Graduating in Dec,, should I start job search yet?

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Hi, I heard through the grapevine that I can start searching for jobs now, but it doesn't make sense-why would a hospital hire me now, when they have so many people that just graduated that probably have or will shortly have licenses already? Anyone who has done this or people who work in hiring/recruiting who might know, please advise...Thanks!

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

our nurse recruiter wanted to talk with students that were a semester away from graduation and get their names on a list of potential hires. she wanted to know what kind of new blood was getting ready to enter the work force and she was always planning for you guys coming. you need to talk with these recruiters because you want to know what they need to get you hired (letters of recommendation you will need from instructors, skills to get more experience in, clinical experience you can ask for of your instructors) so you can start getting that information together. you will also want to talk turkey about what areas you are interested in working and find out about orientation programs that the different facilities offer to new grads. the more you know about the hiring process the better prepared you are for when you start putting out applications. the nurse recruiters are the people you want to start talking tonow to get yourself educated about getting your first job. the time is not 2 weeks before you are about to graduate. you want to get hired by a facility that is going to have a new grad orientation program as well as let you work on a nursing unit that you want. be aware that your training does not end at graduation. it is merely beginning. your first job is an important choice. chose an employer who will be supportive and assist in completing your training as a new rn. and that is why you start looking at your job options now because the good positions get grabbed up fast.

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Specializes in Rehabilitation; LTC; Med-Surg.
Hi, I heard through the grapevine that I can start searching for jobs now, but it doesn't make sense-why would a hospital hire me now, when they have so many people that just graduated that probably have or will shortly have licenses already? Anyone who has done this or people who work in hiring/recruiting who might know, please advise...Thanks!

I would take advantage of recruiters STAT! introduce yourself, give them your contact information and make a lasting first impression! Now is the time to build bridges, in other words.

Other than that, I would spend time getting your resume, cover letter, contacts/networks and references together. When you get closer to December (around October?), I would begin getting my application ready to work as a GN or GVN (whichever you will be) so you can hit the ground running the day after pinning.

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I would suggest getting a job as a Extern RN. That is what I did. If there are no externships available, I would suggest getting a job as a clerk or cna. You will have your foot in the door and be able to learn how a unit really runs. As a clerk you will learn how to read orders, what is needed to admit a pt... etc. As a CNA...you will assist the nurse. It might also help you land a job in the hospital when you are done. That is what many nursing students do at our hospital.

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Specializes in CTICU/CVICU.

I'm not in nursing school yet but I will be starting in July. If I was you..based on friends experiences..who are graduating WITHOUT jobs...and how the economy is..I would get on it. The way everything is now with new grad programs ending..I would start as soon as possible.

Shoot..maybe I should start applying now..for when I graduate in 2011! lol

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Specializes in Telemetry.

hmmm...good idea. I too will be done by december and I thought it would be too early to start.

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Get on it right away. Because of the way the economy is right now it is very competitive.

Call the nurse recruiter, find out what you need to do to make sure you are hired. you might have to get a job as a CNA on the floor you are interested on working on once you graduate. You can only find out what you need to do to get ahead if you call them.

Good luck

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Absolutely!! I just graduated in May. I went to a student open house at a local hospital in December and got an interview. I was offered a job in January. Many of my classmates graduated without jobs because the local hospitals had already filled their new grad positions. I wanted to have one waiting for me so I didn't have to deal with that stress along with the NCLEX.

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