New Grad Bad Interview Experience...But Maybe I Still Have A Chance?

[AnaBanana.RN, RN]

I went for an interview yesterday for my dream NICU job at my dream hospital. I had been prepping for the interview for an entire week for possible questions. I prepared my answers for these potential questions and practiced them out loud and with my boyfriend. I had probably a list of 30 questions and I had 5 different patient scenarios ready for patient scenario type questions. I also studied the common conditions you would face in the NICU, signs and symptoms, how its diagnosed, interventions, and what I should expect the provider to order just incase they asked me about any of that. I had a safety patient scenario, a conflict with a patient scenario, a collaborative patient scenario, an ICU patient scenario, and a medically challenging patient. I walked into the interview feeling confident.

I had my interview with the unit manager and 4 shift managers. Well the very 1st question was "Tell me about a time you had a crucial patient and tell me how you used critical thinking to care for this patient? What actions did you take? What was the result and what would you have done differently?" And I was like a deer in headlights. I was able to stumble my way through it. And then I was asked 4 more questions similar to the one above where each questions was like an onslaught of 5 questions. I could not come up with something for 2 out of the 5 scenarios and the other 3 were not adequate answers. I felt stupid. After the 5th question like this, they asked if I had any questions. I said "That's it?" and they were like yeah we only ask 5 patient scenarios for our interview. I felt destroyed, I felt there was no way I could possibly redeem myself.

I said I know this probably wasn't the best interview, but I want to tell you about me and why I want to work here. And I said something to the effect I'm compassionate, ambitious, and I possess leadership skills. I was in the student nurses association at my school and was the communications manager. I volunteered here in the ED, and I've done a year of my clinical here. And I've met so many amazing nurses here that I aspire to be like. And I was about to cry so I stopped and said I'm sorry I'm not good at interviews. And the unit manager was said "That was very heartfelt, and I'm not expecting you to be great at interviews, if you were a nurse for 25 years I would expect you to be great at interviews." And he went on a bit talking more about interviews. I then asked about the orientation process and they spent about 10 minutes explaining the process which made me feel like maybe I do still have a shot or they wouldn't be wasting their time on me. 

I came with 5 full portfolios for each interviewer, I have BLS, ACLS, PALS, S.T.A.B.L.E, NRP, and Intro to fetal heart monitoring and 5 letters of reference from previous instructors all of whom work at that hospital. I have experience as a home care aide, I did two clinical rotations in that NICU, I included evidence of my professional memberships (AWHONN and NANN), and not to mention my cover letter rocked. 

Well anyways at the end of the interview, he said I want you to know your still in the running and he gave me his business card and I'm really hoping I'm not holding on to this thread of hope for nothing and he just did that because he felt bad for me. They were all really nice. I drove home ugly crying and no one believed me when I told them it was bad because I was actually making the story sound slightly better out of embarrassment. I am so sorry this is so long, but getting it out is making me feel a lot better. 

They told me they would be making their decision this Friday. 

 

[CharleeFoxtrot, BSN, RN]

Interviewing skills get better over time, so don't be too hard on yourself.  From what I read you did stumble but picked yourself right back up ? keeping my fingers crossed for you. 

[Chickenlady]

He said you are under consideration, take him for his word.  Regardless if you get this job or not, you now know where you need work in the interview skills.  So take it as a learning experience if nothing else. 

[Sour Lemon]

I'd be shocked if any new graduate nailed an interview like that one. For my second nursing job, after two years of experience, I was asked clinical questions for about 45 minutes to one hour. There were some that I just had to say ..."Honestly, I have NO idea." It sometimes helps to tell them what resources you would utilize if you're unsure what to do on your own.

My new graduate interview was "Miss America" types of questions. I recall saying that I'd rather work with dogs and cats than people at one point ...but working with people paid more. Oops! I still got hired for both jobs, though.

Good luck!

[Wuzzie]

31 minutes ago, CharleeFoxtrot said:

Interviewing skills get better over time, so don't be too hard on yourself. 

Also, no manager in their right mind would expect a new grad to be able to navigate a complicated patient scenario with any competency no matter how good a student you are. The questions they used were behavioral questions. It's okay to talk out loud as you ponder them because that is what they are looking for, you're problem solving ability. The kicker is the end goal isn't really to solve the problem at all but they tend to leave candidates feeling like they blathered on like an idiot and never came to the correct conclusion. Except there wasn't one. My point is, you likely did better than you thought so stop beating yourself up.

[JKL33]

6 hours ago, AnaBanana.RN said:

I said I know this probably wasn't the best interview, but I want to tell you about me and why I want to work here.

I would give you credit for hanging in there and doing this ^ part. ??

Surely there are some interviewees who, after told 'yes, that's it...' would just sort of internally give up and have everything end at that point.

Never be afraid to say that you haven't encountered the exact scenario or haven't had an opportunity to become familiar with the details of a situation. They know you are new. Sometimes you can talk about a scenario with similar characteristics or you can simply say that at your stage of learning you would want to consult [xyz] resources.

 

I hope they give you a shot!! Good luck to you ~

?

 

 

[MelEpiRN]

Welcome to the world of Behavioral Interviews. I despise them. Healthcare loves them.

I recommend googling 'Behavioral Interviews' and prepare different scenarios for those. They'll probably still come up with one or two questions you didn't prepare for, but you'll be much more confident the next go-round. It'll very likely happen again in your career. 

[NightNerd, MSN, RN]

It sounds like you did a great job preparing, and they came in with some very tough questions to answer, especially as a new grad. (Not to mention the stage fright that probably came with being one person judged by five people!) It's impressive that you not only pushed yourself through the interview, but you had the presence of mind to ask to give them additional information about yourself and why you want to work there. The manager said you are still in the running, and I think you can trust that. It sounds like, even if the questions through you off, you left a favorable impression as someone who will do their best, recognizes where they have opportunity for growth, has clear goals, and knows their motivation for working this job. Not a bad way to end the interview. Crossing my fingers for you! Let us know what happens!

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

You did great by highlighting your accomplishments!

If you interview as a new grad again....in behavioral interviews they are looking to see that you'll be a safe practitioner. They are not testing your expertise. The guidelines are:

Stay with the patient (points off if you leave the room). Call for help, RRT if patient unstable (teamwork and delegating upwards). Assess the patient (basics, take vitals). 

Listen for prompts. If they include anything respiratory, they want you to reposition, perhaps, and maintain the airway. If the patient collapses, check for pulse and initiate basic life support if needed. 

Bonus points for critical thinking/anticipating interventions (called for Lab, anticipating transfer to higher level of care.

Best wishes ?

 

[PollywogNP, ADN, BSN, MSN, LPN, NP]

I’m pretty impressed with your certifications! How did you get ACLS, PALS, NRP & I had never heard Stable before, plus member of 2 professional organizations and you’re a new grad? That just demonstrates a high quality professional. 

[amch, BSN]

I had a similar experience. You handled it like a pro!

Good luck!