nurse recruiters vs nurse mgrs which is proper channel?

GM2RN · May 14, 2010

There seems to be some discussion on going directly through a unit manager for a position that you're interested in, even if it's on the hospital website.
I'm in an area where there's a mega hospital system with one lousy website setup.
I was told by the nurse recruiter that she cannot take resumes/cover letters emailed to her, they must go through the website.
My concern is that my application will get lost in the sea of other apps and I'm really interested in this position, I qualify and I'd like at least a shot. I read that many times you're better off finding out who the manager is and make your presence known to them. For one thing I have no idea how I'd go about doing that. The dept I'm interested in isn't really a floor per se. They don't have a phone number that you can just get, not even sure if switchboard would be willing to give it out.
For another I don't want to step on the recruiter's toes as she is really nice but just sort of giving a standard manufactured line of they look over the apps after about a week and proceed from there. What if there are thousands of apps?
My last problem is a glitch in their system will not allow me to attach a cover letter. When I told the recruiter this she told me not to worry about it many send them in w/o cover letters! I think that's a huge mistake to not have it, esp w/my interest. I know what her email address would be, b/c it's standard throughout this system (not that she gave it to me) would that be too forward to send her my cover letter? Would it be okay b/c she'd see how serious I was about this?
HELP!!

The recruiter already said she cannot accept emailed cover letters, so it would be a mistake, in my opinion, to send one to her at this point. It would be different if she hadn't already told you that, but now it might annoy her if you did it anyway.

As for contacting the floor, call the operator and ask to be transferred to the floor you want. Before she transfers your call, ask her for the direct number in case you get disconnected. If she won't give it, just take the transfer and be prepared to ask some question of the person on the floor who answers the phone. Once you get your answer, ask for the direct number in case you have another question. After you get the number, ask the name of the manager. Then consider if you think it would be best to mail/email her your cover letter/resume, or deilver it in person while letting her get a first impression of you that way. I would say it depends on how you believe you would come across in a matter of seconds and if she would be more likely to look favorably at your resume after that.

fungez · May 14, 2010

Recruiters are bottom feeders who get their kicks off of shredding us hard working nurses' resumes. Blow them off. I don't know how they got their jobs. They must have slept their way to the top.

Seriously, this is what I do. Go on their stupid, poorly designed website and submit your application. Then, take your resume over the unit you want to work for. I usually go in my scrubs so I can say, "here I am, I am ready to work today." This also gives you a feel for the unit. If the place is boiling around like a kicked anthill and the staff is snarling at each other and crying in the med room; trust me, you don't want to work there. If the manager is a snot, you also don't want to work there. Give your resume to the nurse manager, try to make a good first impression, and follow up with a phone call. I've had good luck with this system. If I waited on the recruiter (have I mentioned how useless they are?) I'd never get a job.

Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN · May 14, 2010

Recruiters are bottom feeders who get their kicks off of shredding us hard working nurses' resumes. Blow them off. I don't know how they got their jobs. They must have slept their way to the top.
Seriously, this is what I do. Go on their stupid, poorly designed website and submit your application. Then, take your resume over the unit you want to work for. I usually go in my scrubs so I can say, "here I am, I am ready to work today." This also gives you a feel for the unit. If the place is boiling around like a kicked anthill and the staff is snarling at each other and crying in the med room; trust me, you don't want to work there. If the manager is a snot, you also don't want to work there. Give your resume to the nurse manager, try to make a good first impression, and follow up with a phone call. I've had good luck with this system. If I waited on the recruiter (have I mentioned how useless they are?) I'd never get a job.

Ha! Thanks for the laugh. After tonight I needed it. I got an email telling me that my temp internet files are corrupt so I need to delete them that's why the website acts goofy....okay, we'll see I'm too tired to fuss with it tonight. Last time it took something like an hour to submit my info. I'm glad I'm not the only one that deals w/crappy websites!

I like the idea of stopping by in person. This isn't really a unit though. It's outpatient and the average joe needs a referrel to get through the door. So I'm not sure I can just walk into the place much less hope that the manager would be there. It may be worth a shot though. I'd like to find out their name in advance though even if I walk in b/c I'd like to hand in the cover letter which does express my interest. This position has been around for awhile but they wanted more experience, now they've dropped that and I'm not sure if that's good or bad....thanks again...I like the direct approach.

Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN · May 14, 2010

Recruiters are bottom feeders who get their kicks off of shredding us hard working nurses' resumes. Blow them off. I don't know how they got their jobs. They must have slept their way to the top.
Seriously, this is what I do. Go on their stupid, poorly designed website and submit your application. Then, take your resume over the unit you want to work for. I usually go in my scrubs so I can say, "here I am, I am ready to work today." This also gives you a feel for the unit. If the place is boiling around like a kicked anthill and the staff is snarling at each other and crying in the med room; trust me, you don't want to work there. If the manager is a snot, you also don't want to work there. Give your resume to the nurse manager, try to make a good first impression, and follow up with a phone call. I've had good luck with this system. If I waited on the recruiter (have I mentioned how useless they are?) I'd never get a job.

One last question. Provided I can get a name for the manager AND the website will allow me to attach a cover letter (hey I'm feeling optimistic!) should I address the cover letter for the website to the mgr or the recruiter? Or not bother with the cover letter through the website since chances are it will get lost anyway?

