How fast did you land a job?

[johndough]

I have a question. After graduating, how long until you got your very first nursing job?

I know you have to take the NCLEX and stuff, but from the date of graduation, how long did it take you?

[AllieRN2]

I graduated May 3rd, passed NCLEX July 17th, was offered a job September 15th, and started work November 1st. So it took 6 months from graduation to job start, though I did not really start job searching until early August.

[CSTtoRN]

All but 2 in my class accepted an offer before 4th semester started

[Miss.Brightside]

I graduated 12/2015 took my nclex on 3/19/2016, started applying 3/28 and I just got a job 5/22/2016

[Twinmom06, ASN, APN]

I live in Northeast PA and I graduate this year but I'm pretty sure that pretty much 75-80% of people had a job before they graduated, across all units and specialties.

They start hiring in January and February

I live in the same area and can attest to this. I graduated in May 2013 and had signed offer letters by March.

[amb218, BSN, RN]

I graduated May 16 and accepted my dream job on May 25!!

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

Most of my class had jobs before graduation. They were all pending NCLEX. ADN program. I graduated May 14, got my ATT about 2 weeks later, tested about a week after that. Started my job mid-June.

[mississippikid]

Several of my classmates had accepted jobs before graduation, which had me discouraged because I had already put in applications to multiple facilities.. I graduated on a Thursday evening, on Friday I interviewed and was hired on the spot.

[Xlorgguss]

So if I am graduating next May would it be best to apply in January of that year? Did your resume look any different then what a traditional RN resume would look like aside from "pending graduation and passing NCLEX" or something along those lines. Did y'all talk to nursing recruitment to see what the hospitals offered or did you just jump in and apply?

[Mhays]

Hi, it took me not long at all because I was already working at the skilled nursing facility. The only difference was my pay rate. After I took the test, my pay rate went up to a dollar and twenty cents. To me at the time, that was a huge increase because now I was being paid for an entry-level nurses position. I also started out at the skilled nursing facility volunteering before I landed a part-time job and then eventually a full-time job there. So, sometimes people have to go through these small steps in order to make it to the top of the ladder. It is important to keep your options open and to always be successful in whatever you do. I wish you the best. Marcy CNA

[Central BSN, RN]

I had a job offer before I graduated. I did not work as a CNA I just happened to apply, jumped through the hurdles (there were many with Mayo) and was offered a position about a week before I was even pinned.

[amb218, BSN, RN]

So if I am graduating next May would it be best to apply in January of that year? Did your resume look any different then what a traditional RN resume would look like aside from "pending graduation and passing NCLEX" or something along those lines. Did y'all talk to nursing recruitment to see what the hospitals offered or did you just jump in and apply?

When you apply is really dependent on the specific program and when the applications open. Some positions are rolling, meaning that the application stays open on the website as long as there are unfilled positions and applications are reviewed as they are sent in. Others, like many new grad residencies may only be open for a matter of days, so it's important to be aware of deadlines. Some of my friends who graduated this May applied to jobs as early as October of last year.

For my resume while I was still in school but applying to RN positions, I put something like, "BSN candidate graduating May 2016 seeking RN residency position...blah blah blah" for my objective.

[theStephmonster]

Hi there!

I graduate in about 3 weeks, and I just accepted a job offer today in my unit of interest at a hospital 45 min from my house. I applied to many hospitals in the area that had "RN residency" positions open. I started applying about 2 months ago. This was the only one that contacted me (I submitted to about 6 different residency programs), but perhaps that is because I am graduating from an ADN program and I only have 6 months of experience in acute care as a CNA. Many of my classmates have already accepted RN residency positions at the hospitals where they work. We all started applying months ago.

I hope this helps! Look for RN residency positions at your local hospitals if you're trying to land a job before graduation. I start in mid-August. The nurse manager in my interview asked for my top choice of floor and so I got a spot there (oncology/med-surg). My dream is to be a pediatric oncology nurse, so I feel really optimistic about starting out here. I am so happy to not have to worry about finding a job after I graduate! I hope that the same happens for you, OP! :) Good luck!!