how hard to get a job??

TazziRN, RN · May 3, 2007

What's an LNA??

Have you tried physically going to the HR department in each place? That may help. Or, if you've applied for certain units, contact the nurse manager of each unit.

MikeyJ, RN · May 3, 2007

You may also consider looking at your resume and perhaps revising it, or speak to your classmates with job offers and see what they are doing differently.

There is a poster in the Nevada forum who had the same problem as you, but as soon as she revamped her resume she was offered like 3 jobs in a week. I forget her screen name, but there is a thread on the Nevada forum.

jjjoy, LPN · May 3, 2007

I suggest going to HR in person. When I was looking, one place had me fill out a long application but never got back to me. But another immediately called up a nurse manager who came right down, showed me around and gave an informal interview.

Where there is a demand for nurses, many facilities are inundated with applications and may not have the staff to adequately follow up with each application. They probably just accept that many people are applying to several jobs and if HR hasn't been able to get back to them within a few weeks, perhaps they don't even bother following up, assuming that those applicants have probably taken jobs elsewhere.

Another approach is to try to contact floor nurse managers directly. Some might find that too aggressive but to others it will show your willingness to go the extra mile. If this sounds too forward, ask working friends to ask their manager if you can contact them. Having a strong, willing applicant come to them can save them some effort. Even if they're not hiring right then, they can probably give you useful feedback in your job search. And if an opening comes up, they might remember you!

Finally, persistence can sometimes work, too. Regularly call or drop by the HR department - or periodically contact a nurse manager - of a place you really want to work. If you're clearly willing and ready to take up a job offer week after week, you will likely be a first pick when selections occur.

Often, it's just a matter of timing and it sounds like these last few weeks haven't been the right time. It's okay if it takes several months to land that first job. Hopefully, you'll be staying there for awhile, and in the big picture, a few months is worth waiting for a good job.

hope3456, ASN, RN · May 3, 2007

I don't know 'where' you are located, but in some locations, such as where I live, the market is actually competitive for nurses.

futurecnm · May 3, 2007

I am still a student but from people I know who have went to nursing school, all were able to find a job. However, it can be competitive and I agree you may want to re-do your resume and cover letter. It probably isn't getting attention. It may be too long and wordy or not focus on the right things. I was told that here where I live hospitals look first for BSN with hospital experience, then BSN with no experience, then ADN with hospital experience, then ADN with no experience. I am in an ADN program so I have to work hard to get that experience while a student. Luckily I got an internship for the summer, and I will probably work as a student nurse technician during the school year on a VERY part time basis (like 2 shifts/month) just to have that on my resume. OR I will volunteer at a hospital or LTC. I think part of it is your lack of hospital experience and part of it may be the resume. Good luck!

ChristyMNOP · May 3, 2007

Where I am, the major hospitals can take up to 1 month to get back to you just for the first call back. So take heart. Its probably a good idea to take your resume to a service though just in case. They can really jazz it up and make it get attention.

loricatus · May 3, 2007

I waited until one week after graduation to start my job search. Long story, but wasn't sure if I would graduate because of a dispute I was having about accepting a transfer credit rather than having to repeat a similar class.

I knew that most of the GN jobs were filled, so I went directly to each hospital's HR in the area with my resume. The moment I walked in, I asked to see the nurse recruiter, only giving my name to the receptionist. If I was asked what it was in reference to, my reply was "A nursing job here at your hospital, of course." Most nurse recruiters were very quick to come out and talk to me after that. Within one week, I was offered 2 positions. I received two additional calls of positions that just opened up the following week. Something I found out about: was that some positions open up right around graduation because of SN/GNs accepting more than one job offer earlier on, having to decide on only one later, and some do not graduate at all-all leading to last minute new grad openings.

So, don't get discouraged. Something will surface. It is better if you go down to the hospitals personally. It makes the Human Resource person's job much easier and shows initiative on your part.

Good Luck to you

anne74 · May 4, 2007

HR departments in hospitals are notorious for not responding or following up - especially to the mass resumes they recieve online. You need to show up in person, or find out the specific names of recruiters and hunt them down. They're so busy, they focus on the people who come to them first.

Better yet, get the names of unit managers or other nurses you know. Contact them directly, and they'll push you ahead of other applicants.