Why don't I have a job right now?

U.S.A. Minnesota

Published

I know I'm in the same boat as many new grad RN's so I don't want to make it seem like I'm so great and all. I just graduated with my ADN, I come with 4.5 years of LPN experience in a clinic setting, with a strong focus in peds- I looked back over my resume, and tweaked it up a little- but the problem seems to be this: when I first got my LPN, sure, everything was online and I had to apply online...but I could still take my resume to an actual person to follow up, or I could actually call and talk to someone to follow up and tell them about my experience (which at that point was zilch!)

Now, it's all online, when I try to follow up, I get put through to a different voicemail each time, from different recruiters, whom I'm told aren't even nurses, they don't call me back- ever- when I've tried to go to HR offices to even just hand off my resume in person, I don't even get past the front desk.

This is getting really agitating- oh and the "kiss off" form e-mails are just great, they make it look like they really looked at your resume and all... ha. I know most of the jobs I'm seeing out there call for experienced RN's, but I'll echo the same song that we've all been singing and that is "how do we get the experience if you don't hire us?!" I'm seeing this even for nursing homes, home health etc... and for clinics, for petesake! I worked in a clinic for 4.5 years right next to (literally) RN's and interacted with them on a daily basis! How do I convey that to whomever is looking at my resume? I mean I put it in there, but if they stop reading at "new grad RN..." then I fear they assume I know nada.

And to make things even more fun... I'm 15 weeks pregnant. I'm at that point where I can't really hide it much longer. I know that's not going to help me in my search. (Of course I'd rather be a mommy again than be employed anyday... you know what I mean...)

Just frustrated. :mad:

I'm an experienced nurse and can't get anyone to call me back! So I'm there with you all. I would recommend for the new grads to try to remember which hospitals and units you worked on as students, actually go to those units, ask to speak with any nurse who remembers you and felt you did a great job, try to get to speak with the manager and go in through the back way to get an interview. They can always call HR and ask them to pull your resume and tell them they want to interview you. =) I think a lot of these hospitals are using outsourcing to review resumes and the recruiters don't even see your information unless there are key words that trigger them to their desk.... When I graduated in 1989, we all had jobs because we got to know the nurses on the floors we did clinicals on and told them we wanted to work there. It' worth a shot to try it. I mean, at least it shows you are motivated and really want a job.

I agree, but 1989 was during the nursing shortage and they needed nurses everywhere. Those were the days when we could name our jobs. Ahh, good days.

We get students through my department once a year and most of them would never be hired even with experience because they have bad attitudes. They boogie out as soon as possible, take no initiative and show no interest. They don't show and don't call. They are only doing the time and jumping through hoops, and it is obvious. I remember things were very competitive in my student days and we came early, sought out new experiences, took notes and asked qustions. The crop of students we are seeing make me worry about the future.

I hear you. I graduated in May 2009 and passed the NCLEX in September 2009, and I still have not been hired. Every interview I have gone too, another "more qualified" person has been hired over me. It is extremely frustrating and a bit depressing sometimes. I've been working at a department store because I need to make money to try to pay off my loans. Luckily my parents have been very supportive and good throughout this whole mess. Every job posting asks for at least a year of experiance, but how are we supposed to gain experiance when no one will hire us? I wish you, and everyone else here who is having trouble, luck in getting a job. Hopefully things will open up soon...

Specializes in Rehab.

Hi there, I do know the hospital I work for is hiring due to a huge expansion. If you are willing to relocate. It is Hendrick medical center in Abilene Texas. The nurse recruiters are amazing and it is a wonderful place to work. I have been with them for 7 months and it is the best hospital I have worked at in my ten years of nursing. They have won the Gallup award for best employer many years running.

Hope3,

Thank you, thank you, thank you for this valuable piece of information. I am going to call the state tomorrow and see what they have to say. I have never heard of this before and I am willing to do anything right now! Again, thank you so much!

Specializes in LTC.
I would recommend for the new grads to try to remember which hospitals and units you worked on as students, actually go to those units, ask to speak with any nurse who remembers you and felt you did a great job, try to get to speak with the manager and go in through the back way to get an interview.

Unfortunately many managers hands are tied right now. I poke my head in at my manager at least every other week to see if she can hire me yet, but upper management keeps saying "No New Grads!"

Specializes in Peds.

