I had previously shadowed and interviewed on a unit I would really LOVE to work on, about 5 or 6 months ago. Unfortunately I totally bombed the interview and it was my own fault for not preparing well. I was going through the buying and selling process on a home and my focus was on that, to the point that I just could not get my mind off of the worry.
They have posted another position in that same unit and I am wondering if I should bother applying? Should I just explain the situation in my cover letter? Or just write a normal cover letter and pretend it didn't happen, although of course I know they will know. I am just wondering if I should bother since they may not be willing to give me a second chance. ( I know I bombed the interview, because the shadow was before that and it went wonderful. I just stumbled on some of the behavioral type questions because my mind was so preoccupied)!
how do you know you bombed the interview? maybe you just think you did there may have been a more qualified candidate that they already had their sights set on and thats why you didnt get hired! No harm in trying again!
Personally, I would recommend addressing it (VERY carefully) in your cover letter. I once hired someone who applied a 2nd time after they had been rejected the first time. That first time, she had been #1 on the "alternate" list and I had wanted to hire her, but didn't have the position available. The 2nd time she applied, she mentioned it right up front and asked for a 2nd chance to be considered. I gave her a 2nd interview and was impressed with how she discussed the situation -- and gave her the job.
Don't make excuses. Don't assume that you bombed the interview. You may have been wanted -- just not their #1 choice that month. Show persistence, genuine interest, and a willingness to learn. Good luck.
It won't hurt to reapply. Though I would steer clear of mentioning the last interview, it shouldn't have any bearing on the current position and could knock you out of the running before you even get the chance to get back to the interview stage. I personally know a few nurses that I used to work with that applied for every open position in the hospital, even ones on the same unit and were eventually hired. Sometimes persistence can pay off, so go for it if you want the job. After all, you'll certainly never get it if you don't at least try.
I agree: I'd reapply, but leave the excuses out of it.
Odds are they probably won't remember you from the first time, or remember less about you than you think. I had something similar happen, and I got hired the second time around. Mind you, I'm not asking how much--if anything--they remember from the first time they encountered me. I don't know if they even remember I applied once before in the first place! But they're happy enough with me now, so that's all that matters. :)
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Personally, I would not send a cover letter of excuses about my performance in a past interview. YMMV, but that doesn't seem appropriate to me. Write a good cover letter/resume and send it in. What's the hurt in trying? The worse they can do is not interview you and that will definitely happen if you don't try. Of course, if they do schedule an interview, you will prepare for it, including preparing for what you might say if the topic of your last interview arises. (There's a possibility it wasn't as bad as you think, btw.) The good thing is you know what kinds of questions they will be asking and therefore can prepare very well.
I agree -- a cover letter of excuses is a bad idea. No harm in applying for the job again . . . it could be that the interview didn't go as badly as you thought. Perhaps they didn't hire you because they hired someone with more experience or because one of their own CNAs just graduated from nursing school and they hired her. You'll know what kinds of questions to prepare for this time.
anchorRN, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN
279 Posts
how do you know you bombed the interview? maybe you just think you did
there may have been a more qualified candidate that they already had their sights set on and thats why you didnt get hired! No harm in trying again!