For pre-nursing students who've gotten a hospital job...

juliaann · Mar 25, 2010

There's really no way to know if 13 days means you're not being considered or that the manager is still collecting applications before calling for interviews...it really depends on the facility, the manager, and how urgent filling the position is. Have you called at all? I always follow up with a phone call no more than a week after submitting an application. A lot of the time you get told to hold your horses and chillax, and I often feel guilty about "pestering" the busy HR staff who likely don't know anything about that particular position and where the manager is right now in filling it. But it's a good idea - it gets your name out there, shows interest, shows you have good phone skills and can speak professionally with other professionals. If you haven't done this my suggestion is to do so...it's the only thing I can think of other than waiting and seeing.

Before I was a CNA I applied for many clerical jobs in the hospitals in my city with 1 year of general office management experience, I got called for 1 interview, and didn't get it. Not to bum you out or add to your hopelessness, but administrative and clerical jobs get snatched up in hospitals quickly - in-house transfers are going to be considered first, and a lot of times a manager knows who they're going to hire before the position's even listed. Having an employee in the hospital to give you a personal recommendation to the manager is an invaluable thing - do you know anyone working in healthcare who can keep you aprised of openings where they work and mention you to a manager? You can even try asking the allnurses forum for your state to see if anyone knows of any openings, they might be able to help you. In my hospital, clerical/admin job postings are usually only posted as a formality because they're required to - they're almost always filled in-house or by employee referral. Sorry to be such a downer. I understand where you're coming from - I've been there...best of luck!!!

Calinurse4 · Mar 25, 2010

I agree with everything the above poster said. It honestly took about a year of applying constantly before I ever heard back. I finally got a call and went in for an interview but I didn't get the position (it went to an internal candidate). That was the issue I kept running into, the positions usually get filled my internals. I finally got a job a few months back as a clerical assistant in the medical imaging department. A big part of the reason I got the job is because my MIL works there. Obviously, I also had the qualifications and I had to go through several interviews with both the department and human resources. But they told me that the received about 200 applications within 48 hours and had to pull the position from the website. They randomly picked 30 applications and narrowed it down to about 5-10 people to actually interview. I don't know how other hospitals do it but that's how it's done where I work. That's why it was so hard for me to even get interviewed; the response is overwhelming, especially in this economy

I wish you the best of luck and KEEP TRYING! Also, I would keep calling or emailing. That is the reason I got one of my interviews~I wouldn't leave them alone until they hired me!! lol

MsPebbles · Mar 25, 2010

Thank you both so much for your thorough and honest replies. I will continue to apply, but it certainly is discouraging when I don't have any internal source that could help push my application through like it seems so many who are hired these days are taking advantage of (and I certainly don't blame them!).

As far as calling the facilities, I really don't know who to contact. For example, I applied for a CSR position and I'd like to follow up, but this particular hospital has many locations, and their main HR dept. doesn't have any info on such job postings, so who/what department head would I contact? This is all so new to me because I've been in my current job for so long that things have changed a lot since I last looked for a job.

I think I'm reaching the point of just going there in person and personally handing in my resume. I hear it may be a turn-off to some hiring managers, but considering my online applications aren't really getting me anywhere, I don't see how it could really hurt.

orchid09 · Mar 25, 2010

I am in the same vote as you, I think I've applied for 36 different receptionist positions! grrr One of those told me that over 500 ppl had applied! I am over qualified as well, but I think they are looking for people who have held a "medical related" position before. :crying2:

All we can do is continue applying!

MsPebbles · Mar 25, 2010

Well I think it's safe to assume I just ruined my chances for one of the positions I applied for (Unit Secretary). I left a message for the nurse manager to further express my interest and I was so nervous that I rambled like an idiot! I did mention that I was pursuing a nursing degree and am very interested in a healthcare position, and how interested I am in that position, but I feel I sounded like an idiot because I was tripping over my words. Ughh!! :uhoh3: And go figure this is the one position I wanted above all others. I think I'll go hide under a rock now... :crying2: