Did I just get shafted because I'm from out of town?

[itri4vt]

I'm in Virginia, living for free at my parents' house until I find a job in the Seattle area. I'm a new grad so the search has been difficult. I finally got a call back about an ED job, asking if I wanted to come in for an interview! Finally! I told her I was still in Virginia but I could get down there in the next two weeks. She said she'd check with someone else about setting up a phone interview, and then we hung up. This was on Wednesday.

It being my first positive response on a job, I was caught off-guard and made the mistake of not getting her name, title, or phone number.

I gave her another day to call back and I tried calling on Thursday afternoon, but the number was just the hospital mainline. I searched and couldn't find the number for the ED management (doubt its even available to the public)... I didn't try going through the hospital operator though.

Anyway my question is - are recruiters/HR accommodating to candidates from out of town or do they just put them to the bottom of the stack and move forward with local candidates? How can I get in touch with them to ask to set up a phone interview?

[llg, PhD, RN]

Don't think of it as "getting shafted." That will only spur you towards having a bad attitude -- and that won't help you. You made a mistake when you talked to the woman who called: you admit that. Now move forward with a positive attitude and don't blame the hospital for your mistake. It's been less than 2 days since they called you. Give them a chance to set up the phone interview before you accuse them of treating you unfairly.

This incident gives you a chance to prepare how you will handle this issue in future conversations with employers in Seattle (whether it is this hospital or some other one). You need to get your "story" set. Yes, some hospitals ARE going to prefer to hire local applicants over ones who may or may not be fully committed to living in Seattle long term.

So, how are you going to present yourself as someone who will definitely be staying in Seattle for a long time and not as someone who is thinking about maybe giving that location a try for a little while? You can be sure they know you have important social/family connections in Seattle (or whatever else is drawing you there) and that you will definitely be moving there by such-and-such a date and have concrete arrangements for a place to live, etc. Information like that will help them see you as a more serious possibility than someone who is just shopping for a job anywhere she can find one -- with intentions to move back to Virginia as soon as she gets enough job experience to land the job you really want.

As for contacting them ... all you can do is keep trying the various e-mail accounts and phone numbers available on their website and in the "yellow pages." Perhaps your friends/family in Seattle can find a few more phone numbers to try.

[itri4vt]

Thanks for the tips. I hadn't thought about being sure to tell them WHY I'm still in Virginia (free to live with parents until I find a job), and why I want to move out to the big mountains. I have friends who moved out there who are waiting for me as soon as I get a job, and my boyfriend is also currently looking and will move with me. I can't wait to ski, bike, climb, hike in the big mountains!

Anyway, I think one of my posts on AN has led me to the contact info I need... I'll call her today, keeping my fingers crossed!

Thanks again!

[llg, PhD, RN]

Good luck!