Got the job only because of who you know?

Nurses General Nursing

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I'm curious to know your thoughts.

I'm a second career nurse, and, in business it is often about who you know. But, even though there is some animosity, it usually wanes as this is how it goes. Those who didn't know "people" just figured it was time to network for the future jobs they want.

Well, I know a few nurses who fall into the catagory of getting their first nursing jobs ONLY because of who they know. There is nothing they have/had to set them apart from even better qualified applicants, except, for who they know. Whether it be a well known doc, or even political contact in the city government, or hiring manager. Some had a job created for them when no other NGs were being hired (except maybe other nurses with VIP connections). They are just thankful and intend to work their behinds off to prove they were worthy hires. But now, I am wondering if they've been found out and are now suffering for the way they got their jobs.

Just recently I've spoken with someone that fits this bill, and realized that now, all of the people I know to have got a job in this way are now having an awful time of it. No bullying at first, but later on, like 4-6 months out. And, the bullying is often from the NMs or charges. This isn't simple stuff, it's the scary kind the lawsuit-lose your license level stuff. The I will force you into something pretty serious and because you are a new nurse you will get stuck in it, stuff. Now I do know these people and they are not incompetent. Their stories are very similar, and other nurses around them notice that there seems to suddenly be a target on their backs.

I can't help but think that some of these NMs having been forced to hire someone, might be angry about it so much that they do their best to get rid of that person, whether they turn out a good nurse or not. I'd elaborate, with some of what's happened but, I don't want to make things worse.

Canes, I should have noted what you remind us all of. There is always the other side of this way of getting a job. The side where the person hired is the village idiot with "connections" or the boss's son.

LOL, just made me think of a snicker I got when I saw this commercial, how true.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Pu-UUqew-w

Yup, we second career people got skillzzzzzzzzz. We get along famously with the CEO :smokin:

Said to read that women do not emrace adn supprot each other...esp when another human bieing is involved...the patient....We are a terrible breed to turn on our own kind.... Men are loyal to the end..wish I sould think the same of women.... Your new found income, management level adn connections do not make you ...Your charachter is all you were born with and all you leave with... Maybe it is time for some self-awareness to be implemented.... Women men get ahead with the buddy system....We should embrace it....then we can be hired next...duh... just saying...women are so not loyal....

Specializes in ER, Trauma.

Maybe it's just me, but there seems to be a fine line between a personal reference and who you know. Or did I miss the point.

I am not a second career nurse, but in my private life I associate with people from every aspect of life - ranging from multimillionaires through to the unemployed and homeless. Everyone I know is worthy of my respect and friendship for a variety of reasons.

There is no way I would put a private relationship in jeopardy by suggesting the possibility of employment..... nursing is way different to the regular corporate business "jobs for the boys" mentality.

I find that people can get a nursing job quicker if the work within the hospital already.

As much as it's not appropriate it happens. Nursing is more like high school than anyone would ever think if they weren't a nurse. The sad part is those who did get a position because of who they know will still rely on that connection and not always work toward being a good practitioner. So is it bullying or just NM's or charge RN's frustrated with mediocre nurses ?

Specializes in ER.

I know several of my classmates who did get jobs because of who they knew, but most of the ones who got jobs got them because they worked as techs at the hospital before graduation. As for myself, I was lucky enough to get two job offers without knowing anyone at either hospital- I just made sure to do my homework on the facility, ask lots of questions to show I was interested, and I made sure to follow up each time. Persistence paid off.

Specializes in OB/GYN, Peds, School Nurse, DD.

Well, I'm one of "those nurses" who got my job because i knew the right person. Or at least, i got the job interview because I knew the right person. Once I got my foot in the door, my experience carried me through. I think it's perfectly okay to use your network to get a job. It the way of the world, been going on since 10,000BC

Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

Perhaps I misunderstand the question here but no one forces anyone to hire anyone else. One can certainly give a referral and offer feedback that a person might be right for a job, but it is the responsibility of the manager to interview and hire only those that they feel will be right for the job. Now, if the manager was forced to hire a certain person, that is another matter and another problem all together. As a former manager I would NEVER stand for anyone insisting that I hire anyone that I have not decided was right for the job. As the manager has to supervise this person, they must have say in the hiring process. And when anyone has a job created for them that others were not allowed to interview for, this is an automatic set up for failure. And since people cannot take their anger out on the person who was responsible for implementing this mess, they take their anger out on the individual that was placed into that position. I would probably feel the same way myself.

> After discussing my difficulty in finding a job (I'm a new grad) with a past instructor at my school, I was basically told that the ONLY way I can hope to find a job is by networking. Today's new grads are not using their connections to land a cushy job, they're doing it to land ANY job. Filling out online applications just doesn't cut it anymore. I WISH I could just land a decent job based solely on my own merits, especially considering I worked my tail off in nursing school, but it's just not happening that way. So I have to resort to asking (begging, really) people I know for help. The alternative is basically giving up on nursing altogether because I'm not in a position where I can move to a new location for a job. Sad but true.

This reminds me of the shirt "Talentless but Connected". Ahh I think this is just the way of life.

I have a few friends who got a job this way, not to say they aren't smart or couldn't have gotten a similar job on their own (actually in this economy...) but why not use their assets?

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