Graduated over 2 months ago....Still no job offers

GotDrumer · Jul 8, 2013

I feel the EXACT same way! I graduated in May passed NCLEX June 4th and haven't even got a INTERVIEW! No call, no email NOTHING! I have applied and applied and applied!!! Idk what to do! I've applied for jobs out of state, jobs I don't want at all, everything! I wish I could help you and me but at least you know your not alone! I've thought about getting a job at a store and then if I ever get a nursing job just work 2 jobs lol anyway good luck!! (:

swoodard · Jul 8, 2013

Don't give up. I know its easier said than done but I've been in this situation before. It took me a year before I found a job after I relocated perseverance is key. Good luck and God bless!

anonymous 456 · Jul 8, 2013

Be persistent. Many are in the same boat you are. It took me several months to land a job. There are several really good threads on here about all the proactive things you can do to assist in your Job Search. I recommend that you do them, especially the volunteer work. A few of the places I interviewed with really perked up when I spoke about my volunteer work and how it impacted me both personally and professionally. I am convnced that my experience was key to the position I eventually landed. Good faith and good luck.

Katniss88 · Jul 8, 2013

I am thankful for this website because it helps to know that I'm not the only one dealing with the same problem. Most of the people that I graduated with got jobs at the local hospital because they had scholarships and are required to work there a year or more depending on their contract. The others worked as techs at a hospital that's about an hour from where I live and they got offered RN positions, but I think one had a scholarship with them. I have applied to all the hospitals that are within an hour from my house. One of my friends got an ED position, her brother is an RN there and maybe that's why she got the job, I don't know. Around here where I live it seems that it's about who you know, and if you know someone then you'll get the job. A girl in my class got a job at a hospital that I have applied twice to and she didn't have a scholarship with them and she didn't work there either, I just don't understand it. There was one hospital that came to recruit us before we graduated and they said they only hire new nurses on the 4th floor, well I have applied 3 times since April and they turned me down or didn't reply. They have had at least one position open on that same floor since April :mad: . Most of the hospitals want at least one year's experience, well how do you expect us brand new nurses to get experience if you don't give us a chance. I haven't worked anywhere since 2008 and I haven't haven't worked anywhere for more than a month, maybe that has something to do with why I'm not getting any calls. Everyone thinks that the nursing field is wide open and it's easy to get a job, well it's not easy for new graduates. It just seems that others have an easier time getting interviews. I need to stop worrying about who in my class has gotten a nursing position because all it does is make me mad, I'm happy for them but it doesn't seem fair because I'm just as qualified. I have always heard people say "life isn't fair" and I'm learning that everyday, but it's a bitter pill to swallow:yuck:.

mirkat55 · Jul 9, 2013

I feel the exact same way. I graduated in May and have been applying to every possible position.I have gotten nothing so far. The nursing field has absolutely become who you know and who can put a good word in for you. I feel like how you are as a person or how intelligent you are or how much of a hard worker you are means nothing. Everyone keeps on telling me to be patient and something will come, I know it will but I never thought I would not even get one interview out of all the places that I have applied to. It is an extremely frustrating situation to be in and we just have to be positive and believe it will happen maybe not as soon as we want it to.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 9, 2013

Two months of job searching is nothing. Most new grads are looking at a 6-12 month--or longer--job hunt.

All you can do is keep applying. Don't limit yourself: apply for anything and everything. And think outside of the hospital box.

Also, consider starting the RN-BSN if you can. A lot of employers want or prefer BSN applicants...also, if your goal is to work in the military, you're going to need the degree.

Best of luck.

anonymous 456 · Jul 9, 2013

Agreed, two months is not a long time to be looking for a job. However, it is absolutely sufficient time to get a sack-load of discouragement. I have been looking for over 6 months before I received my offer, but hearing that there are more who have looked 2 or 3 times as long as I have seems UN-imaginable. I know people that I graduated with who are talented, smart, all the qualifications as every other new grad, and have excellent work history, who have not even gotten a call-back.

