Wrote down wrong interview time! How do i recover?

Nurses Job Hunt

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Am beyond mortified! I have been looking for an RN job ever since I graduated in May with only one interview and no job offers. Well late last week I got calls from 3 different places to set up interviews! One interview was with the hospital I resigned from when I graduated in May. (Couldn't work as a CNA with a RN license, there was no avail RN positions avail at that time). So I left on good terms and have glowing references from my previous manager there at the hospital.

I woke up this morning and recheck my phone calendar and see: interview 1:00 pm. I am so happy to have the opportunity to interview with this hospital because it is the only place showing some interest in me. Until I get a call at 1015 this morning. The call went to voicemail and I was horrified when I listened to the message from the HR rep that scheduled my interview with the floor nurse. She was calling to make sure everything was Ok because my interview was scheduled for 1000 this morning. She hoped I was OK and would like to hear from me to reschedule if I wanted to.

I immediately called her back, I explained that I must have wrote down the wrong time, and apologized profusely. She said that she will reschedule me but she didn't sound too pleased. Now I have an interview later this week. When I said to her "this must look horrible" she had no comment.

How do I recover from this? Thankfully I had a great attendance record with the hospital. I even got an award for perfect attendance. Is there any hope for me? I am sure there is going to be tough competition for this position since jobs for associate degree RNs are scarce in this area.

Please help me recover, what can I do to make a great second impression?

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1) Stop apologizing and telling them how dumb you were. They got it. Don't keep reminding them. Not a word or a glance. I mean it. :twocents:

2) Remember: They could have told you not to bother, they already filled the position. They didn't. So you're still in the hunt. :)

3) Nail the interview exactly the same as you would have if you'd been on time the first time. Dress professionally, nice jacket and skirt or suit, no sandals, minimal makeup and jewelry, the whole thing. Bring copies of your resume in a folder in your bag, ready to pull out IF the opportunity arises, have your license easy to retrieve (not stuck deep in your enormous wallet). Smile confidently and sincerely (you're glad to be there, right?), greet people you know. Ask intelligent questions. Know about the floor you're interviewing on, let them know you're really looking forward to learning more about X, Y, and Z that they do there because you saw X, Y, and Z somewhere else and got interested.

Good luck!

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Your second mistake was admitting you made the first mistake.

I would have thrown it back at them, "I was told 1:00".

Stop apologizing and be confident!

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1) Stop apologizing and telling them how dumb you were. They got it. Don't keep reminding them. Not a word or a glance. I mean it. :twocents:

2) Remember: They could have told you not to bother, they already filled the position. They didn't. So you're still in the hunt. :)

3) Nail the interview exactly the same as you would have if you'd been on time the first time. Dress professionally, nice jacket and skirt or suit, no sandals, minimal makeup and jewelry, the whole thing. Bring copies of your resume in a folder in your bag, ready to pull out IF the opportunity arises, have your license easy to retrieve (not stuck deep in your enormous wallet). Smile confidently and sincerely (you're glad to be there, right?), greet people you know. Ask intelligent questions. Know about the floor you're interviewing on, let them know you're really looking forward to learning more about X, Y, and Z that they do there because you saw X, Y, and Z somewhere else and got interested.

Good luck!

Yep this.

Stop apologizing. Things happen.

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Basically, what grntea said

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Bringing it up will only remind them. Come prepared with good questions and ready answers. Good luck!

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
Your second mistake was admitting you made the first mistake.

I would have thrown it back at them, "I was told 1:00".

Stop apologizing and be confident!

And if the OP was NOT told 1:00, she pretty much shot any remaining chance that she had in the foot. I wouldn't do that. She made the mistake in writing down the wrong time and needs to own up to it, not try and fob the blame off on the interviewer.

I agree with stopping the apologies and being confident. So OP: not another word about it. They know you're sorry, and you beating yourself up over and over will not endear you to them...if anything, it will have the opposite effect.

You were lucky enough to catch a break. Go in there and interview as though nothing happened. And it goes without saying, DO NOT miss this one!

Good luck.

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Allow me to rephrase .

I am not condoning/suggesting a bold-faced lie.( Lying sucks)

I think the OP stating that she HEARD 1:00 as the scheduled interview time , would not be wrong.

Surprised she was granted another interview.After all, nursing is ALL about details and auditory memory.

Wish your the best Pia mater, keep us posted.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
Allow me to rephrase .

I am not condoning/suggesting a bold-faced lie.( Lying sucks)

I think the OP stating that she HEARD 1:00 as the scheduled interview time , would not be wrong.

Surprised she was granted another interview.After all, nursing is ALL about details and auditory memory.

Wish your the best Pia mater, keep us posted.

I know, OP got INCREDIBLY lucky. There was another thread around here from someone who wasn't as lucky when they missed their interview.

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Hi everyone, thanks for the suggestions, I took them to heart.

I went to my rescheduled interview. (I arrived a few mins early). When the nurse mgr meet me in the lobby, I shook her hand and thanked her for taking the time to meet with me. The previous missed interview was never mentioned during the interview. I feel like the interview went very well. I was comfortable with my responses to their questions and they even said that I looked great on paper.

One of the questions they DID ask was how many times I had called in sick in the past 6 mos. I was able to mention my perfect attendance at this time.

I think the only reason I was given a second chance was because I was a previous employee with a great reference from my previous manager. I was told I will hear something either way by the end of next week.

I am sure I was told 1000 on the initial conversation with HR, when I think back on it. I probably got sidetracked when I put the appointment in my phone and missed a 0 on the end and put 100 instead. I agree that I was VERY lucky to get a second shot, and I probably don't deserve the job based on my slip up. I can always hope though. I was offered a job at a LTC facility as a back up to this job, but I really want this acute care job.

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I'd really like to know if you got the job. I'm hoping so.

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I would also like to know if you got it. Where in WI are you looking for jobs? I am looking as well for jobs in WI.

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