Is it OK to Call HR About my Application?

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

Dear Nurse Beth,

Hello! I am having trouble getting a job with two years nursing experience. I have a couple interviews coming up but I would also like to call some of the other jobs I applied for to see where in essence where they are at in the process. How do I go about doing that? Do you just call the hospital main number and ask for the HR department? I've never had to call to look into a job application before ?

Dear Having Trouble,

It's hard not to be impatient when you're ready to make a move, you've submitted a few applications, and then nothing happens. Hospitals are complex organizations with lots of moving parts. Things can move slowly, and things can get stuck.

Maybe you applied before the 4th of July, the talent acquisition person took a 4 day holiday, and since they got back they've been in back-to-back meetings. Two weeks is nothing.

In your case, you have a couple interviews lined up, so that's terrific!

There's no magic number, but go ahead and call if you've heard nothing in 2 weeks. Ask for HR.

"Hello, who can I talk to about the status of my job application for an RN position, please?"

"That'd be Joy, I'll transfer you" <take note of the name and write it down>

"Hello, Joy! My name is Andrea St. Clair and I applied to an opening in L&D earlier this month. Is it possible to find out the status of my application?"

"Let me see...St. Clair...here we go. Yes, it's been sent to the manager who is reviewing it"

"Great, thanks! So typically what's the next step?"

"She'll call you either way within a week"

"Thank you so much, Joy. Would it be OK to check back with you, Joy, if I don't hear anything? I'm very interested in the position"

"Yes, of course! That'd be fine. I'm out next Tuesday, but here all week otherwise. My direct extension is 555-4477."

Meanwhile if Joy talks to the hiring manager, she'll say "You know that St. Clair person? She must be really interested, she called to check in. I told her you'd call back".

Hope this helps ? What I predict- with your experience, you are going to get 2 offers at the same time. And then you'll have a new problem! Contact me again if you need any help during the process.

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth

Author, "Your Last Nursing Class: How to Land Your First Nursing Job"...and your next!