New Grad applicant walked on a unit today...

Nurses Job Hunt

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I'm a new grad RN-ADN and in attempt to stand out from the gazillion applicants for the 1 new grad position, I walked on to a unit in attempt to simply introduce myself to the manager. I just wanted 2 seconds of her time. I completely understand how swamped with work they are, but I didn't even get those 2 seconds. All I wanted was to introduce myself, possibly hand over a resume, and merely express my interest in the position and hospital. That's all and I would walk away and she could throw my resume away the second I walked away if she wanted, but at least I tried my very best. Well that's what I was thinking may happen. I was trying to go the "extra mile" and have her put a face to the name.

Instead, her door opened and she said she was in the middle of something and that if I wanted to schedule something I should have called then the door was literally shut on my face. Now I completely understand that in general if you want to set up a meeting, then you call and schedule, but in reality, what were the chances of me calling and her saying "sure come in on this day at this time" I doubt it. She seemed irritated with me just knocking on her door! Either way, I feel cut down in size after it took so much for me to muster up the courage to go through with it.

I have heard of success stories where new grads get at least an interview from doing this and it is even on some of the articles posted here telling us how to get our first position, but today I feel discouraged to even try that again.

What are your thoughts?

Specializes in Forensic Psych.

The way I see it, by "breaking the mold" you're taking a gamble. Some people like the mold. Some people like mold breakers.

You gambled and lost. You can either try again and hope you impress someone with your go-getter attitude or try the traditional route, but you can't fault the manager for not liking your tactics. HR exists for a reason.

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My advice is to get to know the recruiters! They are the gate keepers and will get you access to the managers. Trust me, this is the best way to get an interview! You can walk in and talk to them or call and make an appointment. Once you meet them you can ask how the managers feel about you going to the units. Some love this and look at it as determination. Others HATE it, so you have to be careful. Sorry you had such a bad experience. Don't take it personally, just imagine how many people she has probably had drop in on her. This is hard because the managers really depend on the recruiters to weed people out and send them the best. Don't give up and don't lose your determination. Just re-focus it. Start getting in touch with the recruiters. Email the managers, if you can get a hold of their email addresses OR call them. This is much less aggresive and still shows your determination.

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Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.
I've worked in many an office, but missed the rule about the closed door, I guess. And yes, rudeness hurts. That is why it is not okay, no matter how important and valuable your time is, no matter how stressed you are by the requirements of your lofty position. If applicants for jobs were truly valued (and not a dime a dozen), that manager might have been whistling a different tune.

I never said it was a rule I said it had been my experience. Office work is not the same as nursing. My experience has been that the manager usually keeps the door open unless they are dealing with something and can't be disturbed. I'd wager this is more the rule than the exception. Also, we can't skewer the manager because we don't really know what happened...we weren't there. She could have been dealing with something very difficult or sensitive that had nothing to do with her "lofty position", We don't know. The OP's perception of the situation might be a little skewed because she was hoping to have a positive experience but was shot down. We can't be sure of the manager's intent, the tone or if, in fact, the door really was shut rudely in her face. That's how the OP feels it happened and that is her reality but we weren't there. The only thing we can do is offer encouragement to the OP to keep trying.

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Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.
Following the kindness road further, maybe you could send a note to the manager saying you are very sorry for arriving at her door unannounced without an appointment, you now realize how misguided it was, how annoying those interruptions would be, and you greatly regret any inconvenience you caused. (No groveling and no pandering, though.:))

This is a great idea.

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I am shocked instructors would recommend this. I have known a few managers who are warm, sweet people and they would make a few seconds no matter what to be polite. But most nurse managers don't get to their lofty perches by displaying warm, sweet personalities. If someone did that with my current nurse manager, she would be abrupt and dismissive, and then she'd complain to the staff nurses about it. As she did when she got a cold call via phone a couple of days ago.

And this is the shame and sadness of the caring, "profession" of nursing. My husband has been in top tier management for a long time. And he is pretty much all about strong work ethic and all about business. I will tell you right now, there is NO WAY he would have treated someone like that. What makes it more ironic and sad is that he is in the field of often cold-hearted business. While I understand that healthcare is still a business, it's supposed to be a CARING business.

No, that mger doesn't get a pass necessarily, unless she is on the phone calling for an emergency evacuation for a fire--in which case, she didn't even manage to yell "fire" to the OP as she slammed her door shut on her. Wow

Come on people. Really?

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Specializes in OR.
You were completely out of line. That might work if you're looking for a job at Wendy's or even Starbuck's, but it won't work in post professional areas.

sheesh...thats rough. A little kindness can go a long way....

