Apply for state nursing license BEFORE applying for jobs?

[JeanettePNP]

I am in the job-search process. I sent out applications to hospitals in at least 5 states, but so far I'm only licensed in one state. It doesn't make sense to me to apply (and pay for) 5 different state licenses when I dont' know where I'll eventually get a job offer. OTOH maybe my out of state applications aren't even being considered because I lack state licensure.

So, is it worth it to apply for multiple licenses before I know for sure where I'll be working?

[elkpark]

EP I am a fan of yours, so don't take my question the wrong way, but how do you know out of state apps are dismissed?

I didn't mean that out-of-state applications get dismissed as in tossed in the trash, but that employers don't take out of state applicants as seriously as they do local/in-state applicants, unless they can see some indication that the applicant is serious about relocating to their area, or the applicant has some specialized skills/role that the employer is looking for. I make that observation on the basis of having gone through the applying-from-out-of-state process a few times in my career (I'm now in the fifth state I've practiced in over my career) and having had many conversations with different employers on this topic, both in the context of getting hired and in the context of being involved in hiring others. Employers don't want to spend time and money interviewing people who are just applying randomly for anything, anywhere; they are looking for some indication that the individual is serious about wanting to work for them.

Of course, that's just my observation; knowing AN, several other people will come along shortly with exactly the opposite experience. :)

[Tait, MSN, RN]

I didn't mean that out-of-state applications get dismissed as in tossed in the trash, but that employers don't take out of state applicants as seriously as they do local/in-state applicants, unless they can see some indication that the applicant is serious about relocating to their area, or the applicant has some specialized skills/role that the employer is looking for. I make that observation on the basis of having gone through the applying-from-out-of-state process a few times in my career (I'm now in the fifth state I've practiced in over my career) and having had many conversations with different employers on this topic, both in the context of getting hired and in the context of being involved in hiring others. Employers don't want to spend time and money interviewing people who are just applying randomly for anything, anywhere; they are looking for some indication that the individual is serious about wanting to work for them.

Of course, that's just my observation; knowing AN, several other people will come along shortly with exactly the opposite experience. :)

Thanks for clarifying :)