Can't get any calls for interviews. Ego/Esteem has dipped beyond low.

Nurses Job Hunt

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So I am a new grad RN.. I started my Job Search the day I got back from vacation (about a month ago). I have applied for about 20 or more jobs at one of my local hospitals and still have not gotten a call. This hospital has just gotten rid of all their Per Diem positions and all of the Per Diem nurses are getting the Full-Time positions (full-time is what I am applying for). The only way to apply to this hospital is online and they do not accept follow up emails or calls. The only thing I ever get from they is an automated email.

After applying for these 20 or so jobs at said huge corporate hospital, I applied for two jobs at a small hospital out in the country. I applied for these 2 jobs the old school way...put the app, resume, and cover letter in a manilla envelope and shipped it snail mail. Well, it has been about a week or two since I shipped it and still have not heard anything. Here's where i get sad :crying2:. My self esteem is so beyond crushed at this point. I feel so rejected. I feel rejected to the point that I can't even call the small hospital to follow up because I feel like there is something wrong with me. I want a job so badly, but I feel like I could just give up. I could really use some encouragement and any type of advice would be great..

Also, when in nursing scool, we made our resumes and cover letters with specialists and our instructors and also got them revised and graded, so I'm pretty confident it's not my resume that's doing it. I'm convinced it's the fact that nobody wants to hire a new grad, and that's all I am.

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Specializes in occupational health.

Hang in there. I know it is hard. It's just a really tough economy. Have you considered looking outside of traditional hospital jobs? Nursing homes can be a good way to get your foot into the door. It's a tough job and doesn't pay that well, but it gets you working as an RN. See if you can rotate from med RN to treatment RN, this way you get the most experience. Another path is drug safety. The pharmaceutical companies are always looking for nurses to handle their 800 nurse lines.

For today, you should watch a comedy and laugh. Then when your spirits are up, call the smaller hospital. There is nothing wrong with you. Keep trying! :heartbeat

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Thank you. I am going to start applying to a few nursing homes. I also tried to apply for a State Hospital, but since it is government-run, it is the MOST confusing thing to apply for :lol2: . I think the comedy sounds like a brilliant idea for today.

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Specializes in ER.

You need to take a deep breath and slow down :)

You only mailed out your resume "a week or two ago".

You do know that a lot of places have to have a job listed for X number of weeks before they move on to the interview stage...

There are so many things that I have written for you then deleted.

I just want to say,

from your post I gather that you have applied to a total of 22 jobs in 1 month. This is an excellent start! You may have many more applications to go through before you get the call for an interview. That said, anyone (myself included) that has graduated anytime after 2008/2009 have struggled to get our careers started. It happens, but it is a struggle.

I'm not sure if you are going to get handfuls of sympathy posts, because if you do a little research (even just on this site) you will find out that you are not unique, and there are tons of new grads out there that have looked longer, and done more in the way "putting themselves out there" and still have not gained employment.

There is nothing wrong with you. What you need to do is be realistic, that's all.

It may take you months to find a job.

Good luck

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Please don't ever give up - you have worked so hard to get through your training. Yes, it can be frustrating and tearful to wait and feel as though you are being "passed over" for whatever reason. I sense you have a very tender heart - one that will be soon embraced by your patients. I agree with the previous post to look at the smaller rural hospitals and perhaps some volunteer nursing if there is anything in your area - a day or so a week would perhaps bring you some contentment and it will get you OUT there in the environment you want to be in. Keep the faith:redbeathe

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Specializes in Rehab, critical care.

Hang in there! I encountered the same thing when I was applying for positions as a new grad. It is not you...it's the economy!! Most hospitals are making cut-backs in budgets, so the first thing to go is hiring new grads. Why? Because training a new grad is expensive and risky. They pay a lot to train and may not get much in return (for instance, if they hire a new grad, train them for 6-8 weeks on a unit, and new grad up and leaves after 5 months. That does not help the hospital at all!).

