How do I get connected for work?

[afallgaier]

hey all,

i am trying really hard to get a summer pca job in the gwinnett/athens area of ga. i am a junior nursing student at mcg and i have a lot of attributes but no experience. every time i try to find a pca job to gain experience i am turned down. it is really frustrating to be told that you need experience and yet no one is willing to give you experience!! i know it is not me because i am an excellent student, i am in the nursing organizations, and the student government - everyone keeps telling me that the only way in is to have a personal or inside connection. i am new to this area and i don't have any family or friends that know of any health industry connections. the nurse recruiters at our school job fair did not help much either. all they did was hand out their name and tell you to fill out the hospital application online - which is usually denied via automatic response which makes me feel like no one has even bothered to read it. i went to my advisor and all she could suggest was to mail a letter of intent to random places with a resume. my professors all tell me that they don't know of anything but i can have a recommendation letter upon request. does anyone else have any suggestions? i would really appreciate some advice!

thanks!

[Starfish1]

I would include a letter of recommendation especially from teachers that worked with you in clinicals....I applied for a job at the hospital that I did clinicals at...you could try to get to know someone there on the floor (esp a nurse manager or team leader) or just put on your resume and cover letter, that you did clinicals at their hospital. I think that helped me get a little edge over the other applicants since I kinda knew the hospital. You could even go to nursing resources on one of your clincial days (during your lunch or something) make an appt to speak to someone and go from there...If and when you do go in for your meeting I'd dress like you would for an interview...

[afallgaier]

thanks for the advice. Unfortunately I am trying to get work by my home that is 2 hours away from my school so I can be with my husband over the summer break. Otherwise I would just get a job out here by my school with no problems. That is why I don't have any connections with the hospitals I am trying to apply for. But thanks for the help anyway

[caliotter3]

I have found that going in person to look for work often leads to getting hired on the spot. I don't like wasting my time and effort applying online, only to have my application be ignored. Also, you may want to try to get a job at long term care facilities. They are not as offputting as hospitals when it comes to hiring nursing assistants. Good luck.