Interview/Hiring process

[Seagate]

I have a job interview coming up, but I also have a planned vacation.

So my question is, if my interview is on July 21st, and I pass the interview and get hired, do I become an employee on the 21st? Or can I postpone becoming getting hired until I come back from vacation?

Also, when applying to hospitals, do they let you know on the spot if you were hired or does it take them a couple weeks to get back to you?

[Seagate]

Another question I have is I have two upcoming interviews.

I would like to go to both interviews and see which place I would like to work more.

How do I tell the first interviewer this?

Do I just say the truth and that I am interviewing for another job in a week and that I will call them back in one week and let them know if I want the job?

[Ima Nurse]

If an offer is made at the interview, simply thank them and politely say that you need to think it over and you'll get back with them. I had a situation like that with my first RN job after graduation. Two of the job offers were at the same hospital -different units and the third was at another hospital.

As far as starting, your planned vacation shouldn't be a problem. The hiring process takes a little while. Most facilities make it mandatory to take orientation classes before being scheduled to work. Usually these classes are given on certain days of the week a few times a month.

[llg, PhD, RN]

The vacation is not an issue. Just tell your employer (or potential employer). In fact, be sure to tell them in case they try to contact you while you are gone. They might try to contact you then to offer you the job, to set up an appointment with their Human Resources Dept. or a pre-employment health screening or something like that. Be sure the employer knows how to reach you while you are gone -- or say that you will check your phone messages daily, etc.

As for interviewing at 2 places: If asked directly, it's OK to say that you are interviewing elsewhere. After all, you might not be offered their job and it's reasonable to be considering all your options. However, no employer wants to think of itself as "your 2nd choice," so never give that impression.

Generally, it's best not to mention it unless you have to. If they give you a job offer quickly and you are not sure whether or not you want to accept it ... simply say you need a little time to think about it. Say you don't like to make such important decisions on the spur of the moment and need a little time to digest the information you received during your interview, etc. That can delay things a little.

But you might find yourself forced to choose sooner that you would like. In that case, you simply have to make the best choice you can based on the specific circumstances. You don't always have the luxury of having time to think for more than a few days after an interview.

[yeSICU]

Pre-employment requests... They are awesome! Problem solved. Get them in writing though!!!

[noc4senuf]

I always ask nurses during the interview/hiring process if they have any planned vacations that are set in plae in the future. I then automatically grant the vacation even if there are others that would get them first at that time due to seniority. I believe that pre-employment vacations would take precedence. When i have interviewed myself i nthe past, I always let the employer know about any preset vacations also.