I'm not implying you would do this (and, granted, there are legitimate reasons (i.e safety) for leaving a position), just trying to encourage you not to take rejection personally. I know...that's not easy!! From someone who has been there, it stinks! But...when you get that first call for an interview, you will be beyond excited!! Just keep trying, and you will get a call in time! Also...try applying for anything and everything, things that other people may not think about. Try dialysis, clinics, LTC, rehab, etc. Some people in my class ended up in dialysis, for instance, and ended up loving it. I think they are working for Frenesius, so perhaps try there. I know you said you want full-time, but having a part-time or PRN job is better than being unemployed; it is a foot in the door, and if you are a good employee, hopefully they would reward you by giving you a full-time position once you have demonstrated competence, etc.

Good luck!!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

Sweetheart I feel for you so much!

Try all the nursing agencies, they may be able to help. Also, I know this sounds dense, but apply for non-nursing jobs till u can get a foot in the door, at least it's work and you will be using some skills (customer service etc) and it will boost your self-esteem.

I worked in nursing HR for 3 years, if u want, I can look at your CV.

Also, get on the blower (phone) tomorrow & start calling those small hospitals re ur application/s. Ask them why if you don't get the job - it's hard to hear feedback but it will give u some idea of what you did or didn't do.

Please do not give up. I had to move to get my nursing experience, maybe you will have to consider moving to a bigger city/state & sharing with another nurse or something. It is not as bad as it sounds, it can be exciting moving to a new place & meeting new people.

Let us know how u get on, but do make some follow up phone calls, smile down the phone and try to act cheerful - hard I know, we have all been there I think.

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Thank you all so much for the reality check! I'm feeling better already and I do believe my spirits are lifting enough to get my a** into gear and try even harder. Fresenius was a great suggestion. I will definitely look into that.

Forgot to add.. PMS and being jobless do not mix well.:lol2:

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Specializes in abdominal transplant.

Have you passed your test yet? If not, that is definitely something you can distract yourself w/ until you find a job. If you pass before you find a job it will only make you look more enticing to employers and it is a huuuge self esteem boost when you pass and get that license in the mail.

I graduated in 2008 in Philadelphia and passed my test in July. I didn't find a job until November. It was painful. The way I finally got the job I accepted and loved was through a career fair. I always thought career fairs sounded kinda corny and lame, but I went to one, got a couple cards from different hospitals and made some calls. I ended up being given 2 interviews and was insanely happy with the job I accepted. It's definitely worth a shot!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Flight.

Good luck to you!..I hope you find a job soon..i suppose if its still like this when i grad in may, i may have to work in retail before i work as a nurse =/ hopefully it wont come to that but ive got bills to pay & loans ugghhh

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I graduated in 2009 when the economy fell and the hospitals said "New Grad? No thanks!". I was lucky enough to get a job at a family practice with the help of one of my classmates. I worked as a Triage RN there until this past April when I accepted a position as a Clinical Supervisor at another family practice closer to home. I too am currently looking for employment in a hospital and have applied to 6 different hospitals and posted 30+ applications. I got one interview at one of the top rated Magnet Hospitals in Northern VA on a PCCU and its been 4 weeks and have still not heard anything and I have called HR every week. The only thing I can see from my applications is that HR is reviewing them and sending them to the Unit Managers to be reviewed even further. I check everyday and have seen HR updating my applications every week. The position I interviewed for now shows that it is Under Review and was updated last Friday. There are times when I feel the way you do, especially because I work FT M-F 815-530 and I miss my 8 month old baby everyday. I'd much rather work 12 hrs at a hospital, earn more money, improve my dwindling nursing skills, and experience a little bedside nursing. So don't lose hope, I too would love to show up at every HR dept at all the hospitals and tell them I'm ready for an interview. There are 1000s of us out there and I'm not even a new grad, I have 2 years of nursing under my belt including 6 mons as a supervisor. It may not be hospital experience, but patient care is patient care no matter how you look at it. Good luck, and keep that chin up! It WILL get better. So apply at family practices, LTC, dialysis. Wherever a RN is needed-apply!

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Well, I'm convinced all your nice words made me lucky and I FINALLY GOT AN INTERVIEW. PCU. Thanks again! :)

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