Hearing back from AHS

[thistooshallpass]

Hi everyone,

I graduated semi-recently back in August and am currently job hunting. I had an interview with AHS (Alberta Health Services) nearly a month ago in February and haven't heard anything. I expect that I didn't get it but I know that at least 2 of my 3 references were contacted and to my knowledge the unit hasn't started training anyone yet. Also, the I haven't received notice that the position has been filled (which AHS will do by sending an email to the applicant).

Thus, although I expect I didn't get the job I'm still hoping for the best.

Anyways, the what I wanted to ask was how long it took some of you to hear back from agencies as an external applicant? Could it take a month or more?

(I know I should just be patient... but that's always much easier said then done for me.)

[Fiona59]

Oh wow, that's terrible! I'm so sorry I know when I was preceptoring as a student my unit would sometimes only have one RN for the entire night shift (when there should be at least two) and that could be hard... So I can only imagine how difficult and how bad the burnout is on your unit! Does your unit call in a lot of casual staff to help?

Casuals are a sore point. They can pick and choose their shifts once hired.

Nights, weekends, evenings, very few casuals will do them. We do have one who puts herself out and is willing to work stat holiday nights for the extra pay

[thistooshallpass]

Oh I'm sorry.

When I was a student I preferred nights and weekends because it meant I might actually get to sit and chart on time and employed I believe I'll still be partial to those shifts because I'm at a stage in my life where I like money (I mean I liked working in general but I can't see a con in earning a little extra for doing what you love). Thus, I hadn't really considered that others might not look at those shifts in that kind of light

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

In your cover letters somewhere, mention you are willing and interested to work nights and weekends. The expectation will be there that you will actually follow through, but managers will likely call you for interviews if they see this.

Many staff refuse these hours and the units run short. I prefer nights and weekends myself.

[thistooshallpass]

That's a great suggestion! Thank you Joanna- I'll add that in.

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

Casuals are a sore point. They can pick and choose their shifts once hired.

Nights, weekends, evenings, very few casuals will do them. We do have one who puts herself out and is willing to work stat holiday nights for the extra pay

We have several casuals we can absolutely count on to be there on a stat. And only on a stat. Christmas is about the only exception.

Casuals are a sore spot on our unit for other reasons too. Most of them only work weekday day shifts. We have a couple who are always given the sweet assignments most of the regular staff would give their eye teeth for. The ones with extra pay... Those of us who are there through thick and thin, who have no option to just call the unit and cancel ourselves like the casuals can, should be up first for those assignments. It's not enough to be fair, one must also be seen to be fair.

[thistooshallpass]

I'm very sorry to hear about that I had an interview for a casual position and, after the comments left on this thread, decided to mention that while I was available for all shifts, I had a preference for nights and weekends as a student; the recruiting staff member seemed pleased when I said that. (Of course, if I do get an offer I have every intention to follow through.)

As for casuals getting the sweet assignments... That's a bummer. Are they given those because they are new (either to the unit or as new graduates?)

[thistooshallpass]

As an update, I finally heard back about that job I interviewed for a little over a month ago and I GOT THE JOB!

So excited about this opportunity! Thanks for the replies everyone!

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

As for casuals getting the sweet assignments... That's a bummer. Are they given those because they are new (either to the unit or as new graduates?)

No, for the most part they are people who had regular positions on the unit but had to work nights and weekends, and didn't get vacation in the summer because they're too junior. So they went casual to have control. Control so that they could only work on the days they want to, on the shifts they want to, cancel themselves if something better comes along and to have long stretches of time off when they want to. A couple others work in other areas of the hospital where they're closed on stats. The rest of us are there when we're scheduled to be, get the "difficult" assignments because "it's not fair to do that to a casual", and we often work short because a casual has called in 90 minutes before the shift started and cancelled themselves. Because I'm part time, most of my shifts are on weekends; there are only one or two of our casuals who ever work those... they have better things to do on a Friday night.