job great interest go in person or email?

[Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN]

Okay I'm full of q's this week!

Thanks to the other thread, I realize I should bypass the recruiter if I really want this job.

I realize some people read a thread and only respond to the beginning question, fair enough. The update to my previous saga is I got a name for the hiring director. That said, the email would be a standard email for the hospital system, so I could send an email to the director.

I'm leaning towards stopping by the office. I talked to the office manager she seems nice enough giving me the director's info. (I asked who did the hiring) I didn't tell her I was applying for the job. (I didn't want to get ousted to the website..I already did the general app through the website, I'm sure it's floating in space never to be seen)

My only fear is that if I go in person, I won't get to see the director and will have to hand my cover letter/resume to the office manager. What are the odds it will make it to the director? I'm afraid she will just toss it, or worse say they won't accept it...go through the website...etc... In that case, would an email to the director be better? Or is it better to make that extra effort and try to go in person?

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

It seems that you have chosen to disregard the advice given to you. Why post this again?

You can pretty much rest assured that if you drop in, you won't get to see the director.

[netglow, ASN, RN]

Could go good and could go bad. It's 50/50.

Toss a coin, heads you go in, tails you email.

Done.

[Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN]

It seems that you have chosen to disregard the advice given to you. Why post this again?

You can pretty much rest assured that if you drop in, you won't get to see the director.

I didn't disregard anything. "most" of the advice seemed to state I'd stand a better shot making an impression. I'm not sure an email would convey that, but I am most willing to go that route if it's better.

I also hardly call 4 or 5 responses a plethora of advice, not to mention the last one that prompted me to start yet another thread *how ghastly to try to get help from others* clearly did not take into account that I got a name already It came from the viewpoint of my 1st post and being around boards, many people only read the 1st post and answer from that.

This forum moves fast, I really did want honest input. I seriously don't understand why people have to come across so nasty when asked for advice. No wonder people stop posting.

btw when I went in person to my SNF to fill out the app (b/c that's how they do things) the unit manager, my now boss...did infact make a trip down to see me (without my asking) b/c she happened to be there at 8pm. So I guess I thought there could be a chance.

[April, RN, BSN, RN]

I didn't read your last thread, so I'm posting solely based on your question in this thread. I agree that you are better off bypassing nurse recruiters. I also agree that you probably won't see the director if you go in person and your resume might never make it to the right person if left with someone else.

Personally, I would email. My reason for this is that I don't want to inconvenience the director in any way. I feel more comfortable being "invited" to meet with them so to speak. I know my nursing director is always busy and on her way to this meeting and that meeting and if she's actually in her office, she's trying to catch up with other work. If you email, the nursing director can look at it on her own time. If she's interested, she'll surely keep it in her inbox. If you haven't heard back in a week or so, you could always email again to follow up on the email you sent with your resume attached. That way, if it did get misplaced or pushed aside, you are bringing it to his/her attention again.

Another thought... SNF and nursing homes seem to always have staffing issues which might be why your current boss was so eager to meet with you at 8pm. As you know, hospital positions are few and far between right now and there are plenty of people fighting for them.

[juliaann]

Maybe I missed something in your last post, but didn't they tell you not to e-mail? If so, I would not e-mail. You don't want to give them a reason to think you can't take directions....

[Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN]

I didn't read your last thread, so I'm posting solely based on your question in this thread. I agree that you are better off bypassing nurse recruiters. I also agree that you probably won't see the director if you go in person and your resume might never make it to the right person if left with someone else.

Personally, I would email. My reason for this is that I don't want to inconvenience the director in any way. I feel more comfortable being "invited" to meet with them so to speak. I know my nursing director is always busy and on her way to this meeting and that meeting and if she's actually in her office, she's trying to catch up with other work. If you email, the nursing director can look at it on her own time. If she's interested, she'll surely keep it in her inbox. If you haven't heard back in a week or so, you could always email again to follow up on the email you sent with your resume attached. That way, if it did get misplaced or pushed aside, you are bringing it to his/her attention again.

Another thought... SNF and nursing homes seem to always have staffing issues which might be why your current boss was so eager to meet with you at 8pm. As you know, hospital positions are few and far between right now and there are plenty of people fighting for them.

THANK YOU! This makes sense. If I'm understanding you correctly, you're saying just send my cover letter w/o the resume the 1st time? I tried to get live feedback by friends/co-workers and they're honestly split! 1/2 think I should go in person, but I'm hesitant to do that, but if it made the best impression.... I'm in Pittsburgh, I don't know if that has anything to do with it, but sometimes in certain areas things are more laid back. (that's why some are suggesting the in person way) This is all new to me. My previous job you contacted the manager via phone and that was that...no HR to go through, no games. Honestly email makes the most sense. Less pushy and yes, I'd wonder if the person I handed it to would just toss it.

I also toyed w/the idea of calling back the manager of the office and asking her opinion of emailing/stopping in to convey interest rather than just being a piece of paper right now. But if she refers me back to the website, then I'm stuck! That's not a risk I want to take right now. Through this hospital, many of the people that work for them did get hired through word of mouth. I don't know anyone in this particular branch.

juliaann, it was the nurse recruiter that said she couldn't accept emails. Really if I look at this, even though it's under the hospital umbrella, it's an outpatient facility obviously with it's own director. I couldn't attach a cover letter through the system. Right now I'm just a piece of paper with probably thousands of others. People relocate here b/c we're not quite as bad as other areas in terms of not hiring. Anyway I pretty much guarantee I won't hear anything if I just leave it as the application. If by some far chance I do get a call from the recruiter and she finds out I emailed a letter of interest to the director, I don't think that could be a bad thing. I'm conveying interest in this speciality.

b/c it's an outpatient, there's many people that want those type of normal hours and true that's a benefit I do want. But I want this place b/c of it's speciality, I'm highly interested in it. I've done research on my own. It's what they can teach me as well as how hard I work for the people under my care. (doing my own research to best help them if need be) It's a really great opportunity not just a "job". I guess that's why I'm a little nutty on trying to do this the right way!

[April, RN, BSN, RN]

THANK YOU! This makes sense. If I'm understanding you correctly, you're saying just send my cover letter w/o the resume the 1st time?

You're welcome! Just to clarify, I meant send your cover letter AND resume attached in your first email. If he/she doesn't get back to you in a week or so, you can email them again saying you'd like to follow up with your first email to them, were wondering if they had a chance to review your cover letter and resume, and again express your strong interest in working there... or something to that effect.