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Discussion

Finally got my RN on my 3rd try...job interview with my previous unit in TWO days?

Hello, fellow nurses! Dang, it feels good to finally say that.

Before I graduated from my program in May, I was offered a position on a unit for immunocompromised patients at the children's hospital in my city. It was my absolute dream job, the interview went wonderfully, and by the end of the interview it was clear that this would be a great "fit."

Fast forward a month or two...after I was unsuccessful in taking the NCLEX the first time, they graciously delayed my start date for 60 days. When I did not pass on my second attempt, they had to rescind my job offer.

On Friday 10/14/16, after taking my test the third time, I sat down for lunch and happened to check my email while waiting for my mother to join me. My former manager had just emailed me to tell me that a New Grad position had just opened up, and they would love for me to apply. We've been corresponding since then...my name and license number posted on the state's Dept of Professional Licensing site a week later, I submitted my application over the weekend, and on Monday I got a call to schedule an interview.

I'll be interviewing on Thursday 10/26/16, and I'm nervous about two things:

What if I they ask me the same questions again and my answers are basically the same? I'm afraid of sounding like a broken record.

Also, should I expect questions about how needing to retake the test has made me a better candidate, or given me more insight? If so, that's fine. I just am nervous about what to expect, more so than I was for my original interview.

If there are any people out there who have been in a similar situation, or anyone who has interviewed people under unique types of circumstances before, I would love some words of encouragement and feedback on what YOU think I should be prepared to encounter during this interview.

Thanks so much :)

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    So often, interviewers follow a very specific template when they interview.

    They often have a piece of paper in front of them with all of the questions

    written down. They basically read off the questions and write down your

    answers.

    So, it is very possible that you may get asked the same questions. Why

    wouldn't your answers be about the same?

    Or, if the same person is interviewing you, she may skip those

    questions altogether since you already answered them once.

    Another thing to consider is... this place had hired you, they

    HAD to rescind your offer after the 2nd NCLEX failing, they

    probably had no choice, had to get someone into that

    position. Now that you have passed, they obviously still

    want you, a job has opened up... yes they have to

    interview you again, but sometimes an interview is

    nothing more than a huge formality.

    My opinion? You can relax. You got this. :)

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    You've got the job. They want you. The manager pursued you because she knows, likes, and believes in you.

    Congrats!

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    And why would not your answers be the same, especially since they "worked" in the past...

    congratulations, and best wishes....

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    • Author

    Great advice, thank you for helping to calm my nerves a bit!

    Its been such a whirlwind for the last 6 months since I graduated. I've been doing all the odd jobs that came my way to pay bills, while still leaving time to prep for the NCLEX. From working temp hours at a previous IT job of mine, pet/house/baby sitting, caregiving, washing windows, mucking horse stalls...:up:

    Had I not passed this time around, I would have had to move on and go toward a different career path (at least for now) in order to make ends meet. 10 days ago, I had no idea what was in my future, and now suddenly I'm an actual licensed nurse and its full speed ahead! Hopefully I can keep my head from spinning long enough to get through tomorrow's job interview as smoothly as I did last time. Wish me luck!

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    Sounds like the interview is just a formality. If this is your former manager, she already knows your work ethic. And a new grad is a new grad is a new grad. Whether you passed the test with one try and 75 questions or you passed after 10 attempts. It doesn't matter. They are going to shape and mold you into the nurse they want.

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    • Author

    Update!

    I was more nervous during this job interview than I was the first time around. I felt like kind of a fumbling bumbling idiot, but it must have paid off...at least I didn't come off conceited, right?

    After my interview, HR spent a week trying to figure out why I was in the system as a former employee and deciding whether or not I needed to resubmit my references after first telling my that they didn't need or want my references (I did end up doing so haha...does anyone in the world actually feel like their HR department actually has their stuff together? :roflmao:).

    Although only one of my newly submitted contacts had filled out the "reference survey" I RECEIVED A JOB OFFER THE NEXT DAY!! Apparently the interview process and whatnot was indeed even more of a formality than I thought. You were right, everybody.

    Thanks again to everyone who responded for the words of encouragement!!

    Now its time to jump into the roller coaster that is being a "new nurse."

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