I need your help

[rodggang]

Hi,

I am trying to secure my very first travel postion. I am working with 2 companies. Today one of the companies that had submitted me to two hospital, called me and said one position had been filled, but the one position that I wanted was ready for me to call. She gave me the phone number and managers name and said call and if I got the voice mail leave one message a day. OK, this is my first experience so I did what she told me and I got right through to the manager. I identified myself and told him that I was calling to interview for the position. He was very put out with me. "They were not suppose to have you call." I haven't even looked through the applicants. He then gave me an email address to send to him and so I did. Guess what - It came back. Probably didn't give me the right email address.

Help, is this the process for interviewing? Did I blow my chances at this hospital? I did apologize and told him that I did want to follow the correct process. I am sure that my application will be buried.

Can you guys give me some insite on what the proper process is? Is 2 companies enough to keep me busy once I get started. I have searching for 2 weeks and feeling frustrated that I haven't gotten an interview or anything, yet. How far in advance do you start submitting to have something by a certain time? I wanted to have something confirmed by mid to end of March.

Maybe, I am just excited to get started and need to "chill". Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much,

Cris

[NurseguyFL]

I've never heard of this. Normally, the recruiter asks you for a time when you will be available to do the interview then they set things up for the nurse manager to call you. I would consider it highly inappropriate for the recruiter to ask YOU to call and initiate the interview, unless the manager specifically requested that it be done that way.

Its different for everybody, but my preference is to work with no more than two companies at a time. And, I always tell them that I am also looking with another agency. A good time to start looking is about 3 to 4 weeks out from the date you intend to start. The recruiter is supposed to call you and discuss the details about the position AND get your permission before they submit you anywhere. This way your resume doesn't end up all over the place, especially to jobs that you have no interest in.

[OkieICU_RN]

I have had 2 interviews like this. I am on my first assignment now, but when I was first looking, there were 2 hospitals that I called to do the interview with the nurse manager.

BUT....that must have been the way they set it up with the agency because both managers put me on hold briefly to find my paperwork and talked with me then and there.

Just wanted you to know it's not out of the norm, but most managers do call you first.

[bluesky, BSN, RN]

You know that manager was a total jerk to you so aren't you blessed he showed you his true colors before you commited to work for him for three long months!

[nsFAMU]

Im on my first assignment and I worked with about 4 companies. The process was different for each assignment. For some my recruiters gave me the phone number and told me to call and for some they had the manager call me. Each way had its pros and cons. I did like calling them as opposed to waiting for them to call (sometimes they didnt), but most of the time when I called then and left a message they never called back. I too got discouraged and when I least expected it..... I was eating lunch got a phone call from a private # that I almost didnt answer, it was a nurse manager! We did a very short interview, actually I wouldnt even call it an interview, and he offered me the assignment. However, the manager had no reason to talk to you like that and I would not have apologized, I would have hung up been thankful that wasnt my manager!