I know this gets posted often...

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...but holy cow! I don't know what I am doing wrong. I literally can not get an acute care job. I've tried to improve my interview skills, studied interview questions, applied many places including outside of where I live. I interviewed today and literally already got a rejection email from all departments I interviewed with. The email didn't even say, we've selected someone else. It said we are still looking but you won't be moving forward in the process. I literally don't know what I'm doing that is such a big negative in interviews, but I am definitely very frustrated. Advice?

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What kind of answers are they asking in the interview? What are you answering? What are you wearing to the interview? Are you a new grad?

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I'm a new grad and these interviews are for new grad programs. I dress very professionally. Today it was black slacks, black flat shoes, and a white button up top. They asked me why I wanted to work in the department, I answered that I enjoyed my clinical experiences in similar departments and found myself drawn to them, enjoyed patient/family teaching component. They asked how I handle a conflict with a coworker and I said that I would speak to the person privately to try to find a resolution prior to taking any other action. They asked what my strengths and weaknesses are. I stated one of my great strengths was my compassion (which was corroborated by 2 of my exemplary letters of reference from clinical instructor/nurse preceptors). I also mentioned my ability to put myself in the patient's shoes so to speak and see things from their perspective. Example, you have a patient being rude and grumpy, this may be the worst day of their life, they are in the hospital, not feeling good, etc. For weaknesses I said I had a hard time with delegation because I tend to want to do everything myself and that I will be working on delegation skills.

These are just a few examples.

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I don't know what to say. It sounds like your doing everything right! I know that's not really helpful to you. Possibly as far as your weakness, maybe give an example about how you worked to improve and an example of that (for instance I said my weakness was that I had a little bit of trouble with time management, but by my last shift of my senior practicum I managed to deliver q1h meds to a pt on time). You could try changing things up by dressing differently. Maybe a dress (I assume you're a girl)? I wore a dress to my interviews, was possibly a little overdressed but an instructor told me it was better to be overdressed than underdressed. As silly as it sounds, I didn't wear lipstick ro one of my interviews, and that was the one interview I didn't get an offer from. Do you have your license yet? If you don't you may be passed over for someone who already does.

Hope I could help a little. Looking for a job as a new grad is stressful and I feel for you. Best of luck!

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Usually I wear a pencil skirt/dressy top. We just moved and so I went with what I found which was slacks and a dress top. I just really do not know. It has to be something about me personally at this point. I literally got a rejection that said they hadn't selected anybody yet, but I would not be proceeding in the recruiting process. So they just didn't like the interview obviously. And I've had my license since 6 days after graduation. I am already 2 classes into my BSN which I only need a total of 11 classes for.

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Ok until now interviewing was my thing.

please buy executive navy blue and black business suit. Buy skirt suit and heels. Look as if you are there to run a company or be an attorney. Dont polish or put fake nails on. Nails short no color maybe clear.

Hair up. Small earrings with a neutral color. Make sure your makeup is as natural and non attention grabbing.

Always sit straight and look at ok at the interviewers eyes and stay there.

Make sure everything that you bring to give to them. Bring 3 copies in case they want extras.

although you sell yourself as a compassionate person make sure you also say you have a strong personality that helps you through high stress situations by simply doing only what is expected to deliver excellent care.

Also if you have an issue he ans is continue to maintain professionalism and would seek the help of charge or supervisor.

Learn to deligate. Deligating is part of knowing how to manage time. Get to work on time and punch out in time. All charting has to be done.

You will be part of a team so deligate and help when necessary.

Take care

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It might not be possible...but if you interview and get rejected again maybe ask if someone will tell you why and what you can improve

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I actually did request this information from the recruiter via email this afternoon. I didn't wait for another rejection because this was quite a lengthy interview process. I have been waiting to complete the process for a good 8 weeks and had actually been through phone interviews, a tour of the facility, etc. Weeks had passed and I thought they had probably already hired but I got a call out of the blue asking if I was still interested and scheduled an interview. Then I went to the interview and was rejected within hours. It's been a lot of craziness.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Hmm - I dunno what's going on. From your descriptions, I am confident that you wouldn't have any difficulty landing a job in my part of the country. It's a puzzle. BTW, the interview dress code norm for staff jobs in this area is pretty much business casual. No one expects suits & ties/heels unless it's a management job.

I know it's awfully hard, but try not to take these rejections personally. They don't even know you. It's more likely that there are dynamics going on behind the scenes which are driving these decisions. Maybe you stumbled into a conflict between the hiring manager & HR/Recruiter. Maybe the hiring manager is just pushing back on accepting new grads because s/he has too many on board already or doesn't want to cope with the support/training right now.

I hope something opens up for you very soon.

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Specializes in Thoracic Cardiovasc ICU Med-Surg.

It is very possible that they have to hire internal applicants first. Do you have an ASN or BSN? If its an associate degree they might be bound by how many they are allowed to hire. The only addition I would suggest is read up a little on the floors you are interviewing for. For example, if it is say orthopedic, tell them that you have always wanted to work with ortho patients because of how rewarding their recovery is. Or, for say, medical patients that you really enjoy helping people through some of the worst times of having a chronic illness.

Keep your body language open. Make good eye contact. Good luck!!

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Specializes in ICU, trauma.

how many places have you applied at and how many called back for an interview? Hope everything works out, sounds like you are doing everything right :(

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I'm limited on how many places I can apply to based on locale. None of the larger cities in my state called me back at all. I got interviews in the smaller cities and was rejected. Not sure where else to go with it so I've started working in LTC for now.

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