For those of you looking for a job

[Ytellu]

Hello to all.

I am a CNA and like all of you I had to find my first job once I became certified and found it a challenge. Being a CNA is a second career to me. My first was in the business world and I spent many years in HR. I'd like to offer some friendly advice. Some you may already know these things but maybe something might help.

1. Prepare your resume and have it looked at by someone at a professional level. You may think your resume is stellar but someone else might suggest something different. If your stuck visit your local library or book store and there are tons of books on creating the perfect resume and cover letter. I even saw one book just on writing a resume for healthcare fields.

2. Have your best interview clothes ready to go at any minute. You never know when you'll get that important call and they may want to interview you asap. Remember to have clean hair, short nails, limit the makeup and I would not wear perfume. Many facilities are becoming "Fragrance free.) Cover any tats and limit the amount of jewelry. Remember its a job interview not a night at the club. Have a list of references ready complete with phone numbers and addresses.

3. Where do I look?? Every where and anywhere. Everyone knows to look in the newspaper and to look at job sites online. Look at the individual facilites websites and check their career section. Use the "contact us" info to find out names, email addresses and phone numbers of the people who make hiring decisions for the facility. If you are emailing for employment opportunities for heavens sake do NOT have an email address like [email protected]. Yes, I have seen it happen. Create a professional email address for correspondence and watch your grammer and use spell check.

Before you leave your CNA class ask your instructor if she has any recommendations where to apply. Does your school offer job placement assistance? Keep contact with others in your class via whatever social networks you use and see where they are getting in. Most people will want to refer you because of referral money offered to recruit for their company. Warning-DO NOT talk about your place of employment/coworkers on a social network site by name and make your profiles private. Many employers will look at social network sites to see if you're on there and if your public and you speak poorly about others you will NOT be getting a job from them or get fired. Yup, I know someone personally who got canned for cursing out her LTC on facebook. Many employers will have it in their employee manual warning you.

I had to apply to 22 job postings at my local hospital before I finally got a job interview. What ended up being the key was making a contact with the director of HR on LinkedIN and sending her a personal message telling her I'd love to meet and discuss some of the 22 applications I've submitted. I had a job interview the next week! If you can't get into the facility of your choice right away, don't give up. Take a volunteer position and from there you will meet people and you already have your foot in the door. Now this means you may have to take some other sort of work to make ends meet but its a start, right?

Check your local Dept of Health State website for listings of every facility around you. Call the office of the aging in your community and see if they know of a facility that is hiring.

Check with Hospitals of local agencies and find out if they hire "Hospital Sitters" and register with them.

Go to all job fairs and dress to impress.

4. When you have that all important interview and its over, don't forget to email the interviewer and thank him/her for the opportunity. It matters! Ask during your interview when they plan on making their decision and if that date comes and goes, make a call and ask if they've made their decision yet. If they decided on not hiring you ask what you can do to increase your chances for the next position. They will appreciate your effort.

Some people step out of class and get a job into a LTC or Hospital in days and some take months. It all depends on your area and what type of experience they are looking for to start.

Network, network, network.

Best of luck to all those out there searching for the perfect oppportunity. You'll get there.