Advice on finding job after graduation for someone with no healthcare experience?

Nurses Job Hunt

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Hi there!

This is my first time posting on this site. I have read a lot of forums on here and think this site has some great advice from great people. I am wondering if anybody has some advice on effectively job hunting as a new grad, specifically for someone who doesn't have any healthcare experience besides clinical. I am going to graduate in 4 months with my ADN, then enroll in an RN-BSN program and will have my BSN by 2015. I will be 21 when I graduate so my resume won't have too much on it unfortunately. I realize my age may be a slight disadvantage due to the lack of experience. I have been a restaurant server for 5 years through school, which has also been my only job so far, and I am going to be volunteering at a local hospital in January (100 hours). Should I include my serving experience on my resume? Also, I want to get my ACLS here soon before I graduate.

I am prepared to apply everywhere, even for long term care facilities because I would be extremely grateful and excited for any job I get out of school.

Any advice would be wonderful. I know its especially hard for people with no healthcare experience like me. Thank you so much in advance!

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I was the same. Had a precious degree, but chose to be a stay at home mother instead of work. Went back to nursing school when all my children were in full time school. Graduated and had no problem finding a job. Make ourself marketable. I enjoyed a lot of volunteer work while parenting my children and during school, I also was able to work as a nurse tech in the setting I hoped tomworkmin as a nurse after graduation(different hospital though). First job out was a residency program. I don't know why they hired me over others to be honest but I did great in my interview and really meshed well with the people interviewing me. A resume isn't really expected when you are so young and just out of school.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Is there a reason you haven't worked in any health care setting, nursing assistance, unit clerk, EKG tech, anything? Why did you choose nursing.?

Working as a server will surely help with learning to deal with people which will be helpful.

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I would definitely include your serving experience, since this shows your work ethic and that you've been able to hold a job for a long period of time. I'm pretty much in the same boat as you, I'm 24, graduated with my ADN in May and am still looking for jobs. And like you, I do not have any healthcare experience, only hospitality experience which I guess is good for the customer service side of things.

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>"Should I include my serving experience on my resume?"

Yes! A big yes!

Also, when you graduate look into working jobs like CNA or secretary or tech or something to hold you off while you are getting your BSN

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