I don't know what to make of this interview. I'm not getting the job but I am totally confused about why the person interviewing me stated this.
She stated that what she was going to say was illegal, and would deny it in court. She said, " I like your experiences and I think that you would be a hard, diligent, loyal worker. I don't want a lot of turnover and we've had that lately. However, I don't think that I am going to give you this position. " I said ok, fine. I appreciate you taking the time to interview me. Please consider me for other positions if they become available.
Then she said, "The reason I am not hiring you is because you look too young. You look 23. Another thing, you are too attractive to work with inmates. That has caused a lot of problems with inmates in the past, when the nurse was too attractive. Inmates try to get to medical just to see the cute nurse. Our nurses here are older and less attractive. That is the way I want it. It makes it easier on the unit. It would also cause problems with my nurses that are employed now because it would upset the balance of the team due to your appearance and the attention you would receive from inmates.":bugeyes:
OK, WTH!!!. SERIOUSLY, I'm 35 and nowhere near being Ms. America. In fact, I'm on a downhill slide. What does this have to do with my qualifications!!! I can understand wanting a nurse that works well with other nurses and not wanting a lot of fighting, but I totally don't understand the comment about my appearance. In what way, would this affect my ability to be a good nurse to inmates???
I was very angry at first, then I decided I do not want a job at this facility after she stated all this. I'm just CONFUSED as to why she said it. I would rather she have said you're not qualified, no openings, not enough experience, whatever she wanted to say. Not this load of horse crap she was stating. What is your take on these comments?
I don't know what to make of this interview. I'm not getting the job but I am totally confused about why the person interviewing me stated this.
She stated that what she was going to say was illegal, and would deny it in court.
She knew it was illegal, would deny it in COURT and said it ANYWAY?!? That is just bizarre that she'd bring up the very possibility of you taking her to court---unless it's happened with others.
Then she said, "The reason I am not hiring you is because you look too young. You look 23. Another thing, you are too attractive to work with inmates. That has caused a lot of problems with inmates in the past, when the nurse was too attractive. Inmates try to get to medical just to see the cute nurse. Our nurses here are older and less attractive. That is the way I want it. It makes it easier on the unit. It would also cause problems with my nurses that are employed now because it would upset the balance of the team due to your appearance and the attention you would receive from inmates."
Um, I think I'd be really insulted if I was the nurse who interviewed after you did---and got the job!
Have never worked corrections but I'm sure inmates can be manipulative. So can psychiatric patients, the elderly, young male patients, middle aged patients, women, children---you get my drift. If you project an air of naivete, you may have people try to take advantage of you. But that can occur if you're old or young, male or female, attractive or plain.
Sounds to me like the interviewer is a wee bit insecure, maybe a bit shallow, and lacks tact. I'd also wonder about group cohesiveness and if you would have been accepted as a team member if the interviewer felt others would feel jealous or intimidated by you.
You would think the interviewer would have just said you were qualified but wouldn't fit into their culture. Guess she never watched Beauty and the Beast. They seemed to work well together.
Specializes in Case Mgmt, Anesthesia, ICU, ER, Dialysis.
Are the prison nurses state department of corrections employees or do they contract out through an agency? It makes a big difference in your recourse, should you decide to pursue it.
You know, I'm starting to think people are hired or not hired based on SOMETHING the interviewer PERSONALLY doesnt like or like about them.
I've been on 4 interviews since February and have not been job offered. After each rejection, I would kindly send an email to the interviewer asking for constructive feedback so I may correct it for the next interview. I only got ONE response, and the interviewer basically stated it wasnt my interview skills, they simply decided to go with someone who did clinicals at their hospital.
Now, I'm wondering if that was a load of crap.......
The thing is, I went on a couple of interviews in corporate america, and nailed it. I didnt do anything "different". The interviewer basically went by my "experience".
Nursing is totally different, it's all about if you "fit in" personality wise. I can understand this to a degree, however, I think some managers take some things personal when it comes to interviewing a potential employee. It could be something like you remind them of someone they didnt like, or in THEIR eyes, you are the "new, young, petite, attractive nurse" and this could be a threat. They could have had an issue with a petite person in the past, and now everyone who is petite is a threat.
