Any suggestions for getting a job??

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Nov 17, 2005

Ashley, I recommend that you get a folder together with a copy of your school transcript and the addresses and dates of hire of your old employers and personal references and go to several of these hospitals in person. Or, call and ask for an appointment to speak with their nurse recruiters. That is how you are going to find out what their hiring situation is. The majority of nursing jobs are not listed in the classified section of the newspaper. Showing up in person is a lot more assertive than applying online and demonstrates your eagerness and seriousness to work there. Besides, once you are in the facility they have to do something with you after saying "hi". I suggest that the first hospital you do this with is the one where you did the majority of your clinicals since you know something about that hospital already. Most fair sized hospitals run orientation programs once a month for new hires. A nurse manager looking to fill an open RN position is more likely to call the nurse recruiter and ask him/her if there are any likely candidates that they like before going to the online applications.

Jerico, BSN, RN · Nov 17, 2005

Applying on line sometimes takes time. I've also discovered electronic applications get routed and re-routed and sometimes don't do anything for you at all! Some human resources tech treats your application like the other fifty that came in "Oh, I'll get to those tomorrow" then they go on vacation, Christmas happens....lots of ways for your effort to get hired to get sidetracked and forgotten.

Our nursing school required us to put together a portfolio - of our experiences in nursing school, work experiences. Like a "this is me" book - professionally. EVERY single potential employer (worth being employed by) thought this was great. They remember me as the "one with the portfolio".

Every single time I have followed up an electronic application with a visit dressed in a suit to a hospital personnel office I have had great results - meaning I was offered a job. Four in three months.

FOLLOW UP. Don't let your application go into the big electronic file in the sky. Make contact, face to face, even if it means dressing up each morning and walking into ANOTHER personnel office.

ALSO: walk into a department (or call) and ASK for the particular department manager. TELL her/him "I put my application in for such and such....and haven't heard from your human resource people....did you know I had applied?" Be careful with this though...calling first helps because some department managers prefer an appointment. Some "fools" will say "You have to go through human resources first..." But GOOD managers will work around human resources, in their own polite way, because GOOD people to work for KNOW how to work the system to their advantage.

Woman_in_love · Nov 18, 2005

Jerico, could you please give an example how to write this type of portfolio?

Also, did you bring it in person to the hospital or just send by mail?

Thanks a lot!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Nov 18, 2005

You said it much better than I, Jerico! Excellent advice!

Jerico, BSN, RN · Nov 18, 2005

Take a NICE (QUALITY) binder - try to keep it no more than a 1.5 - 2.0" size.

Divide it with nice (QUALITY) dividers (bright, pretty) into:

1. "Formal Resume"

2. "Education"

3. "Professional Experiences"

4. "Work Examples"

5. "Volunteer/Community Service"

6. "Personal Information"

Under 1: Type up a formal resume, ONE page with a goal at the top, your name, etc.,; double check contact phone numbers. Use NICE paper. Then copy the resume and put 5 copies behind the original in a clear plastic sleeve. List GOOD references here - professors, past employers. NO relatives.

Under 2: Get copies of all your official transcripts and diplomas/degrees. Have them stamped with seal (officiate) if at all possible. You want it to look GOOD and CLEAN and like you took time. If you have great grades, highlight them in bright yellow.

Also add under this section a LIST and SHORT description of ANY NURSING coursework that pertains to nursing/management. Example:

Pathophysiology - (Then follow with a SHORT summary of the course descriptor from your college catalog). This gives the person looking at YOU an idea of what classes you've had and what level the content was taught.

Under 3: Type up a short description of your professional "history". What you have done, where you have been career wise. Place letters of reference, awards, accomplishments "deans list" letters, national honor societies, offices you may have held in school (president...treasurer..). Place any certificates of completion of any conferences, etc.

Under 4: Give examples of work which you feel will make you an good candidate to hire and why. At nice letter to state why YOU feel THEY should hire you - what are you great at? - comments teachers have said to you. Also put research papers, presentations, CDs, Powerpoint presentations, case studies you may have done. Just the GOOD stuff. If a professor has made a positive remark and an A-plus all the better, put it in there.

Under 5: List volunteer and community activities which make you a VALUE to your community. Nearly all hospitals look at what you as a person can contribute to mankind/community - that makes the hospital look good!

Under 6: In mine, I placed good photos of my spouse and children. That is because most people at the supervisory level KNOW what it takes to be a successful parent and mother AND balance nursing school. Give yourself credit, but don't play it up too much.

Many in our classes placed photos of nursing school experiences here and there where appropriate. But DON'T make it look like a "froo-froo girlie diary, whatever you do! You are a PROFESSIONAL NURSE now....present yourself in your PROFESSIONAL portfolio as such.

Later, after you may have been hired, you add your position "offer" letter; positive things as you work; and THEN if you change a year or so down the line, you will be able to show the NEXT prospective employer those as proof you were hired. Also add a letter of resignation - as appropriate to show what "footing" you were on when you departed company to seek "higher levels" of nursing.

It seems like alot of work and it is. But worth every minute and dime you spend to develop. All of us in school hated doing one and we whined about it...but boy did it turn out one of the best investments we ever made.

GOOD LUCK!

Oh, and when you go to a prospective department manager, just ask if she/he can take some time say: "Not right now, but take some time when you can to review my portfolio, and I will come pick it up xyz" (date and time) .

Leaving your portfolio gives you a chance/exuse to SEE them again, and they will REMEMBER you! Just remind them it is a valuable portfolio to YOU and that you will be sure to pick it up.

:)

Woman_in_love · Nov 18, 2005

Thank you very much!

AshleyRN · Nov 18, 2005

Thank you all so much for the suggestions. I will give them a try, and hopefully have a job SOON!