Applying and interviewing for a job as a new grad NP (part 2)

After all of the applications come the interviews. I had the unique experience of applying for jobs during a pandemic so my interviews were mostly virtual. Every potential position started with a phone interview with a recruiter. In my first few phone interviews, I had notes for some of the major questions they ask like tell me about a time when you used critical thinking or what are your top three strengths and weaknesses?

Next were the video interviews or second phone interviews. I had many video interviews which worked out well because I could be flexible in the timing. I was able to do some interviews fifteen minutes after waking up from a nap after working a night shift (and being over video didn’t show how tired my eyes looked, which was a plus). I had interviews with one person and panel interviews that lasted 5 hours. Those ones were the worst because I was literally glued to my computer for an entire morning and afternoon. I even did a few video interviews while I was on vacation. One of my second phone interviews happened while I was in the middle of vacuuming my house. It was convenient because I just took a short break from housework and went back to cleaning my after it was over.

I had only two in-person interviews that came later on in my search. One was with one physician of a primary care practice, and the other was for the job I am currently at. I enjoyed the in-person interviews because I was able to meet face to face and feel more personable. I also enjoyed the tour at the end of the interviews which I think is very important because I wanted to know what kind of environment I could potentially work in.

At my former workplace, of the twenty-six applications I submitted, I only interviewed for three of them. I got to the final panel interview for each of them but wasn’t selected. Some of the positions were posted for many months (even before I graduated). Obviously, I wasn’t selected for any of those positions, but I couldn’t believe that my current place of work had no interest in keeping their employees. I was bitter about it for a while because I put a lot of time and energy into that organization and one of the main points in their mission/vision/values was to retain employees and help them to advance their careers.

The whole application and interview process took about eight months before I officially accepted a position as a nurse practitioner. I did about twenty-five interviews in total. After about eight or nine interviews, I no longer was nervous. By the time I interviewed for my current position, I was so comfortable with telling other people about myself and what my goals were that I sounded pretty confident in my knowledge and abilities. What helped me land this job as a bone marrow NP was my background in bone marrow transplant as a bedside RN, I had done some NP clinical rotations in bone marrow transplant, and I sent thank you emails to (almost) everyone I interviewed with. Sending a thank you email or note shows that you are grateful for the experience and that you really want the position. It helps you stand out from other applicants and increases your chances of being offered the job.

There were a few times I was close to giving up on finding a job that I would enjoy. Each week that passed I looked less and less for new positions. I didn’t want to get stuck in a job that I wouldn’t like or be overworked by taking on a position that seems too hard for a new grad. I waited a LONG time for the perfect position to come along and I am so grateful for the job I have now. Working with cancer and bone marrow transplant patients has always been my goal as a nurse and I am so excited to see where this job takes me as a nurse practitioner.