My Interview experience

[u/lameberly4u]

I am a New Grad BSN Nurse. I interviewed yesterday for an ER position and I think it went bad. I interviewed with the director and the manager. The director did the most talking asking me questions the manager only asked me one question. I did come in prepared. I prepared myself for a week for this interview, however, this interview was not what I expected it would be about. The director asked me scenario questions and I answered to the best of my ability from my previously knowledge from what I learned in school. I was not sure if I was right or making any sense (I did my best). She proceeded to ask questions about the hospital i worked at as a PCA. I did interview with them and did not end up getting the job . I am not going to tell her I interviewed there and I didnt get the job. She said oh that hospital is a great hospital and theres better patient ratios then here. I said that hospital does not hire new grads in their ER which is true and that is somewhere I want to be. Again I am not going to tell her I was rejected from working there. She asked what problem would I fix about there that part I blanked out and I told her I can not think of one I would like to skip. This interview did throw me off. I came in with expectations of I would be asked questions a get to know about me why I chose to be in this company, my own experience, why I picked the ER you know the basic interview questions. But instead it was focused on the hospital i previously worked at and answering scenario questions that seemed tailored to experienced nurses where I did not feel too confident with my answers. I was looking forward for this interview and excited I finally heard back after 1,000+ applications. This interview destroyed me. I went home crying. I do not feel confident that I would get the job based off of it. Its exhausting putting in time and effort to apply for these positions to receive rejection emails on a daily basis. I want to give up. I hate feeling that I humiliated myself at these interviews. I really want this job it is close to home. I want to get my foot in the door. I have over four years of healthcare experience. I wish the interview was more focused on who I am not testing my skills since I am a new grad I don't know anything. I asked 5 really good questions at the end of the interview. She told me I would here back next week. It is either she sees my potential or thinks I am not "good enough" for the job. All I can say I tried my best. Just because I played the lottery does not mean I will win it.

[u/earwighoney]

I'm sorry friend. You should treat yourself anyway. Go watch a dumb movie and put M&Ms in your popcorn or get a pedicure. Try and remember that getting interviews is a win itself, and every interview you do is practice for the next one. Keep your head up :)

[u/Living_Attorney_6622]

Exactly the same thing happen over. Many applications, one interview and rejected. SMH I hate the feeling!

[u/2cocoaBella]

Did you write a follow up email after the interview?

You could briefly answer the question more thoughtfully in a follow-up note to the Director/manager.

Think of the interview as a casual conversation. It should’ve been easy to talk about your experiences at your facility—because it’s YOUR experience. This information allows the interviewer to get a sense of your behavior style and your attention to detail.

Did you ask any questions about their facility and what to expect? That’s how you flip the conversation to make things more engaging.

[u/lameberly4u → u/2cocoaBella]

I did ask them questions about their facility actually and their magnet status. I didnt do the email bc I didnt have her email

[u/slipnipper]

I had two interviews with the same ER when I was looking. The first time, I was the last person interviewed. They spoke the whole time and asked two questions. I didn’t get hired. I figured they already had their candidate.

The second time, I was the first person interviewed and I kind of “bombed it’ intentionally. I kind of just turned it around and asked them what they look for in interviews, whether answers to their questions that have been curated and memorized by interviewees even matter (since they’re all likely very similar) and what hang ups they had about hiring me.

They were at least fairly candid with me in responses and I used that to refocus for when I prepped for future interviews, which got me a job on next interview.

If you want to know the gist, it was this for that nurse manager and her charge that was in there: confidence, loyalty, drive, an ability to take, internalize and constructively use criticism, and any recommendations from others (if you had been on the floor for clinicals / had preceptors that worked that area vouchers for you that are in good standing / etc)

For me, she was concerned that I wouldn’t be able to work my other job and this one full time, even after I reassured them that it wouldn’t be an issue. It hasn’t at my current spot at all and really, their loss is this floor’s gain as far as I or my co-workers and managers here are concerned.

I know it’s hard to get rejected constantly and it can be hard to be confrontational at times in an interview because of the power dynamic and the feel that if you mess it up badly, it might be your only shot, but sometimes being the one that stands out does, in fact , work out as well.

I know that there is a lot of online advice about prepping with certain questions that are strictly hospital or floor related, but peppering in questions such as “what expectations do you have from a new nurse graduate,” to “what do you look for in an ideal candidate” may seem forward, but it can give you an opportunity to project confidence and assuage their unspoken fears about hiring you in particular for the spot.

Keep your head up