Got myself in a tough career spot. What would you do?

[OliveRN]

I left my bedside nursing job after 1 year because my manager wanted me to sign a contract where she'll pay for a mandatory class but I would be forced to work there for a few more years. I wanted to get out of bedside nursing so I resigned for family reasons last October (2 weeks ago) when my 1 year and deadline was up.

I started looking for another job. I found a great offer and had my first interview with them in October while I was still working. But I had the second interview today. I'm not working at the hospital anymore and I had failed to mention that to them. So they're under the impression I still work there. They moved me onto the last interview round with the company president.

My situation is that this new company thinks I'm still working at the hospital. I didn't want to discuss the contract issue with them because I didn't wanna seem like I couldn't commit to a job. But in hindsight, I should have been upfront about this because this new company will call my nurse manager and they will find out the hard way and my credibility will be out the window.

Should I explain my contract situation with them in my thank you letter for the second interview? Or should I call her directly on the phone and tell her? How do I soften the fact that I left out this information during the interview? Or should I call my nurse manager and explain my situation and have her lie for me and say that I'll be leaving in November. I'm not too close with her and she may be offended and not willing to do that for me.

What should I do? Come clean with the new company? Please help. I need your advice. Thanks for listening!!

[johnnyDoGood]

have her lie for you? oh, goodness. it's indecisiveness such as this that makes the interviewing process so difficult. then they start cracking down on things.

[SCnurse2010]

I would just let things be. Obviously the new place knew you were looking to leave the old job. Unless you said something in the interview leading them to believe you are still working, it really shouldn't matter. And if you did, then really nothing will make it better if they find out you deceived them. It may not come up at all, but I can't think of anything good that can come out of bringing it up now. And asking your NM to lie? Really? I hope that was just desperation talking.

[tyvin, BSN, RN]

I don't understand why you're upset unless during your previous interview you indicated you are still working. Did you?

[wanderinrn]

First of all.....I would never think it would be ok to ask a person to lie for you, even if that person were a close friend. But to ask someone that you are 'not too close' to would, first of all, just be plain wrong, and secondly, good give your former nurse manager ammo that she could possibly use to very badly discredit you. what if she were to mention to the prospective employer that you had asked her to lie for you? I think that statement must surely have been the 'voice of desperation'....

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

Unless they asked you directly and you lied directly in the interview.. I don't see an issue.

Also- NEVER ask someone to lie for you... that is just... wrong.

[llg, PhD, RN]

I don't see a big problem unless you lied. Did you SAY that you still worked for the hospital? Did you they ever ask you?

If you think there is a need to clarify your situation, I would recommend handling it this way. Write your thank you note and add something like, "As I was reflecting back on the interview this afternoon, it occurred to me that we did not discuss my current job status or availabilily. To clarify that for you, I have recently resigned my position at XYZ hospital and would be available to begin working at "your hospital" whenever you would wish for me to start."

Such a statement makes you appear oh-so-honest ... yet it is expressed in a positive way and not as a negative.

[Katie5]

Have her lie for you?Oh no dear. Pls DO NOT do that.For all the obvious reasons as well as a disregard for her, to have her lie for you?

I know you would never think of doing that:)- you're most likely so nervous hence this unusual thought.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

wait till you're asked then explain briefly

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

My gut reaction tells me that you should NOT bring it up. If during the interview, they were asking questions like, "At your current position, is your schedule/pay/workload, etc. to your satisfaction?", and then you answered it AS IF you were still working there, then you have a problem. However, IIg makes a great point when she states that should you choose to write a thank you note, a clarification would be in order IF you did not discuss your current employment. I love the way she worded the comments, and I can't think of a better way to handle the situation.

Honey, why on EARTH would you seek out your NM to make unnecessary statements for you? Something you aren't sharing?

Good luck to you. Remember that honesty is always the best policy. It helps you sleep at night:)

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

wait till you're asked then explain briefly

Also a good suggestion. KEEP IT BRIEF.

[wanderinrn]

I agree with IIg....that is an excellent way to handle the situation. Hope it all works out well for you!