How has walking into HR worked out for you?

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Hospital HR departments, to be specific.

I'm curious as to how many of you have tried this and whether you were greeted with confused expressions or if you were actually able to talk to someone.

Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.
So if everything goes to plan, how are you going to explain leaving the SNF after only a couple of weeks?

I did the whole showing up at a unit managers office with resume in tow and it did not go as planned which has put me off wanting to do it again. It was the unit that I did my last, most intense rotation at and I fell in love. They didn't have any positions for it online, but that hasn't necessarily meant they weren't there. I was volunteering and after my shift (about 7pm), I went to the unit to say hi to my old preceptor. The manager was there so I went to ask if she had received the resume I left outside her office. She barely looked up from her desk and mumbled something about continue looking for positions on the website. She was clearly not interested so I didn't push it.

What prevents me from going to the unit managers directly is that they are never just sitting at their desks. So if I were to go, chances are I wouldn't be able to find them and I'd look like a weirdo wandering around. During clinicals, they would be on the move around the unit looking really busy. I still haven't figured out how to politely get their attention and have them actually take a few moments to talk to me. Argh...new grad social awkwardness 101 :banghead:

I don't have the SNF on my resume yet (still training), so nothing to explain there. ;)

I stopped by the unit, but of course the manager wasn't there that day. It's an hour from home, so I'm trying to figure out getting up there again. I may just drive up there Friday and see (after calling to see if she's in that day). Or I may just e-mail her, since I know the format of their e-mail addresses, assuming I have the spelling of her name right... Thankfully, the way the unit is set up, there's a desk that you walk up to, and you can easily just ask for her by name. The ladies at the desk were nice enough to try calling her office, but they said they were pretty sure she was out that day before they tried. I'm just glad I wasn't greeted with resistance.

And yes, new grad social awkwardness- even once I DO meet her face to face, I'm still sorting out what to say. "So here I am, and here's my resume. You're welcome." :no:

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RunBaby, How did it go?

When I went to see the NM, I had an advantage. I knew some of the floor nurses and they went to bat for me, but it was basically just what you said! Here I am, this is why I really want to work here. And I walked out feeling like I made a fool of myself, but I got the job!

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Specializes in CDU, cardiac telemetry, med-surg.

Also wondering how things went for RunBaby. Sorry for my lack of participation - getting over the worst cold of my life.

I've had some interesting developments in my job hunt and I'm kind of in a dilemma. I don't want to get too wordy so I'll try to keep it simple.

Last week, I did a second interview with a SNF. It was with the actual residents. They liked me and so I was asked to take the next step and do the drug test which I did on Wednesday. Haven't heard anything back on that and there has been no formal offer or paperwork. I expect to hear tomorrow or Tuesday.

Meanwhile, an online application I've had in for my dream unit at the hospital I volunteer at was updated to "under consideration" on Thursday. To give some history on this unit - a friend got me an interview for a PT position back in July. It went to someone internal and the NM (who was leaving) put me in touch with the new NM. I talked to new NM over the phone about a new FT position in said dream unit in August but at that time I was interviewing with HR people for another unit. I tried to get back in touch with dream unit NM after that, but no response. The app that is under consideration is for the position I had talked to new NM about.

Now, I've had 2 apps with said hospital that have gone "under consideration." One remained at that status for 2 months before the posting was inactivated. The other resulted in a call from HR scheduling an interview.

So, the problem is, I'm likely receiving a formal offer from SNF in the next couple of days and now there is a possibility of interviewing for dream unit but I have no way to tell when/if I will get the call. I can call new NM tomorrow morning (probably go to voicemail), and I could get SNF offer while waiting to hear back. Or I could just go to the unit (or try to go to unit after being screened by front desk) to try to talk to NM in person.

This might be really incoherent. I have sinus infection induced brain fog.

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Specializes in MedSurg, PACU, Maternal/Child Health.

take the SNF position....having an app as "under consideration" as per status on the website is zero guarantee that they will call you. It just means HR is sifting through the apps and you met the minimum requirements of RN license and a BSN degree. There may be hundreds of others "under consideration" also including RNs with experience. Only time you should halt a job search is when you have an official offer. Besides SNF is not bad..."skilled nursing facility" you will be learning and using nursing skills there.

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.
RunBaby, How did it go?

