I See Lots Of Job Postings, So Why Can't I Find A Nursing Job?
Jessica, a nurse with a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree, has been licensed for nine months. She resides in a large city in the Northeastern United States and has submitted nearly one-hundred job applications, but remains unemployed. She says, "I didn't think finding a job would be this hard, especially since all of the hospital websites have tons of job postings." The purpose of this article is to explore the reasons why some newer nurses cannot land that first nursing position.
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No industry is completely immune to recessions, and the nursing profession was arguably jolted by the Great Recession of 2008. Many new nurses have graduated from various schools of nursing across the country over the past few years and thought to themselves, "I see plenty of job openings posted." They readily submitted applications and resumes, assuming that the interviews and job offers would soon follow. However, their phones did not ring.
Unfortunately, some newly graduated nurses have grappled with unemployment for more than one year, while others are underemployed in non-nursing positions. "My professors and all of my friends told me there was a shortage of nurses," some people recalled. "So, why can't I find a nursing position when a bunch of jobs are posted?"
Many large companies must post these positions per internal policies:
Human resources personnel at some healthcare facilities are forced to post job openings externally. This is because their policies mandate that every position be posted and that a specific number of applicants shall be granted interviews. However, HR managers frequently hire no external candidates for these posted jobs because they are saving the positions for internal applicants who have expressed interest. In other words, even though your favorite community hospital has multiple postings for new grad programs, the internal applicants who worked there during nursing school as nursing assistants are often the ones being considered for the available slots.
Sometimes being an internal candidate hinders your chances:
The internal applicant has an advantage in the majority of cases because he/she is already familiar with the workplace, the culture, and the coworkers. However, the occasional internal applicant has hindered his/her chance of being considered for a nursing position after graduation because management has observed some undesirable traits or patterns. Some people are unable to view themselves objectively, so they honestly believe they've performed outstanding work. On the other hand, their coworkers and supervisors quietly notice some weaknesses that render the internal employee unsuitable for advancement opportunities.
Employment markets are largely regional:
Some job markets are more robust than others. For example, the job market for new nurses in the New York City metro area can be merciless due to several hospital closures, which limits the number of job openings even further. In addition, the NYC metro area has multiple schools of nursing that graduate a large number of new nurses into a local job market that cannot possibly absorb every person who wants employment. Conversely, the job market for new nurses is healthier in locations such as Lincoln, Nebraska and Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Some new nurses are extremely selective:
"Working in the NICU is my dream," a youngish new grad says, "and I will not consider any other unit!" However, beggars cannot be choosers, especially during these sluggish economic times. The new grad who is willing to consider non-hospital employment might have an easier time finding work. Nursing homes, clinics, prisons, psychiatric facilities, group homes, private duty, hospice, home health, and rehab are all viable options for a new nurse.
It is easy for a job seeker to become discouraged when he/she has been doing everything correctly and still remains jobless. It is imperative to not allow unemployment to define you. You must continue to submit applications, use keywords to get them noticed, and be willing to think outside the box. Light exists at the end of the tunnel.
