The Job Search

I'm pretty close to having a job. At least I hope so. I'd been looking a little before I left for my trip, and there are a bunch of places hiring nurses, just not new nurses. Everybody wants someone experienced because it doesn't cost the hospital or organization as much to orient/train them. I had looked at job postings at the Corvallis Clinic, but because they were asking for 6 months of prior experience I didn't apply. But about a month ago my dad got home from taking my grandma to her weekly doctor's appointment and handed me a business card. My grandma has been bragging about me and mentioned that I had been having some trouble finding a job. Well, her nurse said that I could use his name on my application as the reference if I applied for the open positions they had at the clinic. I guess it really is all about who you know and who they know. :)

The day I left for the Caribbean I got a phone call asking me to come in for a pre-screening interview for a job I applied for at the Corvallis Clinic. They laughed when I told them that I was leaving for St. Thomas for 2 weeks, saying it was the best excuse they had heard for needing to postpone an interview.

When I got back I went in and the first interview went great. They explained to me at the end that it is a long process. This was just the first of what will be about 4 interviews. They called me back the next day and I had another interview last week. It was a panel interview but it went really well too. I was nervous but prepared. They were really warm and gave me immediate positive feedback. They mentioned toward the end that they move kind of slow at calling back and I might not hear back for 48 to 72 hours, possibly not until next week. But I heard back within 24 hours! I'll called today to set up the third interview - it's on Wednesday at 11. This time the interview will be with the physicians from the departments I'm being considered for to make sure I'm a good fit for them.

It seemed like the way the interviewers in the panel put it, these next interviews are more like a formality than anything else. I still have to impress the physicians, but I'm through the hardest part of the process. I'm excited to start working, and the possibility of being able to stay in Oregon and the Corvallis area. :)