Capture Your Heart's Desire: Finding the Job You Want

My family and I had been wanting to move from Florida to Tennessee for over eighteen years, so when our house sold this past May, I was beyond ecstatic. Having been in the same hospital since graduating nursing school in 1992, I was naive when it came to searching for a new job, especially in another state. My lack of knowledge caused a delay in finding the right job. I feel that sharing my experience can help someone else have a less complicated transition.

The following is a list that I would suggest for those looking for a job. I hope you find these helpful in your search.

Create a Resume

The first thing to do is go online and create your resume. There are many free templates to choose from. Pick one that keeps it uncomplicated because managers need to be able to scan them and get your information easily. Most corporations want an online resume, rather than paper. In fact when I first started out, the nursing recruiter returned my paper copy and told me to attach it online to the jobs that I applied for. Resumes are not that complicated; keep them simple and don't be afraid to give yourself credit for your accomplishments.

Research Hospitals

Next, do an online search of the hospitals in the area that you want to live in. Get a feel for what jobs are available. If a particular job is not available when you do your search, don't disregard that hospital. I ran my search for jobs every day in many facilities and often there would be new listings. Once you have applied online for one position, your resume is in their database, making applying very simple and fast.

Make a Connection

If the facility you are applying to has a recruiter, that person will be your first line of communication. Other facilities may not have a recruiter, so you will be talking with a manager. I strongly recommend calling the nurse recruiter or manager of any hospital or medical facility you are applying to and have a list of questions for them ready on paper and write down their answers so you can go back and refer to them. Ask them the pay scale and what is the pay cap. What insurance do they offer and at what cost to you. Do they offer a 401k or other retirement benefit and how much do they match. Whatever is important to you - ask. Always be polite and professional when speaking to these people, it makes a better impression therefore improving your chances of getting one step closer to a job.

So Now You Have an Interview

Getting that phone call or email for an interview is very exciting. Keep in mind there may be multiple other applicants, so standing out is a priority. They will want an in person interview, even if they do a phone interview. Be prepared to travel if you haven't moved yet. Dress professionally and be a few minutes early for the interview. Shake hands with the interviewer and make eye contact. Let the manager lead the interview. Speak with confidence and again maintain eye contact. It's okay to smile or laugh when appropriate, but make sure not to go on bunny trails. Stick to the business at hand. Focus on the job and feel free to ask questions. You want to make sure that the job is a good fit for you and you are a good fit for it. If they require a day of shadowing- this is when you follow one of the employees for several hours, use this time to show your enthusiasm. Don't stand around with your hands in your pockets, or looking at your phone. Engage in what the nurse is doing, ask questions about the work environment. This is your time to pick the brains of your potential future co-workers, use this opportunity to impress them. The same instructions go for pier interviews. It's a mini session to get to know each other, so use the time wisely.

Change Can Be Good

Do not be afraid of change; it can be exhilarating and scary at the same time. Change can be good for the soul. Getting out of my comfort zone and being the "new" one again was uncomfortable, but now I love my job and the people I work with. Good luck to those who are about to embark on your new career as a nurse and for those of us who are mature nurses brave enough to step out and capture our hearts desire.

If you have recently completed a successful job search, please share some of the things you found helpful.

Look for my article on resumes, and good luck in your job search.