[RollerDerby]

I seem to have run into a string of poor hiring managers; I'm not sure if it relates to my area, my field (nursing) or just crappy luck.

I have been to 15 interviews, all 15 got a follow up email thanking them for the experience, and expressing interest in the job, and so on. Out of the 15 (excluding one's I got "offers" from) maybe 2/3 actually responded to tell me I had not been selected. The rest just ignored me and never responded. Okay, I can understand that I guess, I didn't get the job, they don't have "time" to waste sending me a rejection email.

Four of those interviews resulted in the interviewer saying "I like you, I am going to hire you, the next step in the hiring process is HR...blah blah blah." They tell me the process, and usually say something to the effect of "if you haven't heard from HR by X date, give me a call on my personal cell number *writes it on the back of their business card*."

I wait and the date/set of time passes, no word from anyone. So I do as instructed and call. Get voicemail, and leave a detailed message. I wait a week, still nothing (nothing from HR, no returned call from the manager), leave another message (because no one answers their phone). Wait...another week, leave a third message. This one is usually more direct and to the point, but never rude. After this point, since I've never gotten a response back, I assume all is lost and move on.

Everyone I know is dumbfounded at how rude these managers are, and no one knows what I'm doing wrong/supposed to do in situations like this.

Are these managers being unprofessional/rude?
Am I doing something wrong?

I'm at a total loss; I've really liked some of these jobs, and been really excited that I got an offer, but since nothing was written down because that was "HR's responsibility" I have no proof or recourse for their sudden disinterest.

Any advice?

[Nicks_Nose]

I don't think you are doing anything wrong Roller Derby. I just think that HR people and hiring managers are trying to find ways to get out of handling tons of callbacks regarding applicants. It does seem rude to me but then I have studied HR and I have caught hiring managers in many of their own stupid little interview games of trying to get info from you that they are not allowed to ask and the whole hiring game has become so twisted and complicated it is hard to understand half the time what they are thinking and games they are playing. Companies that are doing the hiring also lay rules down for the HR department that they have to follow by. Even HR crew may find that certain "practices" are stupid but they are the rules in place or practices encouraged by other HR advisors in the industry.

I am sorry you are going through this crap. I know how frustrating and stressful the mind games can be. Wishing you all the best.

[pegasus]

Hello there, I am a manager in the UK. I interview a lot of people on a regular basis and I make sure I let each candidate know if they have been offered the job or not, usually over the phone. The recruitment process for going into nursing can take a long time due to the police checks. I would suggest keeping in contact with the manager and chase your references as this can speed things up. I know the process can seem a long time, don't lose heart, you'll get there in the end. Good luck!

[RollerDerby]

Originally Posted by pegasus

Hello there, I am a manager in the UK. I interview a lot of people on a regular basis and I make sure I let each candidate know if they have been offered the job or not, usually over the phone. The recruitment process for going into nursing can take a long time due to the police checks. I would suggest keeping in contact with the manager and chase your references as this can speed things up. I know the process can seem a long time, don't lose heart, you'll get there in the end. Good luck!

Thanks.
What's bothering me the most is the lack of reply when I am told upfront I've gotten the job, and need to speak with HR to get the background checks, the tax, insurance, and the contract stuff started (and the background checks actually go pretty quick, since I'm a new graduate I just recently had to have my background check done to get my initial license).

Two managers have simply never returned my calls, and it's been nearly two months now since I was offered a job (one I know is a moot point, she actually ran and hid when I showed up at her office unexpectedly). But two weeks ago I was offered a job, and again, told that I need to wait for HR to contact me, and to call her in three days if I don't hear anything. After three days, I called, left a message, and nothing. Three (business) days later I called HR to ask if they knew of anything I could do, but said it was most likely that my paperwork was sitting on the managers desk, but without her answering her stupid phone or returning my calls I have no way of knowing.

So my question is: how much is too much when calling a manager? I call once a week, leave one voice mail with detailed information and always end with asking them to call me back, but by the end of the week I get no response. I understand they're busy but isn't that a bit extreme? Should I call more often?

[pegasus]

I can only tell you from my experience. Once I have done the interview I will pass it on to my business administrator to do the rest with HR. It would be worth you asking if there is an administrator or PA that you can call regularly to check on the progress. As a manager I will ask the administrator how the application is going. The administrator will tell me if there is a problem with the application or if HR have encountered an issue. Keep in contact with them regularly but if they continue to ignore you then they are not worth working for! Hugs!

[Jan1212]

Why would they tell you that you got the job and then having HR ignore you? Seems very unorganized to me, like pegasus said you don't want to work at a messy place like that anyway. You said license so is it an lpn? What institutions are you looking at? I am in the nursing field as well, but for any job you want to politely thank them (once) for considering you so they can know your name and when you apply again after their waiting period (some 1 month-6 months) apply again. Now, hospitals around my area require online applications. There is no such thing as a nursing shortage, with many people going into the field, places are swamped with applicants.

