New Graduate, Only one interview, Should I Be Picky

SmilingBluEyes · May 19, 2019

New grad. One interview. Answer? NO you should not be picky.

Take any job offered; stay to learn and gain experience and THEN seek something more to your liking.

SmilingBluEyes · May 19, 2019

BTW most hospitals and other "desirable" positions/units want experienced nurses. You have none. That does not mean you won't get a job. It means you need to try harder. What do you have to offer? Have you done the homework, as to their mission statement and core values? If not, get familiar.

Also, follow up. When you apply, give it week or so and then follow up with Human Resources. (call, email, call, email)----They are literally showered with applications from folks as qualified as you and more. Contact them to see if they received your application and ask for an interview.

You can't be passive in this. You need a job. Spend as much time trying to get a job as you would full-time working. That means, no less than 40 hours a week working on gaining employment.

I do wish you the best.

JadedCPN, BSN, RN · May 19, 2019

13 minutes ago, SmilingBluEyes said:
New grad. One interview. Answer? NO you should not be picky.
Take any job offered; stay to learn and gain experience and THEN seek something more to your liking.

I completely agree.

Also, you can't be picky at all when you haven't even been offered a job for any of them, let alone only having actually interviewed at one.

You may want to seek out a professional resource who would be willing to look over your resume.

Mrsvirgomama, BSN · May 19, 2019

1 hour ago, SmilingBluEyes said:
New grad. One interview. Answer? NO you should not be picky.
Take any job offered; stay to learn and gain experience and THEN seek something more to your liking.

So, I shouldn’t interview anymore and go with what is offered?

Mrsvirgomama, BSN · May 19, 2019

52 minutes ago, JadedCPN said:
I completely agree.
Also, you can't be picky at all when you haven't even been offered a job for any of them, let alone only having actually interviewed at one.
You may want to seek out a professional resource who would be willing to look over your resume.

My resume has been reviewed and re-reviewed. The few people I know getting jobs are staying with their hospital/facility as they hire within which is easier or getting job offers from their clinical unit in their graduating semester.

brownbook · May 19, 2019

1 hour ago, Mrsvirgomama said:
So, I shouldn’t interview anymore and go with what is offered?

Re-read what SmilingBlueEyes posted about following up after you apply with human resources, call, email, call, email. You did email the OB manager twice, now call her. Also email and call human resources at the same facility. It's possible the manager passed your information on to human resources and they are slow or inefficient.

The longer you go without working the worse your resume looks.

If you get a solid offer from a decent unit, decent pay, etc. take it.

You may find you actually like some unit you "feel eh" about. And conversely get a job in OB and find out it's not as great as you thought it would be.

Kallie3006, ADN · May 20, 2019

I would call the unit manager. Be short and sweet, " Ms. OB, I was just following up with my email to schedule a shadowing shift. I know you are extremely busy but I was wondering if I could schedule that?" Show interest but don't be wordy. If you can't get her by phone email her again. If you know people on that unit see if they can put a bug in her ear.

Keep applying and keep interviewing, don't just stop and put you future on hold for something that you do not know. You will learn a lot as a new grad on any unit and those skills will make you marketable in the long run. This will also get your foot in the door and you may have an opportunity to transfer to a different department down the road.

Google nursing interview questions and review those. Think of how you would respond and, like Smilingblueyes said, review the hospital's core values and mission statement. Have someone mock interview with those questions. You have to learn to sell yourself.

Best of luck!

RNperdiem, RN · May 20, 2019

Until you have firm job offers, there is nothing to be picky about.

ruby_jane, BSN, RN · May 20, 2019

22 hours ago, Mrsvirgomama said:
So, I shouldn’t interview anymore and go with what is offered?

Unless you see something on the unit that makes you believe that it's an unsafe place, yes. Go with what is offered, get trained up, and be the best nurse that you can be.

frenchtoastwaffles, BSN, RN · May 21, 2019

On 5/19/2019 at 2:07 PM, Mrsvirgomama said:
Advice needed. I graduated from my LPN to RN program and have been looking for jobs. I was asked to tour a unit with the charge nurse at the career fair and then told by the OB manager to email her about shadowing. They don't do it for everyone, and this is a really good sign according to the charge nurse. I emailed, and nothing and I emailed her a week ago. This is the unit would be my dream job.
I interviewed and shadowed on MPCU this week. I haven't followed up yet because I was waiting to hear back from the OB manager. I feel eh about MPCU, but I know I would learn a lot, use my skills and the unit and the unit manager seems nice (mentioned she wants people to stay at least 2 years). The person I shadowed graduated from the same school, the same program just one year ago and she doing great on the unit. Also, the recruiter gave me the benefits summary but nothing about pay.
This is the only interview + shadow from all the jobs I have applied. I feel like I should be getting more interviews (and I have applied for quite a few jobs for a few weeks), but at the same time, I do not want to let my "what I think I should" get in the way of what is right for me if that makes sense. Should I go for it even though it is the only one?

I would follow up on the MPCU position. It doesn't look like you have an offer yet and if you want one then you have to express interest and make the ask. Follow up with the OB folks, if you don't hear back, then don't let another great opportunity slip away in hopes of "what if". Nursing is a field of taking opportunities where they come, and they're not always where you thought you wanted to be. More often than not, you learn a lot wherever you go and may even come to realize that what you thought you wanted was never the fit that you thought it would be. Before nursing school I swore up and down that I wanted to go into L&D and become a CNMW. That couldn't be further from what I want after working as a nurse. Take the opportunities where they come, and learn from them. Don't let it slip away if it's the only lead you have right now.

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · May 21, 2019

It doesn't even sound like you have a firm offer at all yet. Has HR actually offered you a position? If so, I'd suggest taking it. The job market where a new grad can afford to be picky is a rare beast.