Frustrated new grad with NO job opportunities

ck_nurse · Aug 22, 2008

hey may08,

thanks so much for the interview insight. animal???? lord help me. i haven't been on an interview for 11 years, and in my former job (computers) companies were fighting for computer workers so they mostly just told me how great their company was, so not a REAL interview.

so, what i was wondering is - (i told you i have been out of the interview scene for a while) what did you wear??? :confused:

i am planning on wearing a black pinstripe suit (the only one i have that still fits :eek: ! it is a nice suit, pretty conservative, but i am certianly no fashionista. black pointy toe pumps too. i heard interviews don't like slingbacks or mules. ?? hard when i am so used to wearing flipflops now. :rolleyes: hope people still wear suits today!! particularly in casual So Cal. :)

i will reply here afterwards to tell you my horror stories. :)

did you guys bring ltrs of recommendation?

thanks for everyone's insight. i really appreciate it. :bow:

ck

PetuniaRN · Aug 22, 2008

Romantic,

No, I wouldn't call this my dream job. I even told the lady that in the interview! But I do realize it is a stepping stone to my dream job through learning crucial things that would help me once I get there. I am on a telemetry floor, and my dream is ICU. But I surely will need to know heart rhythms and related meds for when I get to the ICU eventually. And let's just say I did not do the best on dysrhythmias in school...LOL, Ok, Ok, I stank at it! So I am optimistic. Anyway, it is surely closer to my goal than say, NICU or oncology. With the job market, I need to seriously be grateful to have found something.

I can't believe the issues you all are facing up in N. Ca. I mean, I guess it could be similar here in SoCal--I really don't know since I went to school elsewhere. Is the problem just hospital based jobs, or is it any nursing jobs up there?

PetuniaRN · Aug 22, 2008

so, what i was wondering is - (i told you i have been out of the interview scene for a while) what did you wear???
ck

I wore black pants, a white cowl neck shirt and a shrunken black jacket. I wore some serious heels though (that always makes me feel fierce!) and regreted that when I had to walk all over the hospital on a tour and walk to human resources and back! So wear comfy heels! I don't know if it is usually more relaxed in SoCal, but it can't hurt to look super professional to stand out. Wouldn't you rather hire someone perhaps overdressed as opposed to underdressed? I did not bring letters of ref, but I had listed my references on my resume. Take your nursing license and BLS card if you have it. I look forward to your interview tale! Hopefully, it will only be one!!! :up:

ck_nurse · Aug 23, 2008

oh lord, that interview @ hoag sucked big time! :crying2:

first of all, my sitter showed up HALF AN HOUR LATE, which totally threw off my mojo. it was a miracle that i was able to get there on time.

the director of orthopedics and the charge nurse interviewed me at the same time, both throwing out priority scenarios and "what ifs". they asked what lab value i would check if ________. and what does it mean if a pt has a fever post op. ah, infection right?/uti/dehydration/pain?? i was racking my brain for any s/e of anesthesia that would cause fever but i couldn't think of any.

i think i did ok, but got stumped on one (how do you treat dehyd other than iv fluids or oral intake)? answer was Bolus, but i had never given a bolus so that didn't come to mind at all for me. duh.

and the last question was (it's funny now lol) was "why should we hire you" and i was totally braindead by then and my answer was "because i'm intelligent" - this after acting like an idiot for the previous half hour. i am such an idiot. :banghead: oh well, it makes a funny story. i can laugh about it now, :jester: but i don't expect to ever hear back from them any time soon.

i guess i am better prepared next time. :imbar

oh btw, they said they has 20+ applicants for 2 positions.

hope everyone else out there has better interview luck. :)

have a great weekend!! now i can go have a heart attack. :redbeathe

ck

AviatrixRN · Aug 23, 2008

CK,

Congrats on surviving the interview! I bet you did better than you think you did.:wink2: And even if you don't get hired, like you said it's experience under your belt.

Good luck and I hope you hear from them soon!

