Tried for job in the NHS

phonemonkey

I recently interviewed for a band 2 (non medical) role at a hospital, with not many interviewing and seemed fast moving to get someone in the position, it was declared.
Most of my research before the interview suggested it really was quite a wait to start etc but the interviewers gave some other impression.

I was quite nervous on the day as bit out of practise and couldn't believe my luck really at getting an interview honestly that I imagined it would be a 'no thanks', so much so I psyched myself up to hear a decline on the day it was said I was due to hear.

I've heard nothing, the online account hasn't updated since offer of interview, no missed email gone into spam, so have a few thoughts - 1st) that the successful person has maybe asked for time to consider the job - eek, does that happen with the NHS? (it was shift work with the role, all kinds of patterns only announced during the actual interview and I wonder (ok hoping!) if it was enough to put some others off.)
2nd) is it just possible to be 'ghosted' from this point by the NHS?  will totally respect their busy people.

Appreciate it is a bit random, but my understanding is NHS interviews are scored? therefore, say just if no one scored well, would they just re-advertise, rather then have 2nd choice candidate be offered the job etc.

Grateful for any views as this was my first try for an nhs job, well getting as far as an interview. Thx for reading.

rainbowtrout

NHS HR. slowest and most useless bunch of people in the world. If you don't hear anything in a month give them a prod, but it's not uncommon for people, or certainly doctors and nurses, to start without contracts since if we waited for HR at the time of august rotations we'd just have patients dead in the corridors from having no one recruited to look after them... 

phonemonkey

rainbowtrout

Made me smile remembering as I was walking into the area/dept for my interview, someone did actually ask me (an interviewee .. where the 'HR department' was, for once I was glad I had googled where I needed to go just to help the other person) 

oh_really

Contact the hiring manager for feedback (s/he) can tell you if an offer is coming your way.

josephine82

What did they tell you at the interview about when you will hear back? If the time has passed then it’s totally acceptable to call or email to follow up. 

Just contact the hiring managers via details from the job advert. 

I’ve recruited a lot in the NHS and often take a good few days to debate candidates especially if there are candidates who score similarly. If I don’t think someone is appointable I would contact by email to confirm ASAP but I know a lot of trusts just ask HR to send a generic reject once the successful candidate has accepted. 

If the response comes back that you weren’t successful then it’s a good opportunity to ask for feedback. 

phonemonkey

Thanks for all the guidance.

I basically had the interview on a Thursday, being told they would not keep me waiting as only three interviewees and that I would hear next day in their own words.

On Wednesday, allowing for even an unsuccessful letter to arrive or online to update, still not hearing, I bite the bullet and called HR named in the contact who said they couldn't give me any answer due to system issues, promising me at the very least to update the account. I think at this point I really got the answer needed.

A week now past the interview with not hearing anything, I think I now have to write this off and appreciate all trusts act differently.

josephine82

Do you have the names of the people on the interview panel? If so then you could just call the main trust phone number and ask for one of them so you can speak to them directly or at least leave a message. 

Don’t let it put you off. Keep searching! 

phonemonkey

Thanks again, I genuinely think this job has gone, it has occurred to me the person leaving that created the vacancy existing, may had changed their mind as the interview timeframe was rather touch and go I thought, good point about contact, I do have the names of the interviewers and could remember viewing them on L----kedin at the point I made the application.

I've seen a few more back house support jobs (just not the one I originally went for) crop up under the same trust in other departments, I wanted to ask if you apply for more than one role, would that get you ruled out? 

Whilst a different position but something I've thought I wouldn't mind trying, I have also seen a band 2 nursing assistant starter opportunity at my local hospital (fortunately a different trust altogether) which I think I would like to apply for, just thinking how I can use my domiciliary care experience which is a little out of date which may help the application as they've indicated in the ad.

josephine82

In my experience as a hiring manager I wouldn’t know if you had applied for more than one role within the trust. If only see the applications for one role. 

In terms of the slightly different position, maybe look at the essential criteria they list and identify if any of your experience matches the criteria and if so address it in the cover letter. If it doesn’t then explain the skills you have got and why you think they might be transferable. I would also make it clear in your letter why the change of direction from your current role, so that’s clear upfront. 

Good luck 

yvonne13_2

OP, I applied for a role at the NHS and it took 3 weeks for a conditional offer letter to come plus an additional 6 weeks for me to start my role. They too were looking for someone to start quick.

bexybest

It's poor form that they have not contacted you with an outcome. As a recruiting manager in the NHS I always phone all candidates regardless or whether they were successful or not. Normally on the same day as the whole process is a right pain.

Number 1 tip for NHS applications - follow the Person Spec and evidence each point in the supporting information. Don't assume they know anything about you. For example, I have recently had candidates apply for a role requiring 5 GCSE's who don't state they have GCSE's but state their degree only. Zero points in shortlisting for that - it comes across as lazy if you don't tailor each job application to the role/person spec.

Lastly, recruiting managers won't know you have applied for other roles in the Trust as all applications are anonymised during shortlisting stages. The only exception would be if the same manager is recruiting a number of roles at the same time - they may spot the repeats. But if you are tailoring your application then it shouldn't matter regardless.

Good luck.