I didnt think things like this existed prior to me going to nursing school. I have a corporate background where I was judged on my work ethic, my qualifications, my senority, and my skills. It wasnt "who you know", or if they "liked" you or not. I don't care how much you tried to "kiss up", it was a process that was followed. Maybe because I worked for a union company.
I am shock this manager was bluntly honest. I could accept that, although, it's nothing you can do about your looks, over some canned response that "we went with someone who better fit our needs". Atleast you know it's not your interview skills, or your experience, or lack thereof, it's an OPINION of someone and you can't change THEIR preception of you.
I wonder if she was testing you to see if you'd stick up for yourself. Maybe she wanted to see how much of a backbone you had before hiring you to work with this particular patient population.
I've heard of older people (50s) seek out special effects artists to make them look younger...but in this case maybe you should seek out some makeup people to make you look older/less attractive?? lol
You made me thing of some trivia. Florence Nightengale wouldn't have hired you either. She specifically was looking for older, plain women for her early campaigns. (Would not want to excite the soliders too much)
Specializes in Operating Room, Ortho, Neuro, Trauma.
Be glad that you aren't working for such unprofessional's who outright admit that they are breaking the law. Would you really want to work for someone who's work ethic is like that? However, I would file a complaint with the EEOC, http://www.eeoc.gov, at minimum, the charge would be investigated and perhaps prevent them from crossing the line with future applicants that are interviewed.
I had an interview recently, and was interviewed by three diffrent people, one of them flat out asked me if I had a family, children and if they were in school or away or if they would be a problem if I had to take call.:angryfire Could not believe it!
Nursing is totally different, it's all about if you "fit in" personality wise. I can understand this to a degree, however, I think some managers take some things personal when it comes to interviewing a potential employee. It could be something like you remind them of someone they didnt like, or in THEIR eyes, you are the "new, young, petite, attractive nurse" and this could be a threat. They could have had an issue with a petite person in the past, and now everyone who is petite is a threat.
I think you're right but I wish it wasn't so. I think a manager or HR person who is interviewing prospective employees should be able to put aside these petty little thoughts and focus on the person rather than get bent out of shape if the interviewee happens to be cute or petite or young or reminds them of the high school harlot who stole their boyfriend senior year. Get over it! I think a manager should be secure enough in his/her own SELF to not be threatened by someone who is younger or prettier--or someone who is older or more intelligent.
Years ago I had a friend who was drop dead gorgeous. Tall, blonde, amazing figure, gorgeous face. Some staff "hated" her because she was so beautiful and called her "Nurse Barbie" behind her back. I got to know her and found that she was one of the most intelligent, caring, and kind people I'd met. She was an excellent nurse, someone you'd want taking care of you, someone you would want working with you, especially if it was a rough shift.
And at the other extreme, years later in grad school I had a professor who looked like an unmade bed. Again, some people put her down because she dressed in a funky fashion and they thought she must not be as smart as the professors who wore suits. Learned more from her about nursing and life than I have from any other person in the world.
You don't blow off people for superficial reasons, especially in a complex profession like nursing.
Moogie
1 Article; 1,796 Posts
She knew it was illegal, would deny it in COURT and said it ANYWAY?!? That is just bizarre that she'd bring up the very possibility of you taking her to court---unless it's happened with others.
Um, I think I'd be really insulted if I was the nurse who interviewed after you did---and got the job!
Have never worked corrections but I'm sure inmates can be manipulative. So can psychiatric patients, the elderly, young male patients, middle aged patients, women, children---you get my drift. If you project an air of naivete, you may have people try to take advantage of you. But that can occur if you're old or young, male or female, attractive or plain.
Sounds to me like the interviewer is a wee bit insecure, maybe a bit shallow, and lacks tact. I'd also wonder about group cohesiveness and if you would have been accepted as a team member if the interviewer felt others would feel jealous or intimidated by you.
It's a tough job market but you dodged a bullet!