Is HR Lying To Me?

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So. I had an interview a month ago with a recruiter who then set me up with two nurse managers to interview with in pediatrics. After following up, the recruiter told me, two weeks ago, that the managers finished interviews and she is waiting for decisions. She also said she knows I was a very good candidate. My friend, who I told to contact the recruiter and prepped her for the interviews, also received an interview for the same units (Probably should have worried about getting myself a job first but its good karma I guess). My friend was offered one of the 6 positions they had LAST week. I followed up with the recruiter again and this week she said that she still has not heard from the managers. What is going on here? I know she must have heard from the managers because my friend was offered a position. Do I really still have a chance? I have given up hope mostly. At least I have another interview coming up at another hospital.... I am feeling very frustrated with this whole process. Just want to know yes or no so I can move forward.

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No they are not lying, sometimes managers are slow about things. Go to the other interview and continue searching.

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I guess. Just weird that she would call and offer my friend a job and then tell me she hasn't heard anything. Maybe they didn't make all of the decisions. I just want an offer so bad. Things are tough as a new grad when you don't have connections!

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Specializes in ER, Med-surg.

Did you friend interview with a different floor? One hospital recruiter I've been working with was very frank with me and let me know that the manager I interviewed with was dragging her feet and that he's having that issue with one other manager at the same hospital.

It's manager specific, and yes, please keep looking and interviewing. Also, it never hurts to talk to the manager directly and tell her you loved her floor, loved meeting with her and was wondering if she made a decision.

Good luck to you!

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No, she interviewed with the same floor and same nurse managers. There were two managers so maybe one made her decisions and the other didn't. They were each hiring for three positions. My friend was offered a job Monday of last week and the recruiter is trying to tell me she has not heard anything. I followed up with the nurse managers via email twice, once two weeks ago and once last week just saying I was very interested in the position and I hope they are considering me. Should I follow up again? This just seems very strange that it is taking so long to get an answer when I know that they must have made some decisions for my friend to be hired.

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Specializes in ER.

Did the friend accept the one position? If she did but hasn't started, then they probably want to make sure she won't back out.

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She accepted. Starts orientation mid July. The recruiter told me when I interviewed with her that if peds didn't work out she would set me up on another interview with med surg nurse manager. But maybe they are keeping me as a backup for peds instead. If that is the case then I feel really dumb for giving my friend all of the contact info and interview prep. That basically means I would have been hired if not her... Oh well, doesn't help to think like that.

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Specializes in ER.

I would assume that you didn't get it and start looking elsewhere. That's why I don't tell people about positions unless I don't want them. I post quite a few up for other students.

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Yes, lesson learned.

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If this was me, I would demand the friend to back down so I get called-lol, coz that ain't fair. But again life ain't. I think u need to relax, if u get the job fine, if u do not so be it. I think u feel pressured coz ur friend dd get the job.

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You have to be a bit careful when you're dealing with recruiters. The fees that they charge the employer are often the reason why a candidate does not receive an offer, and they typically run 15% to 20% or more of the successful candidate's first year compensation. Hospitals, like any other organization, are feeling their budgets being squeezed, and they would always prefer to hire an equally qualified candidate who approaches them directly rather than pay a recruiter's fee which can amount to $thousands.

Additionally, recruiters are not always as "plugged in" to a hiring organization as they would have you believe. They are often seen by hiring managers as more of a nuisance than an asset, so calls are not always returned and information is not freely shared. In the worst cases those recruiters are basically telemarketers, just throwing enough resumes against enough walls in the hope that one sticks. Sometimes they're just collecting resumes to fill their databases in order to "market" them to prospective clients. For an experienced nurse with a difficult to fill specialty a recruiter can be useful, and they will typically seek you out. Don't be afraid to ask recruiters some tough questions beyond the usual salary and benefits questions. Find out if they know why the position is open, what the turnover has been on that floor, background of the hiring manager, experience of other nurses they have placed with that hospital, etc. If the recruiter can't answer your questions, just say "thanks" and move on.

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I would assume that you didn't get it and start looking elsewhere. That's why I don't tell people about positions unless I don't want them. I post quite a few up for other students.
This. Always take care of yourself first, especially when it comes to work. Ask me how I learned this!
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