failed at dream job interview..please help!

[studentRN1218]

Hi AN,

I just had my dream job interview on an unit where i have done my placement on. I was way too nervous for it and I stumbled and appeared cripplingly shy throughout the interview. I was prepared for the questions so I was still able to give decent examples. The manager did ask me for references and that will help them in making a decision. They are making to make one by Friday so I frantically emailed my CI who also worked as an unit nurse on the unit. She said she is already a reference for somebody else for the same position so she can't be mine. I emailed another nurse whom I worked really well with and I think she would be a strong internal reference. However, I emailed her couple months ago and never receive a response from her. :cry::cry: I have about couple hours left before I need to email my references so I have two choices either list the nurse whom I worked with and seemed genuinely enthusiastic about me working there but didn't responded to my email or should I just attached the clinical eval of my CI on me on that floor? It seemed the only way to save my dying chance at this job is with a good reference from the floor. Pleasee helpp!!

Thanks!

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

If you can't make contact with that missing nurse, do use the clinical eval from your CI.

And chill out. I hear you about how desperately you want this position. Your old grandmother probably told you, "Don't put all your eggs in one basket," because if you are collecting eggs from the henhouse and you drop your basket, they're all broken.

The modern equivalent (which unfortunately lacks the evocative atmosphere of the original) is "What's your Plan B?" Surely you realize that the vast majority of new grads don't get their dream jobs, and in some places, the majority don't get any job at all for a long time. Never pin your hopes on one thing and one thing only. Keep your eyes on the path to your prize, sure, but don't forget that the goddess gave you peripheral vision for a reason. Keep looking around.

[studentRN1218]

If you can't make contact with that missing nurse, do use the clinical eval from your CI.

And chill out. I hear you about how desperately you want this position. Your old grandmother probably told you, "Don't put all your eggs in one basket," because if you are collecting eggs from the henhouse and you drop your basket, they're all broken.

The modern equivalent (which unfortunately lacks the evocative atmosphere of the original) is "What's your Plan B?" Surely you realize that the vast majority of new grads don't get their dream jobs, and in some places, the majority don't get any job at all for a long time. Never pin your hopes on one thing and one thing only. Keep your eyes on the path to your prize, sure, but don't forget that the goddess gave you peripheral vision for a reason. Keep looking around.

Thank you for your response, I am only disappointed because I really enjoyed my placement there and this was at a major hospital in the city. I am not sure if my interest was reflected in my interview. The only thing is that if I attach the clinical eval, I don't want to put my old CI in a bad position if the manager asked about me. So I am really hoping the other nurse will email me back soon.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

You didn't "fail". Even if you don't get that job, it's not really about you specifically. It will be due to the fact that another applicant was a better fit. I know it's hard, but if you can adopt a larger perspective of any situation (taking the focus off yourself) it is much easier to deal with disappointments.

A few years from now, you'll look back and realize that it was the cumulative effect of all those bumps in the road that helped you achieve your success.

[llg, PhD, RN]

Don't worry about the written eval putting you former preceptor in a bad position. I don't think it will hurt her at all. You did a clinical placement there ... you did a good job ... and that is the official documentation of your performance. She did nothing wrong by giving you that positive feedback and you will be doing nothing wrong when you submit it as part of your application.

Good luck to you.