Most horrific interview ever !

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in LTC.

So yesterday I posted how I landed an interview for my dream specialty which is OB/GYN. This is job is in a doctors office in a private practice. Well today I had the interview and it was horrific. :eek: I interviewed one on one with the receptionists, office manager and then the doctor. Here is how the interview went with the me and the doctor:

Me: "Hello Dr.___ So nice to meet you"

Doctor: "Hello... What have they( receptionist and officer manager) told you about me"?

Me: " They said that you are very structured and organized and want someone that can do the job well"

Doctor: " Well you are a LPN with LTC experience and the problem with LPNs is that you all don't have any skills and don't look for any ways to increase your skills"

Me: Yes I understand I'm a LPN with primarily LTC experience however I am a very quick learner and can catch on very quickly. I'm eager to increase my skill set which is what attracted me to this position. I also have a passion for working with expecting moms and women with GYN issues.

Doctor: " We do many labs here are you familiar with abnormal labs"

Me: Yes I'm familiar with labs and I carry a lab reference book to refer to. I am very familiar with resources to help me familiarize myself with labs pertinent to OB/GYN."

Doctor: " How much are you expecting to make"?

Me: Negotiable

Doctor: I usually pay between 15-17/hr. Since you don't have any experience and I would have to teach you a lot I can do 15/hr with 1 dollar raise after 3 months"

Me: :eek::eek::eek: Sure. That will be fine

Doctor: "When can you start"?

Me: Monday.:)

Although I'm taking a HUGE pay cut I'm willing to give this a try being that I really love this specialty. I am shadowing/orientating starting Monday. I praying that I can switch my school schedule around so that I can be more available. Obviously if there is a huge schedule conflict then I will have to decline the position. I did discuss this with the office manager just as a heads up. My job includes: Triage, collecting H/P, vital signs , weights, IM injections, drawing blood, assisting with paps, assisting with minor surgeries, and etc. I will keep you all posted. Even if it doesn't work out I gained much experience in "selling" myself to this doctor. I thought no way would I get hired. Every time she stated a possible downfall I may have due to lack of experience I jumped in with " but I'm a quick learner, organized, team player, and etc" That made me feel good. :heartbeat

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, Trauma.

Well done on your part. Wish I were as quick thinking in the same circumstances. I dare say that after LTC, I would expect this to be better and easy for you to pick up. Could you post a "followup, most horrific interview" in a month or so? I'm thinking you'll do well. Wishing you well.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.
Well done on your part. Wish I were as quick thinking in the same circumstances. I dare say that after LTC, I would expect this to be better and easy for you to pick up. Could you post a "followup, most horrific interview" in a month or so? I'm thinking you'll do well. Wishing you well.

Thanks so much and I sure will. I have always been good at thinking on my feet. The look on her face was priceless. It was a look as if she really admired my ethusiasm( spelling error... its late) and persistence. I really want this job. The only thing standing in my way( its a big only) is that I'm going into my last semester of RN school in the fall and I'm also taking a 4 week nursing course this summer. I just hope she can be flexible in that aspect... if not then I will have to look elsewhere. My long term goal is to work in L and D and right now completing RN school is a priority. So it all depends. I will post again later in the week.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I worked for a private physician who sounded similar to this doctor. Straight and to the point and very blunt, but it was a great learning experience and after awhile when you exceed her expectations (which I believe you will have no problem doing) you will gain more and more respect for you. Hang in there!!! I always tried to stay a step ahead of her and anticipate what she would want in her appointments, and this really helped the flow of the office

Good luck:yeah:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

That conversation makes me believe the Doc was testing you, putting you under a stressful situation to see how you would respond. If they really had that low of an opinion about LPN's then why would they interview one? Regardless of the reason, you handled it very well. Good job and congrats.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.
I worked for a private physician who sounded similar to this doctor. Straight and to the point and very blunt, but it was a great learning experience and after awhile when you exceed her expectations (which I believe you will have no problem doing) you will gain more and more respect for you. Hang in there!!! I always tried to stay a step ahead of her and anticipate what she would want in her appointments, and this really helped the flow of the office

Good luck:yeah:

This doctor was something else ! Of course I did lots of smiling as this is my personality anyway and I'm a bubbly person. She is not. She told me that smiling and looking pretty is not what she is looking for. I quickly wiped my big smile off my face and continued on with my interview. This is going to be a challenge but if all goes well with my school schedule, I'm up for it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Intermediate care.

After putting in a general application i got a call back for an interview on a tele floor. I really have not had an interview go bad yet (Knock on wood!!) but my interview for this RN position last yr was a bit odd. She sounded so excited to hire me, Interview went amazing. However; the conversation ended a little something like this:

"I really think you would be an asset to the team and would love to be able to hire you. However; we currently do not have any positions open. Shall we have any positions open, i would love to be able to consider you for the position"

i just wanted to be like "WHAT DO YOU MEAN?? you don't have any positions open? Why did you interview me then??"

Yeah, i still don't understand Why i got that call. it was so odd, and i know it wasnt her "excuse" not to hire me because they really didnt have any positions.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

I'm not seeing the charm of being employed by a physician who appears to expect you to fail, and taking a pay cut to do it.

Good luck to you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.
I'm not seeing the charm of being employed by a physician who appears to expect you to fail, and taking a pay cut to do it.

Good luck to you.

Yes I agree. She said the most she ever pays for LPNs is around 17 an hr. We'll see how this all plays out.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
After putting in a general application i got a call back for an interview on a tele floor. I really have not had an interview go bad yet (Knock on wood!!) but my interview for this RN position last yr was a bit odd. She sounded so excited to hire me, Interview went amazing. However; the conversation ended a little something like this:

"I really think you would be an asset to the team and would love to be able to hire you. However; we currently do not have any positions open. Shall we have any positions open, i would love to be able to consider you for the position"

i just wanted to be like "WHAT DO YOU MEAN?? you don't have any positions open? Why did you interview me then??"

Yeah, i still don't understand Why i got that call. it was so odd, and i know it wasnt her "excuse" not to hire me because they really didnt have any positions.

Something similar to this happened to me. At the time of the interview they only had 2 open positions, but the hiring manager had just got word that a few more positions were opening up but they had to wait for HR to put them through. I was patient and eventually got the job, though I was in the second round I didn't feel less wanted.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, OR.

Congrats OP!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

Good for you!! :up: :up: :up: Once she knows you are an RN student and eager to learn she'll probably learn to trust you and feel comfortable.

I worked for so many years in MD offices/clinics I know it will be quite a ride! They really depend on their nurses in that specialty, and you can expect your nice neat schedule to get thrown all awry more often in OB so you need to roll with that.

Just be attentive to this person's idiosyncrasies - best wishes to you!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment