How to find a job?

Miniangel2 · Jul 26, 2012

Don't give up keep looking there is a good site gives all the jobs info!goodluck wish you luck and for me still workin the nclex rn lucky you!

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Jul 26, 2012

Moved to the Nursing First Job Hunt Assistance Forum, as more suitable to this type of inquiry :)

ArrowRN, BSN, RN · Jul 26, 2012

While there are many threads on this one, I thought I would ask. I graduated in May and got my RN license in July. I have been looking for almost 3 weeks for an RN position. First the hospitals, and now beginning to look at other facilities. And nothing. I almost don't understand why it is so hard to find a job. I am aware that the economy is bad, but i'm not sure what to do.
Any tips on what I should do? Feeling a little discouraged from getting rejected so much.

Sorry its taking a while for many new grads, its scary cause I haven't even started nursing school yet. If you are not working at all, I'd try nursing support positions that have the graduate nurse requirement, such as PCA/PCT, phelebotomist, or tech positions, just anything get some sort of patient contact on your resume and to prevent that huge gap in your resume that I read about from many new nurse grads, being out of work for 1 plus years. While we all while we all want to graduate and get that ideal position, I think its critical to get any of these positions as soon as possible while waiting for that big break.

I'd also take another look at your resume and make it functional, stating how past experience would help in your new career. e.g you may have zero hospital experience but 5 years at a call center helping keep customers calm. Also look up key words aka "tags" that are posted in Nursing Jobs and ensure that the majority of these tags are somewhere within your resume, so your resume can get a "hit" when employers are searching through the applicant list. Many people forget that job hunting is now done electronically and if you are missing keywords in your resume the computer will just dumb your resume during the initial screening process, in other words, noone would even see it. I believe It works pretty much like google search...websites have what are called meta tags or tags, and these tags make a difference of being at the top of google search list or being on page 1,000,000 that no normal internet user ever reads.

Morganalefey · Jul 27, 2012

Just keep trying. It took me 5 months to find a job after I passed boards.

mmmRN · Jul 27, 2012

I am in the same boat as you. I graduated in may and just got my license as well. I have put in over 70 applications and haven't heard a peep. Working nurses I know said that it took them six months or more and hundreds of applications to find a job. Man-nurse2b suggested finding a job as a tech, phlebotomist, ect. which is a good idea. However, I know the hospitals around here (I live in the Chicago area) will not hire a new grad for such a position because they know that you will leave as soon as you find a job. We just have to keep trying. Good luck!

Mayette30 · Jul 27, 2012

Hii guys! im on the same boat! i have been applying since january and applied everywhere! so far i have been to 3 interviews. this week i have been contacted by one recruiter for the rsidency program i have applied for and was asked for a personal statement which i have no idea what to put there. i always thought that the hardest part would be passing the boards but now, its so hard to get a job..

nursie_nursie_415 · Jul 27, 2012

My heart goes out to everyone who is struggling to get employed right now, especially new graduate nurses who have been somewhat brainwashed into thinking that getting a job would be cake. I graduated in 2007 & even then it took me 6 months after passing NCLEX to get that first interview.

Back then many "job fairs" were being held & because of severe heavy traffic, I arrived to one job fair just as they were wrapping-up - the only people left were the staff who were taking their stations down. A very kind nurse recruiter saw me & asked if I was there for the job fair. I replied that I was & apologized for missing the entire event because of traffic, & if I could just collect some pamphlets & be along my way. Instead, she sat me down & gave me her condensed "spiel" in exchange for my resume. What a meaningful thing for her to do - I'll never forget it.

