FlyEnvironmental7586's journey

Applied at dental office for receptionist

I recently had a frustrating experience while interviewing for a receptionist position at a dental office after spending 12 years in retail, primarily in visual merchandising and management roles. I applied for a few administrative jobs on Indeed and was pleased to see that my application caught the attention of this dental office. After reaching out to the recruiter, I managed to secure a phone interview. However, my current work schedule, which is Monday to Friday from 7 AM to 4 PM, only allowed me to interview during my lunch hour or after work. On the day of the interview, I found myself waiting endlessly for the call. I sent a message to the recruiter at 12:26 PM, and she called me back right away, explaining that she had been in a meeting that ran late. I understood that things happen, but I had to ask to reschedule for the next day at noon due to a shorter lunch break I had to take that day because of management coverage issues. While she agreed to reschedule, I received a rather rude message later that day, reiterating our discussion in a passive-aggressive tone. The next day, she called at the scheduled time, but I felt her attitude suggested a lack of respect for my time. During the interview, she asked what I knew about the practice, and while I mentioned that it was a dental office, I did share some knowledge about the doctor running it. I expressed that my skills in planning, scheduling, and customer interactions could transition well into a patient care environment. When asked about my strengths, I mentioned my adaptability to new expectations, especially since retail has become unpredictable. However, I stumbled when discussing my weaknesses, saying that my decision-making felt rusty since I had shifted my focus more towards merchandising. Ultimately, I received a rejection, which left me feeling stuck in retail and questioning my future. I’m seeking advice on how to move forward from this experience.