So I just got back home from my second round of interviewing for this new urgent care center opening up in my area. I reeeeeally wanted this position. I had another panel interview this morning with the manager and supervisor RN and HR...total of a 5 person panel interview.
I researched the hospital system and went over answers to most common questions. I felt so confident. But as I entered that tightly crammed interview room my confidence went down the drain. Im not sure why.
None of the questions I went over were asked.
I was asked "If I were to win an award what would it be and why and who would be your audience?"
I answered "Most Compassionate Nurse and my audience would be prior patients and co workers and management"...How does that sound to you guys?
Also I figured Id break the ice a little in the end when they asked if I had any questions I said "yeah when can I start?"
I thought that was funny and they did too and laughed. But generally speaking I dont feel I had strong interview and am down about that. Ive been looking for almost a month now.
Please give me some advice and any thoughts or questions are very welcomed!
I'm so sorry you didn't get the job. I just had an interview not too long ago, with double the amount of people (10!), and I too think I fudged up here and there. One woman asked me, "Do you prefer medical or surgical patients?" ... My brain started wracking a mile a minute thinking, surgery? Why the heck would I want to be in the OR? I replied, "I don't think I can see myself working in the OR or PACU. I've had clinical rotations to those units, but I haven't enjoyed them as much as medical floors." ... Not until after the interview did I realize she meant "Do you like medical or surgical patients better on the med/surg floor?" I should have asked for clarification and boy do I feel stupid, stupid, stupid.
I feel your pain. Keep trucking and "keep pushing until you crown"!
it may not even be what you think... Hate to say but there are politics in nursing. I had 3 different interviews with a position once and then they ended up going with a close friend of the NP that worked on that unit. Come to find out she didnt even make it through orientation. so it may not have been you they may have met someone with more experience or they may have known someone there....It happens
It's good to read these posts - I just had a second interview a couple of days ago with a panel of 5 RNs. I think I completely screwed it up! I went in their fairly confident and not visibly nervous. But then I too found myself blurting out nonsensical phrases and rambling....a lot.
I was posed with this scenario: You walk into a patient's room and they are not breathing. What do you do? ...so simple, yet so complicated.
Me: Did I know for a fact they were not breathing or do I just think they're not breathing? Uh...first thing I do is call for help...then, uh...check their airway....wait- begin to ambubag them? What am I missing here?!
RN: "Well, you would want to get the vital signs machine..."
Me: "Oh, right!!"
[Perceived furtive glances exchanged between group]
So who knows if I'll get a call back. I immediately sent a thank you note, so maybe that will count for something.
Don't feel bad. I have had several interviews lately that I was ON for. I answered every 'tell me about a time when..' and 'what would you do if' with great answers. I had perfect experience for the position and made no obvious errors. I was able to chat at length about job responsibilities and how my experience applied. Did I get the job(s)? Nope. No call back, no rejection letters. Nada. I was POSITIVE I was perfect for those positions and it flabbergasted me that I wasn't even called back. Obviously there was someone better, but it still bothered me.
The job I was hired for? - I sat around chatting up the office staff for an hour when the interviewer had an emergency meeting -she ran in late, we chatted about actual work related stuff (no questions out of the interview book) and I really DID say 'so.. when can I start' and even told her to cancel her other interviews since she already had me! (now that's gumption, eh?). Then we started talking about my hobbies and my crazy family. THAT job I got. Not the textbook perfect ones!!!
ackiepieRN
27 Posts
I'm so sorry you didn't get the job. I just had an interview not too long ago, with double the amount of people (10!), and I too think I fudged up here and there. One woman asked me, "Do you prefer medical or surgical patients?" ... My brain started wracking a mile a minute thinking, surgery? Why the heck would I want to be in the OR? I replied, "I don't think I can see myself working in the OR or PACU. I've had clinical rotations to those units, but I haven't enjoyed them as much as medical floors." ... Not until after the interview did I realize she meant "Do you like medical or surgical patients better on the med/surg floor?" I should have asked for clarification and boy do I feel stupid, stupid, stupid.
I feel your pain. Keep trucking and "keep pushing until you crown"!