Convincing the manager to take a chance on a new grad

Nurses Job Hunt

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There is a position in LDRP (my DDRRRRREEEEEEEAAAAAAAMMMM!) at a local hospital. One of my infusion patients works there, and she's been talking me up to the manager. Aside from my lack of acute care RN experience (of course), I am 100% qualified for the job, based on the posting. My patient gave me the manager's e-mail address, and I sent her an e-mail last night with my resume, references, and cover letter, and I detailed some of my experience for her and asked to meet with her to discuss what I can bring to the unit.

I understand the hesitation many managers have to take on a new grad. I have a lot of other pertinent experience, but yes, I will need some training. Given my patient's history with this manager, I think that it's possible the manager will at least agree to meet with me, assuming she likes what she sees in my e-mail to her. Should we meet, I was thinking about offering to work for a couple of weeks at bottom rung pay (even minimum wage) to show her what I can do, or to sign a contract (2-3 years) so that she can feel assured she will see the return on her investment. Has anyone had any success offering something like this? Any other suggestions?

noooo! Snow is a bad thing! It makes it hard to drive to work!

I'm sorry to hear you didn't get to see the NM and even sorrier that they won't waive the experience req.

I would have been ok with 100 degrees, better than wearing 3 pair of socks!

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Specializes in CDU, cardiac telemetry, med-surg.

RunBaby that sucks! I'm considering contacting the NM that kinda blew me off again. A couple of jobs were posted for the unit (RN II of course) which I applied to, but maybe I should give her a "hey, remember me?" If pigs fly and he'll freezes over and I get a reply that has anything to do with lack of experience, I will lose my s***. The only reason I thought I could have a shot was b/c a couple of new grads from my school were given jobs there last year.

This Job Search is like playing tennis alone and without a wall to bounce the ball off. And then occasionally, some invisible person (or auto response email service) serves a ball right into my face.

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This job search is like playing tennis alone and without a wall to bounce the ball off. And then occasionally, some invisible person (or auto response email service) serves a ball right into my face.

love the analogy!! I had connections on my unit-I did my practicum here. The third time a job opened, I took homemade cookies to the floor, talked to my preceptor and a few other nurses that I knew there and asked for them to speak up for me. Then I took my resume to the NM, reminded her how good my patient satisfaction scores were when I was a student and offered to work for free for a month to prove myself. Of course, she couldn't accept that kind of offer, but I honestly think it made me stand out. It took almost two weeks for her to call for an interview and when she did, I lost it. Actually cried as I accepted the interview. Then I researched all over the place for behavioral interview questions so I would be prepared, and they still blindsided me!

I left the interview feeling only ok. They told me it could be two weeks before I heard anything, and the very next day they made an offer.

Moral of the story is to use connections, and get outrageous to make yourself stand out. Offering to work for free got me a lot of flack on AN, but it worked and I am happily employed. I would do it again in a heartbeat!

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Specializes in Hematology/Oncology.
love the analogy!! I had connections on my unit-I did my practicum here. The third time a job opened, I took homemade cookies to the floor, talked to my preceptor and a few other nurses that I knew there and asked for them to speak up for me. Then I took my resume to the NM, reminded her how good my patient satisfaction scores were when I was a student and offered to work for free for a month to prove myself. Of course, she couldn't accept that kind of offer, but I honestly think it made me stand out. It took almost two weeks for her to call for an interview and when she did, I lost it. Actually cried as I accepted the interview. Then I researched all over the place for behavioral interview questions so I would be prepared, and they still blindsided me!

I left the interview feeling only ok. They told me it could be two weeks before I heard anything, and the very next day they made an offer.

Moral of the story is to use connections, and get outrageous to make yourself stand out. Offering to work for free got me a lot of flack on AN, but it worked and I am happily employed. I would do it again in a heartbeat!

Moral of the story Version II. Learn to make good home made cookies

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

I e-mailed the manager from location #2 a couple of weeks ago, and finally heard from her this week. Right now we're playing phone tag, but I hope to speak with her tomorrow. If she gives me an opportunity to come by tomorrow, I'm taking it! Here's hoping! She sounded really nice on her message, which is good.

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