Do you feel like a failure when you don't get the job you interviewed for?

Nursing Students General Students

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I had my 3rd ever job interview last week, and for the first time I was not the successful candidate:( I'm feeling like such a loser right now, there were only 7 people being interviewed:(

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

It's a tough market out there....you are going to recieve far more rejections than jobs in this market. Although it is hard not to take it personal.....:hug:.....keep on plugging away.

Good Luck in your job search and in nursing school!

take it personally somewhat maybe you need experience but then again it probably wasnt for you. so keep searching and not to give up or let you down..

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There are other ways to look at this. First, you know there were 7 applicants interviewed, but do you know how many applications/ resumes they got for that one job? Maybe 25, maybe 50... but probably over 100. You were selected for an interview over all those other people. That means your resume looks good, you have a strong work and/ or academic history, and they were impressed enough to call you for an interview. Managers do not waste their time chatting with applicants they have no interest in hiring. You got to first base, which is a lot farther than the other 40 or 90 (or more) people did.

Second, it doesn't mean your interview skills aren't strong, or you didn't come off well in the interview. You were up against six others--so if you only consider probability, your chances were one in seven.

The real issue with interviews is that just like meeting classmates, neighbors, or random people on the street, some you 'click' with and others you don't. It doesn't make you weaker than someone else, it just means they may have had some commonality or personality type that the interviewer warmed to. With another interviewer candidate #5 could have been the 'right' one; with yet another interviewer it could be you.

One thing you can do to improve your responses during interviews is to get a book from the library (or purchase) that gives examples of interview questions. Sometimes you'll be confronted with an interviewer who asks really tough questions ("What is your worst personality flaw as it concerns your interactions with others? Or, "Give me an example of a mistake you made in your last job, and what could you have done to make the situation better?") Hint: there are no 'right' answers. They are looking for candor and honesty, but this is not the time to make soul-searching confessions. You might answer the first with, "I tend to be a perfectionist and have a hard time delegating, but I'm working on that and am now much better at asking for help." The second question might be answered, "Our unit's copy machine was often low on ink or paper. It was technically the secretary's job to keep the copier stocked, so I would remind her when it wasn't working. I soon realized that it took longer for me to find her and tell her than it did for me to just refill the paper tray. Once I started doing this, other nurses followed my lead and we no longer had the problem. It was an easy solution to a frustrating problem."

You might role play with another job seeker, each of you taking turns being the interviewer and the other the applicant. I know it feels silly, but if you're serious about it, this can really help.

The most important thing is not to beat yourself up about 'losing' a job because you blame your personality or ability to build a rapport with the interviewer. Be yourself, be upbeat and positive, be enthusiastic, but most of all be genuine. Each interview is practice for the next one. Good luck!

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