Does it hurt to say you want to go into a particular specialty?

Nurses Career Support

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I've been a nurse for a little over a year now in general medicine at a very small hospital with no other specialties. I want to go into women's health and/or NICU and I put that in my cover letter. I've probably applied to 50 jobs in L&D, mother-baby, and NICU and ambulatory OBGYN. I'm probably going to start applying for med-surg jobs in large hospitals with the intention of transferring after a year or so. Would being upfront about that in my cover letter and any potential interviews hurt my chances? I want to be 100% honest about where I want to go but I worry that will get me nowhere. Any thoughts?

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Tailor the cover letter to the job you are applying for. Highlight what you would bring to the unit.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I recommend saying that you are very interested in the job that you are applying for, but if that job is not still available, that you would be interested in learning more about any positions that they had open.

Also, since you seem to be flexible in your interests ... I would recommend using a general term such as "Maternal-Child Health areas" when describing your interests than more specific units. Your goal is to get into the Maternal-Child field and you would be really interested in exploring any opportunities they would have in that area ... but if there are no opportunities in any of the Maternal-Child areas, you would be interested in hearing about other opportunities because you have enjoyed your med-surg experience and have heard positive things about their fine hospital.

And remember ... no one wants to hire someone who is already planning to leaving in less than 2 years.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

If you want a position in L&D or NICU but are applying for Med-Surg, then no. You don't put that you want a position in L&D or NICU in your cover letter. That would be like asking out a decent looking girl but telling her you are only asking her out because you actually are hoping that going out with her will get you closer to her much better looking friend, the one you really want to ask out. See what I mean?

Nobody wants to believe they are second choice. Apply for every position like it is your dream job.

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