Applying for jobs as a GN

[MB37]

I don't graduate until August, but people in my class who want specialty positions are already applying, and one has already been hired. I want to go straight into critical care, so as a new grad, I need one of the limited spots in the critical care internship programs in my area. My question is, how do you get HR to call you in for an interview? The hospital I would most like to work at (hospital A) is HUGE, and the recruiters at the career fair last month recommended that we be "persistent," due to the huge volume of apps that they receive.

I applied one week ago, and when I submitted the online app, it told me I should receive an e-mail confirmation within a day or two. I never did, so now that a week has passed, I called HR. I got transferred to a recruiter, but it went to voice mail. I left a nice, short message with my phone number, and of course she hasn't called back yet.

What's the next step? Should I call back tomorrow? Should I stop by? If I do stop by, is it permissable to do so in scrubs? I do my clinicals at this hospital, and I'll be there tomorrow. Is it normal to pop by HR before I go home (assuming my scrubs aren't covered with MRSA and bodily fluids), or would it be better to do that on a day I can dress more businesslike? For an interview, obviously, I'll wear my one suit that I own and schedule it on a day I'll have time to change. What do you all experienced nurses do when you're trying to get noticed to change jobs?

Also, I know for a fact that other hospitals are already interviewing and hiring people in my class. I don't want to miss out on their critical care programs because I'm waiting for my first choice to get back to me - what if they never do? I started filling an app out at another place (hospital B) today, since it has a decent reputation and is in an area my husband kind of wants to move to, but I've never set foot in the place. My NS has us do all of our clinicals at one location, so it's the only one I'm familiar with. SO, if hospital B speeds me through the process and offers me a job in a couple weeks, and I've only succeeded in getting HR at hospital A to talk to me maybe once, what do I say? How much time could I ask hospital B to give me to think it over?

Sorry for the length, and thanks in advance for any advice!

[discobunni]

Putting a face with a name always helps. Have you done clinical in the unit that you want to work? That is the best place for them to see what a hard worker you are, and meet the manager of the unit. They are the ones who usually tell HR who they would like to hire. Here where I live anyway, HR is a JOKE, and they try to place you where they want for their needs. Most of the jobs that are available, HR is usually the last to know that one particular unit is hiring. Find a way to meet the UNIT MANAGER. If you know anyone that works there, that can help too. Apply everywhere. Just because a place seems like a nice place to work, doesn't mean it is and vice versa. I got my job by another nurse I know just mentioned my name, and the manager "requested" my application from HR. I hope you find your dream job too!!

[Dental Hygienist]

I'm not a nurse, but it would seem to me that you definitely SHOULD apply to other hospitals since you aren't just hoping for ANY old job, you want a critical care job. If nothing else, it will give you good interview experience. If "hosptial B" offers you a critical care job, accept it! If "hospital A" later comes back and offers you a similar or better job, then you can "pick and choose" the best fit for you and if need be you can thank hospital B for their generous offer, but let them know you've decided to take a different position that is: closer to home, a better fit, more familiar, whatever you want to say. I'm sure this sort of thing happens all the time and nurse recruiters know that nurses (or any professionals) don't just apply to one job when job searching, they apply to many. If you accept a position at Hospital B and then later reject it, it won't be the first time that has happened.

As far as dropping by the HR office in your scrubs; generally when I'm interested in a dental job I try to have my first face to face meeting be in business attire...but sometimes it cannot be...if that is the case then I introduce myself, shake their hand and then say: "Sorry I'm in scrubs today, I normally do wear nicer clothes when job hunting! I'm just really interested in this position and I wanted to meet you face to face." I say it in a joking way and it kind of breaks the ice and usually we giggle a little and they tell me a story of how they've had to go to interviews in scrubs too or whatever.

You mentioned you do your clinicals there, is it possible for you to bring a set of nice clothes to change into before going to HR...like superman in a phonebooth?

[CABG patch kid, BSN, RN]

I think you should just apply to all the jobs you are interested in and then see what happens. By all means, be persistent by calling for a follow up, faxing them your resume + cover letter (even if you applied online, it looks nice), just keep trying.

I went to nursing school in one city and planned to move to another after passing boards, and I wanted a job as soon as I moved. I was nervous as heck about not finding one. I didn't have a first choice, but had my eyes on two particular hospitals. I applied to hospital A, called HR, waited and waited and waited, nothing came of it for 2-3 weeks. Applied to hospital B, got a call from HR less than a week later saying thanks for the application etc etc, they hooked me up with an interview about a week after that. Got hired 3 days after the interview and the rest is history. Oh, and hospital A DID call me, about 3 weeks after I accepted the position at hospital B. I don't regret what played out for a second; I am so happy with my job and the people I work with. If for some reason I'm not, hospital A told me to give them a call if I ever change my mind!!

The point is, everyone's situation is different and it is SO hard to judge as a new grad which place will really be best for you until you actually get in and work there. Even during interviews, management will paint a slighty (or grossly) different picture to make the job more appealing so when it really comes down to it, just go with your gut. Or just go with whatever you get offered first and know that nursing jobs aren't going anywhere, you can always change your mind in the future :)

Good luck in your last semester and on boards!!

[MB37]

Thanks to all who responded. I wound up stopping by nurse recruiting today with one of my classmates who is interested in the same position as I am, in our scrubs, which we apologized for. The recruiter said she remembered me from the career fair, to which I wore a suit. What we're interested in is the critical care rotation program that only this hospital offers. You can spend up to two years rotating through units for a couple months at a time, until you find one that you feel is a good fit - then you just stop! The other hospitals have training programs for new grads, but no rotations. You commit to your unit for 24 months, or you have to pay back a ton of money for your training.

She also told me that at hospital A they are only now interviewing candidates for their June class. They have another in July that I'm afraid we won't be able to make - although the recruiter said we could start if we had a letter from the Dean stating that we had fulfilled the requirements for graduation - and then one that starts a month after I graduate. We can apply for the July class in May, or for the September class in July.

Hospital B offered my friend a job yesterday, and told her she had to make a decision by tomorrow. I wouldn't want to be in that situation if I didn't really want to work there. She said her interview consisted of about three questions, and then they invited her to meet all her new coworkers-to-be. They're owned by a company that owns other hospitals in the area, so I would be nervous about making a commitment to them if I planned to break it in a couple of months. How wrong is it to be honest, and tell them I'd like to interview at multiple places and it might take a couple of months to decide for sure?

Thanks!