How long did it take you to land your first job?

Nurses Job Hunt

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Hello fellow nurses! New BSN grad here, who has been applying for hospital, LTC and home health jobs like mad since passing NCLEX in early June.

Some of the hospitals warn online that it can take as long as 90 days to get an offer. Other potential employers have told me they want to get background check results.

So, I am wondering how long it took you to land your first job. How long did you wait before applying elsewhere? Did they let you know they were interested right away?

It has taken me 15 LONG months to finally get an offer. I'm in the California Bay Area and it's rough here. I also got an offer for my dream department: L&D. I applied back in March, had a first interview in May, a second interview last week, and finally a job offer yesterday!

Yes, like sourapil: did you go volunteer/ work elsewhere while job searching? How did you handle the wait period. I would give up on hospitals/ move by then. Congratulations for persevering and suceeding!!! YAYY! :D YOU GOT YOUR DREAM JOB!!! I am inspired by this post to persevere too.

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I was offered a job in July. I graduated in August. Really though, I was in the right place.. at the right time. I filled out many other applications and heard nothing back.

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Specializes in Antepartm and Mother-Baby.

I'm still in nursing school; some of my friends in past semesters have found jobs 3 months before graduation and I know one girl who is still looking after graduating in May. I go to a small nursing school and they are having a career fair for us with hospital they are partnered with at the end of the month and giving offers at the end of October. My hope is to have a job before graduation, but I may end up eating my words.

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Specializes in Psych.

I graduated with my RN in late July, am sitting for boards in two weeks, & I start my first position at the VA in October. So stoked! I had multiple job offers before I accepted this one, all of which I received prior to even graduating! I guess either they were desperate or I have a good resume :wacky:

I was told to start applying in the last semester of school...that way it's lined up & you're ready to go when you take boards. Seemed kind of backwards to me, but it's worked out so far.

I had only a few weeks waiting time for the one that I really wanted (the VA one), a little longer for the OB position (ewwww), & only a week for the clinic one that was offered. I find that the larger the facility, the longer they take. For example, I haven't heard ANYthing from the facility I currently work at...they're slow & also extremely picky.

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Here's a little update:

I landed a job in August 2013 working on a brand new transition care unit in a LTC/Rehab facility. I was told I would have 19 easy hip/knee patients that would typically d/c home after a few weeks of rehab. Reality: craniotomy and valve replacement patients - some that developed complications, typically one STNA working with me, and I was one of two BSNs in the building. I lost 3-5 lbs every shift. I quickly learned how to seek out help.

In October 2013 I was offered contingent positions at a critical access hospital (M/S, but floated everywhere!) and on an inpatient crisis hospice unit. Ended up full time at the hospice job, and I was recently offered TWO critical care positions.

I feel like the belle at the ball. A year ago I never thought I would be granted an interview - much less offered two positions in critical care.

What helped me was relationships I built with co-workers (who gave me great references), asking other nurses - who worked in units where I wanted to work - for advice/contact info, and being willing to learn new skills.

You can get your dream job. You might have to start somewhere else first.

Good luck!

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Specializes in LTC, Med-surg.

Put in 23 applications since July 29th, 2015.

Learned I passed NCLEX: July 16th, 2015

Received RN license# from NJ: August 8th, 2015

Got 2 interviews at nursing homes. 1 interview was with the nursing home in Pennsylvania where I worked as a certified nurse assistant for 1 year and 4 months.

The other interview was in a nursing home within 9 miles from my house so closer to me than PA. They offered me orientation the very next day but I held off for the hospital interview I have scheduled. I was offered the job but because I declined I will have to interview again after the hospital interview if I don't get the job...

Hospital interview in NJ scheduled for August 24th.

I guess I am lucky that I have at least one facility that will take me but, damn NJ and PA is hard for new grads.

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