applying online, very frustrating!

[Pie'nthesky]

Hello all... I am just beginning my journey to becoming a nurse and am seeking employment at a local hospital to gain experience, exposure..etc. that will help me through nursing school. There are positions available (in patient care) that do not require experience, so they state in the posting. However, I'm sure they are preferred. I previously held an EMT-B cert, working for a fire dept and an ambulance service, but I let my cert expire (dang it).

Long story short... I have applied for many openings, checking application status daily, just to eventually get the "thank you for applying, however..." message. They say not to call to check your status, more or less saying "don't call us, we'll call you" My question to you guys is how do I get around this online "facelessness" without jeopardizing my chances?? Any advice is very much apprecitated!

Thanks!

[miss arron]

i'm interested to see the responses as well as i am also having no luck in getting into a hospital position...

i decided to try for a position in a group home working with clients there, which will definitely be a great asset - you may want to try something like that. good practice for patient care, therapeutic communication, medication administration, etc. etc.

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

I think I asked this same question on here and in the real world for six months. No one was able to give me a good answer except maybe a few people. In any case, I know how you feel because I had the same problem for too long!! I am happy to say I am now working at a hospital. The only way I got around the face-less bureaucracy was by accident. I was interviewed by accident because someone made a mistake and put me on the call back list rather then the "Sorry ..." list!

Anyway, now that I am in the hospital I can safely say that the people who filter applications for the lower tech positions want people with no ambition and no goals because he/she assumes that such a person will stay for years in that position. Thus, you being a former EMT and a current pre-nursing student is a turn off to most. However, you may not be a turnoff to the hiring managers (mine loved me)!!! Therefore, your best bet is to PRAY and seek out the names of people that are hiring for particular floors and for the positions to avoid the middlemen/women who will reject your application.

You may also consider becoming a CNA. I was not able to do so, however I know that they too are in demand. Last but not least, once you qualify apply to be a nursing intern/extern through a hospital. This way you can get your foot in the door and possibly the floor you will wish to work as a new grad. GL.

[skislalom]

In many cases, you should be able to apply in person at the HR department. I do not believe that online is the ONLY way to apply to all positions. It certainly couldn't hurt to go to HR and let them know that you are interested in applying to "x-position", you can bring your resume' and cover letter and let them put a face to a name. Good luck!

[Pie'nthesky]

Thank you! That's exactly what I am going to do on Monday, take my resume over to HR myself. I don't know if they'll let me apply again for jobs I have already applied for...but what the heck, what's the worst that can happen??

I wish I could just call the managers who are hiring (even though I have no idea who to call at this point), but don't want to jeopardize things by not following the chain, you know?

Thanks again!

[Icare4u2]

hey, i just moved across the country and believe me, i know the frustrations!! it was very demeaning to me also because, if there is so much demand in health care, where are all the people that want to hire you? my husband and i basically went to the places we applied and asked to speak with the nurse recruiter. ( in addition to the online application).if you know someone that works at one of the places you have applied, it won't hurt to have them do some asking around for you. unfortunatly, sometimes it is who you know. if you are able to go to the places you have applied and speak to someone it might be helpful also. i wish you the best of luck and don't take it personally-it seems to be the way to apply for a job these days.