Why lie?

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Jul 29, 2011

I have been waiting for a phone call from HR for a position that I supposedly got only to find a rejection email in my inbox this morning. The interview went great, we toured the unit where she supposedly was going to put me and the last thing she said before she left was, "Assuming your references check out you'll be hearing from us soon". I trust my references they are good bosses and colleagues. I know they didn't have anything bad to say.
Why would she blatantly lie to me like that? Is this standard practice for a nurse manager just to keep everything upbeat and positive? On one hand I am glad I didn't get it and get stuck working for the liar and on the other I am so disappointed. Nurse managers do you give an impression one way or another during the interview? Has anyone else been completely blind sided by a rejection?

It's hard to know why job offers are rescinded.... it could be any number of reasons, from budget changes you don't know about (and she may not have either when she interviewed you).... and it wasn't a firm offer..."you'll be hearing from us soon" isn't "you're hired" . Different people phrase things differently- she could have also had someone come in with more experience after you, and decided to go with that person.... this is just part of job hunting. You lose more than you win :)

Tait, MSN, RN · Jul 29, 2011

Any chance someone gave you a bad reference?

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Jul 29, 2011

I don't see where you were lied to. It doesn't sound like you were offered the job, just that the interview went well and for some reason, they are not hiring you (could be any number of reasons).

ally100500 · Jul 29, 2011

Sorry, but to me "I will put you on 3M", sounds as close to an offer as I have ever gotten. I have no doubt that with the job market as tight as it is someone else more impressive came along. I just wish she would have chose her words better.

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Jul 29, 2011

I'm sorry you didn't get the job, but a job offer is direct and obvious, not implied or hinted at.

You could contact the person you interviewed with, thanking her again for the opportunity to meet with her and asking if she has any suggestions to make your application stronger for future openings. It also might not hurt to have someone reference-check your references to see what they are saying.

millhouse · Jul 29, 2011

That's a great idea to contact her just to thank her and to see if she has any suggestions for your next interview process. No sense burning bridges!!

It could have been that someone more qualified interviewed after you?? Either way, it's unfortunate that you didn't get the job... but I have always felt in my own life that God will open the right doors and keep the wrong ones shut for me. He hasn't let me down yet!! Keep your chin up and keep on applying!! :) Good luck!

noahsmama · Jul 29, 2011

Any chance the email could have been a mistake? I actually got an email once saying that a position had been offered to another candidate, when in fact I had already gotten the job -- thankfully in my case I had already started working in my new position, so I knew the email was an error. If they're sending out emails to all of the hundreds of people who applied, it might be they forgot to delete your name from the email list before sending it out. Let's hope so but if not, I agree with what others have said -- be polite to the NM, thank her for the interview, don't burn any bridges, and better luck next time!

dudette10, MSN, RN · Jul 29, 2011

Sorry, but to me "I will put you on 3M", sounds as close to an offer as I have ever gotten. I have no doubt that with the job market as tight as it is someone else more impressive came along. I just wish she would have chose her words better.

During interviews, NMs rarely preface every sentence with, "If you get the job,...." because that fact is implied until you receive an offer.

A lot of "what does it mean?" posts show up here when people are job-hunting, as they speculate on the implication of phrases during the interview process. As many have stated on those threads, you can't be sure until the offer is in hand.

psu_213, BSN, RN · Jul 29, 2011

On one hand I am glad I didn't get it and get stuck working for the liar

It is regretful that you did not get the job, but this is a little (a lot?) extreme. As someone else already said, maybe a better qualified candidate interviewed after you. Perhaps HR "took away" a slot that the NM though she could fill. OK, she probably should have qualified her remarks when she said that you would hear from them soon, but I would definitely not call this a lie. Either way, thank the NM and HR for their time...if another position opens up with the organization, they will not be too happy that you are calling one of their managers a liar.

OCNRN63, RN · Jul 29, 2011

I have been waiting for a phone call from HR for a position that I supposedly got only to find a rejection email in my inbox this morning. The interview went great, we toured the unit where she supposedly was going to put me and the last thing she said before she left was, "Assuming your references check out you'll be hearing from us soon". I trust my references they are good bosses and colleagues. I know they didn't have anything bad to say.
Why would she blatantly lie to me like that? Is this standard practice for a nurse manager just to keep everything upbeat and positive? On one hand I am glad I didn't get it and get stuck working for the liar and on the other I am so disappointed. Nurse managers do you give an impression one way or another during the interview? Has anyone else been completely blind sided by a rejection?

I don't see that anyone lied. You were never promised a job. I'm sorry it didn't work out for you.

linsmirn · Jul 29, 2011

She didnt guarantee you the position so no one lied to you. She was being nice which I think was a good thing. Dont take it serious, at least now you know better, dont get excited until you are on the floor for your first shift. Good luck on your next interview.