Anyone having a rough time landing their first job

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Wow! I guess I just was not expecting it to be this tough! So many of the Hospitals have cut their new grad programs. I live in San Francisco, anyone feel my pain? Any suggestions? I'm just going for your basic Med Surg, Med Tele, & I would be open to ICU. I graduated in May passed the NCLEX in June and 1 interview, which I didn't prepare well enough for. I guess I didn't expect to be asked how to admit a patient w/ chest pain. I more or less got most of the correct answers but forgot to say "get a chest x-ray" I just didn't expect that question so I didn't review it. People keep telling me I need to network & get to know more nurses/nurse mangers. How do I do that if I'm not working in a hospital? Any ideas? I'm bummed. I'm working as a flu shot nurse & a homecare nurse, but I want to get into an acute hospital. One manager said to me that it's started to look bad that I haven't gotten a job yet. I was like ....I've been applying to everything/anything that's available, that was upsetting. Any advice? I've heard it's tough for new grads in the San Francisco Bay area. I'm ready to consider relocating - anyone know which states might have openings for new grads!? THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Specializes in SRNA.

Wow. Sorry you're having such a tough time finding a job over there!

I toured UCSF Medical Center with the thought of maybe pursuing new grad positons over in that area, but after reading about the experiences of people here, it sounds like I'd have a better chance finding a job once I have some experience under my belt.

As for Reno, Nevada...I graduate in December (33 days - woot!) and I already have a new grad job in a MICU/SICU that I've been working in for the past 6 mos. as an apprentice nurse. Students here are interviewing and lining up jobs before they graduate...there seems to be quite a few available.

I wish you the best of luck!

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I'm in NY, and it seems like just about every facility in the Empire State is willing to take on new grads, depending on facility and unit, of course....never heard of a problem with that.

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Kat,

The VA Medical Center is accepting applications now for the new grad program, so hurry because I think they might stop accepting soon. Call them and ask for Marie Permann, the recruiter and she'll email you an application. You'll have to send your transcripts also.

There's also a job fair at St. Mary's hospital on Thursday, Nov. 8th. I think it's from 8-5, there is free parking for attendees.

Also on Nov. 8th is the new grad fair at Kaiser Oakland.

You should definitely check aftercollege.com. There you can search for new grad programs all over the country. I would also get in touch with your former clinical instructors, professors, etc. They should definitely have some contacts for you. Get aggressive. I learned that submitting a resume online usually gets you nowhere. You should physically go into the hospitals and head for the Nursing Admin/Recruiting office with your resume and copy of your RN license and CPR card.

I had a rough time finding my first job too. It took several months, and out of desperation I accepted my current position (with a Sutter affiliate) and I'm miserable because they offer lousy training (5 weeks on the floor). Whatever you do, don't take anything out of desperation.

Good luck.

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WOW

Here in michigan you are offered a job before you graduate!

My suggestion is go to all the job fairs that you can. How can they expect you to know how to admit a patient every place is different.

Good Luck

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where abouts in Michigan are you Jennie?

Miss Lo

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I'm curious, Katnursep. What makes you think you didn't get the job because you didn't say to get a chest x-ray in that interview? I have trouble believing that a single answer like that is the real reason you were not hired. I've read a few other posts from new grads who cite similar for being turned down for jobs and I strongly suspect there was more to it than that.

Understanding the interview process and how to do well in an interview is an important skill -- and I would hate to see students and new grads misunderstand why they are not being hired. So, what makes you so sure that was the reason? Are you sure there weren't other reasons that you should be addressing to make yourself a stronger candidate?

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A lot of my co-grads went to job fairs hosted by a certain hospital and got hired on the spot, in mass hirings. A friend of mine did the same at Loma Linda U hospital, got into peds right away. I waited a bit to relax from nursing school because I thought I'd be hired right away. Wrong. I went to Loma Linda and there was no job fair anymore so I applied and went through HR. The woman asked me what I would do about several things; the one I remember was someone who became newly confused. I told her check the VS, what she wanted to hear was check O2 sat. I did make it to the next manager, a medsurg manager, who told me she wanted written job references from 3 former employers. I was 44 years old with a liberal arts BA, and now a nurse. I went to contractors I'd worked for and school districts I'd taught for. I had great references. She kept me waiting another 2 weeks until I called and asked her to please make a decision, and she said well then no I can't use you. Maybe she felt pressured by me but for God's sake already.

So you're a new grad and they want you to know enough to call for a CXR with chest pain. Excuse me but until I knew what I was doing years later, I went to another nurse or the charge nurse if I could find where she was hiding. I expect a new grad to ask for help.