A.

romantic · Aug 23, 2008

"I wore some serious heels though (that always makes me feel fierce)"

Yep, I feel the same way; it's like that some things change me into someone else. Better, stronger, smarter :). Usually, I wear comfortable clothes and shoes, but when I put on an elegant dress, I do feel different. And shoes with a high heels --- it's a killer! Now I am smiling while thinking about men. Poor men, what choice do they have

Well. Let's get serious. You asked about nursing jobs. The truth, I didn't searched market yet. My conclusion was made based on two hospitals and a few encounters with new grads who graduated LAST year and still were looking for a job (in a hospital).

St Maria hospital, SF: more than one hundred people came to their information session. They had about 30 openings. The interviews were done right on the spot, with long lines of new grads waiting for their turn.

Kaiser hospital, San Jose, invited about 250 new grads for 26 openings (don't remember the exact number) for info session, which also became an interview session with the managers. A new element that was incorporated into the interview process was writing (and it was a great surprise for some of us): you were given a specific scenario from pt's health care and in a form of essay you had to tell about your interventions. Time was limited, of course.

El Camino Hospital incorporated the same method of filtration of their new grads:).

Yep. It is serious. Therefore I repeat myself: Congratulations, you did it!

I would like to ask you a few questions

1. How many interviews did you have?

2. How did you feel after this interview? did they let you know immediately that they want to hire you?

3. Did you have your preceptorship on ICU floor?

Sorry, it's so long... I am almost done...

Do you have suggestions/advice how I can prepare myself for interview?

"Anyway, it is surely closer to my goal than say, NICU or oncology. With the job market, I need to seriously be grateful to have found something."

Something? May08, among my cohort, telemetry was considered to be one of the most desired units. I think, it's a great start.

PetuniaRN · Aug 23, 2008

CK,

I am so shocked that Hoag had such a difficult interview! :no: I am relieved I did not have to interview there b/c I would have been stymied for good answers. I have not opened a book since I passed my NCLEX in mid-May. I seriously need to do some review so I don't look dumb when I start my job. I don't know for sure what I would have answered to some of those questions--I USED to know the answers, but it has been a long summer of just straight lounging by the pool!! Seriously, though--I am so impressed you told them they should hire you because you are intelligent! Confidence is impressive and surely they didn't hear that from others. Way to go. I don't think it was a flub at all.

If they don't call, just keep an open mind. If I hear of anything at Saddleback I will post it here. Enjoy the weekend--you sooooo earned it!

PetuniaRN · Aug 23, 2008

"
I would like to ask you a few questions
1. How many interviews did you have?
2. How did you feel after this interview? did they let you know immediately that they want to hire you?
3. Did you have your preceptorship on ICU floor?

Romantic,

Don't get me wrong--I am excited about telemetry since I need the knowledge but I spent 2 1/2 semesters in a PCU/telemetry floor during my clinicals and never felt "inspired". It was across the US though and in a tiny town, so maybe I will like this much better. But on to your questions...

I had the one interview, and I got offered the job at the interview. I felt really good the whole time because it was laid back and I never got asked anything I couldn't answer. My preceptor will be on the telemetry floor and I will work whenever he/she does AND I will take the supplied new grad courses inbetween. From the interview that CK told us about, I would crack open some books to review labs, major meds, and emergency situations to have prepared scenarios. YIKES! I guess when some places have only a couple of jobs and so many applicants, they have an opportunity to be so particular. Then again, I am sure Saddleback is in a similar situation, they just choose to be laid back. So as for advice on preparing, I would just make sure you never hesitate to let them know you don't know something, but are willing to come up with possible solutions anyway. I would love to hear how any interviews you get transpire. Let me know if you have any more questions. Take care!! :nurse:

romantic · Aug 23, 2008

CK,
I am so impressed you told them they should hire you because you are intelligent! Confidence is impressive and surely they didn't hear that from others. Way to go. I don't think it was a flub at all.

agree :)!

May08, thank you.