. I initially had the interview with the HR person on friday1/25/08, who made me take a typing test (which I aced), took a copy of my license and CPR card, and a copy of my last years evaluation from my present employer. After the interview, which I thought went really well, she told me to interview with conv. care manager on monday 1/28/08. I went to that interview which I thought went really well. The manager talked about when I could do orientation (which lasts for a week) and we tentatively set up a week. Today I get a message on my cell phone voicemail saying that they were not interested and that if I had any questions to give them a call. So I proceeded to try and call HR and only got the voicemail which I left no message, then I called the Conv. care manager and asked her what happened and her first response was that maybe my references didn't check out. Needless to say I have EXCELLENT references. I had 3 great professional and 3 great personal. I told her it couldn't be my references, so she told me that she would make a few calls and for me to call her on Wednesday. I then called HR again, mostly because the conv. care manager seemed to have no idea that I was not the chosen employee even though I say I have great references and she even gave the okay for HR to check them all out after our interview. HR told me that the reason they were not offering me the job was "confidential". What the hell is confidential? I asked her was it so confidential that I could never apply at this facility again or what? She said yes I could reapply in the future, which I will not. During all this I remember the HR lady asking me if I knew anyone at any of the clinics and I proceeded to say yes. That was my first mistake (being honest). I told her that one of the nurses that works at another conv. care clinic was a former nurse at the clinic that I worked at. So my guess is she went to her which is a classic BI---!!!, instead of calling any of my references. I called my references after all of this and not one of them including my HR had received a call in regards to me. What the He!! is wrong with this picture? I'm hurt and angry. How can someone who noone liked at her previous job be the deciding factor in a job that I applied for? I guess my question is, WHAT THE HECK DO I DO NOW!!!!! I'm more than qualified and feel that I would've been an excellent asset to the clinic. Please help me not lose my cool and go off on someone. HR didn't do there job appropriately and took the deciding factor from a non-management ex-coworker. I'm stumped and feeling really betrayed right now. Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Sorry this is so long.

[EmmaG, RN]

I'm sorry

I think you just need to take this as a lesson learned and move on.

How can someone who noone liked at her previous job be the deciding factor in a job that I applied for?

Doesn't matter whether people liked her in her prior job; she is their employee now, and obviously they value her opinion. I don't see any way to get around that; certainly not fair to you, but it's done so there is no point letting this eat you up.

[melsman1904]

Well, that certainly is a tough situation to deal with. One thing that stuck out to me was this:

How can someone who noone liked at her previous job be the deciding factor in a job that I applied for?

From the tone of this statement, I gather that you had an unpleasant experience with this person in the past. Perhaps this is for the best. If he/she was a troublemaker at another job, what guarantee do you have that he/she won't cause you trouble at this new job? If it were me, I would move on and find a place that wants me.

[MadisonsMomRN, BSN, RN]

I agree with Melsman...

If this person did not even check your references and then says that they didn't check out I don't think I would want to work for them anyway.

I am sorry you had to go through this. I am sure there are plenty of other places that would LOVE to hire you!

[Batman24]

I understand your frustration, but it sounds to me like they did you a favor in not hiring you. I'd move on and let it go. This just wasn't the job for you if they are unprofessional and don't take the time to check references. If they want to take the word of a non-manager and old co-worker of yours that's their choice. It's also their loss as they missed out on a great nurse.

[ohmeowzer RN, RN]

your better off without that place... believe me.. when one door closes another opens.. think of it as a blessing in disguise... it's their loss not yours...

[kstec, LPN]

Thanks for the quick responses. I do realize that everything happens for a reason, but I guess when you feel you've done nothing wrong and have been shafted, you just kind of feel lost as to what to do. Since I am a LPN jobs are either clinics or LTC. I work PRN LTC, but when the hours are down, I thought it would be nice to work a the conv. care clinic. It's only 5 minutes from my house and the pay was great, and the manager was a sweetheart, who seems to be getting the shaft from HR. And yes, I and all that worked with this nurse had issues with her. She was a LPN acting as a MD with the empathy and compassion of a wall. Not my idea of a good nurse. When you can deny patients in a family practice clinic because you don't want to double book and work late or because they walked in with an asthma attack and told to go to ER that we were to busy and the list goes on. I guess this clinic doesn't realize what a gem they have. There loss for not hiring me. I am my patients #1 advocate, no matter what. P.S. "I hate rejection"

[EmmaG, RN]

You have a right to be angry (I would be too), but I believe you may have saved yourself a ton of stress and heartache.

[ohmeowzer RN, RN]

they should never of gave you a orientation day and made it sound like you had the job.. thats just nasty business... they would be a crummy company to work for..

[Miss Mab]

First off, I am very sorry the OP is going through this. It actually does seem a bit off.

However, and I did try to stop myself, but I gotta say that perhaps this is something more of us need to think about in regard to how we treat and deal with our fellow co-workers---regardless of how we feel about them on a personal level.

Today's CNA is tomorrow's DON and all that jazz. Karma is a bi@#@/etc.

I'm obviously not speaking to the OP's particular situation except I often find when "noone likes" somone at a job that usually signifies greater problems than just one lone member. To me it suggest toxic environment as, generally, adults and professionals are able to forge some common ground with a co-worker in some fashion and when "noone" likes someone, there is more going on there than just one person's incompetence.

I actually find this story refreshing as it sounds as though this other nurse has found a more compatibile and supportive work environment where she, and her opinion apparently, are truly valued. Good save of another RN probably closer to adding to the "shortage" before she found a better fit.

Again, I am sorry for the OP, however, your experience perhaps might just remind us all of a bigger picture.....

[justme1972]

I think you know now why you didn't get the job....they went to this person instead of checking your references.

I had this happen to me many years ago....I was interviewing for a silly job with Clinique and didn't get the job because the DM asked me if I knew this one girl and I said yes, I used to work with her at so-and-so.

This "girl" was a problem employee that got fire from just about everywhere she went...i too, had excellent references...was offered the job on the spot, given a start date, only for them to call me two weeks later and recind the offer.

I found out later they talked to "lisa".

[rjflyn, ASN, RN]

The thing to remember her is that we provide references every day. These are people we pick who we want to portray use in a good light. Generally they would never say anything bad about us. Same goes for job references, they can only typically say yes we worked there and that we are eligible for rehire.

Here we have a case of mentioning yeah I know so and so and then the employer talking to that person and unfortunately that person having had a bad work relationship with her. But guess what its easier to go down the hall as talk to Mary than it is to make a phone call.

Rj