Rejected by Mayo

All my classmates who interviewed were offered a job back in 2007 - I wasn't; I had the degree, the qualifications, the community & school involvement - I was 8 months pregnant, in my 30s, and was extremely disappointed - but I'm at a place now that I enjoy, a Magnet hospital, have good opportunities, and am happy... still, it was not a good feeling to be rejected, especially when 'she' and 'he' got offered the jobs, you know? I did apply for a few positions, and at my interview, actually was taken to a unit I hadn't applied at, for a shift and hour range I didn't apply for... but I hate to think that if I didn't pass that interview, that I am banned for life... good luck with your hunt!

Just after completing my BSN, I interviewed at the NICU where I had done my preceptorship. I felt like I had nailed the interview, and was shocked, absolutely SHOCKED, when I was not offered the job.

I called and asked for feedback. They told me that I had interviewed well and that I was considered a "top candidate", but that they simply did not have enough open positions to make offers to everyone that had interviewed well. That STILL didn't answer the question of why some of the other "top candidates" were chosen over me for the openings they did have, but this is a question that they couldn't really answer for me, without telling me exactly who they had hired and why -- which of course they can't do. I think the reality is that these days, there are so many applicants for every job opening that they truly do have to reject candidates who would be great if hired, but they just can't hire them all.

In my case, it probably worked out for the best. The position I didn't get would have been 12 hour nights, which I would have had a very hard time making work for me, in a unit where it could take many years to get onto day shift. Instead I got an evening shift position in peds (which I had decided was my first choice anyway, much as I love NICU), and was able to switch to day shift (my preferred shift) in just a year. (I've now moved on to public health, but that's another story).

I'm sorry you didn't get the job, but I really don't think you should take it too personally. Good luck in your job search!

Sorry that happened. You can never know all the factors involved. Just dust yourself off and move on. You can always try again. Best of luck!

Maybe someday I will feel this was a blessing however it would be nice to know exactly what went wrong so I could fix it.

It is nearly impossible to not beat myself up and wonder what I could have done better to get this position. It was an hour drive one way, That was the only negative aspect. Thanks to all that are shering your experiences.

I can tell you from experience from working on a hiring committee, that sometimes positions are typically reserved for people who are already employed within the company first. With that being said, I can remember times when I was rejected by a former hospital I worked for when I was in nursing school. While I was in school I was working as a PCT, and then I applied for a nurse extern position, which means you get a jump start by being able to do nursing duties under a licensed nurse, but get paid less, while you are still a student. Well, I got rejected on my own unit. It hit me so hard, that I quit that job and worked at a different hospital as a PCT as I finished up my last year of nursing school. Rejection really hurts when it comes to your job, especially in nursing; more so than any other job I've had. But, that rejection has pushed me to better places and better opportunities. I moved to a place where I had no friends and never been. Started off on the floor as a Med-Surg Nurse, and then transferred to the Surgical-Trauma ICU. I work at a very well Magnet teaching hospital. Currently working on my BSN. As I look back, I truly believe that if I had never been rejected, I would of stayed at that mediocre hospital, probably unhappy, in some small town Arizona. Sometimes, rejection will lead to something greater.

To tell you the truth, I would never want to work at a Mayo Clinic anyways. Who wants to wear white to work? On top of that, you'll have to really push the costumer service, because that's the Mayo way.

Try to look at it this way: this obviously wasn't the right place for you at this time. We always feel there should be something we can fix when in reality it's just the way the cards fall. Keep plugging away and look for the open window since this door is closed for now. Chin up!

it is nearly impossible to not beat myself up and wonder what i could have done better to get this position. it was an hour drive one way, that was the only negative aspect.

you may get hired by mayo next time. just keep applying and working toward your critical care goals. if it makes you feel better, most understand having to travel to an interview. in fact, i have to fly to an interview and will miss out on a conference i already paid for because of the interview. i hope to get the job after i have put in this kind of effort and money, but i know that there is no guarantee with the quality of candidates i will compete with for the position. gl!

I think there are many variables that can go into the reason someone was selected and you were not. Age may have been one of them. It may have not. As others have mentioned, there may have been internal candidates. Maybe the interviewers felt a better connection with some other candidates. ...maybe it was based on something those candidates said. Maybe it was based on the candidates' ages. Maybe it was based on those candidates not being as strong as you, i.e., less threatening to the interviewers' jobs or maybe they felt those candidates would be more complacent in their jobs or even more competent.

Better to try to learn from the interview and move forward. Keep applying --to Mayo and to other places.