Post-Interview - Long Post

[trimeduRN, BSN]

I've had 3 interviews in the past month. The first interview was for a transplant unit, the initial interview with the manager was great. This hospital does peer interviews, the second interview was terrible. I had extreme insomnia the night before and couldnt sleep, I was delirious, didnt know what I was saying, I knew I didnt have the job when I walked out. It only lasted 10 minutes.

My second interview was on an Oncology unit. That interview seemed to go well, she asked if I had any questions, I asked a couple. But it seemed like I wasnt asking what she wanted me to. But at the end of the interview, she told me that they would be in touch to set up the peer interviews, that was over a week ago, so I am thinking they arent going to choose me. That interview lasted about 35-40 minutes. I did send a thank you letter, but still not response.

I had an interview this past Friday for a stepdown PICU position. This interview went extremely different than the others. The interviewer talked a lot, but I made sure to get information in. She interviewed me for a while asking about my background, but mainly telling explaining how the unit will be set up, how the orientation will go, nurse:patient ratio, staffing,ect; and then we went to tour the unit. After touring the unit, we came back and talked some more, she asked how I deal with dying children, how to handle the family, ect. She told me she wasnt sure what my pay would be since I wasnt a new grad but HR would let me know all of that, she asked when I could start and told me the 2 starting dates in April and that she was fine with me starting very soon since she know I havent been working in the past month. She had me sign the application, copied my BLS card and said that she had a few more applicants to interview I should hear something no later than Friday, but most likely before that. When I left, I looked at my clock and had been in that interview for 1.5hrs. Im not sure if thats a good thing or not. She kept talking to me like I already had the job, but then said if I was chosen. I know that job offers must come from HR. I feel I got the job because the interview seemed to be the best I've ever had. But I don't want to get my hopes up too high.

I also have another interview scheduled this week for a L&D position that I must get ready for. Can anyone give me some insight or advice on how this last interview seemed it went. I would say it went great, but I have also heard that long interviews weren't always a good thing.

Any input would be great.

Thanks,

Shawn

[nursel56]

I would agree that 1.5 hours is a long time for an interview, tour of the unit also a good sign. . .if she was actively engaged in talking to you and showing you around, then the interview was not too long. If you had cut it shorter yourself, that would probably have cost you the job.

I had a really great interview at one time also, in fact it sounds a lot like yours with the PICU. Got real close but her manager nixed it- not enough recent experience. It's a good idea to rein in your expectations and remain on an even keel.

Hope it works out for you, hope you get some more replies, also!