The job market in NJ

U.S.A. New Jersey

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Hi everyone! I've been reading some terrible things about new nursing being hired in this state. I just wanted to know, is it really as impossible as it sounds? As a nursing student, this terrifies me! But I would like to know what I have to look forward to. Also, if anyone has any tips on how I can try to get hired after graduating, I would really appreciate it. Thanks!

I have been applying like crazy since graduating in May. I also volunteered at a hospital. Your best bet would be to work as a tech, the ones in my class who were hired the fastest were working as techs. Volunteering is nice but you are not considered an "internal candidate". Good luck!

I have been applying like crazy since graduating in May. I also volunteered at a hospital. Your best bet would be to work as a tech the ones in my class who were hired the fastest were working as techs. Volunteering is nice but you are not considered an "internal candidate". Good luck![/quote']

Thank you for replying. This may be a dumb question, but does being a nursing student qualify me as a tech? Or is this something I need to become certified as?

Apply as a Tech/ PCA at the hospital you are targeting to work at. Aside from putting your foot on the door, it also expose you to the world of nursing and you can gain a lot of experience which I think helped me get through nursing school. I am a new grad nurse, I graduated May took my boards July and started to get interviews first week of August... I already had 3 job interviews and just today I got a job offer for a full time position night RN in my unit. My unit manager prioritized me and helped me get this spot. So my suggestion work as a PCA/Tech and do your best to be a good PCA without affecting your school.

As long as you passed Fundamentals of Nursing then you should be good to go. If you have any more spare time; even a couple of hours then I would try to volunteer at another hospital because it really is a "who you know market" and if you are known in 2 hospitals it will improve your chances of getting in. I'd also like to add that grades are important but looking back I would rather have experience over a high g.p.a. I hope the market improves by the time you graduate.

Specializes in AGACNP-BC/Emergency/Trauma/Critical Care Nursing.

It took me about 3 months after I pass by NCLEX to land my first dream job in level 2 trauma ER as an experience-less new grad.

No tech experience during nursing school for me.......but I got ACLS certified and did volunteer for other level 1 trauma ER for about 4-5 months doing non-nursing related tasks......but it was such a great great opportunity to observe what ER nursing is like and this definitely got me the interview I always wanted for ER. Good luck!!!! Do something, anything!!!! volunteer, getting ACLS certified, nursing externship etc...!

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