New Grad job help please!

Nurses LPN/LVN

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I am a new Grad LVN and in the process of looking for a job. How important is a cover letter? Should I customize it per facility? Is it okay to just stop in a facility and ask for an application? Any job hunting advice would be well received. It is a frustration that every one wants 6 months to a year experience. How do I get it if no one will hire me?

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Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.

When I was an LPN it was indeed a struggle to get an interview. Even the nursing homes in my area are backing away from hiring new lpns and rn's :( it doesn't hurt to go into a facility and ask for an application. I used cover letters for online apps, but idk if they were ever read . I eventually got a job after a month and a half at a detention center, and while it may not be ideal to some, it was a job and I needed one lol. Have you tried methadone clinics, and home health ? Even some places will hire an LPN to be a school nurse as well. Best of luck, I know how hard it is out here.

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If it is a lvn job and says experience 'preferred' I have applied. Not only do I want a job, I need a job...I will take anything I can get. Home Health is difficult to get into in my area. They want 1 plus years of experience.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.

Yeah they said the same thing to me too. Have you looked into state psych hospitals? That's one place I didn't look into as an LPN.

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The state psych hospital I worked at hired LPNs and was welcoming to new grads. Also check out the VA. They also hire LPNs.

Definitely send a cover letter and customize it to the hospital, position, and what they're looking for. Read the job posting & try to explain why you fit their criteria and what you will bring their facility. I always made sure to add something about how I relate to their mission statement or values.

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Thanks that's great advice! I definitely will try the psych route and will pay attention to what they are looking for. I have worked for the same company for the last ten years and job hunting is so different. I just filled out another application online. It took me a hour to do so and will probably not get a call. I find it difficult to sell myself to a computer.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.

Are you in CA or TX? I'm in Northern CA and can give you some tips based on my local market.... I think each local job market is different with regard to what works and what doesn't.

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Are you in CA or TX? I'm in Northern CA and can give you some tips based on my local market.... I think each local job market is different with regard to what works and what doesn't.

I'm in southern California and would love any help. :)

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Specializes in 4.

Keep applying!!! I had my cover letter customized for each job I applied to. I applied to every hospital from Southern California & never let anyone stop me. You can apply to the State Corrections & call agencies as they will help too. That's actually how I got my experience initially.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.

I'm in nor cal...I think that if you apply to 5 jobs per week you are likely to get some call backs. Set your sights high, but be reasonable. In my area, caregiver companies and non-medical home care seem to love new grads...at about $10-12/hr!! Ugh! But it is a job! Be open to jobs that don't pay super high....2 girls at my school have job offers paying 16-19/hr, which is low for nurses but decent. Try hospital websites and craigslist and walking in. Consider registry work, too.

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I'm in nor cal...I think that if you apply to 5 jobs per week you are likely to get some call backs. Set your sights high but be reasonable. In my area, caregiver companies and non-medical home care seem to love new grads...at about $10-12/hr!! Ugh! But it is a job! Be open to jobs that don't pay super high....2 girls at my school have job offers paying 16-19/hr, which is low for nurses but decent. Try hospital websites and craigslist and walking in. Consider registry work, too.[/quote']

I will take whatever I can get. I have a number in my head that I don't want to go below, but I may (it's pretty low). I filled out two applications today for jobs I know are hiring. I was really nervous, but I'm feeling so much better.

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I'm in SoCal to . Looking and applying to jobs 24-7 . mostly from Craigslist and indeed . I send my resume out to jobs maybe 10-15 times a day. still have about 4 Apps to return to Facilities (I was waiting for my License number to Post , & it posted yesterday morning yayyy) . what area are you in . I'm in the Long Beach area & Redondo beach area. there are ALOT of LTC & SNFs in long beach !

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