My experience of applying for a job after 1 year of experience.

[DatMurse]

As some of you know, I have a giant thread of applying for a job at St. Alexius North Dakota.

https://allnurses.com/nursing-first-job/reflection-of-accepting-922705.html

I am now going to make a thread over my experience for applying for a new job of 1 year. I dont see any threads such as this.

So a little run down. I applied to some places I want to work at, and then some ridiculous(Good) hospital systems such as Mayo, John Hopkins system, and many through Washington.

So I wanted to specialize in Oncology. I work in Medical AND Oncology. So I picked oncology as my point of heading out. I made a plain resume, very simple with skill layouts(heparin drips, insulin drips, chemo admin), and 10 months of EXP and start date at 1 year. Certifications such as BLS, RN license(pending in WA), ONS Chemo/biotherapy provider card

About 8 of the hospitals I applied to... I got 3 call backs for interviews. One was Bethesda hospital in Maryland(John Hopkins system), but I declined that one.

So I have 2 interviews with HR. Both have been advanced up to the nurse directors(I had one with a nurse director), so now I am on my fourth interview.

So The HR interviews were literally awesome. I connected with them, joked, they loved me, they told me great things about the hospital.

HOWEVER, my first interview with the nurse director was rough. I did not expect 2 people to be there and spazzed out, pretty black and white.. I did answer all questions thoroughly, but I think I was pretty nervous. It was a great facility and I think that made me even more nervous. I told them my behavior with patients on the questions and situations I have came across as a nurse.Our chemotherapy regimen was the same, a lot of our protocols were the same which was shocking. They asked me why I wanted to be a nurse and work there. Stated about my story with my grandmother and why I want to work at such a great facility. I will find out this week if I got the job, Even though I doubt I did. I was unable to ask a lot of questions, because I knew the answer from the HR lady(She was a nurse who worked there all her life)

I have another one with a good hospital system this week. Not as good as this one for Cancer, but still a solid hospital. After that interview I sent out some more apps for some more hospitals in Seattle.

If all else fails I will fly to Cali, go to the BON in person and get the paperwork for my license rushed through for a fast temp(2 weeks). Then I will go there as a travel

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Thanks for sharing your story. I'm sure it will help a lot of folks.

My advice to anyone who is engaged in a job search is to consider all interviews as "rehearsals" in which you can polish your skills for that most wonderful opportunity that is just waiting for you. By the time you land the big one, you will be unbelievably skilled in the art of job interviews. You're going to dazzle them so much that yours will be the standard by which they judge all future applicants for years to come!

[DatMurse]

So I got a random call today from a hospital that I thought wasnt going to consider me(#3.) So #3 call was directly from a nurse manager. She asked me if I would be ready for an interview right now. I was wide awake and alert and I told her I am totally ready.

Friendly conversation, joking, talking about strengths and weaknesses. I told her my weakness was taking my home work with me. Running it through my head and wondering if I did everything correctly. She loved all my answers and everything I said.

I rate that interview a solid 9/10. We were friendly and it was an awesome interview. Only downside is that it may be 8 hour shifts but its w/e. I think it is much safer to be 8 hour than 12 hours. She asked me about where I want to be in 5 years. I told her hopefully have my OCN, bedside nurse, and hopefully I would have settled down with a family. I told her why I wanted to be a nurse and why oncology doesnt beat down on me as much. She liked my response.

I have #4 hospital interview tomorrow with a nurse manager. I think it will go smoothly for sure.

[RescueNinjaKy]

Gl man

[DatMurse]

Gl man

Thanks,

I also got a random call to set up an interview for #5 tomorrow. X_X

[DatMurse]

So... On Monday I got 3 calls. 2 for Denver, and 1 for the VA in Seattle. I turned down the interview for the VA in Seattle because it wasnt in patient oncology. I became a nurse for oncology and I am not going to relocate for medical.

I am turning down reference checks for medical oncology. I dont mind an oncology floor with medical overflow, I am not going to take a medical floor with 20% population.

I also got a call from Hershey Medical. I did apply to some random hospitals for fun to see if I would get a call. Cause getting a job at the chocolate hospital would be pretty sweet.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Denver is a great place to live, with SOOO much opportunity (there are probably about 20 hospitals in the metro area).

[DatMurse]

I am going to turn down the interview with them. I accepted a job as a travel nurse. I am going to a BMT unit and I am stoked. The experience that I will gain there will be memorable. I am also flying out to sacramento and the travel agency is paying for my flight to get my cali license.

EDIT: The travel job fell through. Nurse manager cancelled my offer and didnt submit it officially due to someone with an earlier start date.

[DatMurse]

Lol so I have had a call from Hershey PA, University of Washington, Queens Hawaii, Medical center of Aurora, Overlake in Seattle. I wont be calling any of them back. I know my resume is now good and people are lovin it.

[simoniebalonie]

Your story is truly inspiring as it gives me hope. I want to go back to California (my home state) after 1 year of experience. I was afraid that it would not be enough experience as I read many post stating "at least 2 years", but after reading your post, I have some hope! Thank you for sharing!

[mrsg430]

This is awesome and encouraging !

[klone, MSN, RN]

So I'm dying to know - where are you going to go?