Black and Job Hunting

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Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

This may come off as more of a vent, but I see white new grads, some with less nursing and healthcare education than myself, getting jobs, some of them highly coveted specialties. Yet here I am, with a BSN, magna cum laude, three years health care experience, new grad getting pushed aside. I interview well, but apparently not good enough. I am starting to feel bitter and can't help but wonder if my race might play a role. Other black new grads (BSNs too) are having a much harder time getting a job than white new grads.

Any black nurses want to comment on this phenomenon?

I am starting to look outside of my state, but I am not sure where to start. Preferably a place that is diverse.

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Specializes in hospice.

Where do you live?

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Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.
Where do you live?

Bible Belt: The Midwest.

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Specializes in Emergency/Trauma/LDRP/Ortho ASC.

What kinds of jobs are you applying to? Are you set on a specialty?

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I hate to bring this up, but I speak from personal experience. Do you have an "ethnic" sounding name or one that may be difficult to pronounce from the spelling? I had a hard time finding a job as a new grad, even with a professionally prepared resume. I had good life and working experience, just not RN experience. After several discouraging months, my resume-writer suggested a less ethnic-sounding nickname. I was offended, but she had a point. I came up with a nickname. Maybe it was pure coincidence but I received a lot more calls and within a month had found a good job.

I would love to think the world is color and cultural blind, at least when it comes to giving everyone an equal chance for a job interview. My own experience and those of others I know tells me otherwise, at least in certain parts of the country.

As an aside, I used to live in the "Bible Belt" and I left to go elsewhere to raise my family. I knew it was not a place where my children would feel entirely welcome or equal, based on some unfortunate personal experiences related to my ethnicity. The thing with my name in my current location has to do more with current events than race. :-( You can never totally escape it.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
After several discouraging months, my resume-writer suggested a less ethnic-sounding nickname. I was offended, but she had a point. I came up with a nickname. Maybe it was pure coincidence but I received a lot more calls and within a month had found a good job.
I am a black female with a non-ethnic, very mainstream first name that is similar to Kelly or Carrie. When paired with my very common last name and proper speech, an HR assistant may assume I am white when speaking to me on the phone.

Although a mainstream name on the employment application might result in more callbacks than an ethnic name like Tanesha or Jamal, an interviewer with subconscious racial bias may still refuse to hire me. Therefore, it is like tossing a coin.

Studies have proven that employment applications with black-sounding names are 50 percent less likely to receive callbacks, even when the candidate is qualified. However, once a biased interviewer sees that 'Megan' or 'Jenna' is African-American during the interview, they may still choose not to hire.

Note: my employment prospects significantly improved once I relocated to the South. Not only are interviewers here accustomed to black applicants, they are also hypersensitive to E.O.E. regulations due to the region's past history of racial intolerance in the mid-20th century.

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Specializes in MCH,NICU,NNsy,Educ,Village Nursing.

It greatly irritates and grieves me that one is still judged by the color of their skin.......sheesh. Good luck, OP. So sorry you've had this struggle. Hang in there.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

Hey everyone,

My name is actually of Croatian origin but ignorant people would say that it is "ethnic." I never thought to change it but I did go by a Hispanic nickname in middle school. Not sure if that would help my situation.

At this point, I am willing to take just about anything.

It is ironic that I hear the south is more sensitive than the city that was dubbed best place for blacks to live. Yeah, right...

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Specializes in Anesthesia, ICU, PCU.

I'm a BSN/RN with a 3.3 university GPA, 1 year CNA experience, 2 years RN experience, ACLS, PCCN, involvement in two committees, various other involvements, recommendations from two managers and my CNS --- but am unable to get any job outside of my current one. Kinda ridiculous

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Specializes in MDS/ UR.

Areas of the Midwest can be horrid, I had an eye opening experience within a small to mid-size town at the holiday party. A co-worker got sloshed and explained to me that she was unsure where to rank me as a Jew. I was rated over the Native Americans (bottom of the ladder) but she was not sure how to place me with regards to someone black, The hilarious thing is I was more whiter looking than her and most of them. That was in the last 10 years. Unbelievable.

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Specializes in Critical care.

OP, I feel you. I lived in Germany a lifetime ago and knew a Croatian girl named Jolanda, introducing her to my fellow Americans usually elicited "Yolanda? How'd she get a black girls name?" facepalm!

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I know it's rough for new grads all around, but yea....

I'm white as they come and I believe that this happens, OP. And I'm sorry. I live in NY and I think it happens a LOT less here. Come on up!

As long as you have your BSN.

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