Is this interview process unprofessional?

Nurses Career Support

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I applied for a job and within 2 hours I got a call from a recruiter for a phone interview. He told me the manager will not be able to interview me for a full week. I really wanted the job and so I waited and did not apply elsewhere. I interview with her and it went well. The interview was on a Monday. She said I should hear from the recruiter by Wednesday to schedule me for a peer interview. I hear nothing on Wednesday, so I called my recruiter Thursday morning. He finally called me back Friday at 3pm to schedule the peer interview. He said he just heard back from the manager about scheduling it, hence the delay.

Peer interview was then on Tuesday. They had my resume, and instead of talking about the unit, unit goals, pros/cons of the job and working there, they were giving me an actual interview which I do not think was appropriate. They are not qualified for that and that is not what a peer interview is supposed to entail. I went along with it. As they were walking me back to the lobby, in the elevator, etc, they were glued to their personal phone, texting. I tried making small talk such as “is that the hospital chapel” and I was given a “mmm hmm” with they’d heads still down at their phone. Again, this was on Tuesday.

Wednesday, I heard nothing.

Thursday morning, a generic email arrived, to paraphrase : “thank you for applying, your credentials look impressive but we’ve decided to interview other candidates.” Applied? How about interviewed?

Boom. That’s all. No follow up.

A friend interviewed for a job at the sane place, but a different recruiter. She was called and told she didn’t get the job but was offered an interview w a different department.

I waited a full week for my first interview. And then a full week for my 2nd interview. And now that’s it?

I agree that sometimes the responses can be a bit hard to take, even hurtful at times. I know it is definitely stressful applying and interviewing for jobs. The process does not always go smoothly or as expected. I get it, you have high hopes and then this "peer interview" happens and it doesn't go well. How discouraging!

I imagine you posted in order to get encouragement and support, then felt attacked. Keep your spirits up and keep looking, there will be all kinds of experiences, good and bad. Don't let this damper your hopes.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.
26 minutes ago, Forest2 said:

Just wondering for my own knowledge, what are the qualifications and is there any kind of training or instruction?

It has been different with each facility I have worked at. The only official qualification was that the peer is obviously a member of that unit - they could be RN, PCA, HUC since the interviewee would be working with all staff.

In regards to training/instruction - There has always been general instruction at every facility I've worked at. We were given a form with potential questions to ask and places to take notes. One facility I worked for had an official training class that lasted approximately one hour and went over general guidelines, professionalism, legalities of what wasn't allowed to be asked.

Specializes in Neuro.
2 hours ago, raindrop said:

Some of you are very catty and non supportive. I’ve been asked by most of you why I don’t think they were qualified to interview me. Well for starters, according to one of my nursing journals, it’s supposed to be an informal & casual interview where the peers ask me informal & casual interview questions such as “Tell us what you think this job will be like and then we’ll tell you the reality” They should also be prepared to answer my questions and not look at eachother with deer-in-headlight eyes when a question is asked. My questions? So how long have you guys worked here and what do you like and dislike about this job” - Head in deerlights- ohh, you’ve been here 6 months? Ohhh, you’re a new grad? Ohh you’re new grad with an ADN and your interviewing a nurse of 15 years with a MSN and questioning her experience . Haha okkk.

Will not be reading further replies. Peace out!

Well I empathized with what could've been a crappy experience for you. But now....

"According to my nursing journals" Well that interview wasn't a "nursing journal" now was it, it was real life, real people, real interview.

You say you have 15 years experience & a MSN which I'd consider a great accomplishment & wouldve personally looked up to someone like you for your knowledge & experience. So why then do you come off so "higher than thou" & putting the new grad ADN down for not being as awesome as you? You're interviewing to get a job with them last you reported, so you want to give them the 3rd degree & then turn nose at them for not having them doing things your way?

If you came at them with that superiority complex well no wonder that interview didnt work out. It was a kindness that they even bothered to walk you out, phone or no.

15 years experience & you act & respond this way? Unbelievable.

Specializes in PICU.

