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.
Specializes in TCU, Post-surgical, Infection Prevention.
My hospital has predominately AA in all facets (housekeeping, nursing, techs etc.), and I am a minority as white. From talking with my coworkers, they have not experienced any prejudices in our workplace but my community is very diverse in Florida. I'm sure it happens in other places though!
What part of Florida is this? Because Central Florida is diverse, but racist as heck! lol The first and only time I was ever called the "n" word was in 2000 in Orlando. I was taken aback and then thought "This is Florida, what can you do?"
Where is this money? Which social programs bestow money upon people based skin color? I'm asking because, as an African-American female, I have not personally enjoyed any freebie paydays in my 30+ years of existence that were race-based.
I'm sorry, but I have to re quote this because this was SO. WELL.SAID.
Specializes in TCU, Post-surgical, Infection Prevention.
I live in the South. I have not seen Blacks have a harder time getting a job, nor have I seen them treated badly at work. I've seen incompetence get thrown out the door, but it had nothing to do with race, and occurred across the spectrum.
Maybe being Black IS a hang-up. Some people do care about that sort of thing, and to deny it is to be a bit blind. If that is the case, I would go where it WON'T be a problem.
Ask yourself this...
...would I want to work for someone who hired me/didn't hire me just because of my skin color?
I'm not Black, but my answer to that is "No". By not hiring you, they are doing you a favor in the long run. Find a job that wants you as much as you want it.
I am sure there are so many insidious instances that you miss on a daily basis.
As a black woman subjected to the racism that TheCommuter speaks of in Southern California; so much that I gave up looking for a job after submitting over 150K resumes/applications/emails of intent. And this was in a myriad of fields, I even obtained an AA in Spanish - no avail... I wasn't Latina, I wasn't getting hired and this went on from 2009-2013.
Lastly, you can't speak to our experience - so saying we were done a favor when we weren't hired for a position is ridiculous. That is so crazy I don't even know how to address that statement. It is steeped in naivete.
Oh, and when I was a super secretary, I received $1.53 raise over a period of 5 years; 1 of 2 black secretaries and the only one to actively improve my administrative skills. This was in Orlando, Florida.
All I can say is wow. This type of thinkin is the reason that i cashed out my 401K policy in 2005 to move out of Florida and would never think of moving back to the south.
Lastly, you can't speak to our experience - so saying we were done a favor when we weren't hired for a position is ridiculous. That is so crazy I don't even know how to address that statement. It is steeped in naivete.
I wanted to respond to this, that you responded to, but couldn't figure out how to say it tactfully. I liken it to telling a person who had a miscarriage that it's all okay because God has a plan and this was part of it.
This needs to be put into a book called, "worst pep talks ever".
I am a new graduate with a name on my resume that is for sure a black woman's name. However even with no experience I have gotten a call from almost every hospital I applied to. In fact I have already gotten 3 job offers. I'm not sure what is going on with you. Are you seeming interested in the position? Are you willing to do med surg? Smile a lot during interviews and let the interviewer lead It works every time for me.
I am white and native but get told my name sounds and appears black by black people. I had a hard time with 7 years prior experience. Use a generic name instead. Do not try to push the race issue in interviews.
Where is this money? Which social programs bestow money upon people based skin color? I'm asking because, as an African-American female, I have not personally enjoyed any freebie paydays in my 30+ years of existence that were race-based.
The colleges I attended had tons of scholarships if you were Black. I say that, because that's how they are described "Available for African Americans*" in their descriptions. Just Google the college of your choice and see what they have available.
I am sure there are so many insidious instances that you miss on a daily basis.
As a black woman subjected to the racism that TheCommuter speaks of in Southern California; so much that I gave up looking for a job after submitting over 150K resumes/applications/emails of intent. And this was in a myriad of fields, I even obtained an AA in Spanish - no avail... I wasn't Latina, I wasn't getting hired and this went on from 2009-2013.
Lastly, you can't speak to our experience - so saying we were done a favor when we weren't hired for a position is ridiculous. That is so crazy I don't even know how to address that statement. It is steeped in naivete.
Oh, and when I was a super secretary, I received $1.53 raise over a period of 5 years; 1 of 2 black secretaries and the only one to actively improve my administrative skills. This was in Orlando, Florida.
All I can say is wow. This type of thinkin is the reason that i cashed out my 401K policy in 2005 to move out of Florida and would never think of moving back to the south.
Well, if you would like to work for someone who views you as a lesser human being, then I must say, you're right. I was wrong. That's the job for you and not getting it was a loss. I guess I just can't relate to that desire?
Also...you submitted over 150 thousand resumes? That boggles my mind. I'm sorry, but you're not ever going to convince me that out of 150 THOUSAND resumes/letters of intent, all that were discarded were because of your skin color or name. I can guarantee that there is more to THAT picture!
What I find interesting is that it seems that people take things so racially. DIdn't get the job? Oh, it MUST be my skin color! Really? REALLY? I've been hired by plenty of Blacks, and I've been declined job positions by the same. I literally never once even contemplated my skin color as a reason for them turning me down, but maybe they were like some of the people in this thread, just couldn't WAIT to "turn the tables" on the young privileged White person...oh how those racists must have revelled! But really? I think that's a crock of crap. Those Black bosses just figured they had a better fit for the job or didn't prefer me for whatever reason, but I highly doubt my skin color or name had a bit to do with it. I
Well, if you would like to work for someone who views you as a lesser human being, then I must say, you're right. I was wrong. That's the job for you and not getting it was a loss. I guess I just can't relate to that desire?
