How long did it take you to land your first job?

Nurses Job Hunt

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Hello fellow nurses! New BSN grad here, who has been applying for hospital, LTC and home health jobs like mad since passing NCLEX in early June.

Some of the hospitals warn online that it can take as long as 90 days to get an offer. Other potential employers have told me they want to get background check results.

So, I am wondering how long it took you to land your first job. How long did you wait before applying elsewhere? Did they let you know they were interested right away?

Lots of good advice here. And yes NJ is in a bad way as far as jobs right now. :-(

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I graduated in May of 2012 took my boards in July. I didn't get a job until March of 2013. The only reason why I got this job is 'cause a family friend of mine owns a home care agency and desperately needed nurses. It depends where you live. Here on Long Island, most of the people I graduated with are either still not employed as an RN or they moved upstate.[/quote']

I and many people I know here on LI got jobs with 3 months or sooner. I worked as an aide while in school and had a Fellowship position lined up well before I graduated, others either snagged one at a career fair, did externships/internships, networked through the military liaison office, or networked through their capstone experiences. In many ways I'd say we were lucky, but I am a big believer that we make our own opportunities (ie, working as an aide and networking).

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ADN nurse here in Ohio. Graduated in May and took my NCLEX July 9th, license number posted on BON July 12th and that's when I applied to everywhere within a 50 mile radius. 2 interviews at 2 different LTC facilities and 1 phone interview with a major hospital 3 weeks later. Exactly 2 weeks after my interview at one of the LTC facilities I fell in love with, offered me a part time position which I gladly accepted because I love geriatrics. At first I wanted full time but since it is 8 hr shifts 2:30pm-11:00pm and having 3 kids, I realized I would never see my children. Working part time will also allow me to focus on getting my BSN. I guess everything happens for a reason!

Do not get discourage if you are not getting job offers. The perfect job will come along soon enough!

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I graduated in May, passed the NCLEX in June and am still looking for that elusive first job. I have applied for about 50 or so different acute care positions, some that specifically stated new grads welcome, some that put "experience preferred" instead of "experience required." I'm still waiting for someone to give me an actual interview. I will expand my search to LTC and home health if I am still in this same spot in a few more weeks.

A handful of my classmates had jobs lined up before they sat for their boards, but most of them already had an "in" because they worked as an aide or were related to someone who worked for whatever hospital or healthcare system they got hired into. I wish I could have made a job in the healthcare field work schedule-wise while I was in school, but I just couldn't do it as a single parent. It doesn't mean I'll never get my dream job, just that I have to work a little bit harder to get my foot in the door. I miss the days when you used to send a paper copy of your resume to someone! I am pretty sure that my resume isn't even getting past HR as an ADN with no healthcare experience.

I keep reminding myself that it has been less than 3 months since I passed my boards and I didn't start applying to positions until I had my license in hand. And I didn't get serious about it until after I finished a summer class that I took toward my RN-BSN. So I've only been searching seriously for about 4-5 weeks.

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I'm from California. I aggressively pursued new graduate residencies (only applied to two direct-to-the-floor positions) and received a job offer in April 2013. I graduated in May 2013, took boards in June, and started the residency in July.

Hold out hope, everyone! Don't just apply only and stay positive. :-)

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I got job offer one month after I took my boards. However, I have been working in the hospital since 2009 and I think it helped a lot. I was hired on evening shift :) I am starting next week! :D

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Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.

Graduated in May, boards in July, start job late Sept./early Oct. So...about 4-5 months?

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Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.

This is for a job at the local big Trauma I teaching hospital. I think it helped that

I'm local and I did my clinical in their system.

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Still Waiting! I graduated with my BSN May 16th, 2013. I passed my boards on July 7th, all the while, applying to jobs. So far I've had 2 interviews in person, and one phone interview in which management didn't call me at all.....TWICE. I recently had an HR interview for a new grad residency program and will have my resume/application passed through several different units in hopes I will be contacted by one. This time I'm confident I'll be back on this post by the end of September with a job offer!!!

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Still Waiting! I graduated with my BSN May 16th 2013. I passed my boards on July 7th, all the while, applying to jobs. So far I've had 2 interviews in person, and one phone interview in which management didn't call me at all.....TWICE. I recently had an HR interview for a new grad residency program and will have my resume/application passed through several different units in hopes I will be contacted by one. This time I'm confident I'll be back on this post by the end of September with a job offer!!![/quote']

I will pray for all of us who are looking for that first job. I just finished my BSN August 26th and I have been applying for many positions. I'm trying to remain patient, but sometimes I get nervous about how long the wait is going to be.

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Specializes in Perinatal.

It has taken me 15 LONG months to finally get an offer. I'm in the California Bay Area and it's rough here. I also got an offer for my dream department: L&D. I applied back in March, had a first interview in May, a second interview last week, and finally a job offer yesterday!

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Specializes in public health.

Wow, congrats! I didn't know hospitals can take this long too? I thought only government takes months. So did you have another job during the waiting period? Was it nursing related? Did you volunteer?

It has taken me 15 LONG months to finally get an offer. I'm in the California Bay Area and it's rough here. I also got an offer for my dream department: L&D. I applied back in March, had a first interview in May, a second interview last week, and finally a job offer yesterday!
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