Finding a job a New Grad, Help!!

RNDude · Jul 24, 2007

The best thing you can do, in my opinion, is start attending nursing career fairs in your area (Advance & Nursing Spectrum). You'll meet the recruiters there and get dates for open house events at area hospitals--maybe even interview appointments. A lot of the hiring of new grads is done prior to their graduation.

Good luck!

llg, PhD, RN · Jul 24, 2007

I agree that you should be talking with the recruiters several months before you graduate. A lot of hospitals have special new grad programs that fill up quickly and/or limit the amount of new grads they hire at any one time. If you wait until after you graduate to start looking, the best positions may already be filled.

Another thing you can do is to either get a part time job or volunteer at the hospital that is your first choice. Even if the work is not directly related to nursins, working there demonstrates your interest and gives you an opportunity to establish a track record there as being interested, competent, and reliable. Even if it is only a few hours per month of volunteer work ... it can help by "getting your foot in the door." Even if you decide to apply to other hospitals, it would still be a positive thing on your resume and would provide you with a positive reference.

norcalRNstudent · Jul 24, 2007

I am starting my first job on monday, in Santa Clara. I've heard that competition for the new grad training program that I'm in was tough, but I had an in, since I precepted there. I would try to volunteer where you'd be interested in working, and above all, apply early, and be persistent with the hiring managers. I had no previous healthcare experience, but put together a great resume and cover letter. You will be able to find a job, you just might have to work a bit harder for the position that you REALLY want. Good Luck!

MA Nurse · Jul 25, 2007

Hi,
I live in the Santa Clara County area and I'm in the second year of Nursing school. I've been reading the posts and getting worried about getting a job next year when I graduate. Any suggestions about how to make myself more marketable? I have a good GPA but no previous hospital experience. Any ideas, thankyou so much.

Kaiser has great benefits and retirement for nurses, and they treat their nurses well, IMO.

smile123 · Jul 25, 2007

I agree that you should be talking with the recruiters several months before you graduate. A lot of hospitals have special new grad programs that fill up quickly and/or limit the amount of new grads they hire at any one time. If you wait until after you graduate to start looking, the best positions may already be filled.
Another thing you can do is to either get a part time job or volunteer at the hospital that is your first choice. Even if the work is not directly related to nursins, working there demonstrates your interest and gives you an opportunity to establish a track record there as being interested, competent, and reliable. Even if it is only a few hours per month of volunteer work ... it can help by "getting your foot in the door." Even if you decide to apply to other hospitals, it would still be a positive thing on your resume and would provide you with a positive reference.

I agree with llg. Recruiters are more than willing to talk to new grads and volunteering at the hospital you want will help establish networking contacts. I would also add that you can apply online for new grad programs; they typically intake 2 or 3 times a year (Feb, July/Aug, and Oct). Stanford, UCSF, Sequoia and Kaiser are that way. Other hospitals are smaller and can take new grads all during the year. But they tend to look at new grads that have done their internship or clinicals there. I got in because I had volunteered there previously, done other volunteer work at other medical/health care facilities, and had networked a lot with other nurses. Since you are i the Bay Area, you can always talk to your alumni office and contact recent grads who are working at the hospital you want. Good luck!

youknowho · Jul 25, 2007

All of the new grads I know that graduated this past May have found jobs but not necessarily in the unit or hospital they originally wanted. Most have gotten the night shift. Volunteering sounds like a great idea to get to know an organization and a wonderful thing to be able to mention at the interview.

A letter or two of recommendation (even if you don't NEED one) also looks good.

pupnurse · Jul 27, 2007

Thank you all so much for your suggestions. I'm definitely going to think of volunteering but fitting it into the busy schedule of nursing school will be a challenge. I just wanted to let other nursing students know, there's a class in medical spanish that's being offered at West Valley and Deanza colleges. I'm taking it, I think it would be extremely helpful as it deals with assesments and hospital scenarios.