Applying to multiple units: Another amateur question

Nurses Job Hunt

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Hi Allnurses!

I have another question, sorry for asking so many!

There is a certain hospital I am DREAMING of working at that has openings in multiple units.

Each individual unit has an opening. I want to apply to ALL of them, but I am uncertain about whether or not HR or hiring managers will know and judge me as desperate or not passionate enough.

I went to a job fair where the HR recruiter told me that she automatically rejected someone for applying to two different units. However ANOTHER manager told me I should apply to everything, multiple times, even if I get rejected.

Which one should I listen to?

I wish there were clear cut rules for job hunting! :angrybird10:

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Uh oh - another one of those "how fast does ice melt?" questions. . . Unfortunately, there are just too many variables to provide you with a definitive answer. Each facility has it's own way of handling the employment process. They can set it up however they want - with whatever rules they want.

Some systems limit each application to a single job posting while others will allow you to list multiple jobs. If it is an online system, you may have to fill out multiple, separate applications for each job. If you're dealing with 'live' human beings, it may be more flexible.

Best of luck to you. Be persistent.

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Uh oh - another one of those "how fast does ice melt?" questions. . . Unfortunately, there are just too many variables to provide you with a definitive answer. Each facility has it's own way of handling the employment process. They can set it up however they want - with whatever rules they want.

Some systems limit each application to a single job posting while others will allow you to list multiple jobs. If it is an online system, you may have to fill out multiple, separate applications for each job. If you're dealing with 'live' human beings, it may be more flexible.

Best of luck to you. Be persistent.

thank you!!!

ypu are right!!! There is no right answer lol. Since I know what I would prefer the most, I'll apply to those areas first, and then take my time when applying to my second choices.

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

FWIW,

i want people who want to work my specialty. While I understand the need to get your foot in the door, I will probably not consider the candidate who has applied to 6 different units.

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I understand what you're asking because I do the same but like the previous person said apply to units that are similar to what you want to pursue. I'm critical care nurse so I apply to icu, Ed, step down units and cardiac telemetry kind of thing. But I will apply to all those units if the hospital had openings on all. To show my flexibility. But each hospital is different with their hiring process. Here in NYC many hospitals have talent acquisitions personnel to find resumes online and set up interviews for managers in diff units. HR is only in contact with you when an offer is being made it for interviewing. So it all dependsi on the hospital process.

I say apply to what you're interested in and keep applying. Full time or part time just to get your foot in the door but if you are a new grad you are better off applying to full time jobs that state nights because that is where you going to be placed. Always apply to night positions.

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FWIW,

i want people who want to work my specialty. While I understand the need to get your foot in the door, I will probably not consider the candidate who has applied to 6 different units.

See, I hear this A LOT. It scares me! The problem is that it's not like I am applying to like OB and Rehab. I am interested in ICU, OR, Med/Surg, and Psych, and that is a lot of things! I know for sure I don't really like peds (aside from peds psych which I love!), and I know that L&D and NICU are not really where my passions are, but anything involving adults or psych float my boat. And the hospitals in question have 3-5 openings in those types of units! It's so stressful! I know that they are very picky and I have to be on my best behavior and such for these applications. I am just going to apply to what I like most and pray for the best.

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I understand what you're asking because I do the same but like the previous person said apply to units that are similar to what you want to pursue. I'm critical care nurse so I apply to icu, Ed, step down units and cardiac telemetry kind of thing. But I will apply to all those units if the hospital had openings on all. To show my flexibility. But each hospital is different with their hiring process. Here in NYC many hospitals have talent acquisitions personnel to find resumes online and set up interviews for managers in diff units. HR is only in contact with you when an offer is being made it for interviewing. So it all dependsi on the hospital process.

I say apply to what you're interested in and keep applying. Full time or part time just to get your foot in the door but if you are a new grad you are better off applying to full time jobs that state nights because that is where you going to be placed. Always apply to night positions.

Oh yes, I don't think I ever saw anything advertised for new grads in the day, aside from things like part-time doctor's office positions! Night shift is what I am anticipating!

It's true that applying to multiple units can indicate flexibility as well! I am verrry flexible. I like everything involving adults and psych. My "dream job" is the ICU, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't be more than happy in a career in med/surg or psychiatry or the OR.

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

See, I hear this A LOT. It scares me! The problem is that it's not like I am applying to like OB and Rehab.

I am interested in ICU, OR, Med/Surg, and Psych, and that is a lot of things! I know for sure I don't really like peds (aside from peds psych which I love!), and I know that L&D and NICU are not really where my passions are, but anything involving adults or psych float my boat.

So, your cover letter should reflect an interest in adults & psych. The ones that are most likely to be rejected include every department opening in the whole house.

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So, your cover letter should reflect an interest in adults & psych. The ones that are most likely to be rejected include every department opening in the whole house.

I individualize my cover letter for each unit. I write "I want to work in OR because XYZ" and write a sentence or two about how I love that unit.

Is that good?

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Specializes in medsurg, progressive care.

Just throwing this out there- I applied to different units in the hospital because while my dream job is L&D, I have many different interests and would love to work in psych, ER, etc. And I applied for any and every med/surg job available. I finally landed one of those interviews. During the interview it was pointed out that my senior practicum was in L&D, and the manager flat-out asked if that was the field I was most interested in. I explained that while I would love to eventually end up there, I know I needed to start in med/surg to get a feel for the nursing profession, and because med/surg (to me) is where I would learn the most, etc. I also said that while L&D was my favorite rotation, I might get there as an actual RN and hate it. As a new nurse most of us think we know what we want to specialize in, but there's always the chance of changing our minds once we get som experience. She thanked me for being honest, agreed with me... and a few weeks later offered me the job. Almost everyone on my floor knows that I am interested in maternity and think it's GREAT that I started out in med/surg instead of going straight to L&D. A lot of people suggested that I just lie and tell them I was interested in med/surg but I'm a terrible liar and hate doing it, so I took a risk and told the truth. They still hired me despite knowing I wasn't planning on staying in the unit forever. It's all about the individual recruiter/manager/supervisor, sometimes.

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Just throwing this out there- I applied to different units in the hospital because while my dream job is L&D, I have many different interests and would love to work in psych, ER, etc. And I applied for any and every med/surg job available. I finally landed one of those interviews. During the interview it was pointed out that my senior practicum was in L&D, and the manager flat-out asked if that was the field I was most interested in. I explained that while I would love to eventually end up there, I know I needed to start in med/surg to get a feel for the nursing profession, and because med/surg (to me) is where I would learn the most, etc. I also said that while L&D was my favorite rotation, I might get there as an actual RN and hate it. As a new nurse most of us think we know what we want to specialize in, but there's always the chance of changing our minds once we get som experience. She thanked me for being honest, agreed with me... and a few weeks later offered me the job. Almost everyone on my floor knows that I am interested in maternity and think it's GREAT that I started out in med/surg instead of going straight to L&D. A lot of people suggested that I just lie and tell them I was interested in med/surg but I'm a terrible liar and hate doing it, so I took a risk and told the truth. They still hired me despite knowing I wasn't planning on staying in the unit forever. It's all about the individual recruiter/manager/supervisor, sometimes.

I am genuinely interested in and passionate about med/Surg, ICU, OR, ER, psych, hospice, and public health.

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