Interviewing Timeline - Multiple Interviews

[NicuRN628]

Hello,

I have three interviews this week for different RN positions and was offered a fourth interview for another area but will not be taking it. My first interview was on Monday and is my dream job. The interview was fantastic and I was invited to go shadow on the unit, which I did yesterday. The hiring manager told me that they will be contacting my references this week and that they feel I would be a great fit on the unit.

I have an interview today at a different hospital. If I couldn't get any other job I would take this job, but it's definitely not my first choice. It is an adults unit and I am really interested in pediatrics.

I also have an interview tomorrow for a position at a different hospital that would be a great fit for me. While the first job interview is truly what I want to do, this job is a close second. This is also a pediatric job, but it is not at a pediatric hospital.

I really hope (and feel) that I am going to be offered the job from the first interview I had (my dream job), but they said the hiring process can take 2-3 weeks. How do I go about dealing with potential other job offers while waiting on this job? I don't want to pull my applications as I need a job and I need experience, but I also don't want to get stuck working at a job I don't want only to be offered my dream job a week or two after.

I hope this makes sense.

Thank you for the advice!

[NICUmiiki, DNP, NP]

Accept other offers until you hear from the first, but put off orientation for a couple of weeks. That way if you get the first job, you'll be able to decline the other jobs without costing them any orientation time.

[HopefulSRNA1234]

I disagree. Do not accept offers unless you are going to actually take them. You can always tell them you are very excited about the offer and would like some time to think about it. It is so beyond rude to accept an offer and not take it. After you have accepted, the company has already rejected others that applied to the same position. They also may begin several on-boarding activities like getting you an email account, setting you up on payroll, etc. Onboarding is a lot of work and involves many people in a company. If you bail after this process, it is pretty disrespectful of other's time and is also very visible to many people in the company. It will most likely burn bridges and you probably won't be able to be hired there in the future.

HR understands that people get multiple job offers and need some time to think. Just be honest and tell them that. I'd say 3 days is really the max amount of time you can ask for though. During this time, you can call back the dream job place and let them know that they are your number one but you did receiver another job offer and have to make a decision soon. If they like you, they will work with you. Just be honest and things will work out.

Btw, how awesome is it that you have all these options?! Congrats!!

[RunBabyRN]

I disagree. Do not accept offers unless you are going to actually take them. You can always tell them you are very excited about the offer and would like some time to think about it. It is so beyond rude to accept an offer and not take it. After you have accepted, the company has already rejected others that applied to the same position. They also may begin several on-boarding activities like getting you an email account, setting you up on payroll, etc. Onboarding is a lot of work and involves many people in a company. If you bail after this process, it is pretty disrespectful of other's time and is also very visible to many people in the company. It will most likely burn bridges and you probably won't be able to be hired there in the future.

HR understands that people get multiple job offers and need some time to think. Just be honest and tell them that. I'd say 3 days is really the max amount of time you can ask for though. During this time, you can call back the dream job place and let them know that they are your number one but you did receiver another job offer and have to make a decision soon. If they like you, they will work with you. Just be honest and things will work out.

Btw, how awesome is it that you have all these options?! Congrats!!

I had a similar question, as I am interviewing Friday somewhere, but also interviewed somewhere today. I would LOVE to take the job I interviewed for today, but it's very per diem, and the other is FT. I'm hoping I hear about the FT job before the PD job! Thanks for this response- this will likely be my approach if I hear about the PD job first.