Help! Am I employable? failed 6 interviews

Over-the-hill-Nurse · Jan 9, 2009

When you are going for an interview, you yourself need to have a positive attitude, and "dress for success". It may be that because you are depressed, that in the interview, it is showing. You need to let them know that you are confident, and believe in yourself.

First of all, why are you putting any reason for leaving? Give them the reference. Your last employer is limited on what they can say in regards to being dismissed. All that you need to tell them is that both you and the employer came to a mutual agreement that benefited both of you. Honesty is a good policy but unless they ask, don't volunteer the information.

Then start asking questions that will let them know that you are interested in the job you are applying for. Do your homework before you have the interview about what they do there, what type of patients do they have, such as elderly, physch, vent patients, etc..

I don't know everything about what is happening in your situation but one thing I do know is that you have to put your best foot forward. It really doesn't matter that you were only at the last job for only 6 months. What matters is how you present yourself... you need to have confidence, a positive attitude, a good working background on what the facility does, how many beds, etc.. build yourself up. You can do it! Have faith in yourself.

Everyone has a least one bad experience and sometimes things just don't work out but you also need to search yourself to see how and why these things happened and what you can do to change it so that it doesn't happen in another job.

HM2VikingRN, RN · Jan 9, 2009

Do you have a passion for med/surge? If you do that will help you get hired. If not ask yourself what you are passionate about. M/S isn't for everyone. (It doesn't float my boat thats why I went mental health.) You are much more likely to be hired for a job you are excited about. I am not criticizing you but I do think you should ask yourself what area you feel excited about. Wishing you the very best!

eriksoln, BSN, RN · Jan 9, 2009

Dont consider not being hired a "failed" interview. It could very well be that the job you didnt get was not the right fit for you anyway. Its hard to see it this way, but sometimes a manager does not pick you for the position they have not because they dont like you, but because they just dont see the position being a good fit for you. Example: I had a manager decide not to hire me simply because I expressed a desire to "experience all three shifts before decideing which I would be best suited for." Fair enough answer for a new grad. He needed a midnight shift nurse only, and I would not have wanted a night position for my first ever position. I didnt "fail" the interview. It just turned out that the position he was interviewing for was not a good fit for me is all.

Also, be relaxed and dont make up cover ups for what happened at your former position. "Schedule conflicts" is not a good cover up. The manager will think you are picky about the schedule or something. Just relax, dont be defensive, and state simply that "things did not go as well as I would have liked and I am looking to begin with a clean slate in a new environment." When pressed about what didnt go well, say the unit was just not a good fit, you found it difficult to perform "at the level I expect of myself".

Ever see a college football coach after a game give pattented answers over and over until the media moves on to a question they will answer. Same thing.

moodie · Jan 9, 2009

I am a final year RN Student but i can related to your situation. My first interview for entry into my university's nursing dept. I failed; I was allowing my feelings to hinder what really needed to be said. Giving irrelevant info.and the nurses werent interested so they failed me and referred me to another dept.

With the additional chance i got to redo my interview. I did some research into what to expect and what is required and so during the final interview i was more confident and could entertain a conversation with the nurse. As a result i was successful.

I say this to say that sometimes we experience some ruff times to which there seems to be not end. But there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Just expend a little more confidence and pray, and i will have a successful interview.

Remember nothing beats a try but a failure to try. All the Best

rjflyn, ASN, RN · Jan 9, 2009

First take a deep breath and relax. Then realize that some of your problems may not necessarily been yours. Its hard to excel in a toxic environment sometimes. As an example an admitted pt should be having the LAB drawing blood not you, they are the experts.

Take advice the others have given. See if with you limited experience anyone offers a new nurse/grad internship. It may help boost your confidence. It may allow you a fresh start. Most important be honest, by coming forward and admitting to yourself and them your are more likely to get hired.

Nursing is a big world, but not really you never know who is talking to whom.

Rj

udsk · Jan 9, 2009

Thanks everyone,

I agree probably my subconscious stress/depression might sensed by those managers who interviewed me; and like the saying "the chance to be hired getting less if you don't have a job", I worry the longer it take me to look for a job the less chance to have employed.

I do have passion as a med/surg nurse, simply because I like varieties; at this time I am really not that picky. But it seems only med/surg job I can apply for, they don't give you a thought if you don't have "relevant experience".

The hospitals are numbered in the town, I applied all and don't get hired (I do have learned experience on how to improve interview skills), now I wonder where the next place I can just send my application? I'm thinking about jobs in nursing home. Maybe bad economy plays its role too??

I was told a reference can be great help but I don't have network in this town because I relocated here for only six month.

In the mean time I am going to school, just need to do something.

By the way, I like Eriksoln's explanation "things did not go as well as I would have liked and I am looking to begin with a clean slate in a new environment." When pressed about what didnt go well, say the unit was just not a good fit, you found it difficult to perform "at the level I expect of myself".

