Just finished first interview---Follow up!!!

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi everyone,

I had my first interview last week at a reputable hospital and wasn't sure if I made a great impression. Well, apparently I did because the RN Mgr just called me 15 minutes ago and offered me the job!!! I'm going to start a New Grad RN orientation between PCU and Med/Surg and I'm so happy to be employed! :)

It's a great hospital and I'm relieved. When the manager explained some of the scheduling issues--since orientation would be over the holiday season, (no vacation time would be approved)--and wanted to know if I had any conflicts or vacations--I told her I was flexible...my schedule has been waaaay flexible and open for too long...in fact, would you like me to start working today? Ha ha!!

To the other new grad rns, please keep trying. I graduated in May and until this moment have been discouraged, depressed, angry, jaded--every negative emotion you can think of. But, I just kept looking for work and vented my frustration with my husband and other classmates, did yoga, prayed,etc. In fact, I was filling out another job application when I received my phone call. I wish that there was some logic behind who gets hired--it would seem to make sense if you keep looking, you'll find something but that hasn't been the case for many of my friends.

Thanks to all of you seasoned nurses who were so supportive when I originally posted my interview thread. I can only hope that I can find more people like you on the unit floor. I'm off to do a happy dance now!

Specializes in LTC.

:cheers::ancong!:*wine

:clpty: Thats awesome! I just started an accelerated BSN program in Western PA and am going to move back to NYC after graduation and I am very worried I wont be able to find a job for a while b/c I hear from other new grads about how difficult it is, esp. in NY.

I volunteer at a hospital there (can't while I am in school) but have been keeping ties with people and will come back for thanksgiving break.

Do you have any pointers?!

:) again, congrats!!!

Hi everyone,

I had my first interview last week at a reputable hospital and wasn't sure if I made a great impression. Well, apparently I did because the RN Mgr just called me 15 minutes ago and offered me the job!!! I'm going to start a New Grad RN orientation between PCU and Med/Surg and I'm so happy to be employed! :)

It's a great hospital and I'm relieved. When the manager explained some of the scheduling issues--since orientation would be over the holiday season, (no vacation time would be approved)--and wanted to know if I had any conflicts or vacations--I told her I was flexible...my schedule has been waaaay flexible and open for too long...in fact, would you like me to start working today? Ha ha!!

To the other new grad rns, please keep trying. I graduated in May and until this moment have been discouraged, depressed, angry, jaded--every negative emotion you can think of. But, I just kept looking for work and vented my frustration with my husband and other classmates, did yoga, prayed,etc. In fact, I was filling out another job application when I received my phone call. I wish that there was some logic behind who gets hired--it would seem to make sense if you keep looking, you'll find something but that hasn't been the case for many of my friends.

Thanks to all of you seasoned nurses who were so supportive when I originally posted my interview thread. I can only hope that I can find more people like you on the unit floor. I'm off to do a happy dance now!

I'm looking for a job. Did you go in in person for this job or just fill out online application? People told me I should go in and talk to the nurse recruiters but every time I do, they told me apply online. They don't except paper resume. So, you see how discourage that is. Did you also apply to the listings that required 1 or 2 years of experience? Most of my friends who graduated with me work as home health care nurses and I cannot even find anything. Please give me some suggestion that might work. Also congrad on your new job. I'm sure you are ecstatic right now.

Foifi, good luck in your accelerated program. I graduated from an accelerated program, so I know how challenging it can be. I had to quit my original career in order to accommodate scheduling needs while at school, so we've been surviving off of my husband's income for nearly 3 years. I wasn't able to work while I was in the program--any spare time that I had was devoted either to studying or raising my son--who was 1 years old when I enrolled in school.

I know many classmates who worked during the program as nurse assistants, admins or medical assistants just to remain visible on the hospital floor when it came time for hiring new grads. For some of my classmates, this really paid off. I worked as a nurse extern during my final semester of school for the hospital system that hired me. I didn't get hired into that unit floor, (the manager didn't hire any of the student nurses) but I'd like to think that my new manager took my previous hospital affiliation into consideration Also, every one of my classmates that worked as a nurse extern were eventually hired onto the same floor. So, nurse extern positions are a good route.

Many students in my program (me included) did tons of community/volunteer programs--some even went overseas through our school program. This helped those classmates to stand out from other applicants.

After school, I applied to everything. I initially started with new grad RN programs, but the market is unbelievable in San Diego. I also applied to state, county and usajobs.gov. In the last 2 months, I began applying even to positions that stated that 1 year of experience was needed. I also applied as a school nurse at the local school district. I currently volunteer as a school nurse--I love it! I contacted community clinics and volunteered at health fairs to network. I also received my ACLS and Neonatal Resuscitation certification after school. I also review my nursing skills/interventions/course books for 1 hr a day--just so I don't feel so out of the loop. I hadn't considered walking into an HR office at a hospital yet and dropping off a resume--that might have been the next thing for me to try. If I hadn't heard back from this hospital, I was going to start applying for SNFs. Anything to keep my technical skills from getting rusty.

While you're in school, start making your connections and view every manager as a potential employer, every nurse preceptor as a potential co-worker. Begin acquiring those letters of recommendation from your clinical staff each semester. DO NOT BURN ANY BRIDGES!!! Good luck to you in your program.

Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.

:anpom:YAY!!!! Good for you, sweetheart!

Go do your happy dance! I am proud of you!:yeah:

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