Too Pushy? Telephone interview (Long)

[LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN]

Lttle background before my question:

One of the hospitals in my area is offering a new grad internship program 18 wks, 25% classroom/sim lab, the rest on the unit with a preceptor.

I had applied and put a lot of effort into my essay, had 5 great references (min 2)

So shortly after the due date, a lot of my fellow nursing student friends got calls for a group interivew, I was never called.

They told everyone who went to the group interview that they were interviewing everyone who filled out the application correctly, that 700+ applied and that they were interivewing 546 for about 50 intern spots.

So I knew it was a long shot, but I was never called to the group interview and I knew I had filled out the application correctly.

My friends and I went over it, I had everything in the correct order, no bends, staples...

So I was heart broken not getting a group interivew:crying2:

Fast foreward 3 weeks and I get 2 emails from the company, one email is a detailed listing of all the units within the hospital system who are accepting new grads and to select my top 2 choices of units and send it back to HR.

The second email was information regarding a phone interivew, that Unit Managers will be making phone calls for the next 3 days to have a 15 min interview with you and then after those they would make their selections on who they wanted to see in person

My other friends who got called to the group interviews did not get emails about a phone interview.

So today is the last day that the email said that the unit managers would be conducting phone interivews, they were supposed to call between 8am-5pm

Well it is now after 5pm and I never got a phone call:crying2:

I keep thinking well maybe the emails were a mistake when they sent it to me, but application still remains active when other friends their applications are now closed. Plus when I sent in my unit selections I was so excited I forgot to put it in as an attachment so HR contacted me to resend it in to keep with my packet.

So how soon should I wait before I contact HR to say I didn't get a phone interview, should I give the managers a couple of more days to call?

The emails went out the same day that the managers were supposed to call so I am thinking that they want to review the applicants who are interested in their units before they start doing the phone interivews.

I want this job really bad, this is about the only place hirring new grads in my area, I don't want to appear pushy, but at the same time I know I need to show that I am eager to work, but I know that this is a huge hospital system and things always are a little slow:rolleyes:

The soonest that I would be able to call them would be after 4pm on Monday, as I am in a PALS class during the bussiness day

What should I do:confused::confused:

[CNL2B]

I would definitely call. It sounds like your application got lost in the shuffle to me -- misplacing 1 of 700 applications certainly wouldn't be unheard of. If you got an email from them, you obviously made some sort of cut somewhere. It is too tight of a market not to try to find out where things are at.

[Tina, RN]

I agree... Call them first thing on Monday morning. Good luck!! :)

[LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN]

Thank You for your quick responses, I just sent an email to the HR coordinator asking her if they are still conducting interivews after 7/9, and that I was never called.

I am just so anxious,

this is the only glimmer of hope I have for a job, been applying since March, graduated in June, passed NCLEX yesterday.

Been applying to the jails, juvenile detenion centers, state mental hospital, LTC, shot clinics......sigh.......my own hospital who I have worked at for 3 years isn't interested, "even though we have heard wonderful things about you during your practicum"

The other hospital system in the area requires at least 1year experience

[LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN]

okay she already responded:up:.... the manager who is supposed to interivew me, she hasn't been able to get a hold of yet as he has been out of the office and they will interivew me on Monday......whew........just so stressed

Now does anyone have any adivce for a phone interivew? Should last approximatley 15 min

[onetiredmomma]

First, congrats on passing NCLEX!

As far as the telephone interview: make sure you have your resume and any certificates (CPR, PS, etc) in front of you for reference. Make sure you take time to answer questions fully, take a deep breath, and if you don' understand the question ask for clarification.

Best of luck!

[chloecatrn]

First, don't forget to smile while you're talking. I'm not kidding... you can definitely hear the difference in your voice if you're smiling as you talk. Sit in a quiet room, with everything you could need in front of you. A pp mentioned your certifications and your resume. This is excellent advice. Also, have your references' names and phone numbers in case the manager would like them. When you start to get nervous, picture something that makes you happy. Make sure you have the ringer on the phone on. Do NOT walk away from the phone from about five minutes before your scheduled interview time on. If, for some reason, you would miss the phone call, call back immediately and apologize.

Research what you can about the hospital and the unit.

Figure out how best to sell yourself. Expect to be asked the cliched questions:

What are your strengths? Weaknesses?

Tell me about a time that you provided excellent patient care and how you did it.

You may be given a patient assignment and asked to prioritize the patient load.

You may also be given a scenario and asked what you would do if this was your patient and this was occurring.

What distinguishes you from the other candidates that are applying for this position?

Why would you be a good fit for us? (This is why it's important to at least know something about the hospital and, if at all possible, the unit. The more you know, the more you can tailor it to the unit specifically. If not, generic statements work, but specifics are always good.)

Why do you want to work here and not somewhere else? (Again, the more you know about the hospital and the unit, the better. Being able to say something like, "Your commitment to ensuring that nurse/patient ratios never exceed x make me feel very comfortable as a new nurse. I feel that this will be an excellent learning environment for me, and that I will be able to dedicate myself to patient care and education," makes you stand out.)

If you have time to ask questions (If not, these are good for a follow up in-person interview!)

Ask about the unit model: primary vs. team nursing.

What's the nurse to patient ratio?

How many preceptors can you expect to be assigned? (I know one new grad who had upwards of 4!)

How is orientation structured? What would your patient load start like and then increase to?

When would my performance be evaluated? Will I have an opportunity to receive feedback during my orientation period as well as at the end?

Hope this helps! Good luck on Monday!

[Otessa, BSN, RN]

Good luck on Monday!!!!

[TickyRN]

Good luck

[UCHOZME]

Best of luck nurse!

[caliotter3]

The suspense started to kill me too reading your posts, now I'm really rooting for you! Good luck!

[girliegirlRN]

Now we're all wondering how the interview goes! Keep up posted! Good Luck!