By the way I'm 7 1/2 years of nursing and some places will hire me, some won't even call me back. All my experience is in MedSurg and Tele but when I applied at St Jude in Orange the nurse recruiter wanted me in ER, I said no, tele. She never called me back. I called the tele manager a month later and she was excited to hear from me, then made me call the same recruiter to get my application. I never heard from her again, even after 2 more phone messages. Long, long story short, hiring is extremely subjective, maybe you flinched or bit your tongue and the manager thinks you're a weirdo. Maybe you look like a cousin she doesn't like. Keep at it, you'll get hired somewhere, and then you'll be leaving messages about work issues like the rest of us.

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I'm curious, Katnursep. What makes you think you didn't get the job because you didn't say to get a chest x-ray in that interview? I have trouble believing that a single answer like that is the real reason you were not hired. I've read a few other posts from new grads who cite similar for being turned down for jobs and I strongly suspect there was more to it than that.

Understanding the interview process and how to do well in an interview is an important skill -- and I would hate to see students and new grads misunderstand why they are not being hired. So, what makes you so sure that was the reason? Are you sure there weren't other reasons that you should be addressing to make yourself a stronger candidate?

i dont always believe that

i have gone on interviews and felt that it was a lousy interview and still got called

what ever is for you you will get it no matter what.

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Kat,

The VA Medical Center is accepting applications now for the new grad program, so hurry because I think they might stop accepting soon. Call them and ask for Marie Permann, the recruiter and she'll email you an application. You'll have to send your transcripts also.

I had a rough time finding my first job too. It took several months, and out of desperation I accepted my current position (with a Sutter affiliate) and I'm miserable because they offer lousy training (5 weeks on the floor). Whatever you do, don't take anything out of desperation.

Good luck.

I sent an inquiry Email to the MPLS VA and received a new grad packet via email within 2 days.

The other bit of wisdom is within point 2 above "Don't accept anything out of desperation."

I think that I would go back to the hospitals where you did clinicals. Apply to the hospitals that you liked. Call your clinical instructors and ask for recommendation letters.

Have you put your resume on file with your school?

Best of luck!

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Thank you all so much for the encouraging words and suggestions. I’m going to keep on pounding the pavement. I did attend St. Mary’s open house, however I’m not too optimistic b/c there were about… oh I don’t know maybe 40 people there for 2 positions and one candidate was an experienced nurse. I had to leave early, to get to my flu shot job, while others were still arriving. I also went Oakland & Richmond Kaiser over the past couple weeks. There were approximately 200 people in Oakland but less in Richmond, and I think they’re planning to accept 50 total for Oakland and Richmond. I think I did well enough for them to call back for an interview. I haven’t left a resume at my school, although I can’t imagine that being very helpful. Many instructors at my former school CCSF are near retirement and seem very focused on their own lives and don’t seem in touch with hiring managers/or job market although it can’t hurt. I’m also reconnecting with as many former classmates as possible & trying to get any help that’s available. I did track down a recruiter at the VA in SF & she more or less was beginning to blow me off after I told her I graduated in May stating, “this is a very competitive program, & we look at how long a person has been looking for a job & if he/she is working and not really a new grad”. She said that I should email her my resume & she would review it. I emailed her back & stated that I think the current job market for new grads should be considered when reviewing the length of time new grads are taking to secure jobs & she replied & sent me an application. I guess I answered that question well, but I was so uncomfortable when she confronted me with that question. Does anyone have any better ideas for a response. I don’t want to sound like a sore loser, but I’m guessing that a recruiter should know that there isn’t a shortage of new grads. I guess I will consider relocating. Does anyone know what parts of CA have good prospects for new grads. I heard it’s not bad in LA & San Diego & NO I’m not concerned about the pay being less. I just want to be a nurse already! And I want people to stop holding it against me that I haven’t gotten a job yet. I'm wondering if I'll ever be a nurse.

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Oh Kat, I know EXACTLY how you feel! So Cal definitely has more openings, and I considered relocating there too. I also applied to Community Hospital in Fresno (I think that's what it was called) and got a call back fairly soon.

Don't get discouraged by the recruiters, and when I said in my previous post about going in person to dorp off your resume, I mean locate the manager. Call the hospital first and ask who the mgr of {insert department here) is, and where their office is located. Then print your resume and take a personalized cover letter with you and deliver it to that mgr. It's good if you can catch them in person, but if they're not around, leave it under the mgr's door.

You might already know about this but there's another new grad fair at CPMC on Nov. 16th. Don't be scared off by the number of people at these job fairs. Many are still students with a long way to go to finish their programs, and are just looking around to see what they can expect in the future.

Best of luck!

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