Concerns about getting a job after graduation

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Hello!

So I am a junior nursing student, and I keep hearing about the bleak job prospects for new grads. With graduation less than 1.5 years away, I just want to make sure I am doing everything in my power to enhance my career.

-I have a 3.95 GPA, but I heard GPAs aren't as important anymore as experience

- Last summer I shadowed on a neuroscience floor for a month, had a job as a camp counselor for a month, and volunteered at a diabetes camp as a student nurse for a week

- I will be doing an independent study all of next semester (helping my professor with her research)

- Next summer, I do not think I will be doing an externship. Not only are they hard to get but as embarrassing as this is, I never went and got my license in high school because I always had a very intense phobia of cars. I would like to stay close to home & finally get it (yay me)! If I go out and get an externship for 8-12 weeks, I probably will not be home long enough to feel comfortable enough to pass a driving test. With that being said, next summer, I will try to volunteer a lot with kids (interested in peds), study for the Nclex, try to get a job as either a CNA (will take the certification test in May & see if I can get a job for the summer on such short notice) or just get a waitressing job, and I will volunteer at my diabetes camps again for a few weeks.

I really want to do everything I can to get a job after graduation because my ultimate goal is to go back to school for a NP degree after working for a year or two. Soo...with all this being said, does anyone have any advice for things I can do to make myself stand out? Should I be worrying so much about graduation?

Thank you everyone for all of your advice, I appreciate it!

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Specializes in ER.

There are a variety of factors. No one asked for my GPA on my applications. The best benefit of having a job is that you can apply internally and get access to nursing jobs. That was a big factor in having two job offers before I even walked for graduation.

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Specializes in oncology, MS/tele/stepdown.

My area is very competitive and my externship got me my job. Of my core NS friend group, the only one who didn't get a job immediately is the only one who didn't work as a tech or extern. That being said, it took her 6 months to find a job, which is not that bad from what I hear.

I think listing all those experiences is a good idea. I personally put my GPA on my resume, but what I think makes a resume is a consistent work history.

And it's okay, I am 25 and still don't have a license. Not that I am proud of that lol!

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I graduated from an Associate Degree program in May and everyone that I graduated with has gotten a nursing job within 2 months after graduating, and most of them were not working as techs. A lot of them started one job, didn't like it, and then got a new job. Most of them also work in the hospitals- it all really depends on your area.

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

Put that stuff on your resume!! It WILL help you stand out from other new grads.

Focus on getting that DL- you'll definitely want to have that before you start interviewing for jobs, and you do not want a fear like that holding you back from getting to work on time.

There are a ton of volunteer opportunities out there. Find something that speaks to you!

There's also the possibility of a CNA job. While it's not counted as nursing experience, per se, it WILL help you stand out.

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