[Erica1019]

Hello!! Quick question for you all. I will be graduating in May with my RN....i have a few questions I can't find the answer to. First off..when do you apply for jobs?? Prior to obtaining your license?? After??? And for all of you whove gotten jobs..was it difficult? Did you get a reply immediately..or was it not as eay as you thought???

[hollykate]

Apply now. Not later. Most students are interviewing right now for the jobs.
As far as how hard and easy, it depends on you, what type of position you want etc. I foudn ti easy to find a job but I have seen some posts where people have had a very hard time...

[smilin_gp]

I also am graduating in May, but I do know that when to apply for jobs depends on the HR preferences of the different hospitals. For example, I know of a few who want all new grad applications in by March, and any hiring/consideration is contingent upon graduating and passing NCLEX in May/June.

[FutureRN2005]

Originally Posted by Erica1019

Hello!! Quick question for you all. I will be graduating in May with my RN....i have a few questions I can't find the answer to. First off..when do you apply for jobs?? Prior to obtaining your license?? After??? And for all of you whove gotten jobs..was it difficult? Did you get a reply immediately..or was it not as eay as you thought???

My suggestion is not to wait. If you want to work in a "specialty area", many times they only will hire a limited number of new grads. I graduated in Dec. and waited until nov. to apply and caused myself alot of unnecessary stress. By the time i applied most of my classmates had offers already because they applied early.
Good luck to you!

[healer27]

Hi, I'm graduating in May as well and would agree with everyone else posts to apply now. I am going to be doing an internship, and as long as I pass the NCLEX will start immediatly in august. GULP.

I did interview at another hospital as well, and if I decided to go there they told me to respond by March, because from that point forward they could "hold" an position for me in the summer after graduating if I was interested.

so, go go go and good luck!

[IffaRN]

It really depends on the hospital that you are applying too. I graduated in June 2005 and some of my classmates had interviewed for residency positions in May and was offered positions the same month provided they passed their NCLEX. However, there were other area hospitals who wouldn't want you to apply unless you already have your RN license or you did your student preceptorship at the department you are applying too..

Call around and talk to their nurse recruiters and see what they have to say..

GOOD LUCK!

[MIA-RN1]

Do it now. I am graduating in May as well, and I've had a job lined up since late October. It was easy. I went in, asked what they had for new grads, told her what I was interested in, and a week later came back and met the NM and hired on the spot.
If you have a chance to shadow, do it. In my case I didn't, because I'd already known I wanted to work there. I did have a tour, meet some nurses, get an idea of nurse/pt ratios etc.
Go to it!

[RNnTraining1973]

I graduated in June 2005, but had a job by the first week of February (contingent upon my passing school, of course). They wanted my application in by the first week of January, when I returned for my final semester of school. Granted, I had been working in this ICU since December of 2003 after my first semester of school as an Apprentice Nurse. It was nice not having to stress about finding a job, filling out applications, interviews, etc. and concentrate on school.

Melanie = )

[LeesieBug]

Graduating in May....applied at the Hospital I wanted to work for in November....interviewed mid-December.... and was hired the first week of January. Now I am just waiting to hear what department I am going to work in, after interviewing with the nurse managers of the areas I am interested in.

As another poster mentioned, it is a big relief that I won't have to worry about the job hunt and interviewing later this semester, when things get hectic.

While it does vary by facility (how far ahead they hire new grads), I would definitely start now.....I know a few people who have already missed out on getting into the hospitals they wanted because they didn't realize that some of them hire so early.

Happy hunting

[hbncns35]

Agree with everyone else - Do it Now!!!!

I hesitated and lost the position I wanted and found out there were a bunch of people already ahead of me in January...I graduate in May.
I am interviewing right now..........................Actually waiting for the interview time from HR. Same floor I do clinical on. The one I lost was where I was an extern for 9months........Kept everything cool so I can get in there later provided I don't fall in love with somewhere else......