How do I get an Interview for CNA w/ Online Applications?

[BumblebeeinNC, ADN, BSN]

I will be starting my second year of an RN to BSN program this fall and I am certified as a CNA II right now. All of my nursing friends have told me that I need to have some work experience as a CNA to get hired as an RN in a hospital. Not that it's required, but it helps with experience and also to get my foot in the door at a facility. The problem I'm having is all that hospitals in my area (suburbs of Charlotte, NC) have online applications. I have been submitting applications but have not received any calls for an interview. Is there a different way to go about the application process? What would happen if I take my resume to the HR department of a hospital to try and put a face with a name? Will someone take my resume? Will they chat with me at all to see what I'm looking for? Any suggestions? Thanks!

[NCphoenix]

Hi Bumblebee, how's it going? have you had any luck? I ran into the same problem. I ended up going to the HR department directly (a couple of times) but didn't feel that was much help. After the third time, I was told that most managers are probably wanting to have someone with experience so they wouldn't really consider me. I got the feeling my resume wasn't being forwarded to any managers. So I decided to go straight to the hiring managers myself.

My first choice was the ER so I went over and asked for the manager. I was dressed up and had resumes in hand. I told her that I had applied for a job but felt the process was a bit impersonal so thought I would come and introduce myself. Her words to me: "You are very smart". She asked me what my plans were and I told her I was in nursing school but have the summer off. She asked if I wanted something for summer only and I said no. She asked if I had any experience in the ER. I said no but I'm a quick learner, hard worker and willing to learn. She asked if I wanted a tour of the ER. I said yes. After about an hour, we said goodbye and she gave me her direct line to call her if I didn't hear from the hiring manager. I sat down right there to write her a thank you note, handwritten. That was on a Friday afternoon. I called her back on Wednesday around 4 p.m. and left her a VM saying I hadn't heard anything yet. She called me the next morning and left me a VM saying she had forwarded my resume with her recommendation to the hiring manager and that they were contacting Nurse Recruitment. By the following Wednesday, I received an email from their HR department requesting an interview. I meet with them all next week for my interview. They asked me for a minimum of 2 letters of recommendation. I think that's a good sign. I guess I'll find out next week.

My recommendation to you: put a face to the resume. I had been submitting resumes online to 3 different hospitals for the past 8 months and this is the one and only in-person submission I've made, which resulted in an interview. Good luck! Keep me posted.

[BumblebeeinNC, ADN, BSN]

Thank you so much NCPhoenix for your advice! I will definitely try to put some of those suggestions into action for myself. I will keep you posted.

[NCphoenix]

Great! Good luck!!!