Denied every job so far as a new grad bsn

Nurses Job Hunt

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Hey everyone,

I was wondering if anyone else is getting denied from new grad RN jobs left and right? I graduated from a very well known university (UCCS Beth-El) this May 2018 and have submitted very strong cover letters and resumes. I have sent my resume and cover letter to several of my instructors and other nurses I know. They all said my resume and cover letter are fantastic! However, I've been denied from about 5 jobs so far and am so discouraged. Ive applied to 4 jobs in colorado (been denied by 2 of them and still waiting on the other 2) and multiple jobs out of state. With in 3 days I've been denied from most of the new grad positions. I don't understand what I am missing. I truly feel like I am a strong candidate and have strong qualities to offer. I don't get how I can be rejected within only a couple of days? How did they even have time to look over my application? Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone!

That's not really considered work experience that's just a part of education. They really have to teach you everything based on their policies, protocols and standards.

Specializes in NICU.
The second full time I haven't heard back from but it doesn't start until July. Is this the norm, extreme difficulty getting any position but mostly a full time position ?

I was offered a job (current job) around Thanksgiving and didn't start until mid January.

Saying a person was "denied" a job implies that they were entitled to the job in the first place. Most people who do not see themselves as entitled, view the hiring process as the employer choosing the best qualified candidate for the position.

2 Votes

I think submitting an app is not enough! In this day and age it is so easy to submit and electronic application and call it day! Go out, cold call, get uncomfortable. Keep up that grind, its not easy, but definitely attainable!

1 Votes

@brightfutureRN I know this post is at least a year old but did you manage to find a full time position? I'm currently dealing with something similar to this myself.

Specializes in Dialysis.
On 5/28/2018 at 9:37 AM, nurseandtell said:

I think submitting an app is not enough! In this day and age it is so easy to submit and electronic application and call it day! Go out, cold call, get uncomfortable. Keep up that grind, its not easy, but definitely attainable!

Many HR and department managers won't take cold calls. They refer you to the electronic job board. I was a hiring manager for a few years. The cold calls were sometimes seen as a strike against you. My advice: before you cold call, if you know anyone that works there, ask them if they think it's a good idea

2 Votes

@gizmojamz Hello. I’m sorry you are going through a similar struggle. Yes I have worked for about a year as a RN, with some struggles here and there. So I started at a small community hospital that was actually affiliated with a bigger name hospital in my area. It took me maybe about 1-2 months and the position was part time on a telemetry unit. I still went on another interview and went to a level 1 trauma center in center city that is only 5 minutes from my home and I felt I’d get better experience there plus it was full time so last July I started there in med/surg and was there until I was laid off in a mass lay off there April of this year. I now am going into my desired area NICU in a prestigious children’s hospital in this area this month. So what I would advise is to keep applying and interviewing until you get the job that fits you bc it starts out slow but it will pick up. Don’t be afraid to leave even if you only did a month, if a better opportunity comes up you have to worry about your future.

15 hours ago, brightfutureRN said:

@gizmojamz Hello. I’m sorry you are going through a similar struggle. Yes I have worked for about a year as a RN, with some struggles here and there. So I started at a small community hospital that was actually affiliated with a bigger name hospital in my area. It took me maybe about 1-2 months and the position was part time on a telemetry unit. I still went on another interview and went to a level 1 trauma center in center city that is only 5 minutes from my home and I felt I’d get better experience there plus it was full time so last July I started there in med/surg and was there until I was laid off in a mass lay off there April of this year. I now am going into my desired area NICU in a prestigious children’s hospital in this area this month. So what I would advise is to keep applying and interviewing until you get the job that fits you bc it starts out slow but it will pick up. Don’t be afraid to leave even if you only did a month, if a better opportunity comes up you have to worry about your future.

Thank you so much for the words of encouragement. I'm so happy you were able to find a good position (and in the specialty you desire too!) Unfortunately, in my case, it's been almost 5 months now since receiving my license and almost 6 since getting my BSN. It's been extremely tough. I'm aware of how competitive it is for new grads, especially considering that I live in a major metroplex where I am. I've explored the option of going out of state but the reality hit me hard that it can become quite expensive applying for license endorsement, and even flying out for interviews (which I may or may not get an offer for). I definitely haven't given up applying or interviewing (and I AM getting bites). However, I just need an actual offer that will consolidate my clinical skills. Thank you once again!

1 Votes

@gizmojamz Are you applying for anything or are you only applying for a specific area? I've noticed that some areas are more open then others and some are more friendly to new grads. In my area a few of my classmates easily got into OR's. Some even started at rehabilitation centers. I knew I did not want to be a telemetry nurse at all but I started there because it was available and I know I needed to learn and I needed experience. You seem like you are staying positive and you should because you will get a job.

@brightfutureRN Initially, in Fall when graduation was approaching I applied for most critical care positions as well as med surg. Since then I've had a total 4 interviews within that specialty (In CC) but no offer. I have had about 4 or 5 interviews for med surg positions for new grad residencies and still no offers. They're incredibly picky (as they should for various reasons) even if you have all the qualifications (including previous CNA experience, at that!). Since that has happened, I've been applying indiscriminately to anything I'm eligible for including positions that use the word "preferred" for certain qualifiers. I've been applying to local nursing homes, LTACs, SNFs, rehab hospitals, within the metroplex as well as those located in the mid-cities on the outskirts of the major cities. Yes, I must admit I do have my moments when my efforts feel fruitless but I still make myself fill out at least 10-15 applications every day if I can because it never hurts. You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. Thank you for your kind words. I know it will work out eventually. Just didn't expect the process to be THIS long and grueling.

1 Votes

I'm in the same boat, May grad, BSN, passed my boards, had 2 interviews. I was not offered a job. Now most residencies begin again in October.. and I have miss some of the deadlines for those because I was over confident about my interviews... I am trying to move to Denver. I even got my license in CO. Now I think I may have to stay locally and try to find something here... but that means I have to get my license switched to Michigan. This is as stressful as nursing school.

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