Handing Resumes to Managers In Person

frances81 · Jun 25, 2017

following! also in edmonton and wondering the exact same thing as well!

dishes, BSN, RN · Jun 25, 2017

However, I have heard throughout my education that it can be helpful to visit managers in person and hand in a resume.

Did you hear this from the unit managers where you did your clinical placements? or your nursing school instructors?

Fiona59 · Jun 25, 2017

My unit manager isn't even located on the unit. She doesn't take cold call visitors.

AHS is all about the on line application. The way the system is set up, no on line application, no chance of an interview. One manager I know, even admitted, she doesn't have a lot of choice with who to interview, the HR system shifts through the applications and forwards who it feels matches the criteria the best.

The drop by thing might work in rural, but not at RAH. In the past we've told our unit manager that we have friends who would be a good fit for the unit, but as she said they have to apply like everyone else.

Currently there are a few units with permanent lines posted. What you don't know/understand is these lines have staff in them. Who have been told to reapply for their jobs because either the FTE changed, funding changed or the lines have been made permanent. Those staff have to compete with everyone in the system who might now want to work there. It's hell and stressful. My friend is in one of them and is worried she doesn't have enough seniority to keep her job.

It's a cold hard world right now in AHS, when people who have worked there for over a decade are worried about being bumped.

I know it's not what you wanted to hear, but when regular staff are worried about winding up in the float pool or on one of the less desirable units, you need to know the truth. Did you know that all the LPNs who worked antepartum were displaced and moved to other units? Guess not, AHS keeps a closed mouth on many things

Wuzzie · Jun 25, 2017

I'm not in Canada but I think the hiring process is pretty much the same. If you did this on my unit my manager would politely take your resume and have you escorted off the unit. Then she would have HR flag your application as Do Not Hire.

This might have worked years ago but in today's world of patient privacy and safety anybody who tries this would be seen as crossing boundaries that should not be crossed. Not only that but most managers are on a tight schedule and would see it as a serious breach of courtesy to just show up. Unless you are directly invited by the manager to do this I would refrain.

NurseLatteDNP, MSN, DNP, RN · Jun 25, 2017

In 9 out of 10 cases, that would not work. But eventually it will get you an interview. I work in a large magnet hospital and we never interview on the spot. It all goes through recruitment. But each of the recruiters get an average of 35 application per day for the same position. I know of 2 people who got their jobs In my hospital by knocking on managers doors. I have asked our recruiter to pre-screen one CNA after she did the same to me. It only takes 1 person who will take the time.

vintage_RN, BSN, RN · Jun 25, 2017

This is how I got my RPN job and my RN job...both in the hospital on speciality units ...the RN one being my dream job. What I did is found out the managers emails and emailed them...I was for an interview and hired in both instances. This has worked for many of my classmates and coworkers as well. You have to stand out somehow.

fingers_crossed · Jun 25, 2017

I have never heard this from a manager, but instructors throughout my nursing education mentioned it, some of whom are also floor nurses on the units. I have also heard this among nursing friends who have heard from other people who have gotten jobs this way. I'm not sure how realistic it actually is which is why I want to get some other opinions!

fingers_crossed · Jun 25, 2017

This is how I got my RPN job and my RN job...both in the hospital on speciality units ...the RN one being my dream job. What I did is found out the managers emails and emailed them...I was for an interview and hired in both instances. This has worked for many of my classmates and coworkers as well. You have to stand out somehow.

This seems like a good solution, email being a little less intrusive than visiting in person. How did you find the manager's email? I can't even find out the name of the managers for the units I'm interested in!

dayandnight · Jun 26, 2017

I have never heard this from a manager, but instructors throughout my nursing education mentioned it, some of whom are also floor nurses on the units. I have also heard this among nursing friends who have heard from other people who have gotten jobs this way. I'm not sure how realistic it actually is which is why I want to get some other opinions!

Instead of visiting I found the emails of the managers and started emailing them. Out of maybe 8-9, one directly called me and that is how I got hired at my first hospital RN job in BC :). I also drove to hospitals and tried to meet managers in person or drop off resumes. It's better than doing nothing. For the email, I asked the receptionists.. who were telling me they were always short and would need more nurses and were quite desperate... you can also ask your friends who work in ahs

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Jun 26, 2017

Right now our unit doesn't even HAVE a manager. Both the PCM and the unit manager left within 10 days of each other. We're being overseen by a PCM with 4 other units on her portfolio and an assistant head nurse who has taken on some of the UM's work. Our unit is also not one of the ones that entertains students, other than observation-only days (more like 6 hours). Those fortunate few who have done their senior practicum on our unit have no problem getting a job with us, but of course, their application will have that senior practicum included. I don't know of anyone who has ever been hired onto the unit by presenting their resumÃ© to the PCM/UM in person. To be honest, even when we HAD a manager, I couldn't have told you where to find her.

Fiona59 · Jun 26, 2017

So, those of us who work in AHS and know how the system works and how it sucks are wrong?

NotReady and I work in the two largest hospitals in Edmonton but we don't know. Right, I guess that's us told.