Harder to get a job than I thought

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I graduated in June 08 and I am finding it harder to find a job than I thought. I'm tying to figure out why so many hospitals are giving me the blow off... maybe it was because I only had a permit when I applied. I graduated top of my class, pres of my class, etc. I thought people would be knockin at my front door offering me jobs. Reality check, ain't happening.

Specializes in Psychiatric.

I am in Northern NJ and have had no luck. I didn't think that hospitals would be knocking down my door, but I didn't think I'd be totally ignored either. I don't think there is a nursing shortage, I think there is a shortage of HR personnel who can return a call or email.

I am releived though that I did not pin all my hopes and hard work on this nursing degree. I am currently employed in another field, but feel that if I don't get a job in nursing soon I will start forgetting a lot of what I learned. Ironically, I've seen other students get hired who struggled through the nursing program, some failing and being readmitted, and/or almost didn't pass the NCLEX and they get hired. And I would think that since I did very well in school with no prior medical knowledge or experience and passed the NCLEX in 75 questions that hospitals would want people like me. Guess I am wrong.

CrazyHands

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I live in southern California and am having the same problem as well. It's sad that apparently there's this huge nursing shortage, but I'm guessing CA is not one of those places. Hospitals seem to be very picky about whom they hire. It's always 2 years experience this, or 1 years experience this. I'm like EVERYONE had to start somewhere give me a chance. I'm a quick learner. It just frustrates me.

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Specializes in pediatrics, oncology.
I live in southern California and am having the same problem as well. It's sad that apparently there's this huge nursing shortage, but I'm guessing CA is not one of those places. Hospitals seem to be very picky about whom they hire. It's always 2 years experience this, or 1 years experience this. I'm like EVERYONE had to start somewhere give me a chance. I'm a quick learner. It just frustrates me.

Wow, I'm shocked! I thought CA had the worst nursing shortage, but apparently not. Then again, I thought there was a nursing shortage here in the northeast but that doesn't seem to be true either.

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Specializes in acute care then Home health.

I think there is still a nursing shortage, especially here in So CAL. If you have experience your golden and should have no trouble getting a job. Problem is that being new grads we need our hands held a little bit when we first start, and training is expensive to the employer. Also, new nurses pose as a liability to the hospitals. Greater chance for screw ups with an inexperienced nurse. So why not go for registry then? I can see the delima.

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FL isn't as easy as I thought it would be either. I finally had an interview today, for the job that I desperately want, but I don't know how it went. I had a phone interview for a job that I didn't get hired for last semester, and that's it. I came home and applied for some generic GN positions, since it seems that I may have to do the dreaded one year of med-surg before I can work where I want to. There are tons of jobs advertised requiring 2 years of experience, and very few that don't require you to either already work for the hospital as a tech and/or wait until they're ready to start a class every 2-6 months. I too thought it would be much easier, especially with my perfect NS GPA.

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Specializes in Cardiac Nursing.

I know what your going through. I graduated in May and still nothing and I've been looking since Feb. I've only had 4 interviews. The last one went really well, and I've been bugging them....nicely, about the status of my application. Well I find out today that even though the manager has no problem with my job history, apparenly HR does. So I guess I won't get it after all. I hope I do, but now after being told I had it to this. I've applied to places I didn't necessarily want to.

Good luck to you. :typing

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Specializes in Ortho/Neurosurgical.
I know what your going through. I graduated in May and still nothing and I've been looking since Feb. I've only had 4 interviews. The last one went really well, and I've been bugging them....nicely, about the status of my application. Well I find out today that even though the manager has no problem with my job history, apparenly HR does. So I guess I won't get it after all. I hope I do, but now after being told I had it to this. I've applied to places I didn't necessarily want to.

Good luck to you. :typing

Wow with 13years as an LPN for experience, that is a tough one. You have to be aggressive with applications, even as a seasoned nurse. Good luck to you.

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Specializes in Cardiac Nursing.

I'm being as aggressive as I can without being rude. But its my 13 years of LPN experience thats probably keeping me from finding anything, rather a few year span of short stay jobs.

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Specializes in Ortho/Neurosurgical.
I'm being as aggressive as I can without being rude. But its my 13 years of LPN experience thats probably keeping me from finding anything, rather a few year span of short stay jobs.

Oh, I don't know about that. I can tell you right now that management would hire an RN (with 13 years of LPN experience) right off the bat. Is there something else that potentially would be "unappealing". Just out of curiosity.

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Specializes in Cardiac Nursing.
Oh, I don't know about that. I can tell you right now that management would hire an RN (with 13 years of LPN experience) right off the bat. Is there something else that potentially would be "unappealing". Just out of curiosity.

The only thing that would cause red flags is the number of jobs I only had for 6 months or so. I have several and they weren't travel or per diem work. I had a bad time while in AZ with jobs and now its biting me. I only have one job that I'm not eligible for rehire and I don't use them for reference anyway. What I keep getting told is that my job history makes me unreliable. How to shake that lable I have no idea :sniff:

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And apparently I worried about nothing! I got my first choice job at my first choice hospital. What worked for me: I wore a suit, I practiced a ton of interview questions (most weren't asked, but I felt comfortable answering what she did ask), I was confident in my qualifications for the position, I came prepared with relevant questions to ask, I made eye contact, I had an updated resume, cover letter, and letter of recommendation with me, and I felt like I made a pretty good connection with the interviewer. I never worked as a tech, but I used my lengthy customer service experience to my advantage. I had also done clinicals at that hospital. Play up any skills or experience that you have, and if you can get in for an interview, at least that means you have a chance to impress them. Also, even getting the interview was a process. I think the HR woman finds me annoying, since I called with some frequency for updates on when the position would be available, but it worked.

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Specializes in Cardiac Nursing.

The one place I really want to work (actually there are two places) I call regularlly and keep getting told the manager hiring looks through the applications and tells the nurse recruiter who they want to interview. Well, I actually did call the nurse manager and asked, very politely if they hire new grads to the nicu and if they had any positions open? I was told to contact nurse recruitment and apply online if anything was open. She wouldn't say yes or no, so that was a dead end. Actually, she said yes they do hire new grads...but to speak to a nurse recruiter. Very frustrating...

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