DEPRESSED New grad. What are we suppose to do?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi everyone,

I know this thread is nothing new... I guess I'm just looking for some insight or something.

I finished school in June, passed and all that and I'm registered. I have been searching for about 6+ months.

I first started applying to manly hospital job postings but for the last couple of months I apply to anything. (besides Homecare- I do not have my own car)

My question is HOW am I suppose to be spending my days? ahhhhh!! I feel like time is flying by.

I have completed an ECG course and am starting ACLS which I'm studying for. (I'm praying and hoping with everything that this opens some doors). I heard from another new grad (she finished around Christmas- it took her a while too to also land a job)

I currently live at home. All I do is workout and apply to jobs.

I've received one call (during the summer for a camp nurse job- he wasn't interested when he found out I haven't received my results back yet). I went on a interview for a nurse pool position- thought the interview went well - sent a thank you card... did all I could do. Didn't get the position. That has been it......

I try to get the hiring managers names to address on each cover letter. Many times I've been hit with "Sorry we are unable to give any specifics as to who to address... that is confidential" So, I am left with putting "Dear Human resource" ( this is what human resource told me- keep in mind I have gotten Hiring managers names but what good would that do if it goes through Human Resource first?)

Many of my friends have landed positions. Most in their last yr clinical rotations.. but were secured with a position before they even wrote their exam. I can't help but compare myself to them. I LOVED my pre-grad clinical rotation. I had an awesome time... everyone in the unit (express unit- not an actual floor) told me to apply (to an open position on a new floor), gave me awesome words of encouragement and introduced me to the nurse manager... she wrote my name down and everything. I never received a call... but I heard through the grape vine that one of my male classmates did. He never stepped foot in that hospital or anything. I guess I was just really hoping for that. "Would have been perfect" :crying2:

I have student loans like crazy and I have to start repaying my 2nd one at the end of the month. My other loan is calling me every damn day. Seriously, I did not sign up for this.

I mean, Somethings got to give. This is keeping me up at night. I lose hours of sleep stressing over this.

And each time I see someone they ask me "Did you find a job yet?" ...............

I guess the only good thing that has come from this is that I have lost 30+lbs. Other than that God help me :crying2:

ps. And getting references are a whole other stressors. None of my nursing clnical tutors are even returning back my emails or anything. I need references to even start a volunteer application........ in the hopes of getting my foot in the door.

Wish they would have told us this before we took all these loans out :crying2::crying2::crying2::crying2: I am losing my mind!!

I live in Southern Ontario.

whoa, and excuse my typos and horrible grammar... just a little frustrated :no:

Specializes in SICU, Telemetry.

I thought i am the only one who is struggling, but actually we are in same boat.

I came to US in 2009, and applied for credential evaluation which took almost 1 and half year. received my ATT in March 2011, took exam in May 2011. since than looking for job. I applied everywhere, but no response. I have 1 year experience in ICU, CCU, ER from my country, but they say we want US experience. Oh God, when no one is hiring me than how i am gonna get experience. Now my husband got job in MA so we moved from NY to MA.

In NY,when you call agencies they hang up on your face. But in MA at least they are listening and trying to help.

Best of luck to all who are struggling.

God will surely answer our prayers and efforts.

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Definitely take a close look at your resume and any materials you're submitting for your applications. Are you writing a cover letter? Have you had multiple people review it and make suggestions on it? Have you had people review and make suggestions on your resume?

It's important to sell yourself, your skills and abilities to the hiring office. They can't just intuitively know you're the best if you don't tell them WHY you're the best. I know you feel like the other girl in class was "networking" instead of working, but could she have been networking and still doing her job well?

It's usually typical that if you are having a hard time getting hired in any field to rework your resume and cover letter and practice your interviewing techniques. My aunt who is an LPN has been able to beat out RNs for jobs and gotten other awesome jobs her entire career because she just "gets" the whole resume and interviewing thing. Find someone you know like that and get their help!

Good luck in the meantime. I know it's very frustrating to have put in all that hard work and be without work in your field.

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Definitely take a close look at your resume and any materials you're submitting for your applications. Are you writing a cover letter? Have you had multiple people review it and make suggestions on it? Have you had people review and make suggestions on your resume?

It's important to sell yourself, your skills and abilities to the hiring office. They can't just intuitively know you're the best if you don't tell them WHY you're the best. I know you feel like the other girl in class was "networking" instead of working, but could she have been networking and still doing her job well?

It's usually typical that if you are having a hard time getting hired in any field to rework your resume and cover letter and practice your interviewing techniques. My aunt who is an LPN has been able to beat out RNs for jobs and gotten other awesome jobs her entire career because she just "gets" the whole resume and interviewing thing. Find someone you know like that and get their help!

Good luck in the meantime. I know it's very frustrating to have put in all that hard work and be without work in your field.

Thank you.