No, you can't relate. It shouldn't be this way at all. THAT is the problem. Obviously no person should want to work for a racist. But to suggest a person should feel lucky they dodged that bullet is telling that person to simply accept the existence of that racism and be totally okay with not having access to employment in this already difficult job market. It's okay, really.
It's only EMPLOYMENT after all. You should feel blessed not being able to feed your family because you didn't get offered a job by a racist.
Also...you submitted over 150 thousand resumes? That boggles my mind. I'm sorry, but you're not ever going to convince me that out of 150 THOUSAND resumes/letters of intent, all that were discarded were because of your skin color or name. I can guarantee that there is more to THAT picture!
One of these days, message boards will come equipped with a sarcasm font.
What I find interesting is that it seems that people take things so racially. DIdn't get the job? Oh, it MUST be my skin color! Really? REALLY? I've been hired by plenty of Blacks, and I've been declined job positions by the same. I literally never once even contemplated my skin color as a reason for them turning me down, but maybe they were like some of the people in this thread, just couldn't WAIT to "turn the tables" on the young privileged White person...oh how those racists must have revelled! But really? I think that's a crock of crap. Those Black bosses just figured they had a better fit for the job or didn't prefer me for whatever reason, but I highly doubt my skin color or name had a bit to do with it. I
You never contemplated it because it never happened to you. No one is turning tables on the privileged white kids. You clearly don't live in an area that is racially charged. I used to live near major cities. Close enough that the population around me was this giant and beautiful melting pot. Now where I live is rural and racially charged in ALL directions. And yes - whites and also Asians are hired more readily in medical careers here. If you are African American, you have to be absolutely flawless to get the job, and that's only if your resume gets you in the door.
Backing up to your other post about scholarships specifically for racial minorities..... Again, in your area you must not see this as much, but in many areas of the country, ethnic minorities barely pass high school let alone go to college, and often times it has nothing to do with being bad kids. Poverty causes kids to go get jobs instead of finishing school. Social stigmas pressure ethnic minorities to not conform to white society. Children of ANY race are statistically less likely to get a college degree of no one else in the family has one. If education hasn't been a central value for the family (something that is endemic to white culture, and therefore something we white people tend not to consider), higher education will not be a priority or a goal. So what are those ethnic monitory scholarships for? To break this cycle. To encourage ethnic minorities to go to college and pursue a better life. To give access where it didn't exist before.
Don't forget that your grandparents (or their parents) watched African Americans literally fight for the right to access the same education systems that white people have been entitled to since they were built. Segregation was REAL. Maybe you didn't see it, but your grandparents sure did, and it will be generations before the consequences of that disparity are eliminated. In the meantime, ethnic minority scholarships exist to help open those doors that have ALWAYS been open to us PRIVILEGED white people.
The colleges I attended had tons of scholarships if you were Black. I say that, because that's how they are described "Available for African Americans*" in their descriptions. Just Google the college of your choice and see what they have available.
I ASSURE YOU; I didn't get "Black" scholarships; my scholarships were based on my grades.
Do you know that most of those scholarships are for either HBCUs (historically black colleges and universities) which now have any race applicable to receive them, and the rest are so minute that it DOESN'T assure a "free ride".
However, if you were black you would know all about that.
Well, if you would like to work for someone who views you as a lesser human being, then I must say, you're right. I was wrong. That's the job for you and not getting it was a loss. I guess I just can't relate to that desire?
Also...you submitted over 150 thousand resumes? That boggles my mind. I'm sorry, but you're not ever going to convince me that out of 150 THOUSAND resumes/letters of intent, all that were discarded were because of your skin color or name. I can guarantee that there is more to THAT picture!
What I find interesting is that it seems that people take things so racially. DIdn't get the job? Oh, it MUST be my skin color! Really? REALLY? I've been hired by plenty of Blacks, and I've been declined job positions by the same. I literally never once even contemplated my skin color as a reason for them turning me down, but maybe they were like some of the people in this thread, just couldn't WAIT to "turn the tables" on the young privileged White person...oh how those racists must have revelled! But really? I think that's a crock of crap. Those Black bosses just figured they had a better fit for the job or didn't prefer me for whatever reason, but I highly doubt my skin color or name had a bit to do with it. I
Just stop. You are making yourself look foolish, spouting off this racist nonsense. I am black and from the middle class. I have NEVER received anything for my race, and how dare you try to tell me and other black Americans how it is.
You know what? I actually have more respect for the KKK than this nonsense of yours. At least they don't delude themselves into thinking they are not racist; they KNOW they are and they own it.
Get off my thread. You are adding nothing of value to the discussion but ignorance.
anie10
294 Posts
What part of Florida is this? Because Central Florida is diverse, but racist as heck! lol The first and only time I was ever called the "n" word was in 2000 in Orlando. I was taken aback and then thought "This is Florida, what can you do?"