Thank you everyone again:)

lpn2icu · Jan 9, 2009

Hi everyone, any advice would be appreciated.
It happened two months ago.
After 6 months working in a rehab center, I found a job in Med/Surg unit in a hospital Apr, 2008. To make the story short, I had to resigned after 6 months.
In September My boss called me to her office and threatened to terminate me if I "don't make progress" because there was a pt complained that I forced him to take medicine (I didn't remember forced him to take medicine, I told him "it's up to you". But, there were only I and the patient, no witness)
then my boss mentioned two more mistakes I had in Jun/July
My blood draw was contaminated; (that was my first blood draw and I never had any problem after then on)
I didn't give 4am's antibiotics because I though I should get the trough result; (again, my first mistake and never had some mistake again from then on)
I had bad luck one month later. It became extremely busy after 8pm--I suddenly had one discharge, 1 new admission from ER (and just after I took report the pt was send to me already, which was too fast), plus another 3. And among these three pts, one complain migraine headache ask for pain med, unluckily I found there was none in pixel, it was every 2 hours PRN meds but there was no stock! so I faxed order to pharmacy; and another pt, a very young girl also ask for pain meds at this time, but she had her q 3 hours demerol at 7pm, so I explained to her. she didn't listen; thus couple of times, later even my charge nurse said "I'm not going to her room".
The next day, My boss let me go (offered me to resign) because I had two patient complaints, and "It cannot always happen"
Since my boss warn me to leave I had started to look for job. I applied whatever job listed online, from hospitals to agencies, with no luck, got 6 interviews and failed 6.
It seems those managers don't trust me because I left my job too soon--with only six months hospital experience. Reason to resign I came up with were from "schedule conflict" to "not fit". I cannot convince them to hire me. And where is my next application??
Now I lost my confidence and became so depressed!
Am employable??????? What's wrong with me?

Of course, you are employable!

The key words right here is "only six months in Med/Surg."

Should that have been "one year in Med/Surg!" You could have gotten the job already!

"Schedule conflict" is not a good reason! Why? What happen if I hire you and you will have another "conflict." I would rather hire someone who is able to make a commitment.

An interview is very important and be very careful about what you say to the Nursing Manager! If I were you, I would never mention that "6 months."

As a matter of fact, some new grads in New York don't even have any job interviews! You are very lucky! Six month and then you resigned...this is a big red flag to any nursing managers!

medsurgrnco, BSN, RN · Jan 9, 2009

It is not unusual for a new nurse to go through a few jobs before staying in a position for a longer period of time, but you still want to limit this if possible!

Downplay the short length of time in those jobs and improve your reasons for leaving jobs. Schedule conflict is likely to be a concerning reason to the interviewer. What was your real reason for leaving the first job?

Focus more on your enthusiasm for the job you are currently applying for, and why you would be a good hire.

Your grammar isn't very good on these posts, which might be a result of not editing your post on the computer. But if you have poor grammar in interviews, that could be a problem. Suggest you brush up on interview techniques as well.

udsk · Jan 9, 2009

It is not unusual for a new nurse to go through a few jobs before staying in a position for a longer period of time, but you still want to limit this if possible!
Downplay the short length of time in those jobs and improve your reasons for leaving jobs. Schedule conflict is likely to be a concerning reason to the interviewer. What was your real reason for leaving the first job?
Focus more on your enthusiasm for the job you are currently applying for, and why you would be a good hire.
Your grammar isn't very good on these posts, which might be a result of not editing your post on the computer. But if you have poor grammar in interviews, that could be a problem. Suggest you brush up on interview techniques as well.

Thank you medsurgrnco. I left my first job because I wanted to work in hospital, no unpleasant issue. I will work better in next "interview" if I could get one.--cross my fingers.

island40 · Jan 11, 2009

i've had 22 nursing positions in 16 years as an rn. i left some because i didn't like the job, got sick (i have ibd), and moved. i got fired from 4 because i got sick, called the nurse manager a "lazy whore," had too many complaints from students that i was too tough of a teacher and wrote an email message under her account to a nurse who constantly left hospital terminals signed on to her account (i was told that a professional would have just logged her off and then used the terminal :). these experiences have helped me to grow as a person and finally become a fairly mature human being. learning how to interview is a skill. keep the focus on the job that you want to get and how you intend to approach it. here are some questions you can think of answers to to help you:

1. what about this position interests you?

2. what do you see as major challenges?

3. what do you see as major rewards?

4. describe your philosophy of nursing and nursing education.

5. how will you fulfill the mission and vision of the school?

6. school of nursing holds certain values (i.e. adaptability, caring, integrity, and excellence) describe how you have lived these values and how you would promote them within this position.

7. what do you consider the most important qualities a faculty member needs in order to function well in this position?

8. what would you do to facilitate your membership as part of the college community?

9. describe your short term and long term goals relative to nursing education.

10. school of nursing evaluates faculty in three areas- service, scholarship, and teaching. describe examples of how you have fulfilled those activities in the past.

11. collaboration within a college community is essential to a positive learning environment. describe how you would handle a conflict situation with another member (faculty, staff, administration, or student) of the college.

12. what is your overall philosophy about ensuring quality in a caring environment?

Ivanna_Nurse, BSN, RN · Jan 11, 2009

Is it possible to return to the initial job that you had, the rehab one?? It may be worth giving them a call and seeing if they have any openings. Keep your chin up. ~Ivanna