That was initially my first thought "well, it has to be my cover letter/resume" because something isn't adding up. We had an assignment in school (near the end of the year) - where we had our cover letter/resumes critiqued. I got 100% on that assignment. Who knows how thorough they were marked though.

I asked others for their imput on my cover letter months back... and I was told "it's your usual generic cover letter... put more YOU into it"

So, I took the hints and tips... tweaked it... highlighted my skills... what sets me apart... got the help of someone who use to work as a hiring manager and etc.

That generic cover letter/resume at least got me 2 calls... this new one = 0!

Who knows... I am so frustrated :crying2::sniff:

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Ah, sweetie, I'm sorry. Just keep tweaking it. I see resumes and cover letters as works in progress all the time. Tailor it for the job. Do you have an experience for that field that impressed you? Can you mention some facts you know about the practice? Keep sending it people to critique. Even the most shy will feel like they should give one suggestion.

You said something about your teachers earlier. Maybe an appointment to go over your paperwork, resume and cover letter would help? Not a request for help, but call and require they set aside time. And if they don't, they have a dean or other person to go to next for help. My mother is a dean and I know she takes on the extra workload. Next after that is the VP.

It's good for them to have you working. So don't feel like you're school as a resource is totally out.

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gahhh :uhoh21: I'm not about to tear my whole cover letter and resume apart again... I've been told it sounds really good. I tailor my cover letter for each position. I guess it wouldn't hurt to have a few other people read over it but I'm not going to write a whole new one :S

I'll just keep on keeping on and leaving it in God's hands.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical-Oncology.

Hello, I am sorry to hear this but this has become very common here too. My friend graduated with her BSN and found a job at a hospital. However, the job is not as a registered nurse. I think she applied as patient tech or CNA and she got the job. She applied to many different hospitals around her home area and she was lucky enough to find a job to pay the bills. Now she is networking there until she gets her RN license. Or try applying to nursing homes or prisions. If this doesn't work try to get a job in retail to pay the bills and for references try volunteering in your spare time. Also, maybe it wouldn't hurt to have an expert or even a friend take a look at your resume. hope this helps and good luck!

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I've applied to numerous nursing homes.... faxed resumes etc and followed up. They don't answer and have yet to return a call

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Specializes in Medical Surgical-Oncology.

I'm sorry to hear that. It took my friend years to find a job in the hospital and like I said before it's not even as RN. She applied all throughout her undergraduate years and her senior year she finally got a call back. This also reminds me of what happened to me with my undergraduate psychology degree. I applied for months and no response from employers. I did my resume in school at the career center and received an A for it. But I suspected that my resume was not making me stand out to employers. I started getting call backs when I completely changed everything about my resume. It was sad but I had to do it. But if this keeps happening try to find a job outside of your field to pay back the loans because loan default can hurt your chances of taking out loans in the future. Good luck with everything!

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i feel the exact same way. its worse somedays and then some days i dont think about it at all and just have fun! I am a may '10 grad and about a year later i stumbled upon a new grad program... now i havent gotten any hours for MONTHS... i am a new grad again =( been searching and searching for ANYTHING new grad since i technically dont have even the 6 month experience requirement. loans came back full force... people asking if i even work giving advice i've heard for YEARS... its sad. i just sit on the computer most days looking for jobs. no hopes of moving bc i dont have money... somebody hire us!!

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

You may have to relocate. I would imagine some rural areas of Canada may have more of a need for nurses. What about the northern territories or Native areas?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

Get tough.

Network on a site like Linkedin

(World's Largest Professional Network | LinkedIn)and ask re jobs, give specifics, put your experience/details on there. Put down ANY experience, ie: clinicals, temp jobs, volunteering. Contact all the nursing agencies and see if they can help out.

Also if u have so many friends who have jobs, can't they help you?

And HR are not nurses. There must be job ads with people's names on them. Tell them putting Dear HR isn't acceptable. I think they're trying to fob you off TBH.

I'm not in the states or wherever you are so my advice won't be quite specific.

I always advocate that young people now should not go into nursing. The job market is NOT secure anywhere now & they are not mature enough to handle everything we have to deal with. I'd look at doing a separate course that gets you a job. Also do ANY job that comes your way - not just nursing - as that will give u money & keep ur spirits up. Apply for all and anything, even if u don't think ur qualified & say something like: willing to train or stay back to be train/do training courses.

I hope you get something soon.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.
gahhh :uhoh21: I'm not about to tear my whole cover letter and resume apart again... I've been told it sounds really good. I tailor my cover letter for each position. I guess it wouldn't hurt to have a few other people read over it but I'm not going to write a whole new one :S

I'll just keep on keeping on and leaving it in God's hands.

Private email me. I worked nursing HR for 3 years, I CAN help you and I have a little time to do it b4 my holidays are over & I go back to work. Do not despair, there are people who want to help you.

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