just venting out

[JuliaR]

my family relocated here from another state and I was very optimistic that i will be able to secure a job at one of the hospitals in the Medical Center (Houston).

Before I relocated i submitted my resume online to Methodist, MD Anderson, Memorial Hermann and St. Lukes.

Recruiters from Methodist and MD Anderson called me back and stated that they will submit my resume to the nursing managers. This was 3 days ago and I haven't heard anything from them again

St. Luke's recruiter asked me to do an online survey test (it's like a personality test) but she told me that after completing the test, I'm not fit to work there at this time but i can reapply in a year again.

Then this morning, i followed up my appointment with Hermann, i was interviewed by a nurse manager there but the recruiter told me that the manager said that i'm a good nurse but she thinks my experience is not enough. I was a tele nurse (for 11 months) and i was applying for a tele positon .

Right now, i'm just disappointed ,frustrated. It's just that I'm thinking now that my chances of getting a job at the medical center is getting slimmer. I'm also depressed because it's the first time i experienced having an interview and then being turned down.

oh well, i guess this is just life..

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

Try not to get too discouraged. The thing about Texas Medical Center hospitals is that, because of their size, the HR departments are dealing with a ton of open positions, resumes, and applications.

As someone who worked FT at MDACC and still works there as a contractor, I can tell you that three days isn't very long at all when you're on MD Anderson Time.

Have faith! Let us know how it goes.

[JuliaR]

thanks eric!

how long have you been working in MD Anderson? and in what floor?

i really hope i would be able to hear from your hospital again.

[akasecrt]

Don't get discouraged. I applied for a job, went to interview-was told by interviewer that the shift I applied for had been filled prior to interview & that she would 'keep me in mind'. I had excellent references but I could only work the night shift so I missed the job. Less than a week later she called back, had rearranged some other nursing schedules for employees and found she had an opening for me. I GRABBED it as is one of the best places in North Texas to work. Good luck and prayers to you.

[TexasPediRN]

Eric's right. The med center is huge, and the HR departments are def. busy trying to keep up with openings and new hires as well as sorting through all of the applications coming their way.

I had a friend apply to Texas Childrens, and it took 4 months for them to call her for an interview.

MD Anderson called me back within a few days and left a message on my machine. I called them back twice, and she never returned my call. I did however get the job that I wanted so I didn't pursue the MD Anderson career to much. I had originally put in resumes to 4-5 different hospitals/floors and only heard from 2. One being MD Anderson and the other being the hospital that I took a job at.

It never hurts to call the HR department again and let them know you are still interested and see what your status your application is in.

Good luck!

[RN1989]

I am wondering what your background is. Did you come from a small hospital and what duties did you have there? Tele experience in a small hospital is not the same as working tele at a large hospital. Many tele floors at large hospitals provide critical care that many small hospitals don't even do in their ICUs and have to send to bigger hospitals. Some places simply cannot take in another person who doesn't have all the critical experience needed for that unit as education for new staff costs a lot.

Unless you are the most spectacular nurse on the planet that is applying for a job you are super-overqualified for - don't expect fast turnaround. Many HR departments no longer even give the courtesy of a call unless they are fairly certain that they will hire you. The online testing is getting more and more common. They can weed out people they think will not fit into their team (often times you can substitute team for clique). They don't like telling people face to face that they don't want to interview or hire you. If you have the nerve, call St. Luke's back and ask them for specific examples of why you are not fit to work there. They may have valid reasons or you might be one of those people who just don't kiss enough butt. Especially when you are dealing with a personality type test - they are looking for a team (clique) player where the customer (pt/staff/MD) is ALWAYS right no matter what (even when they are wrong). And they want to see if you will be troublesome (complain about staffing, mandatory OT, won't work extra when asked, be an indiviual thinker instead of a yes-man etc). If you read the questions right - you can give them the answers they are looking for even though you might not personally agree with the answer (choose the correct answer to the question not what you really think - like the NCLEX). Because you are applying to "famous" hospitals you are likely to have a harder time. My guess is that it will be easier to get a job at a "regular" hospital. Just because working at a renowned hospital sounds great does not mean that the working conditions are the best.

It is hard not to take the rejection personally. Especially when you have always gotten high marks/praise. Buck up and re-assess your patient (you and your resume). You may find that you have some work to do on yourself or that you need to go in a completely different direction of treatment.