What is with a second interview? What that all about?

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I just decided to leave my speciality that has been a comfort zone for me for years. I am burned out.

It's been very hard finding anything I could apply for except the specialty I am versed in. I landed a job interview with an hospital 2 miles from the house.. and hours are nice, no weekends, no on call.. HEAVEN.

I had a very very long interview with my potential supervisors and I could tell it went well. About a week later I got a call asking for another interview next week.

I am excited, but why are they bothering with this? I mean, I spilled my guts out several times, answered all the questions and they seemed to like me alot!!!!

What is the purpose of the second interview? Please, don't ask me what is my stregnths and weaknesses again. NO!! LOL ( I also interviewed with my entire team already the first time... )

What could this hold fo rme? I am tired of being called in for interviews already..she me the job offer! :nurse:

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

It might be down to you and another excellent candidate. This might be the final elimination round. Hopefully you can figure out what they're looking for and show them that you will deliver more than the other candidate.

Good luck to you!

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Thank you.

I have already been racked over the coals and asked about every single quesiton there is known for this job..

INCLUDING a mini dissertation on my recent degree with emphasis on pain management ( a strong point of mine )

I am exhausted thinking about going again... REALLY WHY CAN'T THEY FIGURE THIS OUT WITH ONE 1.5 HOUR INTERVIEW??

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I also had two interviews and found out today that I got the job, New Nurse with no experience. It was suppose to be one interview with the nursing director and the clinical director, but the clinical director was busy and couldnt make it. So I had two interviews asked the same questions. But I knew I had the job on my first interview. Being called for a second interview is a good thing but be prepared to be asked the same questions.

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I have had 3 interviews for a staff nurse at the local rehab hospital, and yet they want me to come in for another interview with the CEO types. Interviwed with the manager, then a nurse team, then HR and still not done. They say they want everyone involved in the decision. At this rate, it will be christmas before everyone gets their say. The most annoying thing is that they all interview from the same form, and therefore ask the same questions. Its not even a management job. Just a plain ol' staff job. Good luck with your 2nd interview. Don't let your frustration show.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

You may be doing another panel interview that involves the floor nurses this time around. It is possible they have had personality conflicts/morale issues in the past or possible they just have a really good team. Usually a second interview is to get you through the next level, whatever that may mean to them. I know it is frustrating but it really is a good thing to make it to the next layer. Try to roll with it. Some jobs have several layers of interviews and this may not be your last one. You may wish to ask as one of your questions what the next steps are and when they hope to make a decision. Usually then they will reveal their interviewing process to you. Good luck!!

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Specializes in Cardio, ED, Case Mgmt, UM, Recruiting,.

I would like to point out that the nursing world has changed just a little bit in recent years. Unless you are an experienced critical care nurse or an experienced ED nurse applying for a posiiton in one of those two areas, you may not be as 'in-demand' as you used to be as a nurse. Since you are changing specialties, you may not have much of an advantage over others who are applying for the same position as far as your background and experience are concerned. Your post almost makes it appear that you feel entitled to the position since you have already gone through one extensive interview, and that entitled attitude is rather dangerous to have in this day and age. It might have worked 5-10 years ago, but it will not work now in most cases.

Id you really want this job, I would recommend that you be as grascious and accomodating as possible. Go in and interview as many times as they want you too, answer the same questions over and over again if asked, and make it obvious that you are happy to do so. If you give them the impression that you are put-out with their request for further interviews, I can promise that they will be happy to eliminate you as a candidate.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

Think of it this way: they are considering hiring you for what, they hope, will be long term. Chances are they will have to spend a sizable amount of money to train/orient you. Your 1.5 hours, or 3 hours if the second interview is as long as the first, is an indicator of your interest in the job and an investment of a few hours of your time that could really pay off for both you and the employer.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

I agree with the above poster who states that times may have changed since you last interviewed.

Two, three, even 4 interviews are not unheard of these days. Be gracious, keep smiling and accommodate whatever they ask for!

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.
If you give them the impression that you are put-out with their request for further interviews, I can promise that they will be happy to eliminate you as a candidate.

Common-sense truth. :up:

A second interview says to me, at the very least, that someone has put more thought into the hiring process than, "just get a warm body with a license in here". I would not be put off at all, but I would assume there was at least one other strong candidate, and I better bring my A game.

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Yeah multiple interviews are kind of the norm for a lot of jobs now. My nurse tech job required 2 interviews. Unless it was a mom and pop location, the jobs I interviewed for before nursing school all required multiple interviews.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
Thank you.

I have already been racked over the coals and asked about every single quesiton there is known for this job..

INCLUDING a mini dissertation on my recent degree with emphasis on pain management ( a strong point of mine )

I am exhausted thinking about going again... REALLY WHY CAN'T THEY FIGURE THIS OUT WITH ONE 1.5 HOUR INTERVIEW??

1.5 hours is nothing in the current job market. You are competing against other qualified people for this job -- and the team is going to take its time to get to know the person they hire BEFORE they make any final decision about hiring. It's like dating ... there is a courtship period during which you should be getting to know each other before you make any committments that will be hard and painful to break. Being invited back is like being asked on a 2nd date. If they continue to like you, they may want to "go steady."

While these repeated or extended interview processes were not common for staff nurse positions a few years ago when there were more jobs than applicants, they are the norm now. Also, they have ALWAYS been the norm for people applying for any sort of leadership positions. Employers simply take more care in their selections. My longest single day of interviewing was for a CNS/unit educator position: it lasted 12 hours, starting at 0700 and finishing up around 7 pm. For similar positions, I was also scheduled twice for a series of interviews over a period of 2 days. Believe me, there is a lot more you can talk about and/or a lot of other people who might want to meet you.

If you get the chance, it is perfectly OK to ask what to expect in the 2nd interview. Will it be with the same people? etc.

Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

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