First Job Hunt, No Luck

Lulu Belle, RN, EMT-B · Mar 21, 2019

What city are you applying in? Is it the same city you went to school in?

What I've learned in my attempt to find a New Grad job 2,760 miles away is that you need to do SERIOUS legwork, you can't always just submit an application and expect to hear back. Here are some things you can do:

1. Call the hospital and ask for the email of the Nurse Educator for the unit you want to work on. Email her and say youre a student asking for a shadow day. Use that opportunity to speak w/ the manager of the unit.

2. Use LinkedIn to your advantage. Update your profile, then search "XYZ Medical Center Recruiter." When you find the recruiter, connect with them and message them saying you're a new grad who is very interested in working at xyz hospital and would love to chat with them about opportunities.

3. Network using your faculty. Ask ALL of them who they know in your city.

4. Attend a networking event at the hospital you want to work at

5. I can't stress this one enough: figure out what hospitals in your area want in a New Grad--do they want you to already be licensed? Do they want you to apply w/ ACLS/PALS? Do the "new grad" programs really only hire people with 3 mos of SNF experience?

I have 2 interviews so far at the only two hospitals that have summer 2019 apps open, and I got them both through the aforementioned methods. Fingers crossed we both get some offers soon!

ETA: you should also use your school's career center to have your resume perfected. Unfortunately the externship and 4.0 GPA don't mean much if you're not selling yourself well.

Also, not having an address in the same city you're applying to can hurt you. Not something you can necessarily fix, but it's definitely a concern.

REW19RN, BSN, RN · Mar 21, 2019

12 minutes ago, Lulu Belle said:
What city are you applying in? Is it the same city you went to school in?
What I've learned in my attempt to find a New Grad job 2,760 miles away is that you need to do SERIOUS legwork, you can't always just submit an application and expect to hear back. Here are some things you can do:
1. Call the hospital and ask for the email of the Nurse Educator for the unit you want to work on. Email her and say youre a student asking for a shadow day. Use that opportunity to speak w/ the manager of the unit.
2. Use LinkedIn to your advantage. Update your profile, then search "XYZ Medical Center Recruiter." When you find the recruiter, connect with them and message them saying you're a new grad who is very interested in working at xyz hospital and would love to chat with them about opportunities.
3. Network using your faculty. Ask ALL of them who they know in your city.
4. Attend a networking event at the hospital you want to work at
5. I can't stress this one enough: figure out what hospitals in your area want in a New Grad--do they want you to already be licensed? Do they want you to apply w/ ACLS/PALS? Do the "new grad" programs really only hire people with 3 mos of SNF experience?
I have 2 interviews so far at the only two hospitals that have summer 2019 apps open, and I got them both through the aforementioned methods. Fingers crossed we both get some offers soon!
ETA: you should also use your school's career center to have your resume perfected. Unfortunately the externship and 4.0 GPA don't mean much if you're not selling yourself well.
Also, not having an address in the same city you're applying to can hurt you. Not something you can necessarily fix, but it's definitely a concern.

Thank you very much for your response! I'm applying in Dallas, although I go to school in Oklahoma which definitely hurts. However, I have a Dallas address through my parents and is on my resume so that's good at least! That is all great advice, I didn't think to do that and I will definitely start. I have had my resume looked over multiple times, even by a recruiter so hopefully that isn't the problem.