CALLING---Those who have Jobs- WE need you!

CoffeeGeekRN · Jul 1, 2009

1.what kind of floor are you working on? i will be starting in the icu next month.

2.where are you from? md

3.how did you get that job?-- i used to work at the same organization but a different location several years ago. one of my best friends works closely with hr specialists and it turned out i knew the recruiter and worked with her from several years ago at the other location. just goes to show that when you leave a job, whether it was a good or bad experience, be graceful and never burn your bridges.

wish everyone the best in their search!

MLMRN1120 · Jul 1, 2009

1. What kind of floor are you working on? Med-Surg/Oncology

2. Where are you from? SouthEastern PA

3. How did you get that job? I completed a clinical rotation on this floor in my last semester of school. My instructor was impressed with the way I worked I guess, and she made a personal recommendation to the HR people and the DON. She personally handed in my resume to HR ( I had previously applied online, but with 5 open jobbs and over 200 applicants, was unable to get my foot in the door.) They called me the next day, interviewed me and offered me the job all in the same week..I am really excited and I know how lucky I am to have it, since many of my friends are still looking...Best of luck to everyone!

mystykstar · Jul 1, 2009

What floor?-Medical a.k.a. Med/Surg without the Surg. Start Monday.

Wher from?- Pittsburgh

How did I get that job?- Its a health system in Pgh that is HUGE, one of the only ones in this area that was hiring, as there are still alot of hiring freezes going on around here. I never worked there before, or had connections with HR. I actually talked with someone at my schools job fair and filled out some information about myself and was contacted by them. As far as the interview, I tryed to not get hung up on questions and answered them as honestly as possible. The unit director for the floor I am wroking on asked me what I saw myself doing in 5 years-I was like uhhh working as a nurse! I actually thought I blew it. Although I was fairly annoying about following up with all of it, I called about 3 times before they called and offered me the job-it took them about a month.

ittybabyRN, RN · Jul 1, 2009

1.What kind of floor are you working on? Level III NICU

2.Where are you from? Massechusettes but my job is in Washington, DC

3.HOW DID YOU GET THAT JOB: I was determined to go into pediatrics and applied to RN/New Grad programs everywhere from here to Alaska deciding early on that I would relocate to get what I wanted (graduated in May, started applying in December). Got a call back from CNMC the next day for an interview and was offered the job on spot after flying there for the interview. I start August 24th

Good Luck!

k.morris · Jul 1, 2009

I am so jealous I want to be in the NICU so bad. Your determination paid off and now you will be in an amazing field. Let me know how orientation goes and the new job. Goodluck!

star77, MSN, RN · Jul 2, 2009

1.what kind of floor are you working on? emergency department.

2.where are you from? california.

3.how did you get that job?--did you have connections?, work there previously, application process, follow-up process, interview tips, anything at all would be helpful:

well, i've been an emt for almost a decade, so that helped. i think it'd be nearly impossible to get a job in the ed with no emergency experience, especially in cali. heck, it's nearly impossible to get a job at all!

i started looking in october. i had my resume, references, cover letter (outline) ready to go by january. i had the number of every nurse recruiter and hospital website written down in my area, which was norcal (i'm talking nearly 30 hospitals, which i shared with my classmates). i chanced upon a socal hospital web application in february. i filled out the app immediately, and then received a few more forms to fill out via email, which i also immediately completed. when i received an invite to interview, i replied right then - stepped out of class to make a phone call (it was worth it). i was offered an interview in another unit... the picu.

the next day i called back the recruiters and said, "hi, i am so incredibly appreciative to have an interview with your hospital. i just wanted to let you know that i've been an emt for 9 years, and if anything does open up for an interview in the ed, please let me know because i would be incredibly interested." the woman on the phone said, "oh! perfect. call me back tomorrow morning between 8:30-9am." at 8:30 and 20 seconds, i called. i got my interview info, and i traveled down south on two separate occasions- one for the picu, one for the ed. i got both jobs, and i chose the ed - the entire reason i went to nursing school was to do emergency nursing.

i dressed professionally (suit). i have a lot of experience in the working world in general, so answering questions was relatively easy. i was honest. i researched the hospital and its mission statement. i knew the roles of a nurse vs an emt vs a patient care tech. and i stayed calm, even when asked tough questions.

and as soon as i was offered a job, i said yes and started looking for housing, and i moved. my first day is in about a week.

i feel exceptionally lucky, but i also worked very very hard to get where i'm at. i was relentless, and i worked tirelessly on my resume (with the office of career services). i had the ed manager at our school's hospital tell me what he thought of it. i got feedback from my professors, and i listened.

good luck all. it takes a lot of work, but we have a saying at my old job, "make it happen."

prudence09 · Jul 2, 2009

1.Med-Peds

2.TN

3. A classmate of mine helped me get the job. She gave me the number to the manager of the floor and I just called and got hired that day. I've worked for the past 3 weeks and take boards Mon. Honestly if it wasn't for my classmate I probably still wouldn't have a job. It's the only hospital that was hiring new grads. It's slim pickins where I live.

