What was that?

I got called for a hospital interview. I was told I had to come in to interview the next day, that that was the only day available, and there was a chance they wouldn't have any other days if I couldn't make it in the next day. I actually had to work, but really wanted the hospital job, so I said, "sure," I'll come in at that time and found someone to switch. I went to the interview, thought I did fairly well, except for a bloop about receiving a gift card from a patient(they asked about a time I went 'above and beyond'), got a rejection email 5 hours later. What the? Why so fast an interview and so fast a rejection? Was it the slip up about the gift card? I didn't explicitly come out and say that I accepted a gift card. I just said I was given a card and gift card. So depressed. This was for a new grad position and I have a year experience. Honesty please.

Edited Jun 30, 2011 by Art_Vandelay

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

Honestly, they probably did not like the fact that you accepted a gift card from a patient.

If you did not then I would of clarified and stated " I was offered a gift card but I did not accept it because it is unethical"

I really hope you didn't accept the gift card.

[ICU, RN, BSN, B.S.]

I accepted flowers from a patient as a student nurse. And was damn proud of it too!

No, I did not accept it. But, in hindsight, I could see how it would come across like I did as I didn't clarify. I was just trying to prove a point that I go 'above and beyond'.

It was for a new grad position and you already have a years experience?

That was probably the reason.

You don't qualify for the position.

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

No, I did not accept it. But, in hindsight, I could see how it would come across like I did as I didn't clarify. I was just trying to prove a point that I go 'above and beyond'.

I'm sorry this happened. Interviews can be hard sometimes and there have been times when I put my foot in my mouth during an interview.

It is a learning experience. Keep looking and hopefully you will find your hospital job. :hug:

[eriksoln, BSN, RN]

I've answered a lot of these "blown up interview" questions by putting out there the same little factoid that, for some reason, gets forgotten a lot. I am VERY certain it pertains to you:

HR people have quotas to fills, a number of interviews per posted position, and they must satisfy it. Mind you, this is fact, not my take on things, not my impression...............they are mandated to perform "X" amt. of interviews per position.

Often, during interview #3 or 4 or w/e, they make up their mind about who they want to fill the position with. In truth, the competition from the start was between two or three people that were being considered for the position (often, an internal applicant vs. an external one with more experience or w/e the situation is).

So, we have an HR person who basically has already decided who is going to fill a position, but their "quota" is not fulfilled. What do you do? Oh, I'll just call in a a few more people, give them the impression they are in the running for the position, get the paperwork filed and my job is done.........with the person I picked a long time ago filling the position.

Truth is, this is what happened to you. You were interviewing for the sake of them being able to say they interviewed enough people, not because you were being considered for the position. Hence the "tomorrow is the only day we can do it" approach. LOL, that was the HR person's deadline and they were desperately seeking a few more interviews. The position was filled before you got there.

This may sound harsh and mean, and to a point it is. It is rude/dishonest to interview people when you have no interest in hiring them, but it happens. So what can we do about it? Well, first thing is, realize it happens and don't over think what went on during the interview "Hmmmm.......if answered this or that differently, would I have the job?" The answer is "No", it wasn't your interview skills or the color of your shoes or the firmness of your handshake that kept you from being hired. Don't let this happening to you diminish your confidence and ruin future opportunities.

As someone who has done some interviewing myself I can tell you that its just like a first date, lol, you know before you are halfway through the interview whether or not you want to hire the person. So be glad that the person got back to you so quickly versus having to wait and stress out about it for a week ( I hate that!). And when you told the person about the gift card, it wasn't whether you accepted it or not that came to my mind, my first questions was did you actually give valid examples of how you went "above and beyond", not just "my patients love me, one even tried to give me a gift card one time". When you are being interviewed and you get a question like that, the best thing to do is give a specific example and add details on what you learned from that particular situation, how it made you stronger/a better nurse. Especially when they ask you something like (that dreaded question!) "what are your weaknesses" still give an example of a situation you went through and where you saw your weak points, then turn it around and tell them about how you recognized these weak points, what you did to improve yourself (read a book, internet research, asked your manager for advice, etc) and then give an example of another situation that came up where you utilzed your improvement. Believe me, behavariol based questions are EXHAUSTING! Try being interviewed by 13 people at the same time all sitting in a circle around you (aced that interview!). But by giving these kind of examples an interviewer can actually get a real picture in their head of what you will be like on the job, they are way more likely to remember you and compare you to other people being interviewed (in a good way) and your examples stick in there head more when they are considering who to hire.