I am planning to find out their name and then make an appearance with a cover letter addressed to the mgr when I try to go in person. I'm just wondering if it's worth it to try to attach one through the website if it's even possible. That's my plan anyway....we all know how what we plan goes..... Thx again

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · May 14, 2010

everyone gave very helpful advice. just one thought... if you do not get the job after doing everything that is possible, please do not take it to heart because it may not be a real job offer. specifically, in cases where it is next to impossible to contact a manager, the manager may already have someone else in mind to hire and was in no way interested in others!! for example, i have known nurse managers to post job openings for a specific friend *ahem* employee and not accept the resume or an interview offer from anyone else. these same managers do not read emails forwarded to them by hr and they do not take messages or phone calls from interested parties (i have actually stood in a former director's office and watched her delete messages without taking down any information from interested nurses). :down:

fungez · May 14, 2010

"For example, I have known nurse managers to post job openings for a specific friend *ahem* employee and not accept the resume or an interview offer from anyone else."

Me too, me too. And when I went to this clinic to apply, they told me they did not take applications, they only accepted resumes. Well la-di-da.

hotflashion, BSN, RN · May 14, 2010

Re: the attaching the cover letter problem

This is what I do: if the website doesn't allow actual for actual attachments of supporting documents in addition to a resume, then I edit my resume to contain a cover letter as the "first page" of the resume. I do the same thing if they require you to enter a text resume and there's only one box to enter it into (usually in a teeny tiny box).

I've definitely had the feeling that applying online is like stuffing my resume into a big black hole. But I do occasionally get a "thanks but no thanks" response that leads me to believe that someone actually looked at my resume. I recently applied for a job that was not a nursing job but had patient care elements. The hiring manager happened to be a nurse and she called me asking me if I was interested in a nursing job. Long story short, she hired someone else but I didn't find that out until I dropped in on her unexpectedly. I felt like I'd stalked her (I had to do some detective work to find her office in a huge medical complex) but we had a nice conversation, I think she was favorably impressed by my effort, and she said she would keep her ears and eyes open for me.

Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN · May 14, 2010

That's cute Hotflashion.

Well a little update. I did find a number, called and found out there is a director that is in charge of hiring. There's also an office manager who answered the phone, when I asked if she did the hiring, she nicely told me no, it would be so-and-so. The director.

Atl least when I asked about the hiring I didn't get fluffed off to the website I didn't mention the position specifically, this way I figure I can still drop off my letter. I'm guessing if I can attach on the website (thanks for the tips how to do) to address it to the director.

When I drop it off, will it be good enough to leave with the office manager? I seriously doubt I can just walk in there and see the director. I suppose I can ask to, but that seems a longshot.

Oh, and thanks for the reminder that it may not be a "real" position. I know how that goes. I guess I'm slightly encouraged b/c the position was there a while ago, but now it popped back up requiring less experience. If it's meant to be, it'll be...I just wanted a fair shot and not lost in a sea.

Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN · May 14, 2010

Okay further update to this little saga.

Website worked reasonably well. There's still ridiculous glitches that have things garbled and needed fixed. Some things you can't put the exact situation. Example I never graduated from the community college b/c they were just pre-reqs but it's still part of my pre nursing ed. There's a box to click "didn't graduate" but it won't let you submit it that way! You're forced to click "graduated"....whatever, like Fungez said, it's a stupid worthless website.

Still wouldn't let me attach a cover letter though. Couldn't even get a blank box to let me enter text. (I know what you mean hotflashion, I've seen that feature on more reasonable hospital websites) So I'm back to delivering it in person.

I'm tempted to email the director besides dropping one off. I realize that would be overkill, but I'm afraid if I don't get to see them, the office manager won't give it to them, but if I do that it would negate my needing to stop in and that would probably be seen as more interested in their eyes I guess. AHHH why can't getting interviews etc just go back to being simple? Never had these sorts of issues in my previous career. Do this, Don't do that...and in this lousy economy. I just want a job I can enjoy getting up and going to. I don't think that's too much to ask! I know it's possible and they aren't just an urban legend...

SandraCVRN · May 14, 2010

I would try to get the name and system e-mail address of the manager/director. I helped someone get an interview by sending an internal e-mail just giving this persons name and asking them to consider her for the position. She got an interview and the job. With the job market being so tight in some places it really helps to get your name in there. Good luck....

Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN · May 14, 2010

I would try to get the name and system e-mail address of the manager/director. I helped someone get an interview by sending an internal e-mail just giving this persons name and asking them to consider her for the position. She got an interview and the job. With the job market being so tight in some places it really helps to get your name in there. Good luck....

Thank you. then would you recommend just emailing this director? I have their name. The email address would be standard b/c of the hospital system. I almost feel it's less invasive to just drop in rather than email! It's so hard to know what to do to not blow the initial perception. But like Fungez mentioned maybe it would be a good idea to stop by to see how they function, the climate etc.... Course there's always that nerve thing that I wouldn't have to deal with over an initial email :uhoh3: And I really like my cover letter, it's one of the better ones I've ever written and it really conveys my interest and why. Ack, did I mention I wish this could all be simplier?