Soooo. . . Am I Hired??

[kemkem]

okay, everyone. . . please tell me what you think this means because i am very confused.

i am a new lpn grad. i went to an ltcf today to put in an application. when i went back to the front desk to hand in my app., the secretary asked me to hold on, then placed a call to what seemed like the don, telling her that the applicant she just told her about is up front now and ready to be seen. i was a bit confused because

i was expecting it to be the routine. . "okay so we'll review your application and give you a call". nonetheless i considered myself lucky and waited to be seen. i asked the secretary if it was the don that would be coming to speak to me and she replied "no. . but she helps her sometimes". (i'm like, okaaay?? adon??)

so a woman comes out and (without introducing herself), explains to me that she will be leaving in two weeks on maternity leave. she says that she wishes i would have come sooner as they just hired two new grads but explained that they still needed someone part time in order to replace her replacement. she then tells me that i would be expected to work pt/per diem about 3-4 days a week and every other weekend and is that okay for me. i explained to her that i would be okay with that arrangement and my schedule is very flexible. she apologized, saying that she has already made the september schedule and so i wouldnt be on it until october, but in the same breath also stated that she would need to train me before she goes on leave (in two weeks).

at the end of our conversation, she asks me what number i can be reached at, asks the secretary to submit the backgraound check, tells me it will be in by tuesday and tells me goodbye! needless to say, i walked out very confused and with a million questions!

who was this woman?

was this an interview?

did i get hired?

if i did get hired, how will i be trained in the next 2 wks if im not on the schedule?

are you only considered 'on the schedule' if you have your own assignment?

please help! i need answers. i probably should have called for clarification but i absolutely hate speaking to someone shortly after i've already said goodbye and i didn't want them to think my question was a stupid one. . can anyone help?

tia

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

1. I have no idea who she could have been as I wasn't there

2. Yes, it could have been an interview...that depends on who the woman was

3, 4 and 5: unless they made you a specific job offer, I would not consider yourself hired. More than once I've been given that whole routine by an interviewer, all the way up to the inteviewer pointing out to me that "this would be your area/assignment/space" etc...and at the end, nothing ever came of it.

Until they make the offer of employment and you accept it, they haven't hired you.

You could call on Tuesday to follow-up on the background check and see if there's any additional information they need, and see what they say when you call. And if you're not sure about something, ASK them. The only stupid question is the unasked one :)

Good luck!

[Dreamer-RN]

Until they make the offer of employment and you accept it, they haven't hired you.

I agree with the above for a verbal offer. Then the verbal offer should be followed up with a written offer in the mail.

[kemkem]

Thank you Meriwhen and Dreamer-RN for responding. Altough I'm a little disappointed (I would have liked to have continued believing it was an offer!), You both are ABSOLUTELY right and I shouldn't get my hopes up unless I am actually offered something. I was pretty confused as I have only ever had 2 jobs in my life (neither of them in health care) and had VERY informal interviews for both of them, but I didn't expect that a healthcare facility would be so informal.

You cleared up ALOT for me, especially since you say you have been in similar situations before.

Thank You, and I'll keep you posted!

Wish me luck on getting this job!

[Dreamer-RN]

Best wishes with this job! Hopefully, if they intended to hire you, they will extend a formal offer.