Why does HR mess with people's heads

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Or at least they mess with my head. I went through two interviews, had a tour done, came back a third time to fill out all the paperwork for a background check. Did the drug test and the mantoux test. The paper I received said provisional hire status pending background checks. He said I'd hear back by the end of the week. End of the week has passed so I give a call and he said, yes, I think they're in, let me look, I'll call back in a little bit. The day's almost over now and he's not called back.

All I want to do is start my job. I declined an offer and canceled an interview because I thought I was hired. Should I call back again today or am I being inpatient. Maybe tomorrow?

Is the world trying to teach me to be more patient or be more agressive? Or maybe I'm just going crazy because I just want a job again. I know HR is busy, but when I worked in the corporate world and had to multi-task hundreds of vendors, among others, I would always try to get back within a day or two, or at least follow up with how things are processing...

caliotter3

38,333 Posts

I certainly hope you did not make a mistake by cancelling the other interview and declining the other offer.

ohmeowzer RN, RN

2,306 Posts

Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.

good heavens !! i really think it is in their job description... many HR's do that... i think i would call back tommrow and say your still interested and wondered where you stand... i know whats it like to not sound to anxious but i always call back... please keep me posted on what happens... i say call !!! he may have gotten busy and not able to get back to you !! sooo call !!

fungez

364 Posts

Why does HR mess with people's heads?

Because they can! Because they cancancancan!

Human resources = useless. I've heard more horror stories about people's jobs being held up due to HR dragging its feet. Meanwhile the unit is working short and the employee desperately needs that paycheck. My old HR tried to turn their phones off. Literally, there was no way to reach them, not for insurance questions or change in status or anything. If you called, you got a recording telling you to come in during business hours. Nice for night-shifters, huh. They had to quit doing that after people started screaming about it.

Isn't HR around to serve the needs of the employee? Where's our customer service?

Call this idiot and be his worst nightmare. Call your prospective boss and let her know what's going on as well.

fungez

364 Posts

good heavens !! i really think it is in their job description... many HR's do that... i think i would call back tommrow and say your still interested and wondered where you stand... i know whats it like to not sound to anxious but i always call back... please keep me posted on what happens... i say call !!! he may have gotten busy and not able to get back to you !! sooo call !!

I wouldn't worry about sounding anxious. In fact, I would try my best to sound psychotic and homocidal. Anyone who blows someone off for that long deserves to get a fire lit under him.

HeartsOpenWide, RN

1 Article; 2,889 Posts

Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.
I certainly hope you did not make a mistake by cancelling the other interview and declining the other offer.

I agree. Last year before I graduated I had two interviews. I accepted a position and hospital #1 even though I still had an interview for hospital #2 (because it was a sure deal and the lack of jobs for new grads was just becoming apparent). Later, I got laid off from hospital #1 but now work at hospital #2, I only had to do a second interview with the DON because I already had that interview almost half a year prior with the dept manager (who actually requested to hire me when she heard I was getting laid off from hospital #1)....never be afraid to leave your good name in several places.

TREC96

41 Posts

Specializes in new hire on L&D.

I just got hired at hhc harlem hospital in nyc they called me on june 3rd to offer me the position on the 7th I did all the paper work and my physical and my finger prints. they said they would call in a week after they finished with my background check they just called back on friday june 25th... so i think it just take them a while to get back to people so it is a waiting game in that time i did call back and inquire a few times!! bc i was nervous and every time i did they said they were still processing the background check... so i think they do a whole bunch of peoples at the same time to get the together for orientation

so call and ask in a day or so no biggie:D:D:D

hope this helps

T:)

LeaRNed

54 Posts

I would call back today, right now. Tell them that you would at least like to know if you are actually hired....that's the least they could do. If they say they need to find something-tell them you'll hold on the line.

silentRN

559 Posts

HR sucks all around.

belgarion

697 Posts

Specializes in Med Surg.

They mess with peoples heads for the same reason a dog scoots his butt on the carpet - because they can!

Call them. You need to know what's happening so you know whether to go buy new scrubs or start looking again. If you wait on them you may still be hanging a week from now. Been there, done that, got the scars to show for it.

llg, PhD, RN

13,469 Posts

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
I wouldn't worry about sounding anxious. In fact, I would try my best to sound psychotic and homocidal. Anyone who blows someone off for that long deserves to get a fire lit under him.

Don't lose your cool with them. Remember, they can prevent you from getting the job and/or can get you fired. If you do or say anything remotely inappriate, they can use that against you. They can report your inappropriate behavior, express concern that you don't have control over your interactions with others and ruin your chances fo ever working for that facility.

Stay calm ... call back ... be persistent ... but always polite and professional.

P_RN, ADN, RN

6,011 Posts

Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

It's possible someone didn't get back to THEM. I'd call in the AM and ask for a status report....and perhaps say you were away from your desk/phone/computer for a short while.....

And don't go postal, "more flies with honey than vinegar" and all that.

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