Job offer, background check/drug screen done..then "crickets"

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Was offered a job a month ago...pending background/drug screen..completed both of them same day as job was offered. I have absolutely no concerns about either of them. Was told it would take about 7-10 days for everything to come back and then I could start orientation.

It's been 21 days now..I have heard nothing from the person who hired me nor the other two people involved in the process of me coming on board. I left messages for all 3 earlier this week - nicely asking what the deal is. No return call.

I know 110% nothing negative is on my background check or drug screen so I am at a loss as to why I am not hearing anything/not getting call backs.

I thought about going to the facility in person Monday or should I just try to call again? I don't want to be pushy but at the same time I need to get working and don't want to keep waiting around if something has changed............

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Wow, that is weird. Bring your written offer with you and see HR. On a side note, do you really wanna work for a company that has such little regard for you? If you get no definitive answers, at least ask for a copy of the background checks. Maybe there's something on there you don't know about!

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I agree with PP. That's odd that they offered you a position, told you that you'd be able to begin orientation within 1-2 weeks, and then just completely fall off the radar like that. I would go in person if they're refusing to respond to your calls. However, like Nola said, do you want to work with a company that doesn't even contact you with at least an update about why you haven't started yet? Either way, good luck.

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Specializes in MDS/ UR.

It may also be as simple as they froze jobs chose someone else or just changed their mind. Silence is terrible. Is it a hospital or LTC?

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7- 10 days means business days. 21 days would not be that much farther out.

You certainly deserve a response though. Are any of the people you contacted in HR?

HR has the ball in their court now. Especially if it's a larger system... it can drag on for a loooong time.

Can you do agency work while you wait?

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Do you have a written offer from HR? If you do, try not to panic. I recently started a new job and had the same thing happen to me: background check and drug screen done in a flash, then silence for a couple of weeks. It could be because they're contacting your references for feedback, they're scheduling your orientation/training, they're backlogged, someone involved in the hiring process is out of the office...in my case, it was the last one: two people were out, and both needed to do things in the hiring process for me.

If you don't have that written offer yet...hopefully you have not stopped the job hunt while you wait. Again, the reasons for the delay may be all of the above.

I would contact HR just to follow-up...say something like, "I completed X, Y and Z; is there anything else I need to do?"

Good luck.

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This same exact situation happened to my good friend. They waited a little over a month before contacting her again! If it were me I would contact HR or the nurse manager or whoever offered you the job.

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Specializes in ER.

Happened to one girl where they froze jobs and just never told her.

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Call them, email, do something. Don't just wait, waiting is painful! You'll go mad :arghh:

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I really wish employers had the consideration to let someone know they were rejected, much less the reasons why. I can understand if you have 100 people applying for the same position that it can be a bit daunting, but HR most likely has all of those people's email addresses and could easily send a mass form letter email (with addresses hidden - it's not hard) stating so sorry, the position has been filled/frozen/eliminated/whatever. Especially when dealing with large organizations that require online applications only.

There's probably a large fear of litigation if someone says the wrong thing when asked "Why wasn't I picked?" There are all sorts of wrong answers possible there, but "We've decided on another candidate," really leaves nothing to sue over.

I once went through the interview process, background check and all for an organization, and when they didn't get back to me after a couple of weeks, I wrote them off. THREE MONTHS LATER, they call me and ask if I'm interested in a position. Uh, no. I already have a job, because I can't afford to wait for three freaking months to get a paycheck. I've also had radio silence after an interview and it drove me bonkers (I'm already bonkers, so it wasn't hard, LOL). I'm convinced there are a lot of bosses out there that don't have appropriate HR training in dealing with rejected applicants, so they lack the confidence to appropriately notify them. Or maybe they're just jerks and it's not worth wasting time on. I don't know. But I do know when you're desperate for a job, that kind of stuff can drive you batty.

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Specializes in ER.

I do agree that when it comes to hiring, healthcare has become rude. I think out of my jobs, 3/4 do not want applicants to call them and do not let applicants know what is up.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Once, I got a rejection letter four months after applying to a job...though from what I heard about the facility from a classmate who did get hired, I dodged a bullet. Still, for those four months, I didn't hear a peep from them even though I called twice to follow-up.

Another facility called me 1 YEAR after I dropped off my application to ask if I was still interested in the position. Of course I said "No, thank you."

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