what is the difference between applying for a job and transferring?

[Ms.RN]

hi

i read in the forum few times about nurses transferring to different unit or different department. so how is it different from applying for a new job who are not currently employed versus a person who is currently employed but transferring to different unit? dont they both have to be interviewed by nurse manager and hired by managers and dont they have to go through human resource first?

[suzanne4, RN]

Jobs usually are required to be posted in house and preference given to those that are already working for the company before a job can be posted for someone from the outside.

When one is already an employee, they usually just submit a bid for the new job and then are interviewed by the manager. If accepted, then the paperwork is submitted to HR for a change in unit/job. This is how it is done in most facilities. They would not be going thru HR first since they are already an employee and it would be considered an internal transfer.

When one is applying as a new employee, they are first submitted to HR and they do a preliminary screen; if one meets the basic requirements, then they are submitted to the manager or who ever is in charge for hiring for that unit.

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

at my hospital the difference is night and day!!!! first of all the amount of paper work for transfers only consists of filling out a small request and attaching a resume, whereas outsiders have to submit everything including almost a dozen work references at the time of application. also transfers usually have an inside track.

transfers have the ability to talk to hiring mangers through networking and so he/she does not need to go through hr in the same way that outsiders go through hr. in fact, if a hiring manger wants a transfer he/she can contact hr and let them know that they are hiring you... hr then does the paper work to change your department.

this means that sometimes the transfer does not have to interview for the position or have the necessary experience required. the interview was the informal talk with the hiring manger that is impressed enough with the transfer to hire him/her on the spot or after he/she completes some training at the department's expense. outsiders, on the other hand, must go through a formal interview when all other applicants being considered for the same position go through a formal interview and must be qualified to accept the job. i hope that this explanation helps.

the situation might not sound fair, but it is... this helps the hospital to retain workers, which lowers costs. this is also another reason why i became a nurse extern at the hospital i am going to work for after graduation. gl!

[RNperdiem, RN]

A transfer is a known quantity.

If you have worked anywhere for a while, you have developed a network of people you know in other departments, and a reputation(good, bad or indifferent).

Transfers are already enrolled in hospital benefits, already know the computer system, do not need hospital orientation(unit orientation is a separate thing) and therefore have a few advantages in getting hired over nurses from outside.

[Ms.RN]

when one is already an employee, they usually just submit a bid for the new job and then are interviewed by the manager. if accepted, then the paperwork is submitted to hr for a change in unit/job.

do nurse managers also check references from previous employers?

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

do nurse managers also check references from previous employers?

in my experience, the answer is no. however, the new hiring manager will check with your current director and hr about your performance and reputation.