Trying to figure out how the interview went!!! Help -- Long post

[trimeduRN, BSN]

I posted this on another forum, but not sure if it was the right place. So hopefully someone can help.....

I've had 3 interviews in the past month. The first interview was for a transplant unit, the initial interview with the manager was great. This hospital does peer interviews, the second interview was terrible. I had extreme insomnia the night before and couldnt sleep, I was delirious, didnt know what I was saying, I knew I didnt have the job when I walked out. It only lasted 10 minutes.

My second interview was on an Oncology unit. That interview seemed to go well, she asked if I had any questions, I asked a couple. But it seemed like I wasnt asking what she wanted me to. But at the end of the interview, she told me that they would be in touch to set up the peer interviews, that was over a week ago, so I am thinking they arent going to choose me. That interview lasted about 35-40 minutes. I did send a thank you letter, but still not response.

I had an interview this past Friday for a stepdown PICU position. This interview went extremely different than the others. The interviewer talked a lot, but I made sure to get information in. She interviewed me for a while asking about my background, but mainly telling explaining how the unit will be set up, how the orientation will go, nurseatient ratio, staffing,ect; and then we went to tour the unit. After touring the unit, we came back and talked some more, she asked how I deal with dying children, how to handle the family, ect. She told me she wasnt sure what my pay would be since I wasnt a new grad but HR would let me know all of that, she asked when I could start and told me the 2 starting dates in April and that she was fine with me starting very soon since she know I havent been working in the past month. She had me sign the application, copied my BLS card and said that she had a few more applicants to interview I should hear something no later than Friday, but most likely before that. When I left, I looked at my clock and had been in that interview for 1.5hrs. Im not sure if thats a good thing or not. She kept talking to me like I already had the job, but then said if I was chosen. I know that job offers must come from HR. I feel I got the job because the interview seemed to be the best I've ever had. But I don't want to get my hopes up too high.

I also have another interview scheduled this week for a L&D position that I must get ready for. Can anyone give me some insight or advice on how this last interview seemed it went. I would say it went great, but I have also heard that long interviews weren't always a good thing.

Any input would be great.

Thanks,

Shawn

[heatheryk]

In my experience the longer the interview the better the outcome. I just got a job recently and the interview was 1.5 hours. Now almost 3 weeks later I'm still waiting for health clearance!

[caliotter3]

I have had interviews go both ways. Quite frankly, I would wait for the final notification on whether you are offered the job or not, rather than analyze the interviews. After all, there are probably interviews that occur after your's that will be considered and reconsidered before a decision is made. The only interview I am every certain about is the kind where I leave the building as an employee after a job offer has been made and accepted.

[trimeduRN, BSN]

I have had interviews go both ways. Quite frankly, I would wait for the final notification on whether you are offered the job or not, rather than analyze the interviews. After all, there are probably interviews that occur after your's that will be considered and reconsidered before a decision is made. The only interview I am every certain about is the kind where I leave the building as an employee after a job offer has been made and accepted.

I understand, but its easier said than done. My other issue is I have been offered a prison contract for 13 weeks which starts next week and the recruiter is trying to get me to say yes or no now. I need a job like yesterday, but I'm holding out to see what happens on this interview and possibly the one later this week. My fear is that I turn down the contract and dont get either of these jobs and im stuck again. I'm just trying to figure out what to do.

[caliotter3]

Being unemployed is no picnic when there is rent or a mortgage that isn't getting paid. I used to hold out for the primary employer (I work for agencies) to come up with something. Now, too bad, I say. If someone offers work, I take the first offer and worry about future offers later. That is what I would do. If you have to, cancel the contract if you get another offer that you feel you must take.

[trimeduRN, BSN]

Being unemployed is no picnic when there is rent or a mortgage that isn't getting paid. I used to hold out for the primary employer (I work for agencies) to come up with something. Now, too bad, I say. If someone offers work, I take the first offer and worry about future offers later. That is what I would do. If you have to, cancel the contract if you get another offer that you feel you must take.

That was the same thing I was thinking. But I was told by one of my co-workers, the charge $1500 or so if you break the contract. Thats like working for free if I only do a week. The position in L&D is a former place of employment where my former co-workers said they've been talking to the manager. But none of those things are concrete. I keep going back and forth and feeling I have an obligation to them because the finally was able to get me an interview. But at this point, I dont want to take the chance of losing a sure contract for the next 3 months.

[itsmejuli]

If I was in your shoes I'd take the contract job offer since its a sure thing. You have bills to pay, 13 weeks of solid work is better than nothing even if its not what you want to do.

Don't try to analyze interviews, you might as well be using a Magic 8 Ball to predict whether you got the job or not.

In this economy, when you have a concrete job offer its better to take it than take the risk of not finding something else.