is being aggressive the only way to find a RN job now?!

[nurse441]

New grad here sharing my sorrow..

with a graduating class of 80, i would say less than 15 of us found a solid RN job. ( May 09). For the few who did find jobs, I noticed that they are the more outspoke/aggressive types. So far I heard that the only way to get a job now is either through experience.. or being SUPER AGGRESSIVE!!!!

So far i've heard of these tips and advice:

- Look up the internal job postings/ stalk the various unit managers

- Don't bother with online apps anymore, just go in person (aka stalk the manager), introduce yourself, sit down and chat

- Walk onto the unit and prepare to have a in person interview on the spot.

- ask for a unit tour

- fax letters to every DON in the building and beg for a job

- call every hospital/ units every single week to find job posting.

- call them for a follow up and nag them till they remember your name.

but seriously though...?!?! are there any nurse managers out there reading this. I'm not aggressive by nature,:uhoh21: and i don't have a lot of experience... so does that mean I can't find a job,..?!?!?! Can someone with a decent GPA+ related volunteer experience stand a chance against 700+ applicants or those who are hired internally? or do I have to start forcing myself to do the unconventional way of job searching ( aka being a DON stalker?!.) please share your experience with this.

[nurse441]

In the business world it's called being "proactive". It can seperate an applicant from the multitude who shotgun out a few hundred generic resumes and then sit back to wait for the phone to ring.

When I got my job I hand delivered my application to the CNO of the facility. I followed up by sending a note (not an e-mail) that day thanking her for her time and restating my wish to go to work there. I also had an old associate who was in a position to give me a strong recommendation. If that is being aggressive, then I was aggressive.

i like that idea alot :)

[PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN]

If I knew there was nurse stalking my manager to work in my department, there is no way I'd approve of her hiring. We have peer review prior to hiring so that's easy to do.

So my advice: Don't be aggressive to the point of being unprofessional. And one more thing, nursing can be a SMALL world...you never know when someone knows someone who knows someone else and knows someone who knows you and either likes--or doesn't like--you.