Interview disasters

[Bellarubia18]

Hey everyone,

I am writing because I could use some advice/help. I am a new GN with a BSN and have already been on 3 nursing interviews. I didn't hired on the first two floors because there were so many more experienced applicants that applied for the job(disappointing, but understandable). I just came home from the third, which had showed great promise, but once again I got horrible vibes from the interviewers. I shadowed for three hours before the interview and got along with the nurse I shadowed, asked plenty of questions, etc.

For this interview, I had thought up possible questions they might ask, thought of questions I might ask them, and basically was well-prepared. I don't feel I was treated with courtesy during the interview; the managers seemed distracted. As I was answering one question a nurse came in the door and so the manager interviewing me got distracted and stopped listening to me. Neither one of the managers were friendly, which made me feel completely nerve-wracked.

Now, I know it is not the managers' responsibility to necessarily make me feel welcome, but I am a nice person and know that I have the compassion, work ethic, and smarts to be a good nurse. I am respectful of staff and management wherever I work and most people like me once they get to know me. I don't understand what I might be doing wrong on these interviews that causes people not to want to hire me, except that maybe I appear nervous or something. But the interviewers surely don't do anything to help that situation!!!! :)

[vashtee, RN]

If they were distracted, maybe it wasn't really about you at all - they may have already decided to hire someone else, but wanted to interview you because you already had an appointment.

In any case, when someone tells you they decided to go with someone else, you might ask what you can do to improve your interviewing skills.

[oramar]

Believe me managers are distracted a lot and most the time it has nothing to do with you. By the way, I know a lot of people who thought they had bad interviews and got hired anyway.

[caliotter3]

Please don't base your feelings on what happened on just one or three interviews. Distractions for nurse managers may be common. Don't allow yourself to be thrown by that. It just happens. If you didn't get hired from this latest interview, try to take some things from it to help you with your next interview. Sometimes you have to go through many interviews before you find a job offer. Your interviewing techniques should improve and you will eventually find a job. Good luck.

[RN-LOGIC]

Don't feel bad..... Managers can be distracted at times, They have a million things going on at once. You should take under consideration our economy has affected many hospitals, I know for a fact that its a challenge to get hire as new grad. You should cross examine yourself, how is your body language? eye contact? confidence and assertiveness is a most. Writing a thank you email to the interviewer is a plus. Get familiarize with the hospital accomplishments and the staff, may help you too.

BEST OF LUCK

[mcs1505]

By the way, I know a lot of people who thought they had bad interviews and got hired anyway.

So true, this is what happened to me. I thought the interviewer really didn't like me, I didn't feel like myself and felt like I hadn't satisfied them. Overall horrible interview IMO. But I just got the call yesterday that they wanted to offer me a job. Maybe it wasn't as bad as you thought.

Best of luck!

[RN BSN 2009]

If the managers are nasty would you want them managing you

[1776patriot]

If they were distracted, maybe it wasn't really about you at all - they may have already decided to hire someone else, but wanted to interview you because you already had an appointment.

In any case, when someone tells you they decided to go with someone else, you might ask what you can do to improve your interviewing skills.

I knew a company that actually posted a job and interviewed several candidates. Though the whole process was bogus because they already knew someone they wanted for the position that already worked at the company. HR made the manager 'post and interview' The whole idea of it makes me sick. Wasting people's time. Often times an interviewer has made their mind up in the first minute anyway....

[vashtee, RN]

I knew a company that actually posted a job and interviewed several candidates. Though the whole process was bogus because they already knew someone they wanted for the position that already worked at the company. HR made the manager 'post and interview' The whole idea of it makes me sick. Wasting people's time. Often times an interviewer has made their mind up in the first minute anyway....

I know most places like to hire from within when they can, but some places are obligated to interview all interested parties before they can do it.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

managers have a number of very valid reasons to be distracted, even during an interview. perhaps someone on the unit was coding, a doctor was pitching a fit, a patient was threatening to sue or to leave ama or the manager's husband just totalled their suv. in these economic times, there aren't that many jobs being filled and there is plenty of competition for the jobs that are being filled. if you and i were both going for the same job, and they hired me instead of you would you think it was because there was something wrong with you? or because i had more experience? try to be a little easier on yourself and those managers . . . jobs are hard to come by these days, budgets are shrinking and the patients still keep coming!