No reply from recruiter

[Tink87, BSN, LPN, RN]

As I wrote in my last post, I took a job in a trauma ICU a few months ago but realized it just isn't for me. I truly want to go back to l&d, the area I worked in as a new grad (at a different hospital). I met with nurse recruitment as well as my manager and got the okay to apply to the birth center, as that have a position posted right now. At my hospital, they have you shadow for 4 hours before your interview. I emailed the recruiter my updated resume as well as available shadow dates as she told me to do. That was Thursday of last week. It is now Tuesday and I have heard nothing, not even an acknowledgement of the information I sent her.

In my previous experience with the hospital and other recruiters in the office, they generally respond quickly and get a shadow set up. I'm frustrated because I really want to get in there, at least to interview. I know these are highly desired positions. I would love to return to my previous l&d job at the other hospital but I currently have a 5 year service commitment due to some benefits I used that I can't afford to pay back.

So, what would you do with an unresponsive recruiter? The previous available days I gave her for shadowing have passed so I sent you her new dates this morning. I just want some acknowledgement of the process, you know? Am I just being too impatient?

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

Yes, you are being too impatient. It hasn't even been a week and who knows how many others are asking for the same consideration you are, who might be on vacation, who has to review the application etc. I would think there would be a limit to how many people are allowed to shadow and to the timeframe in which they let them do it, which means a likely narrow window of opportunity and a very stringent criteria for selection.

Pick up the phone and call the recruiter to see if there are any updates, but recognize that this is likely going to require you to apply more than once to that department. Your anxiety is understandable but going to make you nuts in the end if you have unrealistic expectations.