Last Wednesday, I had my first job interview in 5 years at a luxury retirement living community in Rancho Bernardo. My friend from my nursing program used to work there, and put a good word in for me and any other nursing students who were interested in the job. After I thought about it, I realized I really only had ONE formal and personal one-on-one interview before, and that is when I was 16 working retail! Everything else was a group interview or joke interviews created by the moms I used to nanny for. I didn't know what to expect or really what to say, but I just went for it! After these past 2 semesters in nursing school, I've learned I can talk about myself all day if I needed to! Especially in relation to my "nursing" skills.
My pre-interview, "wish me luck" face :/
The interview was surprisingly quick. It was my potential future manager and an RN I would be working with and they just asked me about my experience in nursing school and how to handle certain scenarios. I have tests almost weekly on things like this so that was cake for me! But because the interview was only 10 minutes or less, I wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing. She said she had a couple more interview and will let me know soon!
WELL!! Yesterday, a week later, I got a call saying that I was hired as their new Per Diem CNA!
YAY!!
I'm excited! This is going to be a great job for me! Because I will be working per diem, I will not have a strictly set schedule. She will send out a monthly calendar and I get to pick which days and shifts I want to work, as long as I work at least 2 days per month...PERFECT flexibility with school! I meet with HR tomorrow to go over some paperwork and start the process of background checking and getting exams done, and as soon as I finish that, I start my orientation in each of my 3 areas: independent living, dementia unit, and assisted living. Hopefully I'll have all of that done before the end of April so I can pick my shifts for May!
I'm planning a camping trip to the Yosemite area during my 2 weeks before I start summer semester! I gotta get dibs on the good shifts so I can make a little summer money before then!
:D
