[funsizedliv]

I start my last semester of school on the 22 of this month, I know the teachers are going to help us with resume's and everything, but I hear about people getting jobs in nursing before they have even graduated. So I was wondering when is a good time to really start looking?

[PralineLPN]

NOW! Get your resume and cover letter typed up. You'll be refining it constantly, and your grad date sneaks up on you very quickly. Send them out to places of interest, and tell them the situation. That you're about to graduate, need to take boards, etc. They usually understand and place you in their files. Now you have a contact at a place you want to work. Make sure you update the recruiter on your progress. Once or twice a month, at most. Don't forget about online applications, theres usually a bunch of positions on Monster or one of those other job sites. Send a hard copy a day or two later. Call to make sure they got it.

[llg]

I agree that you should be looking now. At least contact the recruiters at the hospitals that interest you and ask them what THEIR timetable for hiring is. Some hospitals have special orientation programs for new graduates that only begin on certain months. If you wait too long, those positions may be filled and/or you may have missed an application deadline you didn't know about. Other places are so popular that they simply fill up by April or May with committments from new grads to start employment in June or July.

So ... at least contact them and collect the information about their desired timetable. Find out from them what timetable they prefer. Let them know of their interest and cooperate with their timetable. Don't assume that it is the same at each hospital or in each city or in each year. Don't assume that their preferred timetable matches your preferred timetable. etc.

Contact them and ask them directly. They will usually give you a straight answer.

[funsizedliv]

Yeah, I thought that I should start applying, but wasn't sure if I was going to get laughed at or something for applying so soon. thanks a bunch

[Tweety]

Good luck. I applied for and got a job in February, and graduated in May. Many of the techs on my unit that graduate in May already have their positions lined up.

[dansamy]

I waited until after our pinning ceremony. I was just too nervous about anything messing it up and having to decline a position.

[truern]

I applied and was hired (assuming I passed NCLEX, of course) during my last semester on the unit were I was doing my clinical. I'd venture to say that half of my class had jobs lined up before graduation.

I was pinned in May, took the NCLEX in June, and began my new grad orientation in July. Quite the whirlwind!!

I'd say "Go for it!!" Get your foot in the door at least

[funsizedliv]

Just an update:
I sent out my resume to a couple of places, and surprisingly, I got a callback already!

[dansamy]

That's not surprising. Most places are desperately hiring and will sign you to a contract well before you've finished school.

[ITsurvivor06]

That's not been my experience at all, unfortunately. I think it depends on a lot of factors, and varies by state and facility. LPNs cannot work as graduate nurses in Indiana, but can work in other capacities such as CNA until becoming licensed. All my contacts have said, "Be sure to let us know when you get your license" and that's pretty much it. I just took the NCLEX-PN today, and most I have talked to are licensed within 2-3 days, so God willing, I will be working soon......FINALLY!!! I CAN'T WAIT!!