How long until you get a call?!?!?!

Expresso07 · Oct 22, 2008

For those of you who have recently been hired or know of someone:
I got my certification since Sept 16. I have been applying to every CNA position in my area. I have sent them my resume along with a personalized cover letter. I have tried to go to their HR departments but every front desk person tells me to apply online and wait for their call. I just don't know what to do now, but to wait for their call.

I feel your pain. I received my certification on Sept. 19th. I too have applied to numerous CNA positions in my area (Detroit) and heard nothing until yesterday. Had a phone interview today. So I suggest to you, as frustrating as it may seem, continue to job search and be patient your time will come before you know it.

rancelumsden · Oct 23, 2008

Yeah, it's easy to say 'be patient' when it's not me that has to be, but that's all you can do. :yawn: I assume you have a spell-checked, grammar checked resume and cover letter and those are all good.

I can tell you this first hand --- it's common for places to 'collect' resumes for some period of time, including when they are advertising. Very often, an HR person (in conjunction with whomever needs a new person) will agree to collect resumes for some period of time, often several weeks, to see what kind of response they get and of course, see what their choice of candidates may be.

Also, places DO keep your resume. I, and others I have worked with, have been called by places months after sending a resume or completing an application.

No words of wisdom other than to make sure you've contacted everyone that is a potential employer....

SageM · Oct 23, 2008

Do you have any group homes in your area you could apply to? With the way the economy is, I think even cna jobs are competitive. The last 2 weeks I have noticed there are not as many job listings in the paper as there used to be and the cna listings have dropped drastically. The reason why I am trying to get into this field is because there is always a need for nursing.....

Just keep at it, think outside the box, apply at your local school district even to be a paraprofessional and work with developmentally disabled kids in the classrooms. You know how to do rom and you have the cpr card.

mochabean · Oct 23, 2008

I started applying for CNA jobs back in July and I didn't get a call for an interview until earlier this month (Oct.). I called the nursing recruiters at all the hospitals and people at HR and I was told they had my resume and they'd call me back but they never did. I was just hired for a NA position yesterday and up until that point I just continued applying for positions, trying to be patient, thinking of a Plan B.

fuzzywuzzy, CNA · Oct 24, 2008

I applied to 5 nursing homes in 2 days after I got my certification. 2 nursing homes called me back within a day. The first place I interviewed at had really high pay but seemed kinda sketchy/dumpy. The DON was interviewing someone every 20 minutes all day long and wanted 2 written professional references and 2 personal references within 3 days to even consider hiring you. I was not looking forward to showing up at my old jobs asking for a written reference on such short notice. The next day I got called to interview at my 1st choice, and luckily I got the job.

I still haven't heard from the other 3 places, and it's been over 3 months. I think part of the reason for that is that on some of the applications I put 1st shift as my availability and on some of them I put 1st OR 2nd. In my facility, everyone wants to work 1st, so they never hire for that. Instead, they always offer it to someone on 2nd (there's a waiting list) and then just hire someone else for 3-11. I think it works that way in a lot of nursing homes.

yousoldtheworld · Oct 27, 2008

I was lucky enough to get hired at a nursing home right away. However, I applied many times at a hospital, and they would not hire me until I had a year of experience. Just keep trying! LTC facilities especially go through a lot of workers and have to hire often. Apply as many places as you can, and a few days after applying, call to check on your application. You'll find something!

AmberL, BSN · Nov 3, 2008

Sorry that no one has called you. When I applied at my work I just kept calling every week to see if there was an opening yet. It took me a month or two but I didn't apply to anywhere else. I hope you get into somewhere soon!

SummerLin · Nov 4, 2008

well i been submitting applications like crazy also. My friend has been applying every month for the same position at a hospital since april and just got a call in august. i recently put in my app at a hospital and it was like 2 weeks and all the hospital i work at was around 3 weeks when they called me.. just be patient and call human resources as much as you can to "check on your app".. i did that many times! good luck!

yousoldtheworld · Nov 4, 2008

just be patient and call human resources as much as you can to "check on your app"..

Yes, that is VERY important. Especially with you being a new CNA. Think about it this way - there is probably not much on your resume yet to set you apart from any other new CNAs. When it comes time to hire someone, they will probably go for experience first, but then how do they choose between the new ones? If you call to check on your application, HR will normally note that you did so, and that will not only draw their attention to your application, but it will indicate that you show initiative and are truly interested in the job.

Good luck!

samsam22, CNA · Nov 8, 2008

dont worrie you will get a job it just takes time!

try to work at some home health agencys for a while at first, thats what i did

then one day a local hospital called me about a resume i submitted like 3 months previous! so i went and got the job

so try and find something for now and then all of a sudden everywhere could be calling you offering jobs! ya just gotta wait it out, ive never known a CNA that never got hired anywhere, BUT most do have trouble at first. just dont worrie

jcasti02 · Nov 13, 2008

If you call to check on your application, HR will normally note that you did so, and that will not only draw their attention to your application, but it will indicate that you show initiative and are truly interested in the job.

How long after I apply should I call HR to check on my application?