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Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.

I bet your husband, being a successful manager, gets both sides of a story before passing judgment.

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Botox Baby, Good for you. I admire your go-getter attitude. I've heard many success stories using the method that you tried. In this economy and with so many RN's, you simply have to differentiate yourself amongst hundreds of applicants. Do you know anyone at the facilities you are applying? If so, an internal referral may do wonders. I'm routing for you, you sound like you're going to be a great nurse. Best of luck.

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Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..

If it was any other kind of job, you could walk in and introduce yourself, and hand them your resume and/or application. This is a good job-hunting technique. Why shouldn't this be ok for a nurse or new grad seeking a position? If the manager was busy they could just say so but be a little gracious about it if possible.

I understand that it might be the wrong time, but, it might be the RIGHT time elsewhere.

I wouldn't have gone to the door to the office though, I would have gone to the nurses' station and asked to see the manager. Cuz you never know what you are interrupting - a performance eval, a disciplinary action, who knows?

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

As a former nurse manager and currently a hiring manager in another field, I would like to present a different perspective. I agree with those who believe that the advice to knock on a manager's door was ill-advised, but for a different reason.

Most unit managers have their offices on the patient care floor they manage. Patient care areas of hospitals are NOT public areas. People who access them should have a necessary reason for being there: family members, staff, clergy, students, etc. A job seeker has absolutely no business on a patient care floor without the express invitation and permission of the staff. To be there otherwise is to interfere in the business of the unit, and to possibly compromise patient confidentiality as well as security.

In some hospitals, there are added security measures on certain units such as OB, peds, psych, and units which care for other vulnerable patients such as the elderly or developmentally disabled. In those areas, one might very well find him/herself in the custody of security as the result of an unannounced and unapproved visit. My current field is somewhat less "privacy sensitive" than healthcare, but if a "visitor" ventured past the public areas of our building and showed up unannounced at my office door, s/he would be promptly escorted from the premises with a notation of "no interview/no hire."

Poor judgement, poor manners and imposing on others are no way to endear oneself to a future employer.

On the other hand, I welcome the opportunity to speak to interested individuals who contact me thru appropriate channels, by phone, e-mail, or by asking the receptionist for an appointment.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

The reality is that this is a chance that you have to take whenever you decide to storm the Bastille: not every NM may be thrilled to see an unexpected job applicant at the door. It could be for one of many reasons, from she was being very busy, to her having a bad day, to you being the 10th new grad that walked in this week.

As for whether it was the "right" thing to do...I'm not going to pass judgment on that especially as I've done it myself when I was a new grad. It does show initiative, puts faces to names and sometimes results in a job. But it also is a brazen attempt to circumvent a facility's hiring procedures, it can raise people's ire and often result in rejection. Also, for every NM that says it's the wrong thing to do, another NM hires someone who did it. So who knows?

All you can do is pick up and keep going. Don't let this rejection hold you back. Best of luck.

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I am shocked instructors would recommend this. I have known a few managers who are warm, sweet people and they would make a few seconds no matter what to be polite. But most nurse managers don't get to their lofty perches by displaying warm, sweet personalities. If someone did that with my current nurse manager, she would be abrupt and dismissive, and then she'd complain to the staff nurses about it. As she did when she got a cold call via phone a couple of days ago.

Is this called Winning By Intimidation? I thought we gave up that leadership style before the new millennium. (Transformational leadership, anyone?) Why does it require gruffness and insensitivity to be a manager? I am curious about this. Despite being abrupt and dismissive, is she a good manager? Do these behaviors make her more effective and valuable as a manager? I'm not being flippant, I really want to understand this... Thanks! (I'm getting a picture of some of our business so-called heroes, the likes of Donald Trump, and other swaggering bullies...Sorry, Donald, I don't really know you... just a prejudiced view I got from somewhere...:).. someone who takes delight in yelling, "you're fired!" ?) Sorry I got off the topic...

To the OP -- I'll bet you remember this incident when it comes your turn to manage or to greet the newbie who just blundered onto your unit. A smile takes only 1 second, a handshake and a "thank you for the resume, I'll look it over," takes less than a minute. It's a shame to be too busy to be kind.

I also don't understand the poster who assumes everyone should know that a hospital unit is private, for families and friends only. If that is the case, the entrances should be clearly posted as such, or security personnel available to instruct the uninitiated. And for a would-be applicant to be labeled "no interview/no hire" for an innocent mistake? That's cold.

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