Any RNs who got job the 'old school' way?

[AFwife727, BSN, RN]

Hello, I am a new grad RN, graduated last May 2012 and have been searching since this past December. I am looking for ways to be more efficient in my job search and eventually nab a job... Because applying online and waiting to hear back obviously has not been working out. I'm in a time crunch. I am pregnant and not yet showing but will be in the fall.

Are there any of you that got jobs the 'old school' way of pounding the pavement and going to facilities in person to seek out hiring managers? I was told by one RN to go buy distinctive parchment-style paper, in a different color, to print my resume with. Does anybody agree with this? She did this along with speaking to employers face to face and got her job that way. I'm sure it can't hurt to do that rather than letting my applications get lost in cyberspace.

[Student Mom to Three]

I didn't go anywhere in person, but truthfully, all my jobs have been found off Craigslist. I had zero luck with online applications, just like you. However, if I could just email a resume and a cover letter I got great response. I really think the key is a killer cover letter because you can sell yourself so much better than you can in just those crazy online apps.

I was fortunate enough to get hired into an ASC right out of school and now into endoscopy by applying to ads off CL. Good luck....and congrats on your pregnancy!

[AFwife727, BSN, RN]

Really? Wow, that's awesome. Ambulatory surgery is actually where I want to work. Are they generally willing to hire new grads? I will have to try looking on CL. What did you specifically type in the search bar there to get the ASC listings? Feel like that's a stupid question but at this point idk if I should be typing in "new grad" RN positions when I'm searching online. There are so few "new grad" positions out there.

[Student Mom to Three]

I just looked under "jobs" and the subtitle "medical/health". I don't know that a lot of ASCs do hire new grads....they seem to want ICU or ER experience. I think I got lucky because I already had ACLS, did my sr practicum in a PACU and really detailed my post-op assessment ability in my cover letter. Truthfully, the ASC I was hired at was one that would not be desirable to many people....but it got me started in the right direction!

Good luck with your search!

[S.G.]

I got offered 2 jobs by dropping my résumé off at a facility. They weren't hiring for a position at the time but I got a call a few weeks later.

[KJM-RN, BSN]

I haven't received a job yet, but I only passed the boards a few weeks ago. I have driven to many hospitals to drop off my cover letter/resume. I am sometimes turned away and told to apply online and other times I've found that that's how they pretty much do their hiring. Last week I stumbled across the nurse recruiters office, went in and gave my stuff to her and am now supposed to call her tomorrow to set up an interview. This facility has no new grad friendly positions posted online, but she said she has many positions available. By stopping by I'm basically getting a shot at the position before a mass of people apply online. A large university hospital I went to also told me they hire by drop off resumes, they rarely post positions online. When a position opens up they go through the stack of resumes people have dropped off and make calls. This is not something they say in their careers section online, but I found it out by going to HR.

If the facilities are far from you I suggest calling human resources before you make the drive to verify that they will take your résumé in person. Definitely won't hurt to get out there and try. Good luck!