When I went to see the NM, I had an advantage. I knew some of the floor nurses and they went to bat for me, but it was basically just what you said! Here I am, this is why I really want to work here. And I walked out feeling like I made a fool of myself, but I got the job!

No word yet. I'll keep you posted!

Another lead from a friend yesterday... I have a few connections where she is, and this hospital would seriously be my DREAM, as in, I would potentially spend my career there, even after obtaining my master's. I want to get there eventually. The lead is in L&D, where I want to be. OMG. If it works out... You'll hear me screaming from wherever you are! :)

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RunBaby,

Best of luck! I am ready to hear you scream!!

L&D is the best unit! I love it, and I know what you mean about dream job, mine is the same, and I probably will stay after I get my masters. Yikes! 2 MORE years of school, did I just say that? :-)

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

Well, I went ahead and e-mailed that manager a day or two after I posted about it (the one that wasn't there when I'd stopped by), and I received a call from her the other day. Of course I had just started work at the SNF and was standing at the nurse's station when she called, so I couldn't take it! :arghh: Since I was working PM, I couldn't call her back that day. I tried her a few times yesterday and left one VM, but no luck. She's out today, so I'm going to try her again tomorrow. I'm working a NOC shift tomorrow night, but I swear if she's willing to meet with me tomorrow, I'm going for it. I would LOVE to do this!! I'm so excited to at least have SOME movement going on. Of course on their website, my apps have all been rejected (at least they post something instead of leaving you hanging), but I assume she can change that if she so desires.

Nothing on the dream hospital yet, but if the first works out, I'll wait on the other one until I have the experience.

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RunBaby

Best of luck and please keep us posted!!

The online app process is NOT new grad friendly! My NM never got the app I filled out online. Not even after I called HR and told them she was looking for it. They actually admitted to me that applications with less than a year experience are not forwarded to NMs!

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.
RunBaby

Best of luck and please keep us posted!!

The online app process is NOT new grad friendly! My NM never got the app I filled out online. Not even after I called HR and told them she was looking for it. They actually admitted to me that applications with less than a year experience are not forwarded to NMs!

It's so frustrating. Even the non-new grad positions at this place say one year of experience is PREFERRED, not REQUIRED, but nothing will get forwarded. I finally spoke with her yesterday, and we're meeting there on Monday for an informational interview, and to schedule a job shadow. They're doing a Versant program this January, so I'm really hoping to get into that. She said there's a lot of internal interest as well, so they'll likely only take ONE external candidate for the unit. Luckily, she loves my prior experience, including my lactation certification (and experience working independently in this area), my NRP, and that I'm pursuing ACLS and STABLE (I'll have my ACLS before I even apply later this month). I hope all of this makes me stand out above the rest. I'm guessing by her enthusiasm that she's interested. :)

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Frustrating is putting it mildly!! I would submit apps, go to the app status page and it said "not under consideration" within seconds! But when I called and they specifically told me that these apps aren't forwarded, I was livid!

I have my nrp, acls and am pursuing lactation certification. It is very hard to find STABLE around here.

I really hope you get the job! It seems that the entire industry needs to see new grads in specialty units doing well...if there are enough of us maybe things will change!

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They're doing a Versant program this January, so I'm really hoping to get into that. :)

Are you in socal? Would you mind sharing what area? I'm looking for hospitals that do these programs. I'm in the IE.

And yes, online sucks for new grads. I've talked to a few HRs and gone to a few and all but one little hospital told me applying online was my only option. One I went to the people in HR looked at me like I had 2 heads and sent me out the door 5 seconds after I walked. One small hospital had a really nice nurse recruiter who took my cover letter, resume and talked with me for 15 minutes. She didn't have anything open, but said she'd keep me in mind.

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.
Are you in socal? Would you mind sharing what area? I'm looking for hospitals that do these programs. I'm in the IE.

And yes, online sucks for new grads. I've talked to a few HRs and gone to a few and all but one little hospital told me applying online was my only option. One I went to the people in HR looked at me like I had 2 heads and sent me out the door 5 seconds after I walked. One small hospital had a really nice nurse recruiter who took my cover letter, resume and talked with me for 15 minutes. She didn't have anything open, but said she'd keep me in mind.

I'm in the SF Bay Area, so quite a ways from you. This is a bit north of that.

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