soonertwin87 · Jul 2, 2009

1.what kind of floor are you working on? nicu

2.where are you from? oklahoma

3.how did you get that job?--mine is kind of a combination of many things. i did my icu rotation on the unit and applied to be a nurse partner (which is like an externship). i did not get the position, because they could only hire a certain amount of students. so i went and talked to the nurse manager and asked her if there was anything i could do on the unit. she said that the externship positions fill-up fast but she would love to interview me for an rn position (this was while i was in my last semester of nursing school). i also told her i was doing my leadership rotation in the nicu there. my clinical instructor helped me tremendously, because he went and talked to the nurse manager personally, giving me a great reference. and he is well-respected at that hospital and has a lot of connections. actually, everyone that he recommended from our clinical group got hired (half of the new grads on the floor are from my clinical group).

for my interview, i was extremely nervous. i looked over and reheorificed a lot of the "standard" questions they ask at interviews for rns and came up with answers i was comfortable with. but really, i think she wanted to know that i really wanted to work on that unit. and i sure did. i told her how much i loved my experience so far and told her what i have to offer. i also perfected my resume and cover letter and included a lot of accomplishments, grades, etc. make sure to bring your resume/cover letter with you for your interview! i would recommend printing it out of professional paper, too (another way to stand out). dress nice (i wore a black pants suit), keep makeup to a minimum, and just be yourself. i got a call about a week later offering me the position!

my best advice is to be persistant. make sure you know when they will be calling you back. if not, call them back! persistance sets you apart and lets them know you really want the job! good luck and hope that helped some!

nakeia · Jul 2, 2009

1. NICU

2. SC but job is in VA

3. A friend of my mother's told me to look at this hospital and I was skeptical at first because it was not in the geographical area I wanted but didnt care as long as it was in the NICU. After countless online applications, one interview and a bunch of rejection email/letters, I just decided last minute to call the NR at that hospital to see if they were still hiring. After talking with her, I found out there was an internship and that I was eligible (BSN & preceptorship/externship in the NICU). I completed an online application, called the NR back to make sure the manager was still interviewing, set up the interview, went with everything in hand (resume/3 references when they only needed one/real nice pants suit/a smile). I think I talked them to death about how passionate I was about working in the NICU. Got a call back three hours later from the NR with a job offer. Start in August! I thank God everyday!

nkara, CNA · Jul 2, 2009

I love this thread! I especially appreciate the one's who went for the NICU jobs and got them. This is what I'm planning on doing. Even relocating! I still have a few years before I need to worry about it but I'm preparing my bf that if we have to move for my career we will. Thank you to all and congrats! :cheers:

Mike A. Fungin RN · Jul 2, 2009

1. What kind of floor are you working on? Neuro/Surgical/Trauma ICU at a Level II Trauma Center

2. Where are you from? California

3. How did you get that job? I made a good impression during my critical care rotation at this unit in my second-to-last semester of school, and one of the nurses offered to precept me. I knew that this was where I wanted to work, so I campaigned aggressively with my school's clinical coordinator to get placed here.

I got the placement, and treated it like a 17-week long job interview. I logged over 300 hours, when only 240 were required. I came to work motivated, well-prepared, confident (yet humble), with a good attitude, and professional demeanor. I asked lots of questions, volunteered for everything, and pursued extra learning opportunities. I also had the benefit of 7 years experience in EMS, and took every opportunity to demonstrate those hard won critical thinking and communication skills.

Most importantly, I networked. I consciously and deliberately spent my leadership hours shadowing people who could help me advance my career. I wasn't shy about saying how much I wanted to work here, or about asking them how I could best prepare myself to be a competitive applicant. I shadowed my Nurse Manager (who ultimately got me the interview), the Nurse Educator involved with the new grad program, one of the Clinical Coordinators, and the Respiratory Therapy Supervisor (partly because he was well-connected, but... I confess... mostly because he was a SUPER cool guy and I was fascinated with vents ).

So, if I had to sum up the four main things that I think helped me, they would be:

1: Be aggressive -- Don't be afraid to pursue what you want and advocate for yourself

2: Treat it like the real thing (because it is) -- Drop the "I'm just a student" mentality that so many of us suffer from. Yes, there are things you can't do until you're licensed/employed. No, that doesn't mean you have to be quiet, or hang back. Jump in there, participate, ask questions, be a team player! You can be humble and confident at the same time. Show them what you're made of... otherwise you're selling yourself short.

3: Network -- Find out who has the knowledge/power to help you pursue a new grad position. Don't be afraid to make your intentions clear, solicit advice, and promote yourself.

4: Be the squeaky wheel -- Don't wait to hear from people if it's been a while, follow up! I made a point of following up with key people during and after my preceptorship. It reminded them of my interest, demonstrated how badly I wanted this, and helped keep me in the loop.

I hope this helps a little bit, whether you're a fellow new grad struggling to find work, or a student getting ready to precept and worried about the future. Good luck everyone!