What really happens to applications submitted online?

[SuzieVN]

Are there any managers here who post online ads for nurses, requesting resumes and etc.? If yes, are most of the ads bona fide, or are most of the ads just placed at random, to feel out the labor pool? Are resumes actually opened and looked at? I'm mighty curious. Reason being- I go to the same sites as time goes by, I see the same ads, with the same dates, over and over. If a job were available, and posted, eventually it'd be filled. But the ads remain. 'Send resume', or 'apply online', they same ads never seem to vanish. Anyone?

[VANurse2010]

I have gotten both of my last two full time jobs by responding to online job postings under the "Career" tab of the organizations' websites.

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

I apply online and then follow up with a phone call. As a new grad without experience I had to network and use my connections (and make connections if I didn't have any). Once I had experience, my online application plus follow up started to be enough on its own. There were still applications I never heard back about but my application to interview rate improved.

Make sure you fill out the application completely. It is redundant and annoying when you are also attaching a resume but is an essential step. I also personalize my cover letter to the position and hospital.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

I work for a non-profit agency so maybe that makes a difference. We only advertise for actual vacancies. I have hired from online ads. Though to be fair some resumes may not even get opened or read. Guess I am old school, but if you can't spell Registered Nurse correctly in your cover letter I won't waste my time or yours. Yes - that does happen.

Same. My agency does not post openings that do not exist- we are a small agency and it costs money every time HR posts on craigslist or indeed and the like.

OP, sometimes listings on these sites expire after 30 days or so- so if you're seeing the same ad over and over again, it's possible that the position just hasn't been filled and had to be re-posted. I've only been a nurse for 6 years so every nursing job I've had has been through an online posting/application. When I was changing jobs last year, I did all resumes through online systems or emails and I was granted interviews or at least received a follow-up phone call/email from almost everywhere that I applied.

[SuzieVN]

Thanks for the info, peeps. I suspected the replies would be this varied. I do know for a fact that agencies that advertise for home health rarely have any work for new employees (after the first week or so, anyway) despite their claims that they have tons of work. The reason they run ad after ad after ad is to lure nurses into their offices, with false promises, just so they have a larger pool of nurses to call on if one cancels an assignment.