Re: STILL don't have a job?? Vent here!

I graduated on May 2, 2009. Took boards (and passed!) on June 11, 2009. I have been applying to jobs since March 2009. I have applied to 10+ hospitals and have had 5 interviews, but I have had no offers yet. Pretty much all the people I know that I've talked to have jobs now.

I'm seriously wondering if I should look into the birth center or a dual diagnosis treatment center that I have tons of interest in. I really wanted to work at a hospital starting out as a new grad, but this is just getting very frustrating. If I do want to go to grad school in the future, the one I am looking at requires 1 year of nursing experience. Each month that goes by delays my future grad school application by one month.

I am also afraid that I am forgetting everything I learned in nursing school and that I will be behind my peers!

Everyone I talk to says that something will come up soon! I sure hope so.

Re: STILL don't have a job?? Vent here!

I swear I could have written about 1/2 of the previous posts on this topic. Yes, I too am in the same slow, leaky boat. Graduated with high honors, took my NCLEX yesterday (and according to the 'trick' I passed with 75 questions). I have been applying for jobs since February and have had a grand total of 1 interview for a nurse residency job, and there were somewhere in the neighborhood of 60 applicants. Didn't get the job.

I have applications out in a 100 mile radius and still nothing. I am not sure what to do next. There is literally nothing out there. Or I get rejection letters as they have the pick of the litter and want experience. I've tried about all I can and have a very nice resume, still nothing. It is just sad.

I am told there are lots of jobs in other areas, however my hubby will not leave his position for me to get a job, so relocating is out of the question. Sad to say, I graduated a month ago and I am already on the verge of depression. Trying to stay positive, but if I don't get out of the house and work soon, my mind will turn to oatmeal and I will forget all the great things I have learned. Sigh.

Oh, and I am in the Illinois/Wisconsin area. I could work in either state... still I can't find a thing! Agghhhh.

Re: STILL don't have a job?? Vent here!

Originally Posted by blackkat312

Chicago is no better. I am at my wits end applying to nearly every hospital in a 60 miles radius of Chicago. Sent about 60 applications, recommendation letters, transcripts, not a single interview!!! I too graduated in May, BSN with honors from a top nursing school, passed NCLEX with 75 questions, have nurse intern, tech and a ton of volunteering experience. Its even worse when I hear about so many of my classmates getting jobs at the places that denied me . I don't know what to do, but I am considering waitressing or bartending so I can make a little money...;(

I too have applied in a 60 plus mile radius. I have even looked at moving to areas 200 miles away, getting a studio apt and coming home to see dh on short visits. It's not working. I still say, where is the nsg shortage in the midwest except in LTC? BTW, been a nurse for 25 years.

Re: STILL don't have a job?? Vent here!

Argh!!! Still no call backs!!! *shakes fist at computer*

Re: STILL don't have a job?? Vent here!

Yes the job market is not as good as it has been in the past. You will get a job it is just going to take a little longer than it did a few years ago. Keep positive so you can give off good vibes during interviews.

Re: STILL don't have a job?? Vent here!

I know it sucks. I hate when people say hang in there. I want to scream...'to what shall I hang on to?' I graduated in March 09, nclex june 09 passed. Started applying in January 09. Got no call backs, no interviews, nothing. Then about one month after graduating I got a really bad impacted tooth, had an absess grow in my throat and needed emergency surgery. While lying there recouping I get two student nurses that I knew quite well. One of them says 'they are hiring new grads for a new program at the hospital. So I applied. After a very long time I finally got an interview and I nailed it. My advice to you is be funny even if you don't feel like it. Don't appear desperate. Be light. Cause these are the people that you will be working with and nobody wants to work with a depressed newbie. Try to make it seem as though if chosen you will be the best coworker they have ever seen.
Just keep your chin up. Know that even this will make you stronger.

Re: STILL don't have a job?? Vent here!

How can I get a job if they kept on asking for 1 to 2 years of experience? Why don't they give us new RN grads a chance to show them that we are willing and motivated to learn? I hate to see a lot of open positions for RN's with experience only and not getting filled. It just makes me feel sad

Re: STILL don't have a job?? Vent here!

Originally Posted by Thank_You_RNs

How can I get a job if they kept on asking for 1 to 2 years of experience? Why don't they give us new RN grads a chance to show them that we are willing and motivated to learn? I hate to see a lot of open positions for RN's with experience only and not getting filled. It just makes me feel sad

exactly! sigh!

Re: STILL don't have a job?? Vent here!

Gosh ya'll are scaring me....I pray to God the job market is better when I graduate in two years!

I know your pain, I couldn't find a job when I finished my NA course...But then I applied to a hospital about 90 miles from my hometown...stepped out on faith and was hired :-)

Good luck to everyone and remember when God closes a door, He opens a window...

What God has for me is for me :-)

Re: STILL don't have a job?? Vent here!

Hello, I'm new to allnurses.com, a 2009 BSN, signed up today to get the gossip on the lack of jobs for grad RNs. I'm in Philadelphia - nobody is hiring new grads (except a few smaller hospitals are hiring new grads from their nursing schools only). I can't believe it, and now I'm learning there are 2008 grads that do not have jobs yet! I can absolutely relate to the person who wrote about how frustrating it is when people say "oh, there are tons of RN jobs" like I'm not looking hard enough. There are a lot of RN jobs here, but they all want experienced RNs - they specifically do not want new grads! Just venting -