OP:

I have been on both sides of the peer interview and I think they are the hardest. When I interviewed for a position, there were two levels of peers, those who would have to work "under me" and those that would work lateral with me. Both were tough, but it should be. The peers want to know what kind of nurse are you, all of them had my resume and were able to ask me questions about my experience. There is even a standard form for certain specific targeted questions that must be asked. Be glad that they have a peer interview component because it gives you a chance to see how peers interact. The reason they had your resume is because they should, it is a great way to get to know a future co-workers experience and how they will fit into the unit.

I also have been a peer interviewer. I found it empowering to be able to ask questions about a persons experience, how they got to where they are, and why they wanted the position. I felt that my input into the interview process was valuable and was respected.

From what you have writted, it sounds like there was initial interest in our experience but did not translate well in the interview.

Peer interviews were I am are a huge part of the interview process. The belief is to have a 360 view of the candidate and receive input from all sides.

Best of luck in your next interview.

1 hour ago, Forest2 said:

I imagine you posted in order to get encouragement and support, then felt attacked.

Asking questions to try to understand the situation better is not attacking. As such the OP was never attacked. She did, however, garner some less than friendly responses with her aggressive/hostile follow up posts and nose-thumbing at people she felt were beneath her. This kind of behavior is not well-received and nor should it be.

1 hour ago, Wuzzie said:

Asking questions to try to understand the situation better is not attacking. As such the OP was never attacked. She did, however, garner some less than friendly responses with her aggressive/hostile follow up posts and nose-thumbing at people she felt were beneath her. This kind of behavior is not well-received and nor should it be.

I said they "then felt attacked", not that they actually were. I was just offering a bit of empathy that's all.

1 minute ago, Forest2 said:

I said they "then felt attacked", not that they actually were. I was just offering a bit of empathy that's all.

Oh I get that and I appreciate your sentiment.

1 hour ago, RNNPICU said:

OP:

I have been on both sides of the peer interview and I think they are the hardest. When I interviewed for a position, there were two levels of peers, those who would have to work "under me" and those that would work lateral with me. Both were tough, but it should be. The peers want to know what kind of nurse are you, all of them had my resume and were able to ask me questions about my experience. There is even a standard form for certain specific targeted questions that must be asked. Be glad that they have a peer interview component because it gives you a chance to see how peers interact. The reason they had your resume is because they should, it is a great way to get to know a future co-workers experience and how they will fit into the unit.

I also have been a peer interviewer. I found it empowering to be able to ask questions about a persons experience, how they got to where they are, and why they wanted the position. I felt that my input into the interview process was valuable and was respected.

From what you have writted, it sounds like there was initial interest in our experience but did not translate well in the interview.

Peer interviews were I am are a huge part of the interview process. The belief is to have a 360 view of the candidate and receive input from all sides.

Best of luck in your next interview.

A good post helps me understand the different perspectives. Always like to learn new things.

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

As a veteran nurse of 15 years with an MSN, surely you realize that real life is not like the nursing journals. Your response tells me everything I need to know, and I imagine your peers at the interview felt the same way.

Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.
10 hours ago, Forest2 said:

Just wondering for my own knowledge, what are the qualifications and is there any kind of training or instruction?

I work on an act team. Every prospective member has to be approved by the whole team by consensus. And that includes mental health techs. We are taught not to ask illegal questions, but other than that it's up to us whether to accept a candidate or not.

Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
On 8/7/2019 at 6:07 AM, raindrop said:

Some of you are very catty and non supportive. I’ve been asked by most of you why I don’t think they were qualified to interview me. Well for starters, according to one of my nursing journals, it’s supposed to be an informal & casual interview where the peers ask me informal & casual interview questions such as “Tell us what you think this job will be like and then we’ll tell you the reality” They should also be prepared to answer my questions and not look at eachother with deer-in-headlight eyes when a question is asked. My questions? So how long have you guys worked here and what do you like and dislike about this job” - Head in deerlights- ohh, you’ve been here 6 months? Ohhh, you’re a new grad? Ohh you’re new grad with an ADN and your interviewing a nurse of 15 years with a MSN and questioning her experience . Haha okkk.

Will not be reading further replies. Peace out!

First of all, don't believe everything you read in nursing journals. I've always found them next to useless.

Second, you've made it obvious that you feel superior to the people who were interviewing you; the people who already have the job that you're applying for. They might have picked up on that and plan to keep looking for a new coworker.

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