How to get hired in LTC as an LVN

From what I'm hearing around here LA's not hirin' no body...kinda stinks.
I was just lucky I guess, walked in after four months of looking, applied and she hired me...somethin'll happen. Took me four months

I think nowadays, top of the class don't cut it, title is title, don't matter what school you graduate from. LVN, you will have a difficult time, much less if your title is "RN."
Get in to whatever you can, it doesn't have to be LTC. Your whole purpose is to get your feet in to a job, and from there you can gain experience and at the same time be on a look out.....

In addition, use the internet, the best tool ever! Email the director as I did myself. If you are really in need of a job b/c of whatever personal reasons or obligations, get whatever is being offered for the time being.

Last year I had 7 jobs (1 fulltime, the rest per diems, and one part time postal). This year I cut it down to 3.

Try www.craigslist.com I just pulled it up and looked at LA, typed in LVN under medical/health and tons of jobs just came up. Good luck !!!!

My advice and my personal experience is: Dont drop off resumes and dont follow up by phone. If you want to get a job in LTC/SNF walk in and ask for the DON and ask in person for a job. If He/she says no, give them your appplication in person and every couple of weeks stop by put your head in the office and say hello. The hiring process in LTC/SNF is fairly simple and easily influenced by one or two people at the facility.

My first job out of school, I walked in and asked the DON for a job and he said "No, we only hire experienced nurses here". I said OK and proceded to chat about something completely unrelated to nursing and wound up getting hired because he thought I would fit in well. I have talked to a couple of other people that have had similiar experiences at other facilities.

If you drop off a resume you are just another list of qualifications asking for work which makes it easier to turn you down.

When you go to the facility, please make sure you are dressed appropriately. Don't bring a sick kid, an unshaved boy friend, your dog. Check and double check your resume' and cover letter for spelling and grammatical errors. Don't ask for Monday through Friday only. Don't say you won't work holidays. Do some homework about the facility. Even if you have no experience after school, come up with something you ruled at during school.
I am not making this up. I have had people come in asking for a job with 'extras' in tow....glaring spelling mistakes....demanding a day shift Monday through Friday job. And, as good as you are, know that sometimes it's a simple as being in the right place at the right time. Good luck.