"What have you been doing since graduating?"

[csj50]

I am a "new" grad (graduated from nursing school (ADN) last year) and have had no luck with getting hired. I've had a few phone calls and interviews and almost EVERYONE asks what I have been doing since I've finished nursing school.

And apparently you shouldn't be telling them you've been looking for a job.

How can I answer this question?

I know it's important to keep your skills up by working in the field somehow, but I CAN NOT even get a job as a medical assistant or tech/CNA because I am "overqualified" (perhaps a liability for the facility?), which has also been extremely frustrating.

[cjcsoon2bnp, MSN, RN, NP]

In response to that question you need to think back and remember exactly what have you been doing during this time in order to keep your knowledge up-to-date while you have been searching for the "right" position.

• Have you been doing any CEUs (online, conferences, presentations)?
  
• Have you done ACLS, PALS, NIHSS or a telemetry course?
  
• Have you done any volunteering?
  
• How about memberships with professional organizations?
  
• Have you been looking into going back to school for your BSN?
  

You need to show recruiters that you haven't been just sitting around doing nothing since you graduated school. Think about what you have done to keep your knowledge current and let us know, we might be able to give you a better answer for those nurse recruiters.

!Chris

[St_ClairRN]

Volunteering is one of the best things you can do, in addition to networking. (I took the faculty's advice at orientation in nursing school and didn't work during school. Then in our last semester, some of my classmates who did work as PCTs, etc., were getting job offers before even graduating... I got really nervous. And started volunteering at a facility that actually wanted/needed nurses to be volunteers for their organization.) Putting that on my resume probably helped. But so did networking. I planned/budgeted to not begin work until 2-3 months after graduation to allow for NCLEX studying and job searching, and actually did mention that during an interview because it reflected planning and realistic expectations. Attending networking events is another (less direct) plus, but it does convey how serious you are about finding "the right fit". Best of luck to you!

[Inori, BSN, RN]

Yep like poster #2 said do everything she/he suggested. What did I do after graduation? relax lol 1 month vacation, 2.5 month prep for nclex, took 1 online pysch prereq course for RN-BSN transfer, volunteer, ACLS, PALS, and now started RN-BSN, and Job Search of course. also i'm trying to sort out the various nursing organizations .. it looks like gibberish to me right now. See even with those activities I still had lots of time left to hangout with friends, job search and so its doable.

AND having something to do gets you out of the house and keeps you connected to socieity otherwise its very easy to become a lost, stressed out and depressed. Uhm yes one can only take so many rejections and everyone just says keep trying. And its true you have no other choice other than keep trying.

Volunteering at hospital or places of interest puts you into contact with people who are working in jobs you want SO you get to meet and network. It took me a few months to learn how to network now that wasn't taught in school. At first its scary to talk with people you don't know but after awhile its second nature. So yep now i walk up to people and just talk about whatever and leave with thier business cards and permission to contact them. That's what networking is about getting to know people.