Graduated over 2 months ago....Still no job offers

Nurses Job Hunt

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I graduated in May and got my license on June 7th and still haven't gotten any job

offers:(. I had two interviews before I took the NCLEX, and didn't get any offers. When I got my license I only had one interview with an outpatient mental health facility over a week ago and I called back the following Monday and told them I was still interested and she told me they were still waiting on the other applicants that were doing facility visits. The position has been open since last November, so I was thinking either they haven't received any applicants or they have turned down a lot of people. She told me she would let me know by the end of the week, but I never received a call back :unsure:. I really like the position and would like to work there. I have applied at a bunch of stores because I need to start working and just wait for nursing interviews. I don't want to relocate for a nursing position, but even if I did I don't have the money to relocate. I have always had an interest in the military and looked at all the branches of the military and they all require a BSN, so I can't even do that. I don't want to be an RN working at a store for 6 months to over a year, I went to college to make something of myself and make a difference, working in a store is not what I had in mind. I have been sitting at home for over two months and feeling worthless because I can't land a nursing position. Just wanted to vent my frustrations:madface:

One thing I have never seen addressed in here, is HOW all of these garduate nurses are paying their bills with no for months and years? Are you all married, with economic stability (aside from the few that bemona student loans, naturally they are in financial straits)? In general, I'm very curious how these folks are living. I realize it might be a touchy situation, at the same time.

As far as leaving youer nursing license off of an application, that's actually falsifying an application, if they did ask about licesnes and education. A real life catch 22 if you want to appear to be not overqualified.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
I considered applying for tech positions, where you just take vitals and general patient care. The closest hospital near me doesn't have any opening for UAP's or techs, a girl that was in my class said it took her a very long time to get a tech position and most people keep them when they do get it because they're so hard to get. When applying for those UAP positions or any non-nursing job in general, should I put on my application that I have a nursing degree? Then they'll know that I'm over qualified and probably won't stay there long, so I might not get the job. All the store job interviews I have went to ask me if I have applied at hospitals and that's probably why I haven't gotten any jobs. It's kind of a stupid question for them to ask though, why on earth would I be applying for a store job if I could get a nursing positon.

Omitting that you are a nurse isn't recommended as that could be considered falsifying an application...if it's discovered you could be terminated/not hired.

To be honest, a lot of places WON'T hire nurses as techs because of that reason (what I bolded in your response). Facilities invest time and money in training a CNA/tech/aide, same as as they do with a nurse...so they don't want to waste that time and money on someone who they know will bolt the minute a RN job opens up.

In addition, there's also the liability issue: as a tech, you can only act in the tech scope of practice even though you are a RN...however, should something go wrong you'd be held to the standards of your highest license.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
One thing I have never seen addressed in here, is HOW all of these garduate nurses are paying their bills with no for months and years? Are you all married, with economic stability (aside from the few that bemona student loans, naturally they are in financial straits)? In general, I'm very curious how these folks are living. I realize it might be a touchy situation, at the same time. .

Some are working in non-nursing jobs or jobs below their license. Some are drawing off of savings. Some are racking up debt. Some are being supported in part or whole by family (spouses, parents, children, whoever). Some are drawing government benefits (unemployment, food stamps, etc.). Some are doing part or all of the above.

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On all the non-nursing applications I have filled out, I included my nursing degree. I was afraid that if I wasn't truthful and if I did get the job they would fire me once they figured it out. I was just checking, because I thought maybe I was hurting my chances of getting a non-nursing job while I was waiting for a nursing position.

Thanks everyone for your advice and encouragement :)

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Thanks anonymous 456 for your advice on what to put in a cover letter. I created a cover letter using your advice and I submitted an application to that hospital I have applied so many times to, and after a day and a half I got a call for an interview. I also organized my resume to make it look better and put RN after my name at the top of the page and did the same thing at the top of my cover letter. I think the cover letter made a huge difference.

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Specializes in oncology, MS/tele/stepdown.

Did you follow up with the nurse managers you interviewed with before you got licensed? Because unless you tell them you got your RN, they don't know. Not every NM is willing to bet that you will pass boards and offer you a job beforehand.

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Specializes in public health.

Hang in there. I also graduated in may, passed NCLEX in July and no job offer yet. Use all your resources, harass your old clinical preceptors, professors, friends who are in the hospitals. You will get a job.

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Did you follow up with the nurse managers you interviewed with before you got licensed? Because unless you tell them you got your RN, they don't know. Not every NM is willing to bet that you will pass boards and offer you a job beforehand.

The first interview I had for an new grad RN residency was on May 7th and I got my license a month later. I didn't think to call or contact them to inform them I was now licensed. Then I got an email stating that because of extenuating circumstances the position was no longer open and I was no longer being considered for the position. When I looked on their website they had numerous positions open for that floor, so I assumed they lost a lot of their experienced RN's and I knew they weren't looking for any new grads because they needed the experienced nurses.

The second interview I had was just for a med/surg position, but I was got a call almost a week later and was told the position had been filled. I was grateful that they at least had the courtesy to let me know something, even if it was a rejection because it seems most employers don't let you know anything.

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