New grad FNP: "Where else are you interviewing?"

[NurseLauraM]

Hello fellow NPs. I am new to this site so I apologize if this post is unclear in any way.

I am writing for some advice regarding my NP interviews. I have been interviewing for about two months now in a variety of locations/settings and there is one question that I'm frequently asked, which I still feel very awkward and uncomfortable answering: "Are you interviewing anywhere else? If so, where?" For those of you who have been asked the same question, what do you say?

Let me start by telling you the real answer, which is that I have been interviewing at a wide variety of places, and have had a couple of offers. So of course, I answer "yes I am interviewing at other facilities" - easy. However, I tend to get flustered when they follow up (and they usually do) by asking me where. Here are the reasons I think I'm getting caught up on this question:

- I want to show the employer that I am hirable and have generated other interest, but also want each prospective employer to believe that they are my top choice.

- I am applying to both primary care and specialty practices (because I have a lot of interests and there are only so many opportunities for new grads). However, I am worried that this makes me appear unfocused. For example, if I tell a potential pediatric employer that I'm also interviewing in a rheumatology practice, they might think I'm not really that interested in pediatrics. Should I just keep things really vague?

- I am interviewing in a lot of different locations, and I find that a lot of places are (understandably) very concerned about employees relocating and then leaving. How can I show an employer that I am enthusiastic about their location, when I'm applying to so many different regions? Just FYI the reason I'm applying to so many different places is that I am a new grad in a highly saturated area... and since I'm single and love to travel I have no problem relocating!

Sorry if this is a dumb/obvious question! I've only had one RN job and it was the first one I interviewed for, so this has all been new to me. I appreciate any insight you can provide! Thank you very much :)

[NurseLauraM]

Let us know how it goes!! It truly feels like a game at times, doesn't it?

[Jules A, MSN]

However, because residency is not a standard option for new NPs it is our responsibility to find a position where we will be trained appropriately. I am not saying new NPs should be coddled by any means, but every new NP needs training regardless of intelligence level, quality of clinical rotations or past RN experience.

Many congratulations! You are wise and I agree we should be interviewing prospective employers rather than just hoping someone will be willing to throw us a crumb. The above quote is also true and realistic. I for one am embarrassed that it we do not graduate from the school we paid for with the skills to immediately perform to our full scope.

[WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN]

Let us know how it goes!! It truly feels like a game at times, doesn't it?

.

I got the letter of intent today. The offer from my preferred place is coming later this week.

The pay is 35k more than the outpatient offer, with orientation, more CME allowance, and better hours.

The other place wants me to hit the ground running. Training only on the EMR.

It's a no brainer.

My start date is in March. (Credentialling will take that long.)

I have to admit I did a little dance in my room and squealed a bit. I'm so frickin' excited!

[Jules A, MSN]

.

I got the letter of intent today. The offer from my preferred place is coming later this week.

The pay is 35k more than the outpatient offer, with orientation, more CME allowance, and better hours.

The other place wants me to hit the ground running. Training only on the EMR.

It's a no brainer.

My start date is in March. (Credentialling will take that long.)

I have to admit I did a little dance in my room and squealed a bit. I'm so frickin' excited!

Excellent! A $35,000 difference in pay is huge and if that offer doesn't come through I'd be hesitant to take the other one for so much less. My guess would be that if one place is paying that much more others probably will also or at least somewhere in between the two. Holy crap there are people working really hard who don't even make $35,000 in a year so it makes me suspicious that offers would be so wide spread. I always figure either the employer is uneducated about the current wage, in which case educating them is often helpful, or a cheapskate who thinks nurses are codependent twits who will work for peanuts, sadly the latter is often a successful business strategy. Good luck!