Experienced nurse turned down several times..

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello, I'm an experienced nurse, I am trying to work at a hospital that's closer to my house, I've interviewed at 5 different hospitals and been turned down after feeling like the interview went well. I never got a reason and am just frustrated. I have another interview coming up this week for a progressive care unit position that I really want but now I'm discouraged from being turned down so much. I have 7 years lpn and 4 years rn as well as a bachelors, I don't know what else I can do to prove I'm a good candidate anyone on here have any advice.

Specializes in APRN / Critical Care Neuro.

I think it depends on whether or not you list a previous employer as a reference and whether or not you mark on the application that they can be contacted. I have sat in a nurse manager’s office however and listened while she completely dogged a previous employee under the table. You have to prove the conversation occurred for anything to happen. You can’t stop back door conversations. You can however be up front with a potential employer about why you left and why there may or may not be bad blood. EVERYONE has had experiences that aren’t great and/or personalities don’t mesh. Don’t be all TMI, don’t make it sound like drama. You are allowed, however, to state you just didn’t fit with this team over here, so you are excited to bring your A game team skills to a new team. It happens. Don’t take it personal and don’t make it sound personal. If someone else wants to be the a**, let them and it will reflect that way....

0 Votes
Specializes in Cardiac, Telemetry, Med/Surge/transplant.

Thank you everyone for your advice which I am gonna use on my interview tommorow it's a position I really want so yeah I'm bringing my A game along with a glowing recommendation letter from a surgeon I work with. Feeling good, fingers crossed I am landing this interview not letting my nerves best me this time.

Thanks again

5 Votes
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
9 hours ago, kmek30 said:

Thank you everyone for your advice which I am gonna use on my interview tommorow it's a position I really want so yeah I'm bringing my A game along with a glowing recommendation letter from a surgeon I work with. Feeling good, fingers crossed I am landing this interview not letting my nerves best me this time.

Thanks again

I am rooting for you. Let us know what happens!

0 Votes
Specializes in Psychiatry.
On 6/25/2019 at 7:21 AM, not.done.yet said:

If you are getting the interviews but not the job there is something going on in the interviews that doesn't gel most likely. Interviews are mostly a way to see if you are someone they would want to work with, particularly if it is a panel interview. Failure to be remarkable makes you forgettable. It doesn't mean they don't want to work with you as much as someone else's light shined brighter than yours.

They will review your skills and your answers, but a lot of it comes down to whether or not they see you as competent, professional and a good fit for their team. I will offer a few tips below - please know that I am not implying any of these are things you are doing wrong, as I don't know the specifics of your situation. Always remember, your answers matter, but your bearing and personality matter more. They already believe you are qualified or you would not be there. I have gotten offers many times by the below tactics, including over internal candidates with more experience than me. It can be done. Note that I am a very reserved introverted type of person, so you do not have to be a sparkly, gregarious one to do this.

1. Make sure your appearance doesn't become a distraction. Be conservative without being Amish. Don't wear scrubs unless you have no choice. Slacks and a blouse that doesn't show cleavage or a subdued dress, sensible shoes that don't attract attention in either direction. Try to wear colors and/or patterns that aren't flamboyant. Keep your jewelry conservative too. No big dangly earrings, nothing super sparkly or clunky or super trendy. Think classic. Nails trimmed. Make-up, if you wear it, should be conservative as well. Save the heavy stuff and bright colors for social occasions. Be clean. Hair tidy. Don't wear perfume.

2. Be friendly. View it as getting to talk in a room with another nurse or nurses about something you love - nursing. Share your passion for the job. Use humor, even if it is just a grin. This is a chance to tell your story. Show what you know as well as how you have grown. Be conversational, not just answering questions like a robot. Your answers matter, but so does your presentation of them. Be likable.

3. Have questions prepared about the job beyond the usual "What are your nurse/patient ratios". Ask the panel members for their opinions on the organization, the floor, the patient population. Ask what their greatest challenge is, then empathize with it and offer how you are someone who would be motivated/qualified to help with that. Smile. Ask what they love about working in that organization. Make eye contact. The question portion is your chance to commandeer the interview and form bonds. Don't waste it.

3. When it wraps up, shake everyone's hand - firm but not too hard. No limp fingers or wrists here. Look people in the eye with a smile and express appropriate gratitude for the opportunity and affinity for the position.

4. ASK FOR THE JOB. Before you leave, close the deal. You are selling yourself, so sales tactics really do work. ASK FOR THE JOB. Tell them you liked what you heard, that you feel you are a good fit and you would really love to come work with them and you hope you will hear back. You would be amazed how powerful this is.

5. Don't forget to get business cards or contact info/names of all on the panel and send out personalized thank you emails that recall something specific you learned about them during the interview. Reiterate how much you enjoyed getting to meet them all and that you would love to come work with them. Thank them for their time and consideration.

Definite don'ts:

Don't ask how much it pays or what the benefits are. You will have that opportunity after the job offer comes.

Don't mention time off you will need. You can negotiate that after the job offer comes.

Don't show up sloppy, sleepy, boring or shy.

Don't wear perfume. Seriously. Just don't. If you have a strong scent, even if you think its pleasant, there will definitely be someone in the room who can't tolerate it for a variety of reasons.

Don't badmouth any of your former employers. The reason you want to work there is because you heard it was a great place to work as a nurse. Period. Its not the commute - its them. You want to work with them.

Don't be late or super early. Arrive as close to on time as possible. If you are too early, look around the hospital a bit until you are within 5-10 minutes of your appointment or sit somewhere and review the hospital mission statement and/or observe the population you are seeing. Be sure you incorporate your observations into your questions and answers during the interview.

Don't use the "Tell us about yourself" portion of the interview to share things about your personal life. What they want to know is about your schooling, your experience, your career trajectory and your desire to work there. Not your dog. Not your kids. Not your spouse. Not your hobbies unless they ask. Every second you are there is time you use to sell yourself to them.

Best of luck and let us know how it goes. That you are enthusiastic about this position should serve you very well in an interview.

Oh! And never forget - You are an experienced nurse. You are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you.

Excellent advice for us all. Thank you for your insight.

1 Votes
Specializes in ICU, trauma, neuro.

My approach is to "present my worst side". I highlight my weaknesses (which are many) and minimize my strengths (which are few). I would rather not get a job and set low expectations, than get one where I "oversell" myself. Still, I've run about 50% with job offers over the course of my life despite this approach and overall poor interview skills.

0 Votes

Good luck! Keep us up to date.

0 Votes
Specializes in Cardiac, Telemetry, Med/Surge/transplant.

I got the job, was basically hired on the spot after the floor tour the manager asked if I was interested I said yes definitely and she took me to h.r. where they made me a offer, I start the 22nd, so excited.

11 Votes
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Congratulations!!!

0 Votes
21 minutes ago, kmek30 said:

I got the job, was basically hired on the spot after the floor tour the manager asked if I was interested I said yes definitely and she took me to h.r. where they made me a offer, I start the 22nd, so excited.

Congrats! What, if anything, did you do differently?

0 Votes
Specializes in Cardiac, Telemetry, Med/Surge/transplant.

I dressed more casually, and I just brought all my confidence into the interview and I just clicked with the manager, and nurses. I wanted the job so I got it.

5 Votes

Happy for you. That means you weren't meant to get the other jobs because there was something better waiting on you. Good luck at the new job!

2 Votes
10 hours ago, kmek30 said:

I got the job, was basically hired on the spot after the floor tour the manager asked if I was interested I said yes definitely and she took me to h.r. where they made me a offer, I start the 22nd, so excited.

YAY!

0 Votes
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