Did I fail my 5 NP job interviews somehow?

[DucatiNP]

I've read all the "interview do's and don'ts" I can google but I've had 5 NP job interviews and no offers. Is this normal to have that many interviews and no offers?

1st interview: at a pain management practice. I made it to the 2nd day of interviews only because the first day I was interviewed by a PsyD. And he saw through all the ******** the other interviewees were presenting. I was beat out by a Spanish speaking MD.

2nd interview: at another NP position at the current hospital I work at. I even have a friend who works there as a medical assistant (I'm pretty sure that's why I landed the interview). I was beat out by an NP with dermatology experience (I have no derm experience).

3rd interview: at a small private occ health place my friend (a NP) works at. According to her I nailed the first interview but they never returned my calls / emails for the 2nd interview. Possibly because they could only match the current (below average according to salary.com) pay I was getting. And they couldn't pay me average like I requested.

4th interview: at my current hospitals occ health place. I heard it was a really bad place to work, overwhelmed manager, you work 10hours a day (everyday) and only get paid for 8. High NP turnover. I didn't follow up too hard. If they want me for that hard job they would have to pay well for the hard work done.

5th interview: a managerial position, to manage the county's public health nurses (8-9 of them). I was surprised they wanted to interview me, but the interview confirmed what my resume (doesn't) say. I have never been a manager of nurses before. Currently I manage 2 medical assistants and before that I was a head waiter managing 18 waitstaff. I sure they hired someone with experience managing nurses.

I'm sure my resume is perfect (it's landed me 5 interviews). But did I blow my interviews somehow?

[Cardiology EP NP]

First off, I want to applaud you on having a resume that has landed you 5 interviews! That's awesome! It goes to show that employers are seriously considering you as a candidate and that's great!

Secondly, it sounds like those jobs aren't what you are really looking for and don't really match your skill set. Are you an FNP? ANP? what is your area of expertise? It's probably best you didn't get hired at any of them because I am not sure it's what you are really looking for.

Thirdly, I can assure you that the RIGHT job will come in time. It just takes patience and time. I speak from own personal experience. I graduated with an ANP/cardiac focus and began looking for jobs several months before I graduated. I started interviewing right away. I was granted a total of seven interviews during the coorifice of my search and 2 job offers, one of which I declined and the other which I took. I was looking to work in a very specific area, cardiology, mainly with adults in the chicagoland area. I can assure you it was not easy to find the right job, but I can tell you, it finally came and when it did, it was very clear to me that the job I landed in was the job that I was supposed to have. Now, it took awhile, about 8 months to finally land the right job, but I can assure you with all of my heart, it was totally worth it! I am so glad I waited because, like you, I had interviewed for positions I didn't feel qualified for and wasn't comfortable with and had I ended up in any of those positions, I know I would not have been happy.

Instead, I am right where I belong and I am so comfortable in my NP position because it was what I was trained to do. There is an employer out there looking for you! Good luck and let us know how it goes!

[pedspnp]

I too applied and interviewed at 7 different place, the job that I just started in is the one I always hoped I would find, I have a great MD to work with she knows I am a new grad and is showing me the ropes and letting me develop my own style she insists on it no question is ever a stupid question and I have made suggestions in the diagnostic work up that she had not considered rather than take it as her own she gives me credit it take a while but be patient

[DucatiNP]

Thanks for the reply Cardiology EP NP.

I’m an FNP and you’re right, those jobs weren’t a perfect fit for me. But I entertained the interview to really find out they weren’t for me. But if any of those 5 wanted to hire me I would do it for about 3 years to master that part of medicine, round of my skill set and make me more marketable in the future.

I took a peek at my current medical directors CV and she jumped jobs (and climbed up) every 3 years for 15 years to get where she is today. I think she is a good example of climbing up the corporate (medical) ladder.

Thank you both for the perspective. I’m only on my 5th month of hard searching and I’m happy to see that this is about average in todays job market.

[caliotter3]

Although I don't know whether this would apply in a situation like yours, I've been told more than once that some employers will be thorough with all applicants in order to avoid potential allegations of wrongdoing. That might explain interviewing people that they are not even considering for the short list for hire. Again, not saying that is the case here, but you never know. Good luck finding not just any job, but the right one for you.

[Bob the nurse]

Take away the positives. With each interview you are seeing what position would be the best fit for YOU. Interviewing alot isnt a bad thing. If any of those 5 places offered you a job would you have taken it?

[DucatiNP]

Take away the positives. With each interview you are seeing what position would be the best fit for YOU. Interviewing alot isnt a bad thing. If any of those 5 places offered you a job would you have taken it?

Pain management, yes. It was so nice there and you can tell the profits from the practice were bring put directly back into the practice and not someones pocket.

Derm, yes. the Derm MD used to have an office across from mine and he actually requested me to work with him twice. But the hospital beaurocracy (we work for the same hospital) gave him an RN for cost savings.

The small occ health practice my friend works at, no. But if they somehow agreed to pay me average, then yes. But I don't think that was going to happen.

Large hospital occ health with high NP turnover, no. But if they paid me higher than average and knowing I'm still going to leave because of the high NP turnover, yes.

The manager position, yes. So my answer is pretty much yes to everything because the NP school I went to emphasized being a "rounded" scholar. The NP's had to take a the speaking and debate class reserved for the MBA (Masters in Business Association). And the MBAs had to take psycology. Mandatory.

So I would take any of the 5 to become more rounded and become proficient in that part of medicine.

[BabyLady, BSN, RN]

First off, I want to applaud you on having a resume that has landed you 5 interviews! That's awesome! It goes to show that employers are seriously considering you as a candidate and that's great!

Secondly, it sounds like those jobs aren't what you are really looking for and don't really match your skill set. Are you an FNP? ANP? what is your area of expertise? It's probably best you didn't get hired at any of them because I am not sure it's what you are really looking for.

Thirdly, I can assure you that the RIGHT job will come in time. It just takes patience and time. I speak from own personal experience. I graduated with an ANP/cardiac focus and began looking for jobs several months before I graduated. I started interviewing right away. I was granted a total of seven interviews during the coorifice of my search and 2 job offers, one of which I declined and the other which I took. I was looking to work in a very specific area, cardiology, mainly with adults in the chicagoland area. I can assure you it was not easy to find the right job, but I can tell you, it finally came and when it did, it was very clear to me that the job I landed in was the job that I was supposed to have. Now, it took awhile, about 8 months to finally land the right job, but I can assure you with all of my heart, it was totally worth it! I am so glad I waited because, like you, I had interviewed for positions I didn't feel qualified for and wasn't comfortable with and had I ended up in any of those positions, I know I would not have been happy.

Instead, I am right where I belong and I am so comfortable in my NP position because it was what I was trained to do. There is an employer out there looking for you! Good luck and let us know how it goes!

I agree.

Start worrying when you don't get phone calls...if you got 5 interviews, your resume is fine.

They simply hired based on experience...you'll eventually find that employer that is willing to give you a shot.