Using Interview at One Hospital to Speed Up HR at Dream Job?

[SoonThere]

Hey All,

If you've interviewed at two hospitals, I've heard that an offer at one hospital can push HR at the other to speed up the process of hiring you, or make them more inclined to want you. Of course, you'd have to make them aware of this little tidbit. In other words, if you just interviewed at hospital #2 and tell them that you have an offer at hospital #1 and you need to know if they want to hire you soon so you can tell hospital #1 "no," hospital #2 is more likely to speed things up and let you know quickly.

What about having an interview at another hospital. In other words, if you've already interviewed at one hospital and really want the job, but they're stalling a bit, would it be okay to tell them that you have another interview coming up and would really like them to make an offer so you can cancel the upcoming interview? Anyone ever heard of doing this and whether or not it's effective?

And, just for the record, I'm not talking about lying to them. I'm talking about if you actually do have another interview coming up. Thanks.

[twentytenRN]

This may have worked in the past but I doubt it would work in today's economy. There are so many nurses waiting to scoop up jobs, that if you told them you already have an offer elsewhere, they may just tell you to bugger-off rather than try and "fight for you" to come work for them.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Only do it if you're prepared to walk away, because the odds are good that the dream job will call your bluff and look for a replacement.

It really isn't a job-hunters' market now. It might work...but with all the applicants out there, you should not bank on it.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Just be careful ... job #1 may think "Oh well, she has another opportunity at job #2, so we'll hire this other person who is equally as qualified." You may end up holding an empty bag.

[elkpark]

I wouldn't try anyting like that unless I really had a firm offer from hospital #1 that I could live with -- never as a bluff, and certainly not just because I had an appointment for an interview.

Hospital #2 is more likely to say, 'Oh well, good luck with that, then," than to accelerate their usual decision-making process. Esp. in this economy, where there are typically many applicants for every opening.

[itsmejuli]

An interview is not a guarantee of a job, a job offer is no guarantee either.

Orientation at a job is not a guarantee that you will be working.

The only guarantee that you have a job is when they put you on the schedule and you show up for work on your first day.