Your very first or worst interview experience

[_kelly_rn]

I had my very first interview as an RN and to say that I blew it would be an understatement. I stuttered, was literally unable to think and answer a few of the questions, and the interview was just an overall fail. And no, I did not get hired

I did not expect clinical/scenario questions on the first interview--- I did not have any idea what type of interviews they gave here (I'm a foreign trained nurse) and I mostly prepared for behavioral questions.

I was so sad when I got the news and felt so stupid, really.

So, how did your very first interview go? Can you share an interview experience where you bombed? How did you deal with it? Any tips?

Thanks in advance!

[anon456, BSN, RN]

One memorable interview was for a rehab hospital, about a week before I graduated. The interviewer said "You've gotta be called to nursing, otherwise you'll never survive." That told me all I needed to know. I was relieved that they didn't hire me.

A different facility asked 2 illegal questions during the phone screen. They ended up offering me a job. I'd been looking for 10 months, and had another job cancelled, so I accepted, despite my misgivings. It was a bad idea.

What were the illegal questions? Just curious. And did you answer them?

[_kelly_rn]

What were the illegal questions? Just curious. And did you answer them?

Yeah, same here. Would like to know because I do not have much interview experience and would appreciate to hear from more experienced nurses. I do know that they are not supposed to ask personal questions such as 'do you have kids?' and the likes...

However, if asked something in the lines of "Why have you not been working in the past years?" Would it be acceptable to say that I had children? Or I should just avoid mentioning having kids altogether?

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

One was about my marital status. I don't remember the other one.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

It wasn't my first interview, but it stands out as my worst.

2009 was the year. I was interviewing for a weekend option position as an LVN at a local LTC/SNF since I had been attending an ASN bridge program during the week. I was informally interviewed by three nurse managers and the DON.

Nurse manager #1: "You need to smile more!" (She was imitating my facial expressions, which I found offensive).

Nurse manager #2: "You're older. Why did you become a nurse?" (Per EOE regulations, mentioning the candidate's age directly or indirectly is forbidden. Also, I was 28 years old at the time, so I found the question offensive).

Nurse manager #2: "So, where are you from?" (Per EOE regulations this is another illegal question because it underhandedly helps the interviewer determine the applicant's racial/ethnic background or national origin).

To keep a long story short, I was offered the job but did not accept. I just couldn't envision myself working under those managers.

[Clovery]

I had a job in an LTAC for about 8 months and was dying to get out. Landed an interview for a med-surg unit in a good hospital. My hair would not cooperate at all that day. I ended up putting it in a bun but I still had frizz head. Interviewed first with a recruiter, who seemed to like me. She asked me questions and prepped me for the interview with the nurse manager and assistant nurse manager immediately following. She kept saying "that's good, mention that to them." So I went to the next room and followed the recruiter's advice. Everything seemed to be going really well. When asked about my current job I successfully bit my tongue and did not say anything negative, despite actually loathing the place and manager I was currently working for. The last question was "Would you have any regrets about leaving your current position?" I smiled (thinking to myself about how absolutely wonderful it would be to get out of that awful place) and said "No. ...Well, I would miss my co-workers but that's about it."

I didn't get the job. It actually took me a couple of weeks to realize that mistake.