Open houses...Help!

[SAHMStudent]

Okay, so I'm pretty social, and can talk to anyone, about anything. I am fine in any social situation. I have never attended a professional open house, and am nervous. I am a new grad, and I really want a job- especially with this hospital. Who do I zero in on? What do I say?

What do I NOT say? How many copies of my resume?

And do I have the cajones to walk down the hall and find the ER manager and hand her my resume if she is there? And if she's not there, do I leave it- and trust it will get into her hands? Or is that gauche and incorrect?

Help!

[deschutes]

If the hospital is having an open house, that generally means they need nurses. Definitely take your resume, take a unit tour if they offer one. Okay to make contact with nurse manager as well, that way they can put a face with a resume. Sometimes resumes and applications never seem to get past the HR folks.

[Zookeeper3]

When we hold an open house, there are tables set up in a large conference room. Each hiring unit has a table. I expect prospective hires to be dressed to interview on the spot, have a resume in hand with all the contact numbers on it... no I didn't bring a phone book .

Come prepared to interview. I will be watching everyone. People that hit every single table for a "job" isn't what I'm looking for. I watch for selective people that know what they want (or think they have an idea anyway of not more than three areas) and ask me questions. I never hire someone that just says "yes" to everything .

When I'm grilled, politely by a prospective employee, I'm thinking... "this is someone trying to find the right ""fit"" for them, it's important to them that their choice is a good one. Because I'm thinking, hiring this person has to be the right fit for us, it must be a good choice. The person asking questions like.... how long is orientation, what is in place to mentor new grads, what is your retention rate, what shift will I be hired in (and if it's not my preference, generally how long is the wait to change it?) Has the hospital applied for magnet status? And my personal favorite, honestly... "I'm concerned that this hospital has an open house twice a year, what is being done to retain new nurses and can I follow a nurse in this area for four hours to ensure this is a good match".

Now the person that even asks a few of those questions, is looking at finding the right home, with the right mix of people to practice with. THAT gets an interview on the spot, and if background checks are aok, it gets a hire.

I've just given you the insider info... now go out there and try to get the area you want:D good luck! Wish you the best.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

copy resume and get it in as many hands as possible. Wear conservative business attire but I would forego high heels. Smile a lot.

GOOD LUCK