how do I gain experience if I have no experience?

Nurses General Nursing

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How do I gain experience at a job if no one will hire me because I have no experience?

I live in Bergen County, NJ, I'm a 37 y/o male, interested in being a nurse in several years. Right now I want to gain experience by being an Assistant at a Rehab Facility. I have been applying but have not heard a response from any facility. What do I do?

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Specializes in Trauma, Orthopedics.

You keep applying. Branch out to different facilities. Do you have a cna certification? Most places require that (from what I've seen) if you're not in nursing school.

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What do you mean by wanting to be an Assistant? If you are not a CNA, they won't hire you to assist with patient care, it's that simple. If you ARE a CNA, then I do hope you are applying everywhere under the sun (or at least, within an area that is your maximum travel radius). You might work in a nursing home, long term care facility. I would assume you aren't only looking at Rehabs....?

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Specializes in Education.

Try looking into volunteer opportunities, as well. The nature of volunteering means that you don't get paid, but you do get your foot in the door.

Plus, like RNsRWe said, don't focus solely on rehab. Have you been looking at health system websites? Valley Health has lists of sub-acute facilities available.

It could also be simply that the places you're applying to aren't able, for whatever reason, to respond to all applicants.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

Move to a market that isnt saturated

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Thanks for responding,

I'm confused many people tell me that a CNA certificate is unnecessary in a Rehab setting, BUT at a hospital a CNA certificate is required...

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I really want to be a nurse, but I'm totally on my own I can't just NOT work to support myself. I want to be a CNA to support myself, gain experience, and get my foot in the door so I can go to school for nursing and work...

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And work at the place where I CNA at...I heard that many top level rehab places pay high, but they never hire New nursing grads.

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Specializes in Neuro, Telemetry.

Think about it this way. Whether you actually HAVE to have your CNA certificate is not the point. Get it anyway. When employers are looking at apps, if 5 people apply. 2 have their CNA and 3 don't. The employer will likely go with the CNAs unless you just have the most amazing interview skills or some background experience. Also, you say you heard that rehab doesn't require a CNA. While that may be true of a hand full of facilities, it is not true of all. Also, are you bothering to check the minimum qualifications as well as the preferred qualifications before applying? Meeting the minimum won't get you anywhere.

Dont give up, just broaden your search and get your CNA ASAP to give you more options. It will also help you in nursing school as well. GL

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I'm confused many people tell me that a CNA certificate is unnecessary in a Rehab setting, BUT at a hospital a CNA certificate is required...
I've been working at a rehab facility for the past four years and we DO NOT hire assistants unless they have a CNA certificate.

In addition, you are located in an area with an overly saturated healthcare job market. NYC and North Jersey are glutted with nurses, CNAs, and healthcare workers of all ranks and stripes.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

It is the law of supply and demand. There is plenty of supply and most of them are more qualified than you. Therefore you are not in demand and won't get the time of day. Whether they "require" a CNA is irrelevant. In your area probably an overwhelming percentage of candidates who do get hired has one. That means you need to have one too, no matter what the "requirements" state. Just like getting into nursing school - the website may say the minimum qualification is a 2.5 GPA, but if most of the other applicants have a 3.5 or better, you won't get in with the minimum.

Never go for the minimum and expect to get where you want. The road to your dream is through making yourself so attractive the employers will take notice of you. Right now you are not worth noticing. You have no experience, no certification, no skills in the area you are applying. This means you have nothing to bring the employer and they have all the burden and all the liability. Why would they want that? The best they get is an inexperienced, uncertified, unskilled worker. Chances are there are experienced, skilled and certified workers applying like gangbusters for the same thing you are.

Go get your CNA certificate. That is the first step. The second is to make a good impression on EVERYONE you meet who is in the medical field. Building contacts is the secret of success in a marketplace overburdened with more job seekers than jobs. The third is to recognize you will probably have to take a job you don't want to build the experience to get to the job you do.

I wish you the best of luck.

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You have to take a CNA class and get certified to be able to work as one. Go to your local community college for the class or a rehab center that offers the class

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