She encouraged me to attend upcoming job fairs & gave me the dates & times. At the next job fair I wanted to greet her but there was no way I could even approach her because of the masses waiting to do the same. At the following job fair, because of how the event was arranged, everyone was to hand-in their application packets directly to the recruiters, allowing only seconds for the interaction. When it was my turn she immediately remembered my name (my name is somewhat odd - thanks, parents!!!) & asked why I wasn't at the last job fair. I explained to her that I did in fact attend but despite wanting to chat with her it was just impossible to. She asked me if my application packet was complete (which it was) & then she specifically wanted to see if I had the minimum of 2 letters of recommendation. Perhaps it was overkill, but I included 5 total.

... not sure why she focused on that... maybe some of the applicants were missing that piece of the packet & she was weeding them out? Who knows?

Anyway, 2 months later I ended up getting hired at that facility. During those 2 months I continued to attend job fairs, search for employment opportunities & refused to give up. Given, the situation for new grads is much different these days, the goal is still the same so DON'T GIVE UP!

SoundRN7 · Jul 27, 2012

While there are many threads on this one, I thought I would ask. I graduated in May and got my RN license in July. I have been looking for almost 3 weeks for an RN position. First the hospitals, and now beginning to look at other facilities. And nothing. I almost don't understand why it is so hard to find a job. I am aware that the economy is bad, but i'm not sure what to do.
Any tips on what I should do? Feeling a little discouraged from getting rejected so much.

You've only been looking for 3 weeks? Oh honey, many of us have been looking for 6-12 months and can't get hired! I hope you have better luck than most of us. It is completely frustrating but one cannot give up. I wish you all the best!

LindaNLPN · Jul 27, 2012

I think the main thing is not giving up. It's tough to get a job being a new grad. Every facility wants to hired someone with experiences. But how can a new grad get experience from no one hiring them.

Depending on the area you live in, might be easier than others. I live in Vancouver, BC. Graduated in July 2010, pass my exam in Oct. I applied for many jobs after graduation, with interim and full license. I had no luck. No interviews, nothing. It was quite depressing. Since I really wanted to work as a nurse. I decided to moved to Northern Manitoba. They were lots of job everywhere in Canada, just not BC. I worked as a full time float nurse at a hospital(ACIU) and at the care home next door. Loved the job, but missed my family in Vancouver. Stayed for four months, then decided to move back home(Vancouver, BC).

I returned May 2011. I applied for jobs here and there. And followed up at the care facility that I did my preceptor at. I went to a few interviews. Was told that there were 400 applicants for one Lon position at one interview. It is ridiculous in Vancouver. I honestly can say that I wasn't really aggressive as to finding a job. Mostly applied online.

In February 2012, I got called for an interview from one of the care facility I applied for online in December. Totally forgot, I applied since it was two months later. I got hired as a casual( on call or prn). Worked pretty much almost full time hours, no benefit.

Then in May 2012, I got an email from the DOC at the care facility that I did my preceptor at in June 2012, asking me to come in for an interview for a casual Lpn position. Following June, three new permanent Lpn positions were posted for the special care unit at that same facility. I was fortunate enough to get it. :)

Sorry for the long story of my nursing career. But basically I want to say, just don't give up. Looking for a job is like a full time job. You got to really want it. And if you got to move away to get experience, do it. Also, for all the nursing students, do well on your practicum/perceptorship. Try to stand out so the DOC with remember you, also keep in contact with them.

I had the DOC email, ever few months since I graduated, I would email and ask were they hiring casuals. A few times got the message back. "sorry, not hiring casual at the moment." the third time the DOC told me to come in for an interview. Said the reason I got the position was because I was very persistent about it.

Good luck on the Job Search. You will eventually get a job, it takes time.

JENURSE03_RN, MSN, DNP, RN · Jul 27, 2012

Now a days it seems like it is a combination of 3 things

1. Level of degree

2. Experiences

3. Who you know and not what you know

I, myself is looking for Nursing Jobs

allnurses Guide · Jul 27, 2012

Three weeks? You have only just begun. Most new grads are taking 6-12 months on average to find a job. That means many many are still looking at the one year point. If you need money you may need to take something outside of nursing while you continue to look.