How Aggressive Does One Get?

Nurses New Nurse

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So I'll be graduating in a few months and of course, like every new grad, I'm still looking for a job.

All the advice is to think outside of the box, you can't only work through HR, so my question is this: how aggressive can one get?

Most HR reps tell me to apply later, I'm applying too early. Well in one instance I followed the advice and feel that I missed the boat and was passed over ("oh, we've filled all new grad positions by now") which was really frustrating.

Others say "we'll call you if interested." My question is how do I keep myself out in front without calling them constantly and bugging them?

And if I go around them, what is the right way to do it? Call the floor I'm interested in and ask for the name/phone number/email address of the nurse manager and contact them directly? Would anyone be annoyed that I'm going "around" the specified process? I don't want to step on toes and make a bad impression. And I definitely would not cold call by showing up to a busy nursing unit demanding for nurse manager face time.

I'm essentially an out-of-state, external candidate - no clinical hours at their hospital. So how aggressive/assertive can I get without being annoying and alienating?

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Hey, there. I'm in the same boat that you're in, it seems. I graduated last week, and still no job. I've applied to all the hospitals, and emailed back and forth with the recruiters. I do feel like I'm really bugging them at this point. I did go around them a little bit to email the nurse manager on the unit that I would like to get in on, and she is keeping in touch with me, but unable to make any promises. I am feeling really discouraged at this point, what with all the talk of the "nursing shortage", which doesn't really seem to exist here. I'm in Gainesville, and we have the pleasure of two nursing schools pumping out GNs at the same time, and one of our big hospitals in town is closing, with all the current RNs moving to the other hospitals owned by the same company (of course with seniority over all of us). So, I don't really have any advice except to say keep on them! I feel like, if I don't hear from the recruiters a week after they say email me to say that I "will know something soon", then it's time for me to bug them again. Hang in there! I just refuse to beleive that after all of our HARD WORK, we won't get hired. That just cannot happen.:cry:

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Specializes in ER.

Are you dealing with a nurse recruiter at a hospital? I would say be very willing and flexible to take a job. Anywhere. If they want to put you on an Med/Surg floor, then take it. Don't be picky. Get in the door, then transfer out after 6 months to an internal job posting. You'll make more connections once you're in house. I totally try to find out the names and email of managers - cause I'd rather they know, directly, that I'm looking into working on their unit. That's more of a touch base email/phone call to the manager. Then they can be on the lookout for your app. I had a recruiter totally try to scoot me to another department, where they, likely, decided they needed a nurse more. I had a manager on another floor really push for me, since she already knew about me. Work your resources. Don't just let sleeping dogs lie. Good luck!

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I know what you mean. I am so not the aggressive type in my personal life, but I had to step outside the box for my nursing career. I literally "stalked" HR at the hospital I did my internship. I met with the nurse recuritier on several occassions and asked her to pull my online application. I also went over her head and went straight to the DIRECTOR of the unit that had openings. I wrote the director a formal letter requesting an interview and also included my resume. I also had a clinical instructor write a reference letter on my behalf. After I hand walked the letter to the director, I followed up with her. I went back the next day to make sure she received it. She granted me an interview on the spot and told me my "persistance" stood out.

I had an interview with her yesterday and I feel it went fairly well. She was impressed with my questions and I think I upsold myself and my strengths. I also walked in professionally dressed in a grey pinstripe suit and handed her my portfolio that included my yearly evaluation from my nurse intern position. I am also following up with sending a thank you letter.

This is all new to me, but I'm learning. If you want something, you have to go for it! Put your name and face out there. Good luck!

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Specializes in ER.
I know what you mean. I am so not the aggressive type in my personal life, but I had to step outside the box for my nursing career. I literally "stalked" HR at the hospital I did my internship. I met with the nurse recuritier on several occassions and asked her to pull my online application. I also went over her head and went straight to the DIRECTOR of the unit that had openings. I wrote the director a formal letter requesting an interview and also included my resume. I also had a clinical instructor write a reference letter on my behalf. After I hand walked the letter to the director, I followed up with her. I went back the next day to make sure she received it. She granted me an interview on the spot and told me my "persistance" stood out.

I had an interview with her yesterday and I feel it went fairly well. She was impressed with my questions and I think I upsold myself and my strengths. I also walked in professionally dressed in a grey pinstripe suit and handed her my portfolio that included my yearly evaluation from my nurse intern position. I am also following up with sending a thank you letter.

This is all new to me, but I'm learning. If you want something, you have to go for it! Put your name and face out there. Good luck!

that's exactly how I went from Med/Surg to the ER where I used to work - that was the only way - the traditional routes would never have brought my application to the director. They weren't posting a job at the time I interviewed, but voila! A month later they were, so it worked out. This director said the same thing to me - being persistent and knowing what I wanted was hard to not give me a chance. 5 years later, I'm still in the ER world.

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Thanks to all for the advice! I'll start calling the floors to get the info on the nurse managers.

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