New grad trying hard not to give up...

Nurses Job Hunt

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Sometimes, it's so hard to keep pushing yourself forward and stay positive when all you keep getting is rejection. I am so disappointed and discouraged. Getting to the verge of tears just writing this. I'm a new grad with no "insider connections" -- I don't "know someone" that can help me get a job. Feels like I am looking for a job completely on my own, from scratch; from the very bottom.

I'm so unassertive; get called "quiet" and "shy" all the time. I hate it. I admit, my self esteem and confidence is at an all time low right now due to the constant flow of rejection lately. I am still clinging to the little positivity and hope I have left. I definitely don't want to play the victim or act like I'm the only one in this predicament; sorry if it seems that way. I'm just very frustrated at the moment.

I've been trying to find a job for months now. Since I graduated and passed the boards; May 2012 and July 2012, respectively.

I'm not someone to give up just because the going gets tough, but I really need some words of encouragement.

What else can I do?

How long do I have to just "be patient"?

Should I have a whole new game plan or change my approach in this?

What are some ways I can be more assertive/persistent without being annoying or phony about it?

Any advice or pearls of wisdom you can share are very much appreciated.

Thanks.

Thank you so much, everyone!

I think the interviews went well...but they were interviewing other people too so...I'll just keep my fingers crossed for now.

I wonder how long it would take to hear back from them with an answer either way... Should I give it a week & call next Tuesday if I don't hear back?

I hate waiting!!! Lol

Give it a week and follow up! Fingers crossed!

Sometimes, it's so hard to keep pushing yourself forward and stay positive when all you keep getting is rejection. I am so disappointed and discouraged. Getting to the verge of tears just writing this. I'm a new grad with no "insider connections" -- I don't "know someone" that can help me get a job. Feels like I am looking for a job completely on my own, from scratch; from the very bottom.

I'm so unassertive; get called "quiet" and "shy" all the time. I hate it. I admit, my self esteem and confidence is at an all time low right now due to the constant flow of rejection lately. I am still clinging to the little positivity and hope I have left. I definitely don't want to play the victim or act like I'm the only one in this predicament; sorry if it seems that way. I'm just very frustrated at the moment.

I've been trying to find a job for months now. Since I graduated and passed the boards; May 2012 and July 2012, respectively.

I'm not someone to give up just because the going gets tough, but I really need some words of encouragement.

What else can I do?

How long do I have to just "be patient"?

Should I have a whole new game plan or change my approach in this?

What are some ways I can be more assertive/persistent without being annoying or phony about it?

Any advice or pearls of wisdom you can share are very much appreciated.

Thanks.

Just want to say thank you for sharing that! I got my license in nov 2012 and have with no prior experience, and no connections. I ' ve had a handful of interviews and dozens of rejection emails. Yesterday was my limit at rejection . I finally burst into tears when I didnt get the job I was certain I would get. I was there for 2 hours , with the human resource, then nurse manager and tour of the unit. I'm even wondering if interviews are just that good at making everyone feel as if they got the job .Finding that one RN position is beginning to be like finding a needle in the haystack. It is soo discouraging but I still keep applying. What I've considered is applying everywhere even for positions that say prior experience preferred, sending a thank you note within 24 hours, and a follow-up call after a week after interviews. Also ask what they are looking for in a candidate. Someone also has told me to volunteer at hospital and start building a social network. I 've only had three interviews and each time I try to think is there anything I could do differently for the next time. I even change the format of my resumes and cover letters too. I started monitor the nearest hospital websites for positions and have set up career alerts. And then I pray. Good luck to you.

Specializes in geriatrics.

Even if the position asks for one year of experience, apply anyway. You have nothing to lose. The worst that happens is they don't call you. You never know.

Just want to say thank you for sharing that! I got my license in nov 2012 and have with no prior experience, and no connections. I ' ve had a handful of interviews and dozens of rejection emails. Yesterday was my limit at rejection . I finally burst into tears when I didnt get the job I was certain I would get. I was there for 2 hours , with the human resource, then nurse manager and tour of the unit. I'm even wondering if interviews are just that good at making everyone feel as if they got the job .Finding that one RN position is beginning to be like finding a needle in the haystack. It is soo discouraging but I still keep applying. What I've considered is applying everywhere even for positions that say prior experience preferred, sending a thank you note within 24 hours, and a follow-up call after a week after interviews. Also ask what they are looking for in a candidate. Someone also has told me to volunteer at hospital and start building a social network. I 've only had three interviews and each time I try to think is there anything I could do differently for the next time. I even change the format of my resumes and cover letters too. I started monitor the nearest hospital websites for positions and have set up career alerts. And then I pray. Good luck to you.

Aww I'm so sorry to hear that! I can totally relate though. I've heard from a few nurses who've been nurses for 30+ years that it's NEVER been this hard for new grads to find a job. One even told me that before, WE could pick and choose which hospital we wanted to work at! Now you just have to take whatever you can get as long as it says "RN" in the title. I'm right there with you though hun. Just try as hard as you can to stay positive and keep applying, and just know that we're all struggling with this together. Look on the bright side too, I know some people who haven't even interviewed yet... At least you already have experience with that now, and you know the process a little better. Each one is a learning experience to make you that much better for the next one. I think my last interview went extremely well (in my opinion). If I don't get this job that I interviewed for on Tuesday, I will take it with a grain of salt, but I'll also ask the recruiter for feedback as to why I wasn't selected. If it's something within my control (such as body language or talking to softly, etc.), then I'll work on it for the next interview I get.

I also kick myself sometimes for not joining Sigma Theta Tau or nursing leadership organizations so that I could have that on my resume. I also wish that I had a better GPA (mine was 3.31) so that I could say I graduated Summa Cum Laude. Sometimes that's why someone else gets the job over you too. To interviewers, accomplishments = POTENTIAL.

I wish you the very best of luck =).

I'm so worried now because I saw people on this website who interviewed at the same hospital I just did on Tuesday (not sure if I'm allowed to mention the name), and they heard back within a DAY or two with a job offer. I really want to call today to follow-up, but I think I should wait till Monday or Tuesday of next week. Maybe they're still interviewing people? At the same time I want to show interest and be proactive. What should I do? I didn't go to an Ivy League school or graduate with honors, but I tried my best to be enthusiastic and show them that I'm eager to learn, inquisitive, helpful, and very caring of the patients.

Now I just have a bad feeling. :(

I'm so worried now because I saw people on this website who interviewed at the same hospital I just did on Tuesday (not sure if I'm allowed to mention the name), and they heard back within a DAY or two with a job offer. I really want to call today to follow-up, but I think I should wait till Monday or Tuesday of next week. Maybe they're still interviewing people? At the same time I want to show interest and be proactive. What should I do? I didn't go to an Ivy League school or graduate with honors, but I tried my best to be enthusiastic and show them that I'm eager to learn, inquisitive, helpful, and very caring of the patients.

Now I just have a bad feeling. :(

Rule of thumb is to follow up in a week or send a thank you much sooner like within 24hrs. I don't think you will sound eager you are just showing your interest in the position which is a good thing . I did contact the interviewer after finding out I didn't get the position and she told me she thought I had positive interview which made me feel better; however the nurse manager makes the decision and some factors are experience, whether they can orient you to the unit, presentation style , whatever that means? And availability. Theres nothing wrong with calling back and expressing your interest in the position and inquiring whether a decision has been made. One question I always ask is how many positions are they looking to fill and how soon are they looking to fill them, one hospital did tell me they were interviewing all week then they would make a decision so there's still hope . Good luck !

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