[RollerDerby]

Originally Posted by Jan1212

Why would they tell you that you got the job and then having HR ignore you? Seems very unorganized to me, like pegasus said you don't want to work at a messy place like that anyway. You said license so is it an lpn? What institutions are you looking at? I am in the nursing field as well, but for any job you want to politely thank them (once) for considering you so they can know your name and when you apply again after their waiting period (some 1 month-6 months) apply again. Now, hospitals around my area require online applications. There is no such thing as a nursing shortage, with many people going into the field, places are swamped with applicants.

No. I have my RN license, but I'm a new graduate and that makes this even more tricky. There is a huge, HUGE shortage in my area (some hospitals have upwards of 100 open positions, just for RN's) but they favor A)Returning nurses B) Promotions and unit/hospital changes C) BSN/MSN new graduates and D) Older-looking new graduates (I am only 23) and most of the time they only post 10-15 dedicated new graduate positions out of those 100 open.

I live in a major hospital area (three level I trauma centers within 20 miles of each other, each with 3/4 campuses all within a 30 mile radius, about 10 level III/II trauma centers within 50 miles, half a dozen nursing homes, half a dozen "retirement communities," a dozen urgent care centers, dedicated hospice facilities, dedicated psych facilities, you name it) so it's so strange I can't find a job.

I feel like what is happening is that the managers are too "polite" to turn me down, so instead they use these passive-aggressive avoidance techniques. One manager said yes to me to cover her rear-end because upper-level management was harassing her to fill the position, while hoping someone else took it over me (it was a poorly run nursing home), so after a week or so I find out she was telling management I was stalling and that way she could be more picky and pick a person she liked better, but didn't have the gumption to tell me that. :/

I also know most of these managers have NO experience as a manager, but since they were the oldest/most senior nurse they got the promotion despite being totally clueless; so things like returning calls just doesn't occur to them. They also seem to hire more based off of "personality" fit, and it seems like they tend to favor the outgoing, cheerleader type (no offense, just not my style). This is changing with my generation of nurses but not fast enough.

I'm just at a loss.

[Jan1212]

Hospitals don't hire new grads, most people start off at LTC, unless you have connections. When did you graduate? How long has it been, because a few people I knew took more than 6-8 months or they had to commute/move til they found the right place. I knew people get hired at their past clinical hospitals. My area's different, it's competitive, crowded, but the pay is high, are you willing to relocate? Some hospitals are resizing, and closing unfortunately. My fiance's mom is getting me to work at her hospital once I graduate, but I've got to get my BSN, are you continuing schooling? It is odd.. is your diploma accredited, who are your references? How have your classmates been doing? I'm sorry you are frustrated with this, they are so unprofessional.

[RollerDerby]

Originally Posted by Jan1212

Hospitals don't hire new grads, most people start off at LTC, unless you have connections. When did you graduate? How long has it been, because a few people I knew took more than 6-8 months or they had to commute/move til they found the right place. I knew people get hired at their past clinical hospitals. My area's different, it's competitive, crowded, but the pay is high, are you willing to relocate? Some hospitals are resizing, and closing unfortunately. My fiance's mom is getting me to work at her hospital once I graduate, but I've got to get my BSN, are you continuing schooling? It is odd.. is your diploma accredited, who are your references? How have your classmates been doing? I'm sorry you are frustrated with this, they are so unprofessional.

Hospitals DO hire new grads in my area, a lot of them, and I graduated from a school that, while an ADN program, gets better reviews and has better pass/hire rates (100% NCLEX first time pass rate and something like 90% hire rate within 6 months of graduation) than the nationally known BSN/ADN programs literally 20 miles away. I think only one or two of my classmates haven't found jobs, and from what I've dug up, they have similar personalities (quiet, self sufficient, not very outgoing but still really friendly). I have references from highly esteemed local nurses, and my CI's who have been in the game for years (one couldn't walk two feet in any local hospital without running into someone she knew), and I know that has a lot to do with my 15 odd interviews. I'm making it through the hell that is online application processes, at least.

Hell, I got an interview at a world-class (and famous) facility, really hit it off with the first manager who was more like me, but in the end got turned down for a LESS qualified applicant who "had a better fit with the unit." Oh, and I was "too qualified." It was a CT-Step-down unit and since I precepted in an MICU they felt that I would think that step-down was beneath me, or something.

However, there are three community colleges, two "for profit" schools (ECPI and Miller Mott, I think), and at least 4 BSN schools within an hours drive, almost half a dozen if you extend it out to two hours. The competition is enormous.

I plan on getting my MSN (minimum) and frequently tell managers this, but either they don't believe me or don't care; most hospitals offer at least a 60% tuition reimbursement for continuing ed, so I'm really trying to hold off starting.