New Grad BSN-RN, no work exp. NEED GUIDANCE!

schnookimz · Aug 27, 2013

Apply to long term care. Around here, they take lots of new grads with no experience.

Nonetheless · Aug 27, 2013

I think it would be a good idea to get a part time job somewhere to hold you off during the job hunt. Look around for nursing-related jobs or temp jobs you can work as an RN. This would also open the way for your "past work experience" section.

I have very little paid work experience (nothing since 2010), but I have (unpaid) internship/volunteer experience and I am freaking out about what I will do when my job hunt begins due to my shortage in the " paid work experience" department. Personally, if I feel like the job hunt is not fruitful, I will take up a temporary or part time nursing job somewhere so I can gain work experience, but not close the door to newgrad/ nurse residency type work.

Talk to your professors and talk to human resources about what to put for "previous employer" if you do not have work experience. Maybe you could fill out the section with stuff like "not available" or "no previous work experience" or something. Do not listen to my suggestions for what to put, call HR and email a professor for advice.

As for references, ask your professors/ preceptors/ etc from school to be your references. If you have been a good student they'll usually happily act as a reference. Nursing schools want you to find a job and professors want you to succeed.

As for anxiety, try to fight through it. Remember EVERYONE is having a hard time finding work, including the "best and brightest" people. The rejection you face when applying to jobs is not because you have any problems, it's because the ECONOMY is bad. This doesn't mean don't try or let your anxiety paralyze you. If you persevere and fight through your anxiety you will put yourself at that much higher of an advantage than if you let it overtake you. Stick to the anxiety management plan that your PCP has provided for you and get counseling if you need it.

You can do it!

Neurotic Student · Aug 27, 2013

Thank you all for responding and for the words of encouragement. I am looking into LTC right now.

I was actually thinking of speaking to another professor about what I should do, and hopefully catch the professor I've been trying to get that letter of rec from. The problem is that I no longer live close to my school and I want to catch them in person. I'll figure it out!

CP2013 · Aug 28, 2013

When applications require past work history, include your time schooling. For example, you would say "unemployed" and then list the dates you were in enrolled in school 08/2011-05/2013 or whatever and in the reason section list "education".

Many applications will leave a reminder for this, but some don't buy I haven't come across an application that doesn't allow for this to be entered.

Hope this helps.

hilbub · Jan 27, 2016

Hi, I know this is an old post but I'm kind of in a similar situation right now. I also have limited/no experience I am also an introvert and have been getting really anxious/discouraged by job hunting. What did you end up doing if you don't mind my asking? Did LTC work out? I am also located in CA.

Neurotic Student · Jan 28, 2016

Hi, I know this is an old post but I'm kind of in a similar situation right now. I also have limited/no experience I am also an introvert and have been getting really anxious/discouraged by job hunting. What did you end up doing if you don't mind my asking? Did LTC work out? I am also located in CA.

I am happy to answer you. I've been in psych for nearly 2 years as my first job. I've actually always had an interest in psych. Now I am trying to move on to something medical to learn new things but psych will always be in my heart. Psych was easy to get in, at least in my hospital. I wasn't asked any real interview questions, but luckily this place wasn't a shady place. My coworkers generally are good. I see in a lot of psych ads that new grads are welcome. Another psych hospital also called me to schedule an interview in the same week that my current job called me, so that goes to show you psych hires new grads. The work isn't too stressful either. At both hospitals I walked in to fill out the apps but that's what those hospitals preferred.

I restarted my job hunting 2 days ago and I already became discouraged once again, but I know I gave to keep applying. I'm filling out lengthy applications only to be looked over. It is very discouraging in itself before being able to even score an interview. And then if I actually score one, I'd have to worry about the interview! :sarcastic: I'm so anxiety-prone lol.

