Applying for new grad jobs in NYC

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Hi all,

I've been holding back on this post for awhile, but figured I might as well finally do it. I'm a late June graduate of a nursing school in NYC. I've been hunting since August for a job and only have gotten one interview for a job which turned into an offer. I sadly had to decline the position because it involved moving for a part-time job that would have been difficult financially. Currently, I'm looking for acute care and physicians practice positions. I have zero interest in LTC as I spent alot of time in an LTC facility with my father who passed away. Between the horrible memories of my dad and how badly I saw the nurses treated I just can't get myself to do it. I'm willing to commute upto 105 minutes outside of NYC, but a full move would need to be within 2.5 hours of NYC due to the need to get back quickly. Also, it would need to be to a city that doesn't require driving because due to an congenital eye muscle abnormality I cannot drive.

This is a first career for me even though I'm 35. Before nursing my life was a mess between my dad being ill, and a lot of other things that I don't want to get into online. Finally, nursing gave me a career path which I am extremely excited about. I was wondering if anyone could take a look at my resume/cover letter and help me out?

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I forgot to add that I excelled in school with a 3.67, Dean's List my final year, and Sigma Membership. I know those don't really mean much, but figured I would add that in.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Did you get your ASN or a BSN? In New York that is particularly pertinent due to their new law requiring BSN for entry level by a certain timeframe.

Consider school nursing, corrections/jail, public health, methadone clinics, psych....

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On 10/24/2019 at 7:50 AM, Nurse SMS said:

Did you get your ASN or a BSN? In New York that is particularly pertinent due to their new law requiring BSN for entry level by a certain timeframe.

Consider school nursing, corrections/jail, public health, methadone clinics, psych....

I have a BSN.

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Hello! I am pretty much in the same boat as you. I graduated in May but did not receive my license until end of August. I have been applying everywhere since then, to no avail. You are lucky to even land that one offer as I haven't had the chance for any interview and I am honestly losing hope. Everyone tells me it is all about having connections, especially here in NYC, which makes me lose hope even more.

Anyway, good luck to you!

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Specializes in CCRN, Geriatrics.

Hi,

i am located in New Jersey. I come across many job opportunities in NYC all the time. Many traveling agencies offer positions in NYC in hospitals, subacute rehabs etc. Most of them are willing to train new grads also. I always turn them down because i am far away and not willing to relocate. Also utilize different job sites like indeed and zip recruiter.

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7 hours ago, Lovethenurse2b25 said:

Hi,

i am located in New Jersey. I come across many job opportunities in NYC all the time. Many traveling agencies offer positions in NYC in hospitals, subacute rehabs etc. Most of them are willing to train new grads also. I always turn them down because i am far away and not willing to relocate. Also utilize different job sites like indeed and zip recruiter.

All the traveling agencies want experience for hospital jobs. As far as the rehab jobs in NYC it's the places that don't train new grads that use agencies to hire people. I met with a recruiter that was trying to push one of those LTC jobs on me. She informed me I would have one week of orientation before being in charge of an LPN and CNA. Somehow, I don't see that as a safe situation do you?

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Specializes in CCRN, Geriatrics.
23 hours ago, stockmanjr said:

All the traveling agencies want experience for hospital jobs. As far as the rehab jobs in NYC it's the places that don't train new grads that use agencies to hire people. I met with a recruiter that was trying to push one of those LTC jobs on me. She informed me I would have one week of orientation before being in charge of an LPN and CNA. Somehow, I don't see that as a safe situation do you?

No i don't think that is safe. Just to name a few an agency called white glove homecare hires and trains new grads. Also a traveling agency called core medical group just to name a few. Im not sure what part of NY you are located in but i come across tons of job opportunities all the time.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Try applying to hospitals in southwestern CT. Stamford, Greenwich, Norwalk, Bridgeport. All are relatively close to the train stations and taxi/Uber/Lyft is popular around here. All are also fairly close to NYC.

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On 11/8/2019 at 7:25 AM, ThatChickOmi said:

Try applying to hospitals in southwestern CT. Stamford, Greenwich, Norwalk, Bridgeport. All are relatively close to the train stations and taxi/Uber/Lyft is popular around here. All are also fairly close to NYC.

Applied to Stamford Hospital but their Residency program was full by the time I found out about it. They told me to reapply for the spring. I've been applying everywhere and anywhere. Thankfully I have an interview at an NYC hospital next Friday. We'll see how that goes!

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On 10/29/2019 at 3:18 PM, Phil314 said:

Hello! I am pretty much in the same boat as you. I graduated in May but did not receive my license until end of August. I have been applying everywhere since then, to no avail. You are lucky to even land that one offer as I haven't had the chance for any interview and I am honestly losing hope. Everyone tells me it is all about having connections, especially here in NYC, which makes me lose hope even more.

Anyway, good luck to you!

It's about having the right connections of folks who can get your resume in front of people who make hiring decisions. The problem is that some connections won't put their name out there for a new grad. I've run into this with a few people. Thankfully one of my friends was really aggressive for me and she walked into a random managers office and told her she should hire me.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.
On 10/29/2019 at 3:18 PM, Phil314 said:

Hello! I am pretty much in the same boat as you. I graduated in May but did not receive my license until end of August. I have been applying everywhere since then, to no avail. You are lucky to even land that one offer as I haven't had the chance for any interview and I am honestly losing hope. Everyone tells me it is all about having connections, especially here in NYC, which makes me lose hope even more.

Anyway, good luck to you!

I totally understand about the challenge of applying. It's a numbers game it seems, but it is definitely important having connections...

I was in the same position: graduated in May, License Mid-August, applied to 30+ jobs. The only two times that I was able to receive the opportunity of interviews was through connections... made through LinkedIn!

Because I went to Nursing school away from the NYC area, I wasn't able to make connections here, so I looked to LinkedIn. I reached out to Recruiters, asking to connect and asking what their perspective of an ideal nurse candidate is. I even reached out to nurses who worked at those specific hospitals, and asked for their experiences, etc. To be honest, I didn't want to ask if the manager was hiring because I didn't know them, but instead, waited to see if they would offer.

I would suggest building a strong LinkedIn profile, maybe reviewing your resume again (Feel free to share it with me, if you'd like), and consider writing a cover letter. After reviewing everything, start reaching out and asking to connect with others on LinkedIn to help build a network!

Good luck!

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