Just finished my first interview--feeling not so great

canesdukegirl, BSN, RN · Oct 3, 2011

Oh honey, I really think you are being too hard on yourself. Your answer was GREAT! When did they say they would be getting back to you?

You now have the experience to know what to say. Personally, I like your answer.

Sometimes we tend to dissect our answers and worry ourselves with the "woulda, coulda, shoulda" self-berating after we feel that an interview has gone poorly. But it doesn't sound like you gave a bad answer.

Perhaps the NM was thinking about her next meeting, was thinking about other issues that need to be addressed, worrying about a deadline this week, etc. You never know.

Don't put your OWN nail into the coffin by thinking negative thoughts.

I am sending you positive thoughts, and I sincerely wish that you would rest your head tonight knowing that you did all that you could in your interview.

kool-aide, RN · Oct 3, 2011

"because I desparately need a job and I didn't get into the Pediatric facility, please for the love of God, hire me, I have children to feed"

This made me laugh hysterically...hahahahhaha

highlandlass1592, BSN, RN · Oct 3, 2011

I agree, don't beat yourself up. Nothing wrong with your answer. You can always go with "peds was my focus and while I love it, I've found I'd like to broaden my nursing horizons, expand my skill set and focus"...yadda yadda yadda

Just try to prep for your next interview, maybe go thru a mock interview with a friend for practice. Make sure you present your answers in a positive tone, which you actually did and it will help. Good luck

allnurses Guide · Oct 3, 2011

Truly I think your answer was perfect. Don't lose hope yet! I swear, unless you really stick your foot in it (and you didn't), half the time I suspect they are just judging how well you think on your feet and deal with the stress of direct questioning. Your answer truly was a good one!

nulife4good · Oct 3, 2011

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I will definitely do a mock interview with a friend so that I can address the "why are you applying to adult care when you're Peds focused" questions. I appreciate your feedback about my response, I was hoping that it didn't sound too wishy washy. Now, I'm going to stop obsessing over that interview and get on with the rest of my week.

TonyaM73, ASN, RN · Oct 3, 2011

NO!! Chocolate cake first and formost!! Then on to the rest of your week. You deserve it. Good thoughts coming your way!

thisrnlovesbugs · Oct 4, 2011

Mock interviews do help. And even looking in the mirror ( which I've done) helped. But the answer you gave was not a bad one. I'm a new grad myself and before the interview I did alot of practice that way, and googled sample interview questions to prepare. It really helped!

TriciaJ, RN · Oct 4, 2011

I think that was a great answer to that interview question. I agree with everyone else. I know there's a great job coming your way soon.

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Oct 4, 2011

You can say that you always thought you'd want to work in peds, until you had X amazing experience in adult care that made you realize you'd found a new passion. You can tailor the experience to the unit you're interviewing on.

Good luck: I found my interviews always went better when I was genuinely interested in the job: I guess I don't BS convincingly!

PediLove2147, BSN, RN · Oct 4, 2011

I agree with everyone, I thought that was a great answer :)

I actually was just in a similar position. I have a year of experience in pediatrics (private duty) and was interviewing for a position on an adult floor. It was difficult coming up with an answer of why I wanted to suddenly do adults. I don't, but I need acute care experience. Sometimes you gotta BS!

I hope you hear something soon, good news preferably!

aubriannarn · Oct 4, 2011

I'm a new grad RN--I graduated in May and have been applying for every hospital new grad program, VA, county and state jobs, and clinic jobs. My specialty area is Pediatrics (the majority of my clinical hours are in Peds), unfortunately, I didn't get into the only Peds hospital in town. I have plenty of hours in adult care also, so I felt that I was still a likely candidate for adult care positions. This interview was for Med/Surg unit (with a possibility of going to PCU) and I felt that the interview was going fine until the manager asked a perfectly logical question, "You have a lot of hours in Pediatrics, what makes you think that you'd like to work in adult care?" Guilty as charged! In addition to my Pediatric hours, I'm currently volunteering as the school nurse at a middle school. I felt like a adult care RN imposter!
The honest (and unacceptable response) would have been, "because I desparately need a job and I didn't get into the Pediatric facility, please for the love of God, hire me, I have children to feed" but I ended up providing a response along the lines of referring to my first year and nurse externship in Adult care and how I'm a versatile RN who can work well with either population (adult or pediatric). I need to come up with a better answer if I ever get another opportunity to interview again but I just feel like I lost their interest after that response. I valiantly tried to save myself by mentioning that I was capable of researching and rolling out EBP on the unit floor. Great, except that the EBP project that I worked on and rolled out was a NICU based EBP--I felt like that was just another nail in my coffin.
Sigh. It's been unbelievably tough to find work here and I was so excited to get selected for an interview. I'd appreciate it if any of you seasoned RNs out there have any ideas or suggestions on how I could address this question in the future. I think I'm ready for a big slice of chocolate cake followed by a long session of watching reality t.v.

You said this is your first interview, but that you did not get into the only peds hospital in town? Confused a little.

I am a new graduate too. I just got what I think to be my first job, but I refuse to say I got the job even though it was stated that they wanted me to join their team.

I am a new grad of may as well. I had many interviews so far, so I am surprised this to be your first one. I had many bad ones where I was made to feel less than garbage.

So, happened my last interview the nurse manager (who is never absent) was out sick. So instead of rescheduling the interview, I was interviewed by the Nurse who was head of every nurse in the whole hospital. Nervous is not even relative to what I was feeling. I did the best I could and stayed true to my honest self, which seemed to not get me anywhere before this. I sent my thank you letter via email about 4 days later, and two days after that I got the call from HR telling me that the position I applied for was no longer open but the Head of all the nurses said I interviewed professionally and very well so they are going to have me meet with another nurse manager for another position if that was okay with me so I could join their team. She just called to tell me this information. Tomorrow, I should find out about the meeting with the nurse manager.

Now, after feeling down in the dumps, going into a severe depression, and all kinds of negative emotions. I get a compliment from the nurse who holds the highest position in the whole hospital who wants me on her staff????? It just so happens it is the hospital I wanted to work at the most, and I am so happy. SO, things occur for a reason. You are going to have bad interviews, I do not know a fellow nurse who has not. The right one will come along.

One pointer. Your a new graduate I would not state that I had a specialty because you had the most clinical experience in it. Not saying anything mean to you, but that might come across to a NM as a bad thing. Specialty nurses are nurses with years and years of experience in a part of the field.

Never ever (really think) or act like you know all there is to know to a NM, ever. The reason, you dont, I dont at all know much because that will turn them right off. Be honest about what you do know and what you have done.