21 Things you never mention at a hospital job interview

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Whether you're a soon to be minted or experienced RN, CNA, PCT, LPN, you probably have had some of these thoughts run through your mind during an interview. Let's be honest now. Share your thoughts and feel free to add to the list. try not to take this list too seriously as not everyone behaves or thinks the same way. This is more for humor.

1 ) I hate waking up 5am to get ready for work

2 ) I don't like dressing up for interviews. You also wasted some of my gas so i can be here.

3 ) I don't enjoy wiping butt, do you?

4 ) I'm doing this for the money (mostly)

5 ) I wouldn't do this for free

6 ) I hate dealing with co-workers (most of the time)

7 ) Dealing with doctors can be a nuisance

8 ) No i won't work overnight shift, unless you're paying me time and a half

9 ) I hate being on-call

10) I can think of 10 better things i can be doing with my weekend than being here

11) No i don't really want to work on holidays but i know if i say no, then i won't get the job, so i have to say yes (with a fake smile)

12) If i won the lottery i'd go into early retirement

13) If nursing school showed me what nursing is really like early on i would of probably cut my losses early

14) I don't really care about your mission statement, save your breath

15) A 30 min. break for a 12 hour shift is unreasonable and illegal in my opinion. A 2 hour break is more feasible.

16) Patients can be the biggest drama queens and don't get me started with their family members.

17) Is the interview almost over yet, i have a party to get to

18) Don't call me if i didn't get the job, an email is better.

19) I expect a decision in 3 days, don't give me the 2 week wait period speel

20) I don't have enough experience? Then why am i even here. You're that bored aren't you.

21) What's my dream job? Being a CEO of a multi-billion dollar organization with an office the size of a house.

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Specializes in hospice.

Some of us are not doing it for the money.

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Specializes in Emergency Room, Trauma ICU.

You sound very angry and dissatisfied with your chosen career. There are a lot of us who love our job, our patients and coworkers.

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, CICU.

OP : I found it very funny and mostly true. Ignore the negative remarks.

You have to watch "if everyone was honest at job interviews" on buzzfeed.

And read real nurse jackies ideal cover letter and resume on here. Too funny.

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haha, don't get me wrong. I like some of my patients, others, let's just say, i wouldn't like to see them again lol. Nursing is a great profession, but deserves some criticism. I understand hospitals are 24/7 businesses, but employees do deserve to be treated with respect and not run over. In regards to money, if a doctor or RN was making minimum wage, then you would have a huge shortage crises, so obviously people factor in money to their career prospects, let's not kid ourselves.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

The sad part is that there are some folk out there interviewing who really do have some of those opinions and real expectations.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

As a hiring manager, my all-time fave is the candidate with very dubious qualifications that informs me that s/he already has activities planned so will be unable to work during the holidays... LOL. Or the ones that bring their mommies with them - srsly.

OP pointed out that this thread is meant to be humorous... lighten up.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Float Pool Nursing.

OP is good; I've run into an interview where I was told I didn't have the right experience before -- right there, at the beginning of the interview. Even though my resume clearly spelled out how much and what sort of experience I had for them to preview before contacting me. Thanks hiring manager for wasting all of our time!

Can anyone weigh in on why this happens?

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OP is good; I've run into an interview where I was told I didn't have the right experience before -- right there, at the beginning of the interview. Even though my resume clearly spelled out how much and what sort of experience I had for them to preview before contacting me. Thanks hiring manager for wasting all of our time!

Can anyone weigh in on why this happens?

Skimming resumes instead of reading them... I hate how many questions I'm getting about patient satisfaction. It seems hiring managers for hospitals may as well work for Burger King. How about asking me about my assessment skills, how many code blues I've participated in, what interventions I'm familiar with? "Tell me about a time a patient complimented you." *****! Am I interviewing for the janitor position??!

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Specializes in Oncology/hematology.

Very funny! And, a little bit true as well. ;)

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I have actually had people say some of those types of things during interviews -- and even more during the first week in employment while in orientation classes. I even had someone give her "30-day notice" during her first week of employment. She had accepted a similar job in another city and wanted our orientation program to train her for the other new job.

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

Where do I see myself in five years? Well I'm only interested in this gig for a year until I get into CRNA school. :snurse:

All joking aside, re: #3. I used to work for this SNF, and the managers came out of the office once laughing hysterically and saying "I think we'll pass on that one." They were interviewing a CNA who, when asked if he had questions, made a scrubbing motion over his nether regions and asked, "Do we have to do...peri care??" :eek:

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