I FEEL YOUR PAIN!!! I graduated in May 2009...didn't have a job offer, and honestly I didn't expect to have a job for at least 3 months. However, those 3 months quickly turned into 6 months. All I can say is you will cry and you will get frustrated, but don't give up! Network when you can! Post your resume everywhere! I used a head hunter aka placement agency, which helps employers find potential candidates for job positions. One led to me to an OB-GYN office who was looking for RNs, and was willing to train a new grad. I interviewed, was asked to come back and shadow, and was offered a second shadow experience. This was NOT the job I hoped for, but I made it be known that I was trying to gain experience in the nursing field, and that this place did have a lot to offer me. I had interviewed at a peds hospital in DC, after applying for months. I had also gotten calls to schedule about 2 other interviews. Literally, the day before I was going to do my second shadow experience at the OB-GYN office, I got a call from the peds hospital saying that they were offering me the job in the New Grad RN program. I CRIED SO HARD THAT DAY FROM JOY! The job will come, but it'll take a lot of time, tears, and work. In the meantime, you might want to look for a part-time job to help support yourself if you don't already have one. I ended up working at Best Buy for 3 months because I got tired of being broke. I am praying for you and others who have not found a RN position as of yet. KEEP TRYING YOU GUYS! DONT GIVE UP!

You guys are making me nervous. I am an LPN with 20 years experience. I have been thinking of going back to get my RN but maybe I will rethink. I am working dialysis right now, after relocating back home from out of state. Dialysis always seems to be hiring. However our manager announced at the last meeting that we are 'over-staffed' on RNs. This last year a number of our LPNs and techs graduated as RNs. They were able to keep working at dialysis but is has given us too many RNs. So I dont know if a new RN could get hired here or not at this exact moment. Most of our RNs want to move on to other positions but haven't been able to find anything. But at least they are 'getting experience' working here.

Specializes in MED SURGE.

Perhaps the shortage is in specific geographic locations. You might want to do some research. Are you willing to move to those locations? Also you might ant to consult with a professional resume writer. I would live out "new grad" if I were you. You do have nursing experience so EMPHASIZE THAT instead, and take what you can. The economy is bad for all industries. So take whatever you can so you can keep your skills sharp while the economy rebounds.

I think we have to keep in mind that while it is a lot harder these days to find a nursing job, it's not impossible. I know of some new grads who have found jobs within a few months. I don't know them personally, so I don't know how they did it, all I know is it's possible!

My instructors were telling me how hard it is to find a CNA job in my last CNA class and how a lot of people from the last class were volunteering. People were concerned about the 1 year experience, too. While it was frustrating looking for jobs for me since I had a limited schedule to work on going to school full time I found one within a month! And another was going to offer and I had another interview lined up. I applied to a bunch of places though. Normally people who write on these things are venting so the ones who have a found a job are busy working their asses off and not letting us know about their success. Keep looking and apply to a zillion places, network, and have faith.

To those who are thinking about getting an RN, I wouldn't necessarily jump into the RN search pool without creating safety nets and thinking of the consequences. It's not an easy job nor an easy job to get. It's better to live comfortably enough that one isn't constantly stressing about money and wondering whether they can afford to feed their children than to be an RN or any job for that matter. I left my job because I have no strings attached - no children, no mortgage no committments, and I had a husband that had a decent job that was willing to help me in my education. There are jobs out there where people don't have to go back to school and take out major loans and take such major risks. Nursing isn't the end all be all of jobs. I was just fortunate enough to have an option to do it.

I thought you just failed the NCLEX in June Mtwinkie?

I totally understand your frustration. I am a recent grad (May 2010) in a market where there are lots of excellent nursing programs and wonderful candidates to choose from. I had an excellent GPA and tons of extracurricular activities to list on my resume but I knew that wouldn't ensure that was resume would actually be seen. That said, to increase my odds, I put on my interview suit, printed my resume and cover letter on nice quality paper and I walked into various hospital HR's department where I either asked to deliver my resume to the clinical recruiter directly, or if they were unavailable, I made sure to at least get the contact information from the admin person. Once I'd given them a couple of days to review my resume, I followed up with an email, reiterating my interest and highlighting some of my accomplishments. Out of the six hospitals that I applied to, five of them called me in for an interview and I subsequently received five offers. That other hospital just never responded. Oh well they're loss. I was able to select the best offer for my family situation which is a great (smaller) hospital, day shift (7a-7p) 36h/wk, with an EXCELLENT new grad orientation program. They hired me in June and they even helped me to prepare for my boards (which I passed) but they also had a very supportive program in place for the new grads who didn't pass on their first attempt. They don't just fire you, they help you. They have a very low turnover rate and I feel so fortunate to have been selected for this position.

Hope this helps.

Specializes in OB (with a history of cardiac).

I wonder how you got to see an actual person. I went out on a day trip around to several hospitals HR places and was either curtly referred to their website, told I couldn't speak to anyone, that they don't accept paper resumes and that I have to be admitted to the new grad RN program in order to be hired. Of course the new grad programs won't take external applicants right now.

I did go to one clinic, hiring for an urgent care RN, and was interviewed right there and then by the nursing manager. The next day I received a call from the recruiter, ripping me a new one and giving me the chew out of my life for doing that, and informing me that I am NOT going to be considered for this job. She also called the nursing manager and screamed at her too.

So...I guess I learned MY lesson. :mad:

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