[tyvin, BSN, RN]

It's really simple; they realized you had 1 year experience. No new grad programs take experienced RNs.

As a follow up, I had another interview today with a different hospital (same parent company) and was offered the job on the spot. I'm tickled. It is in my area of expertise, rehab. Thank you all so much for your feedback. The first interview put a damper in my spirits, but now I have a job with a great hospital and team!

I've answered a lot of these "blown up interview" questions by putting out there the same little factoid that, for some reason, gets forgotten a lot. I am VERY certain it pertains to you:

HR people have quotas to fills, a number of interviews per posted position, and they must satisfy it. Mind you, this is fact, not my take on things, not my impression...............they are mandated to perform "X" amt. of interviews per position.

Often, during interview #3 or 4 or w/e, they make up their mind about who they want to fill the position with. In truth, the competition from the start was between two or three people that were being considered for the position (often, an internal applicant vs. an external one with more experience or w/e the situation is).

So, we have an HR person who basically has already decided who is going to fill a position, but their "quota" is not fulfilled. What do you do? Oh, I'll just call in a a few more people, give them the impression they are in the running for the position, get the paperwork filed and my job is done.........with the person I picked a long time ago filling the position.

Truth is, this is what happened to you. You were interviewing for the sake of them being able to say they interviewed enough people, not because you were being considered for the position. Hence the "tomorrow is the only day we can do it" approach. LOL, that was the HR person's deadline and they were desperately seeking a few more interviews. The position was filled before you got there.

This may sound harsh and mean, and to a point it is. It is rude/dishonest to interview people when you have no interest in hiring them, but it happens. So what can we do about it? Well, first thing is, realize it happens and don't over think what went on during the interview "Hmmmm.......if answered this or that differently, would I have the job?" The answer is "No", it wasn't your interview skills or the color of your shoes or the firmness of your handshake that kept you from being hired. Don't let this happening to you diminish your confidence and ruin future opportunities.

Why are they required to fill quotas? I don't see the point, other than sadism.

OP, that's because it's not about hiring the best person, it's about hiring who you are told to hire by certain folks. They must appear to be EEOC. All hospitals do it. So they often call ya to interview just as a "body" so they can say they did consider a variety of applicants...

[trauma_lama, BSN]

WAY TO GO, OP!!

[miss81, BSN, RN]

We accept gift cards all the time from patients as a thank you.. for coffee, food, and one pt even gave every nurse and doctor on our floor tickets to a concert to say thank you! Most of the time they leave us a card with the gift cards in it.

[DarkBluePhoenix]

Idk, but I thought you need no experience for a new read position. If that was why you warren given the job then why did they even interview you?

I'm sorry this happened to you. You can take it as learning experience.

Good luck!

[noahsmama]

To those who are saying the OP didn't get the job because it's a new grad position: many of the hospitals in my area have positions that are listed as RN I/II, which are open both to new grads and to experienced nurses. I'm assuming that's what the OP meant, i.e. a position that is open to either.

Anyway, I agree with the idea that HR just had a quota of interviews to fill; either that or they just needed to fill the position very quickly. I doubt that the mention of the gift card had anything to do with it.

[chicookie, BSN, RN]

Why are they required to fill quotas? I don't see the point, other than sadism.

ROFL that was hilarious!

But its true though. My boss was telling me when we were looking for a new person that he had to interview a few. I don't know the reason behind it but I find it stupid! But then again I'm glad we did because we ended up hiring one of the eh-IDK-but-we-have-to-interview-at-least-6-so-here-it-goes. We are a super small department too! So I wonder if these bigger units have interview a huge number of people.

I also think the first place was like this because that was the "only" time they would interview you. That sounds like they didn't really want to meet you. To me anyway. But who cares you got another job which I'm sure would be better than that place! CONGRATS! YAY!

Thank you. Thank you. I am humble enough to admit that perhaps someone else was a better fit. That's fine, if that was in fact the case, but I agree with eriksoln in that I don't think it was. The whole experience was just ackward from the start. When the recruiter met me, she didn't look inviting. I felt like I was walking on a conveyor belt to her office. Actually, when I compared the two interviews, the first one(the rejection) the nurse manager read from a script of questions and wrote down my answers, and at the end of the interview I got the handshake and half smile. On the second interview, I really felt like they were getting to know me, and they weren't writing down any of my answers. Granted, I didn't get asked the "above and beyond" question, but I felt I demonstrated my contribution in the interview. As an aside, I hate the "above and beyond" question. In this nursing environment, it is SO hard to go "above and beyond". Some days I am lucky I stay above water. Anyway, thanks!