Nurse recruiter

[Brittany2206]

Hello all! I graduate in April with my BSN, and I am getting my resume and cover letters sorted out to start applying for jobs.

I am planning on applying to multiple jobs (which are somewhat related) at the same hospital because there are only 2 hospitals in my area, and I do not have the option of relocating at this point because of my soon the be hubby's career. I think I am going to write separate cover letters for each position. However, a friend of mine who works at one of the hospitals gave me a HR contact and told me to go talk to her and give her my resume and cover letter. She said that she talked to the HR person at a job fair and she got her a job. Question is, which cover letter do I give her? Do I just write a generic one? I am about positive it is the same person who probably gets the online applications, so she will probably have already or will have looked through the cover letters I posted online.

Or should I go in and talk to her with a generic cover letter before I apply for any specific positions, and see what she says? Please help!

[blackvans1234]

I would say specific cover letter, for a few reasons.

#1) If this person has seen your resume online they can put a face to a application

#2) a general cover letter seems like you're mass producing them (in my opinion). You want the recruiter to believe you are VERY interested in THEIR hospital, not just any hospital.

That's my .02

[llg, PhD, RN]

I would make one cover letter for each hospital. Talk about why you want to work at that particular facility ... but are flexible about the specific unit/position. Let the Recruiter help to match you up with specific positions.

If you make a separate letters for each position emphasizing on why you want that particular job -- and you do that for multiple jobs in the same facility -- people will think you are being insincere about wanting that particular job. You don't want people to think you are being insincere. So, address the multiple applications in your cover letter. Emphasize wanting to work for that particular hospital and that several different possible jobs would please you.

[IKnowYouRider]

Ha, I've thought about how cover letters for specific jobs might come across this way (as I've done this myself).

I personally think it'd be a little harsh to judge somebody as insincere though if they are taking that much time to write out letters. I know I'd 'sincerely' be interested in working Oncology as I would Cardiac right now.

Anyway, funny to see you've had the same thoughts.

[llg, PhD, RN]

Ha, I've thought about how cover letters for specific jobs might come across this way (as I've done this myself).

I personally think it'd be a little harsh to judge somebody as insincere though if they are taking that much time to write out letters. I know I'd 'sincerely' be interested in working Oncology as I would Cardiac right now.

Anyway, funny to see you've had the same thoughts.

I'm thinking that it sounds insincere to say, "I really want to work with cardiac patients. This has been a special interest of mine ... blah, blah, blah" ..... and then turn around and write another letter saying, "I am really interested in working with oncology patients and have wanted to work with oncology patients ever since my Grandpa died of cancer when I was 16 ... blah blah blah."

I've read application and intereviewed people for a long time and have never "trusted" someone who goes on and on about how they want to be an ICU nurse ... and then gushes about outpatient nursing ... and then talks about how they would really love to work in our chronic care unit ... etc. They LOVE to work with patients get to know them on an ongoing basis ... but they would also LOVE to work in the OR. etc.

Such people make me doubt that they have much self-awareness and insight into what types of jobs would be a good fit for them. Either that or they are just lying to me. It sounds to me as if they are just trying to get a job -- any job -- and don't really care what type of work they would be doing. That's not the kind of person I want to hire. I react much more favorably to the person who says they have heard great things about my hospital, like its philosophy and mission, and want to work with us -- but they can be flexible about the specific unit as they are open to learning new things. I can believe that such a person in being sincere and by talking more with them, help them "find a fit" that will work well for everyone involved.

[ClassyChristina]

I never used a specific cover letter because I think it comes off as over-the-top and desperate. Simple and to the point is always better in my opinion. I have gotten two job offers this way and only applied for a few jobs... so it has worked for me! :)