Floored...rejected New Grad application before graduation????

Nurses Career Support

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I was on the internet this morning and found a facility about 5 hours away that I wanted to apply for.

The website did not have the name of nurse recruiter, no instructions for how New Grad's application, and the application actually took close to an hour to complete because the website was extremely complex...and I am very computer literate.

I found a link for May 2009 grads, so I hit the "apply here" icon.

Well, imagine my shock, when only two hours later, I get an e-mail stating, "We regret to inform you that after careful review of your application, you have not been selected for further consideration." It was sent from an e-mail that seemed almost automated.

I have a very solid work history prior to school, a very good GPA, etc.

Needless to say, I'm floored. The e-mail went on to say, "We encourage you to apply for positions that meet your interests as well as our qualifications."

So, I had to call the hospital and left a message (she wasn't in) for the nurse recruiter letting her know what happened. I said that I have received the e-mail, that I 100% respect their "decision", but I wanted to make sure that I didn't inadvertantly make a mistake in completing the application and was a little shocked to get the e-mail.

Personally, no way in heck did anyone "carefully review" my application.

I'm like, jeez...what the heck are they looking for? I'm sitting here wondering if I accidently hit the radio button saying that I was a convicted felon or something stupid like that.

I was very, very careful in going through the application, but it was the most complicated on I have seen so far.

See, I don't know if I missed a cut-off date for application for new grads, whether the state (it was different) required that you pass the NCLEX first before you start working, if they only hire BSN's, if they are assuming I'll need relocation assistance and don't want to pay for it (which I will at my expense), or that I won't drive in for an interview (which I will at my expense), or if they can clearly see by my work history (because they even asked for high school information and the year of graduation was a mandatory field) that I'm pushing 40 years.

Any ideas? Seriously, this has just wrecked my day and it makes me wonder if I am going to find a job at all...if a hospital rejected me without even meeting me before I even graduated.

There are a lot of us in the same boat, unfortunately.

Specializes in Cardiac PICU, PICU, NICU.
BabyLady, I think I've got you one better. I applied for a position last night, received a call from the nurse recruiter this morning. When I returned her call she asked when I was going to graduate. When I told her I graduated last May, she then asked what I had been doing since graduating and had I been working. I said no. She then informs me that they would not be able to continue on and offer me an interview, but that I was welcome to reapply when I had a year's experience. With all the other new grad applications they were getting, my experience was such that they felt they could not interview me. I had to seriously bite my tongue on that one....

I don't get that one at all. You would think that the fact that you have already passed the NCLEX and are ready to work immediately as a licensed nurse that would put you ahead of the new graduates. Hmm...

I had a similar experience, as I interviewed with a hospital about two months prior to graduation. At the interview, the HR rep told me that in years past they were able to make offers to students prior to graduating. But now, with the nursing shortage becoming a nursing oversupply (of new grads) they were changing their policy and not offering new grads a position until they had passed their boards.

Apparently the hospital had been burned in the past, by offering soon to be grads or new grads with an Interim Permit, positions in their new grad class. And then having to rescind the offer when the student either didn't graduate or failed their boards (thus terminating their IP). This left them having to scramble to fill that empty seat in their entering new hire class. And having to fill that seat quickly cost them considerable money (recruiters, advertising, etc.).

So the fact that the hospital didn't give you an offer might not be a reflection on you as a candidate. But rather, it might just be a reflection of the economy, and the hospital having to be more careful (and cost conscious) in how they hire.

Don't give up the fight. There's a great job out there for you. I've submitted over 100 apps in the last two months, and I finally got an offer this week. You'll get there too:)

Specializes in Cardiac Nursing.

I know my job history isn't the best in the world, but sheesh. The lady made it sound like I didn't have enough experience for a new grad position. At least with me they don't have to worry about my passing boards since I already have. Oh, well.....I've gotten used to being denied interviews for dumber reasons.

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