Attending upcoming career fair, are you?

[nursejennie35]

i’ve been a rn going on 6 months now and haven’t been able to get a job. i recently registered to attend a nurse career fair hosted by getnursing.com and i’m wondering what have you all experienced first hand attending career fairs. will i walk away with an interview at the least? i am looking forward to networking and meeting fellow nurses. i recently relocated to houston and will attend the houston event. how are the opportunities in houston?

[netglow, ASN, RN]

Don't know that site/organization but don't expect much from nursing career fairs. If the facilities that show up are looking for anyone, it's for experienced nurses not newbies. They will have recruiters show up and yes they will chat with you for a few minutes usually. Some will give you a business card and some will be rude. Don't expect an interview. But do try to find out if that facility you keep applying to will even consider you as a ng. Some recruiters do feel bad about the state of nursing and will quietly tell you if you have a chance in hell realistically or not. You will meet 100s of other nurses in the same situation you are in. It probably will feel like the biggest cattle call, LOL. Be forewarned that you might end up feeling you hit it off with a few of the reps but know that they are there to promote the facility to anybody and everybody-to be like corporate cheerleaders and that's about all. They are there to market and represent not to hire.

[netglow, ASN, RN]

I'll add that I remember learning from one hospital recruiter that even tho they often have been hiring ngs into ICU, almost every one fails and ends up forced resigning. AND that this is a big negative for their futures she told me! She didn't agree with her facility allowing this to happen, but there you go-some insider info I'm glad I got. I also found out about the horrendous ratios on a med surg unit from a nurse who I think forgot herself a bit after we hit it off and got coffee. So yes you might pick up some hush hush stuff too.

[merlee]

Make sure you have plenty of ONE page resumes, printed on an off-white or pale gray paper. It will stand out a bit. Sometimes having business cards helps, too.

Enter every raffle, even the ones from the vendors. Why not?

Do not expect to get interviewed on-site, but you never know. Dress in a business manner.

If you can, go with a friend, it will make the day more fun when you have someone to compare things with.

Wear comfortable shoes if at all possible. Concrete floors are no fun.

Have a good time, and best wishes!!

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

We do not currently advertise for nursing events I am closing this thread for review thank you