I'm focusing on filling out more apps first, then possibly relocation as my other plan.

hilbub · Jan 28, 2016

Thank you for replying! I'm glad to hear you found your calling in psych :) I'm interested in psych also but figured a lot of places wouldn't consider me because I'm a new grad and I did my preceptorship in another area. But I'll definitely look into psych hospitals more. I know the county ones near me don't want new grads, but maybe the smaller private ones will. You don't have to answer this, but did you find out about the position from an online listing? I'm wondering if I'm going about looking for jobs the right way....

I feel you - this whole job hunt has got me super anxious and discouraged. If it's not anxiety from searching for a job or filling out the applications, it's the interview that really gets me nervous. Bleh!

I hope you find something soon! I don't know if this will help, but my psych clinical instructor mentioned RN refresher courses for psych nurses wanting to change specialties to something like med-surg. I don't know specifics, but thought I would just throw it out there. Good luck to you!

Neurotic Student · Jan 29, 2016

You're right, it's easier to get into the smaller private psych hospitals. I had applied to county for psych when I just graduated and received no word, but now that I have exp., I think they would give me a chance. A couple of my former coworkers went to a county hospital.

I found out about the jobs by searching for the hospitals around me, I would do normal medical hospitals but some days I just looked for psych instead. That's how I approached my Job Search in the beginning after I just got my license.

I was thinking about refresher course yesterday actually. I wish more places offered this, the closest refresher course is kinda far.

kiwi111 · Jan 29, 2016

I am happy to answer you. I've been in psych for nearly 2 years as my first job. I've actually always had an interest in psych. Now I am trying to move on to something medical to learn new things but psych will always be in my heart. Psych was easy to get in, at least in my hospital. I wasn't asked any real interview questions, but luckily this place wasn't a shady place. My coworkers generally are good. I see in a lot of psych ads that new grads are welcome. Another psych hospital also called me to schedule an interview in the same week that my current job called me, so that goes to show you psych hires new grads. The work isn't too stressful either. At both hospitals I walked in to fill out the apps but that's what those hospitals preferred.
I restarted my job hunting 2 days ago and I already became discouraged once again, but I know I gave to keep applying. I'm filling out lengthy applications only to be looked over. It is very discouraging in itself before being able to even score an interview. And then if I actually score one, I'd have to worry about the interview! I'm so anxiety-prone lol.
I'm focusing on filling out more apps first, then possibly relocation as my other plan.

Thank you for your update!

I'm in the same situation you were 2 years ago now too. I've had a lot of anxiety and depressive episodes and absolutely no job experience. I'm happy to hear you got a job in psych though and liking it! Like hilbub mentioned I'm also interested in doing psych but not sure if I can even get in cause I too did not do my consolidation in psych. It's been 2 yrs since I did a clinical in mental health and I'm a new grad. If I may ask, how long did it take for you to get the job offer? and how did you get the reference? were you able to ask your old proffs?

Neurotic Student · Jan 29, 2016

@kiwi111

I didn't do preceptorship in psych. It took them 2-3 months to call me after I filled out an application. I did put my professors down but I don't know if they called any of them. I didn't ask my professor, I just put them down. I knew they expected to be placed down as references to I didn't feel the need to. I had asked them for letter of references before graduating, so I thought it'd be implicit. However, it would be courteous to give your professor a warning if you think they're going to really question the professor about you. I remember a professor saying that someone had put him down as a reference but when he got called, he didn't know who he was vouching for. I think it was professional references so it could be a supervisor from a job or professors so either would be fine.

TiredKitten · Jan 29, 2016

Thank you for replying! I'm glad to hear you found your calling in psych :) I'm interested in psych also but figured a lot of places wouldn't consider me because I'm a new grad and I did my preceptorship in another area. But I'll definitely look into psych hospitals more. I know the county ones near me don't want new grads, but maybe the smaller private ones will. You don't have to answer this, but did you find out about the position from an online listing? I'm wondering if I'm going about looking for jobs the right way....

I have worked in Psych since graduating May '14. Fell into it while doing RN temp work. Have you tried the state mental hospital? The one here is always hiring along with the psych units at the local medical hospitals. Not a lot of people seem to want to do psych. Especially in my state.