Find a way to remain positive and focused. Please know that it is not necessarily a statement about you when you recieve a rejection, or have not received a call back. I have personally been told by recruiters that I did really well in an interview, I was really well liked. They thought I was a great candidate, but they only had one slot available, if there was another position it would be mine, etc. etc... I recommend that you take any workshops, or extra certifications while you are in the waiting process. There is an excellent little 3 hour workshop by NSNA, called, "Your Hired!" While I don't agree with everything the speaker said (particularly about having a personal statement/objective opening your resume; she says it isn't needed, recruiters I spoke with have said, your better to have one,) the seminar was extremely helpful, and helped me refocus when I felt discouragement. It is important that you focus on all your positives and building yourself into the best candidate for the job right now, which is not necessarily something that is taught in nursing school. Good luck and look up, keep your arms open and keep moving forward.

SubSippi · Jul 9, 2013

Maybe try applying as a CNA at a hospital instead of looking for a backup retail job. Or anything health care related, to help make contacts and get your foot in the door. Heck, if you work retail look at scrub shops or something like that, you may meet someone that could help you that way.

Good luck! Although I do see a lot of people on this forum saying it took a while to land a job, I've rarely seen anyone saying they never found one and had to give up nursing entirely!

Katniss88 · Jul 10, 2013

I considered applying for tech positions, where you just take vitals and general patient care. The closest hospital near me doesn't have any opening for UAP's or techs, a girl that was in my class said it took her a very long time to get a tech position and most people keep them when they do get it because they're so hard to get. When applying for those UAP positions or any non-nursing job in general, should I put on my application that I have a nursing degree? Then they'll know that I'm over qualified and probably won't stay there long, so I might not get the job. All the store job interviews I have went to ask me if I have applied at hospitals and that's probably why I haven't gotten any jobs. It's kind of a stupid question for them to ask though, why on earth would I be applying for a store job if I could get a nursing positon.

One of the hospitals I applied to doesn't do online applications so I just faxed it, I'm wondering if I should have just went down there and applied in person. When I called the HR department a week or two later she told me she gave it to the nursing manager, she transferred the call so I could speak with her but she wasn't there so I left a message, but she never called me back. I have all these what-if's running around in my head. I'm revising my resume to make it just one page and trying to make it look better. Also, I probably should have been sending a cover letter with my resume, I just made some dumb mistakes. Does anyone have advice on what to put in a cover letter?

anonymous 456 · Jul 10, 2013

This is what I placed in my cover letter:

1. A statement about who I am, why I am pursuing a nursing career, and why I am applying to that hospital.

2. My 2 year and 5 year plan.

3. Why I am a qualified candidate for the hospital I am applying for.

4. An invitation to answer further questions, along with a thank you for their time.

Your cover letter should be tailored to the hospital and position you are applying for. If possible, address it to the specific named recruiter or manager. Many hospitals will mention what they would like in a cover statement on the application page. You can Google examples of cover letters to use as a guideline, and then finesse them to be suitable for the position you are applying for. Read and re-read. Lastly, if possible, have a clinical mentor or someone look it over for you. I suggest that along with your resume as well.

Everyone makes mistakes, don't beat yourself up over past ones. I Have made some doozies during my search for a job. My favorite one was making it through a few rounds of a well known Los Angeles hospital, and misspelling the hospital's name on one of my correspondence. I knew it as soon as I did it, and knew I just knocked myself out of the running. Sure enough, I did. I was extremely upset with myself for such a dumb mistake; however, lesson learned, and I moved on and moved forward.

If a manager or recruiter did not call you back, call again. Explain kindly that you left a message earlier in the week, but have not heard back yet. Managers and recruiters are extremely busy, so it is usually nothing personal.

.........And when you meet personally with anyone always bring a portfolio containing your cover letter, your resume, your transcripts, copies of your license and certifications, letters of reference from clinical instructors(at least two), a list of professional references with titles and phone numbers, and a thank you note. Use nice linen resume paper. Do not include a picture of yourself. On that note, carry a few resumes with you in a folder, should you happen to network with someone, who may pass your resume along. I have a few friends who had an accidental meeting with someone who ended up being instrumental to getting their resume into the right hands for guidance which led to a job.

mama.RN · Jul 10, 2013

Just wanted to say hang in there. It took me about four months to find any job (awful, only lasted a month) and almost a full year to find a decent job. It's difficult, but keep at it and you will find something! My best advice is keep telling everyone that your looking, keep networking. Of the hundreds of applications I sent out I ended up finding my dream job essentially by word of mouth. Good luck.