Really need advice about a job interview.

GARY.RN · Jul 18, 2008

If the recruiter introduced you to the manager you at least are likely in the mix of things to get hired. If the recruiter felt as though you didn't have what it takes you likely would not have been introduced to the manager.

As I've said on this forum before, I always follow up an interview the next day with a "thank you" phone call or fax at which time I also make it clear to the recruiter or whoever that I feel I'd be a good fit for the position I was interviewed for. I also make sure my prospective employer does not forget who I am. Never think you are "bothering" an employer or manager, that's what they get paid for.

On the down side if you encountered a recruiter or manager who didn't bother with much input during the interview process I'd have to wonder whether or not I wanted to work there much less care whether or not they wanted to hire me. Most managers during an interview will ask you questions about your abilities or work history and give you a tour of the unit.

In any case good luck!

Just don't let your prospective employer forget who you are. Call them every few days to inquire about a decision! And if you can only leave a voice mail leave several!

GARY.RN · Jul 18, 2008

I just re-read your post and you mentioned you won't know anything for two weeks. Also you should relax, it may have been a bad day for the manager and maybe she wasn't up to an interview. You also mentioned she gave you a tour...that's a real plus in your favor.

Personally, I'd use the two weeks to:

1) Call the nurse manager and tell her you feel you'd be a great fit for this job. If she won't answer her phone leave her several voice mails over the two weeks. I would think a call today or soon then one more follow up call about 3 days before the end of the two weeks would be sufficient to make sure that manager does not forget who you are.

Oh, also, in order to speak with the nurse manager and to get around HR is I call the hospital and ask for the floor where the manager works then when the nurses station picks up I ask for the nurse manager who interviewed me. Most times it works. I know at a number of hospitals you have a hard time getting through to Human Resources and then even if you do you don't get to speak with the nurse manager.

2) Continue to look for employment at other facilities (that way if this position doesn't come open you're already in the process of getting hired somewhere).

Good luck and let me know how you did if you want either open forum or private message.

Gary

SweetTeaRN, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2008

As I've said on this forum before, I always follow up an interview the next day with a "thank you" phone call or fax at which time I also make it clear to the recruiter or whoever that I feel I'd be a good fit for the position I was interviewed for. I also make sure my prospective employer does not forget who I am. Never think you are "bothering" an employer or manager, that's what they get paid for.

I agree with this. Although personally, I would send a thank-you note in the mail, including why you liked the facility, why you want to work in that area, why you think you would be a great fit for the unit. That is what I did, and then I followed up afterwards with a phone call to my interviewer (like 2 days after I sent the thank you). Mailed thank-yous (on good stationery!) are standard in the business world. Hope you get the job!

HappyPediRN · Jul 19, 2008

Thank you both for your advice. Yesterday morning I sent out a thank you email since all of my correspondence with the nurse manager has been via email. Should I follow it up with another paper one? If so, would it be weird to talk about why my skills are a good match if we didn't talk about it in the interview?

pupnurse · Jul 19, 2008

Thank you both for your advice. Yesterday morning I sent out a thank you email since all of my correspondence with the nurse manager has been via email. Should I follow it up with another paper one? If so, would it be weird to talk about why my skills are a good match if we didn't talk about it in the interview?

Definitely, write that you enjoyed the tour, and mention one specific thing that you noticed on the unit, and how your skills would match the unit, be very enthusiastic about why you want to work there.

During my interview, my manager was wondering if I'll get my IP in time. I sent her an email the next day stating that I had spoken with the BON and they had assured me that I should get it a few days after I graduate. So if there's something specific that she mentioned, you could answer that. I also sent a written Thank you note the day after my interview. And the email 2 days later.

Good luck

**LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM** · Jul 19, 2008

My first and only interview was almost exactly like yours--I had a brief interview with Nurse Recruitment in which the recruiter asked (with a bored look), "So why did you go into nursing?" and then probably didn't listen to a word I said. She then asked me what areas I was interested in, and when I told her med/surg, she said that they hadn't done inventory on their medical units yet to see how many jobs were available, but they had on surgery, and there was one unit with spots. Then she pounced on how I wanted to be a midwife eventually, and thought I should try L&D, even though that's not what I want. Finally, I was just like, "So, can I interview on the surgical floor that actually has jobs open?" She was like, "Oh, yeah, that's fine if you want to." I went the next day to interview with the nurse manager. She was incredibly nice, gave me a tour of the unit, answered all of my questions, and let me speak to a nurse on the unit privately, but again, really didn't ask me a lot of questions herself. She did, however, make me feel very comfortable. I sent her a thank-you e-mail that day, and was offered the job 4 days later. I took it, and I'm looking forward to starting, but the interview process was just so different than I had expected! My advice to you is to hang in there, it sounds like you did all the right things, and not to get discouraged because of the lack of formality in the interview.