New grad looking for a job in California

Very, very hard to find new-grad positions at any of the major hospitals in Northern California.

Only one member of our graduating class has independently secured a position in a hospital and that one is in a less-than-desirable location. By "independently" I mean through the standard hiring process. We have had a few graduates who were hired by the hospitals in which they did their internships.

How hard? Hmm. It's harder than getting to a nursing school, finishing nursing school, and taking nclex combined. I'm unemployed here in CA, thinking about moving to other state. But that would cost me a lot and I don't have money.

Agreed... nursing school and the NCLEX were a piece of cake compared to finding any job (let alone a full-time hospital gig) here in Northern California.

It's not that there aren't any jobs... it's that there are hundreds of applicants fighting for each one of them... and lots of us are willing to work for pretty much anything they'll pay us... since many of us are already volunteering, anyway.

I never thought I would say this but finding a job really was the hardest part of this whole nursing journey for me. I graduated in May '08 and didn't get a job until January '09 - and that was in a SNF! I only recently secured a job that starts next month at a hospital.
It is tough out there. REALLY REALLY tough.

I know some hospitals here in TX offers relocation assistance. Good luck i just got an internship which start on Monday, been looking around too i'm a May grad 09 i was already planning to relocate anywhere and i had few calls but i just got luck this week and i was offered a position now i dont have to relocate but dont give up hope.

Apply and see what happens. You just never know. I was one of the lucky ones.

Don't make the mistake of moving here and thinking you will be able to land a job. Northern and Southern CA are saturated with nursing schools with top notch students from 4 and 2 year programs. Many of those in 2 year programs already have BA/BS and Masters from previous careers. Its extremely competitive and hospitals know that and can knit pick to death in terms of who they want to hire. The pay is ridiculously high here and everybody knows that. You got new grads from in the state plus out of state and experienced nurses out of state who flock to Northern CA for the pay.

I can say from my graduating class of approximately 30, about 2-3 were able to land a job as new grad the old fashion way of applying, getting an interview, and landing a new grad position. Others in my class who got jobs were either through their preceptorships/interns (plus extremely lucky timing when they did their rotations) and those who worked in the hospital as either techs or clerks. I was one of the fortunate ones who got a job by applying the old fashion way.

Most hospitals here don't have any new grad positions open. Your best bet is to stay in Florida and apply there. You have 300 applicants apply for 10 spots in one hospital at the most! But right now there are about 0 spots for new grad positions. Occassionaly you will find 1 or 2 spots open, but those usually are geared for the ones who are currently working on that particular floor. But by law, they must post the position. If you find weird requisites in the new grad job descriptions, then it's safe to say that position is posted for someone in particular.

I don't want to burst your bubble but honestly if I were you I would not move to California unless you have a job assured already which it is almost impossible right now. Right now at LPCH, Versant is in the air. They canceled the spring one and might have one in september but even if they have it, there will be twice as many applicants which to begin with are in the hundreds. Then you only have a handful of jobs and there are a lot of students that work as CNA's at LPCH and they will most likely receive priority and if by a miracle there are spots left they will most likely be given to students that have did their clinical-preceptorship there. I'm sure you have been reading the posts around here and realize that you have to arm yourself with lot's of patience and if you can find a job in Florida, don't give up a sure thing for something so volatile here. Good luck to you finishing the program and with the NCLEX.

I also want to add that it's very hard for you to get into Lucille Packard unless you know someone.