Was I hired? I'm freaking out

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Hello all! I am new to the allnurses community and I wanted to get your thoughts and opinions on my situation. I have done some research on my own but nothing quite relates to my situation and I'm freaking out.

So... I'm a licensed new grad and got a call back after filling out an application at the hospital I've been dreaming of working at. The thing is, I applied to an "invite only" hiring event (along with other positions) where I interviewed with the Unit manager, the assistant unit manager, and another staff member. The interview went well, and at the end was under the impression that got the job. Even when I asked at the end of the interview "if I'm hired, what will orientation be like?" She smiled (in a friendly way), looked me in the eye and said "you will get a call back..." and went on to explain how orientation worked. Of course at this point I didn't assume I had the position and asked another question and said "if I am employed by XYZ hospital, how soon would I know?" She looked at me and smiled (not in a sarcastic way) and said "you WILL get a call back from HR. I make the ultimate decisions and I have to send your name over to HR. I can't formally make the offer, HR does, and they go over pay, benefits, etc. But you should hear from them soon" She even had the assistant unit manager gave me his card should I have any questions that I forgot to ask during the interview.

She went on to say she doesn't know when the position will open (what the neck, right?), or when exactly HR would call me, but it should defitely be within a week of the interview.

Fast forward to today (a day shy of 2 wks), and no call :(

I called HR but they don't know what's going on and I'm starting to freak out.

Am I expecting a call back too soon (despite being told I should get a call back within a week)? Did I not get the job? :down: is there something else I should be doing?! Or should I just keep my butt cool and just wait?

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

You should keep looking for jobs in the meantime. I suspect you did not get hired.

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Just wait. You don't have the job until you get a formal job offer from HR, either in writing or by telephone followed up by a formal offer in writing. I don't want to be a downer, but I read your account of the conversation with the NM as her saying that you'll get a call from HR if you're hired, not that she is guaranteeing you you are getting a job offer. And don't be surprised if HR takes longer to respond than you were told to expect. That happens all the time. You have to keep in mind that, for you, this is the most urgent important thing going on in your life right now, but, for HR, it's just one of many tasks and responsibilities they are juggling at once. They don't feel anywhere near the sense of urgency you do.

Also, not to sound too discouraging, a longer wait often means you didn't get the job. Many employers contact the person they are hiring and then wait to notify the other applicants who didn't get the job until they are sure the person they selected is going to accept the position and all the paperwork, physical, orientation, etc. are going to work out. That way, if something goes wrong with the first hire, they can just contact their second choice and move on. A longer wait doesn't necessarily mean that you didn't get the job, though -- some HR departments are just slow. Especially if the job isn't starting right away; that's a lower priority for them.

All you can do, at this point, is wait and stay positive. Are you pursuing other positions besides just this one? (I hope so.) Best wishes!

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Jeez! Thank you for your input!!! The bit about the longer wait time seems like it makes so much sense...that they're solidifying 1st pick(s). Ugh, this sucks so much but I'm trying to stay positive! I am still applying to other places -- I just had stopped when I 'thought' I had the job :( They were looking to hire a group of us at a time... And the interaction with the nurse manager was me saying the "if"... She kept saying the "will" :( :(

Anyway, thanks again though! I REALLY appreciate it!!

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Jeez! Thank you for your input!!! The bit about the longer wait time seems like it makes so much sense...that they're solidifying 1st pick(s). Ugh, this sucks so much but I'm trying to stay positive! I am still applying to other places -- I just had stopped when I 'thought' I had the job :( They were looking to hire a group of us at a time... And the interaction with the nurse manager was me saying the "if"... She kept saying the "will" :( :(

Anyway, thanks again though! I REALLY appreciate it!!

I understand you were the one saying "if," but my point was that she was responding to your "if" questions: If you get the job, you will get a call from HR. The business card and invitation to call if you think of any other questions is a standard thing and doesn't indicate anything special, and good managers are always, uniformly friendly and positive in interviews, with everyone, regardless (they don't know how the process is going to play out and they don't want to burn any bridges). And it may be that she was really impressed with you and it was her intention to offer you the job at that time, but another, better candidate came along later in the day. Things happen. Employers have a process for a reason; they don't just make snap judgments about hiring (at least, the good employers don't), and good managers typically don't overpromise or tip their hands one way or the other in an interview with any particular candidate; they work their way through the process.

Again, I don't say this to mean that you didn't get the job. But, when you're a new grad and excited about a particular employer, it's v. easy to read too much into the interaction in interviews. Bide your time, keep looking for other positions, wait to see how things work out. Best wishes!

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I see & understand now fully. Thank you!!

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Thank you for your feedback!!

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Specializes in med surg.

Call and follow up, ask if the position has been filled. I did that a week after my first interview and it landed me a second interview. good luck

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Call and follow up, ask if the position has been filled. I did that a week after my first interview and it landed me a second interview. good luck

You have a right to know whether or not to continue holding your breath, so, since it has been two weeks without action from them, follow up. Unless you receive something definitive otherwise, resume your job search immediately.

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Call and follow up, ask if the position has been filled. I did that a week after my first interview and it landed me a second interview. good luck

Ahh, I see, thank you!

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Definitely! I made sure to continue to apply at other places. Thank you for your input!

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I once had the best couple of interview. On the second interview, I was given a tour, introduced to future colleagues, etc. It went on for nearly an hour and I said that I would love to work in that unit and that it was my first choice hospital. They seemed to love me and everyone was acting like I would get an offer and start soon. A month later, I interview somewhere else and a few weeks later take that job. I had left polite messages with the first job but they never got back to me. 6 months later, out of the blue, I get an offer letter from the first job! (I declined, kept my current job, and it has worked out great.)

There are many random factors in hiring and HR seems to often be a backlog. I bet you got the job but there are factors out of the hiring managers control that are affecting the timeline. Don't put your life on hold waiting for that first job.

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