Can't get hired

BlueBug · Nov 24, 2008

How are you doing agency work just out of school.

I looked for jobs listed as "graduate nurse" when job hunting. I applied at many hospitals, but only got a handful of responses. The hospitals know that the RNs that apply to these positions are limited, or have no experience, and are willing to train.

Also... Some hospitals prefer the BSN to ADN, I don't know what you have.

Keep looking, and good luck.

~BlueBug

WDWpixieRN, RN · Nov 24, 2008

What do I do? I been getting turned down because the managers state that I need more experience. I need help.

Here's some things you might want to do:

a) If you're not getting phone calls from applications (doesn't sound like the issue though), have someone review your resume or online apps before submitting. Our own eyes are often the most blind to small grammatical-type errors that might not get one past that point. (see the above bolded print -- very, very minor, but who knows?)

b) If you are interviewing and not getting jobs, I'd state the obvious after they give you the "Thanks, but no thanks" lines -- "I have experience; so what am I doing wrong during this process that I can improve upon for future interviews?"

I am sorry you are going through this. Experienced help is greatly needed in the hospitals from what I can see. It's that time of year when new grads are out applying again; hopefully you are trying again. And if you're not successful, try again AFTER they've all been hired!!

Also, have you tried some of the travel agencies? Might be a good way to get your foot in the door AND find that future RN position!!

Best wishes!!! :heartbeat

2001nurse · Nov 25, 2008

I'm doing the same time that I done as a lpn.I was a lpn for 6 years.

JustaNurse0214 · Dec 30, 2008

No offense, but your grammar is in question. If you speak the way you write, that may be a problem. You say "I BEEN Looking". It is "I HAVE BEEN looking". Unfortunately, the way we present in an interview speaks volumes to how we are perceived to work in a daily situation. When you say "I'm doing the same time that I done as a lpn.", frankly, you sound inept and that can be seen as being lazy. Work on your grammar and krrp trying.

2001nurse · Dec 31, 2008

jUST A NURSE 0214

IF YOU CAN READ YOU KNOW THAT I NEVER SAID " I BEEN LOOKING" ALSO, I'M OFFENDED WHEN YOU SAY LPNS ARE LAZY.

llg, PhD, RN · Dec 31, 2008

I don't believe the previous poster said that LPN's are lazy. What she said is that you have made errors in grammar in your posts here in this thread. If you make similar errors when you speak, it can make you sound "inept and that can be seeen as lazy." She said nothing about LPN's being lazy.

While it may hurt your feelings to hear it, poor grammar on a resume or in a job interview can seriously hurt your chances of getting hired. You should probably review your resume and pay attention to your speach to see if you make similar mistakes on those things that could be hurting your chances of being hired. Those things can be corrected.

Also ... you problems getting hired may have little to do with you at all. A lot of places have cut back on hiring right now due to the poor economy. You may just have to wait it out.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jan 1, 2009

If your professional communication is similar in style to your post, you may wish to take a course to improve your resume/communication skills. And you may wish to have a communication professional review your cover letter and resume.

And to the poster that suggested travel nursing, most good travel companies will not place someone in a travel RN hospital position, without at least a year or two of RN hospital experience. The current economy has also dried up many traveler positions. Thus, hospitals are choosier about the traveler nurses that they accept - the more RN experience, the better.

BlueBug · Jan 2, 2009

I was trying to be nice the first time I posted, but I have to agree with what the other posters have said, your grammar really is awful. And no, nobody said a word about LPNs being lazy except for you. I am wondering if English is not your first language, and I'm not being mean about it.

Your language usage and written grammar need improvement. If you can't see this, I have to wonder about your actual education and experience. Please consider this as you continue your job hunt.

What hospitals have you tried?

~BlueBug

sivad05 · Jan 27, 2009

Actually, I think all of the postings have a few valid points. However, the most logical reason is probably due to the economy, which has caused many establishments to freeze hiring. Another point to consider, where did you attend school? It may make you cringe but all degrees are not equal. Whenever an employer has a pool of interested candidates to choose from, it makes the selection process more competitive. Recently, Nursing has been identified as a "safe" career path, in this troubling economy, so there will be more people pursuing it. An ADN from Sanford Brown or a community college may not have the same leverage as a BSN from Barnes or SLU.

I would say keep trying. After awhile, if you can't find a job, think about pursing your BSN. :)

People would be shallow to judge your credentials or work ethic on the way you speak alone. Trust me; consider yourself lucky to not work in an environment with such people. By now, everyone should have taken Sociology and English Comp I & II. To be honest, all of the responses to your original posting have a spelling or grammar error or two.

To judge someone based upon their dialect or accent can lead to stereotypes. I have many highly intelligent friends from MD, AK, GA & PA that have thick accents, compared to the way we speak in the Midwest. Other than announcing to a listener in STL that they probably did not grow up in the same region of the country, it does not reflect their work ethic or knowledge.

With that said, grammar errors are often related to the type of employee you might become. I would not say lazy but maybe careless or not very detail oriented. Though, this posting board is informal communication. You should not be expected to use spell check and write essay style.

Columnist · Apr 3, 2009

Thread closed per OP's request.