Horrible Monday, lost job, extremely late to another job interview

[sw1242]

I'm feeling a little down. i am a new grad and found out i passed the Nclex last week. On Monday I was on top of the world, I had a awesome job and then had the opportunity to interview for another amazing job in PICU at 11 am. Then everything went down hill. On Monday I went to my first job with a 9 am appointment!!! to get some paperwork done, and do my dosage calculation test (should have only took a hour), they didn't start the test until 10:15 am. I asked them if i could reschedule the test because I had a "appointment I couldnt be late for" they asked me to stay and I frantically finished the test. So I could be on time to my interview. Well I end up failing the test, job offer gets rescinded and then I'm a hour late to my other interview. I called and apologized profusely but a hour late is unacceptable in my opinion. So now I will be working in LTC, praying I might get the Job still. Feeling very hurt with how everything unfolded. Any advice????

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

Wow, that stinks. I might try calling first job and begging for a retest on the dosage test explaining that you were very stressed. That's crazy that they started the test so late.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

So if I'm understanding you correctly, you arrived on time to start a new job, but then an hour later asked to reschedule so you could be somewhere else? And this was "an awesome job" but you were pushing them to meet your timetable....so you could interview elsewhere?

Appointments don't always start on time. It is not "crazy" that they had you wait....sometimes there are circumstances that might cause a delay; while an apology from them is expected, accommodating your request to reschedule after one hour is not. They told you to expect the test to take about an hour, but I'm sure they've had people take longer. Or shorter. And chances are good that since there was "paperwork", they anticipated having you available for longer than 10 am anyway.

I'm sorry you had to learn the hard way, but you'll know better for next time: don't schedule anything so close to an important appointment. Life is what happens when you're busy making plans, so plan for life intervening!

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

It's OK to keep interviewing if you have accepted a position, but it was not a good move to jeopardize the position you HAD for a job you *might* get. The thing to do would have been to reschedule the interview for another day or simply accept that you wouldn't make the interview and devote your focus to passing the med exam for the job you already had.

A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.

But live and learn. It sounds like you still have a job opportunity and in this economy, that's something to appreciate, even if it's not the type of nursing you wanted to do. Make the most of that experience and don't double book days for important things from now on.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

It was just too tight. You could have been firm in your refusal to take the test at that moment and promised to come back later in the day, if they did say they would only take up an hour of your time. But I understand how convincing some people can be... For a job interview you want time for a flat tire, or getting lost without affecting your interview time. After a few interviews I just decided to plan on being delayed somehow for at least 30min, and if I manage to get there early I can have a drink in the cafeteria, or make sure I know how to get to the office. SOMETHING always goes wrong.

Going to an interview once I ran over someone's cat, had to stop and talk to them, the cat died in my arms and peed on my top. I stopped at Walmart and explained to the saleslady my dilemma. She found me a new white top and let me wear it to the checkout, and I STILL made it on time. Maybe it's just me but life ALWAYS tries to trip me up. I actually expect it and feel smug now.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

I'm feeling a little down. i am a new grad and found out i passed the Nclex last week. On Monday I was on top of the world, I had a awesome job and then had the opportunity to interview for another amazing job in PICU at 11 am. Then everything went down hill. On Monday I went to my first job with a 9 am appointment!!! to get some paperwork done, and do my dosage calculation test (should have only took a hour), they didn't start the test until 10:15 am. I asked them if i could reschedule the test because I had a "appointment I couldn't be late for" they asked me to stay and I frantically finished the test. So I could be on time to my interview. Well I end up failing the test, job offer gets rescinded and then I'm a hour late to my other interview. I called and apologized profusely but a hour late is unacceptable in my opinion. So now I will be working in LTC, praying I might get the Job still. Feeling very hurt with how everything unfolded. Any advice????

((HUGS))....I'm sorry...but I would NOT have scheduled them on the same day ...your present "employer" isn't concerned about your appointment. they are concerned about their position. The drug test is important to the job offer...... Live and learn

Chin up you got 2 interviews....and one offer....you have something they want......keep on applying!

[OCNRN63, RN]

It was just too tight. You could have been firm in your refusal to take the test at that moment and promised to come back later in the day, if they did say they would only take up an hour of your time. But I understand how convincing some people can be... For a job interview you want time for a flat tire, or getting lost without affecting your interview time. After a few interviews I just decided to plan on being delayed somehow for at least 30min, and if I manage to get there early I can have a drink in the cafeteria, or make sure I know how to get to the office. SOMETHING always goes wrong.

Going to an interview once I ran over someone's cat, had to stop and talk to them, the cat died in my arms and peed on my top. I stopped at Walmart and explained to the saleslady my dilemma. She found me a new white top and let me wear it to the checkout, and I STILL made it on time. Maybe it's just me but life ALWAYS tries to trip me up. I actually expect it and feel smug now.

Best. work. excuse. ever. (Poor kitty!)

[silverbat]

I'm sorry, I may be in left field, but if you already have an "awesome" job, why in the world would you interview for an "amazing" one that you might or might not get? This just doesn't seem right to me. And then, you are upset because the job you HAD (except you were in too big a hurry to get to one you didn't have, so you failed a test) kept you over from an interview for one you didn't yet have! In this tight economy--why jeopardize one for the other? Don't mean to seem harsh, but this just doesn't seem "right" to me!

[JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP]

I once somehow recorded the time of the interview wrong in my calendar and showed up a half hour late . In fact I showed up 15 minutes "early" and sat waiting because I didn't want to disturb anyone.

(No, I didn't get that job)

[Marshall1]

Getting an interview for one job, let alone two, in this economy, with the competition as it is and as a new grad is not something to approach in a "Geez whiz" kinda of way..maybe I'm reading your post wrong but if what you are writing is correct, you have some maturing to do..as someone else posted, the employer isn't concerned with (nor should they be) your other appointment..they are concerned about their position and filling it with someone who hopefully understands the responsibilities of it and the commitment to the job. There are too many applicants for an employer to adjust to anyone's schedule other than their own.

[mvm2]

I have nothing new to add, Everything I was thinking basically about scheduling things so close together will cause you nothing but trouble has been already stated. But just wanted to say I am sorry that things ended the way it did, but at least you have a job at the LTC.

[lmccrn62, MSN, RN]

A hard lesson to learn.