I have two possible connections but don't know how to approach?

Nursing Students CNA/MA

Published

Hello,

I am asking for advice for a CNA position. As the title reads, I have two possible connections I can call but I don't know what is the proper way to get a job offer...

One connection was from a CNA that knew a Staffing coordinator and gave me his phone number. Another connection was from another nursing student that got hired recently and took a picture of her business card and her title reads "Supervisor, Administrative Support Services".

But how do I approach these people when I call them? What do I ask?

Even if lets say I approach them along the lines of "Is there any nursing assistant job that you can give me?" and if they say yes they have some available, what do I say next? Or what happens next?

Advice and previous experience calling staff recruiters what to say/what not to say is appreciated. Thanks!

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Specializes in Long term care.

I would fill out a job application first and have my resume on hand when I call.

Introduce yourself and tell them "so & so" sugguested you call them. Tell them you are looking for a CNA position and have submitted your application and resume and are hoping for an opportunity for an interview.

Leave your phone number.

If you can't speak to them directly, then leave a voice mail. Speak clearly and let confidence come through in your voice.

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Specializes in Med Surg, PCU, Travel.

I know of a CNA who got her job by going directly to the floor asked for the supervisor took her resume and just describe how much she wanted to work in that area.

Doing that depends on the manager, some may not like the direct approach, some may like it. Phone calls are too easy to brush off, but if you phrase it in such a way that you would like to meet with them, maybe first submit a online resume the standard way and then go in person with it. Think through what you are going to say,ask yourself why are you better or what makes you different from all the other 1000 applications they got? What are your goals? etc.

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Okay, thanks for the responses. I wouldn't mind showing up at their HR and speak directly to the nursing manager/recruiter, but I feel like its risky nowadays that technology is advancing and its becoming more convenient to email them instead. I read that it's bad to show up at the facility because its "unprofessional" and that sometimes theres even a policy that doesn't allow this type of action. Sorry for being negative, as much as I wanted to do this, I don't think its the norm anymore.

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Specializes in Med Surg, PCU, Travel.

True, definitely not the norm, but that why it works, it makes you stand out. Of all the 1000 applications maybe 950 will be screened by a computer looking for key words, the other 50 by HR and 10-20 may get to the managers. So some managers never even see your resume, this is the reality our online world has created. But you are right it does depends on the facility.

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Specializes in None yet..
True, definitely not the norm, but that why it works, it makes you stand out. Of all the 1000 applications maybe 950 will be screened by a computer looking for key words, the other 50 by HR and 10-20 may get to the managers. So some managers never even see your resume, this is the reality our online world has created. But you are right it does depends on the facility.

Smart! If you do it respectfully and professionally, you won't burn any bridges and if you stand out to someone, then you're crossing a bridge that no one else even sees.

Go for it.

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Okay! Thank you for your responses :)

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That's great that you have contact info! I would feel uncomfortable trying to track them down in person, managers and staffing coordinators have hectic schedules and you might catch them at a bad time, and then it could leave a bad impression.

If you want to call them, put in an application first and then call a week or so later. Just say something like "Hi, my name is so and so, I recently applied for a CNA position at your facility. I was referred by so-and-so and was hoping to learn a little bit more about the position. I am very eager to work for such-and such and would greatly appreciate an opportunity to talk with you further." Then give name and number.

Don't be too pushy, but if you have applied and you have a contact it doesn't hurt to be proactive and reach out. The worse thing that can happen is that they don't return your call or do not have time to talk with you. Also be sure to put your friends name down on the cover letter if you are able, that sometimes catches HR's eye when they are going through resumes. Good luck!

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Hello! I am here to update that I have been recently hired for a nursing assistant job a month ago! (yay!) but at the same time I have a mini situation going on..

First I just wanted to share how this came about and it was through a colleague of mine. I started asking a few of my friends who worked as CNA/NA if I can use them as a reference when I apply for jobs. They gave me the OK and gave me their bosses email.

The first boss I emailed said she wasn't currently hiring. So for the second boss she emailed back a few weeks later that she was hiring and will be holding interviews soon and will be giving me a call. The call comes and she says that since I have been referred, I get first choice to what time I want the interview (nice!). I showed up that day to be the first one interviewed. I heard that its the first and last interview where they may remember you.

It was my first interview and I was nervously studying all the interview questions they may ask me the previous night. Interview comes and I find that it was a panel interview! It actually went pretty good, I do admit that there were some questions I didn't exactly know the answer to but I do remember giving them a few laughs here and there and smiling as I said bye. The hiring manager cautioned me that I would have to wait a week for results and that there are 11 other people she had to interview. So I arrived home thinking I probably won't get it then.

Then an hour passes by and I received a phone call from her. She said that she really liked me and wanted to hire me! I was excited and looking forward to working with the health care team :)

**Here's the little situation though.**

It's been a month that I have heard from her and I haven't received any update on my application other than asking for my references (HR emailed me that). That was about two weeks after they hired me when they asked for my references and I gave HR the permission. I then notified all three of my references that they should be getting a 'call' soon (that's what I thought until one of my references replied that what they do is send out a 'reference form' to be filled out).

Two more weeks roll by (making it a month at this point and still no word from hiring manager or HR either) and I start asking my 3 references if they have filled out the references form. Two did except for one.... That's when I got freaked out because its past 2 weeks and one of my references (lets call her L) hasn't done it yet. I learned that it was because the email I used from L was a junk email. I started asking L if she can please do it soon but she said her monitor broke down and won't be able to until the following week.

Guys, I'm a little scared that what if this is why I haven't been contacted? Because there is one more reference form left to be filled out. And I'm worried that L will forget or never find it since they had emailed them out 2 weeks ago.

What should I do?

I emailed my hiring manager that if she needs additional documents or if she is having trouble contacting my references to please let me know. Although I didn't mention to her what has been going on lately with L and the junk email/monitor breaking down (I don't want it to sound like excuses). Its been 3 days and no response yet from hiring manager.

**My question is**

Is it possible to lose this job position if the reference forms aren't filled out in time? Should I call HR and explain that L doesn't use that email and give them the one she actually uses?

Any advice is appreciated !

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