How long did it take for you to get your job after license?

[kimmy20]

I have been applying for jobs in my city for about two months and I finally got a response from HR at a local hospital and she said she sent my application to a NICU floor. She basically told me that I should be expecting an interview soon. At that time, I was so happy and excited to finally get a response and also possibly working at my dream job! I was starting to feel so hopeless during the two months of applying and not hearing anything.

Well now it's been about 3 weeks since I last heard anything. I even followed up with HR on if I would be interviewing soon and she said she hasn't heard anything from the unit yet. I'm just wondering...is this normal for a hiring process? My application status says "pending review" and I don't even know what that means. I'm trying to be proactive and contacting the HR but she doesn't even know anything at this point so I don't know what to do. It's hard to stay positive. I'm also prepared for the worst and thinking they probably had a bunch of applicants sent to them and they already chose to interview a select few. This is so depressing and I feel like I'm never going to get a job.

I'm just curious, and I know this all depends on location but how long did it take for you guys to get a job after getting your license and how long was your hiring process? I'm from a big major city so it's very competitive and saturated with new grads from December

[B52, ADN, BSN, MSN, RN]

When I became an LPN it took me 5 months to get a job. When I became an RN in September 2014 I wasted more than 2 months searching for a job because I had a hospital scholarship. Scholarship recipients were told to apply online like all other applicants and check off the scholarship box. I applied for more than 25 jobs and never got a call. I even called, emailed and snail mailed the HR rep. She didn't respond. Then I decided to apply at another hospital chain. I also called and they called me back for an interview the very next week. Days later, they made a nice offer and I accepted. I start training Monday. The timing from hire to training is kind of lengthy because I'll be working on a new unit that has not opened yet. So, pick up the phone and make some calls. Do whatever it takes to stand out from the crowd. Good luck.

[kimmy20]

Is relocation an option for you? If so, if you are in a compact state, you can work in other compact states.

I definitely cannot relocate atm. I just moved back to my hometown because my financial situation is tight. Student loan payments are approaching soon, too

[kimmy20]

Honestly, it's a great mystery what happens in HR. Yes, the unit wants to fill the position ASAP, but they can't because everything goes through HR. We had a position vacant for months before HR gave us the "permission" to start interviewing, and we were working short staffed the whole time. In fact, we weren't even allowed to post the position until the previous person physically left, not when they gave notice.

This waiting thing is not just in healthcare either. My husband has a good job with the city but it took him maybe 6 months from application to hire. My brother applied for a great job 4 months ago and was only just told it's down to him and 2 others. They haven't even interviewed him yet.

Good things come to those who wait. The bigger and better the organization, and the more desirable the job, the longer the hiring process. It's frustrating but it's worth it when you start that great job.

Your response makes a lot of sense and thanks for the insight. This has been the most helpful one. It has put some my anxieties to ease. The hospital I applied to is one of the largest and best one in my city and magnet recognized. I was grateful to even have a response from HR to pass my application onto the unit. I guess for now I will just have to wait and pray.

[Larry3373]

6 weeks for the first job. 2nd job about 8 weeks. Yes if can take a while. Go introduce yourself to the director of that unit. Hand them a paper copy of your résumé and contact info and tell them you just wanted to introduce yourself. They may see it as initiative and give you an interview. Make sure you are dressed professionally when you do.

[~Shrek~]

I was working the day after I got licensed. It was an awful job and not in acute care. I quit with no job lined up and got hired again in 6 weeks at a less crazy job with a much better schedule where I am learning and that I enjoy but with low pay. My boss knows I don't plan to stay here forever and actually encourages me to apply to acute care positions. So gradually I am filling out applications and hopefully I will be in a better paying but equally nice job in 6-12 months.

[NightBloomCereus]

Your response makes a lot of sense and thanks for the insight. This has been the most helpful one. It has put some my anxieties to ease. The hospital I applied to is one of the largest and best one in my city and magnet recognized. I was grateful to even have a response from HR to pass my application onto the unit. I guess for now I will just have to wait and pray.

So glad I can help :) I'll be praying for you, too.

[wayemika]

it took me 24 days to get hired on a Med/Surg unit. some people told me it was crappy hospital to work at with 6 to 1 patient ratio. sometimes 7 to 1 nurse. but i figured it couldn't be any worse than the current job i had at the time. plus it paid more money and didnt require me to work 6 days a week and every weekend. #winning

[livelifeloveRN]

It took me 10 long months in Southern California. I had a pretty kick butt resume too (If I do say so myself). Ended up with my dream job so it all worked out. Now a year and a half post BSN - a lot of my classmates are still job hunting. It's hard out there !

[Stella_Blue]

I graduated in May and still no luck. I jave been on over a dozen interviews with nothing to show for it. Three of those interviews I thought for sure I had the job. The NM even told me how much she loved me, but apprently not enough to hire me. I have 3 years LPN experiance and graduated with honors both times. I am seriously starting to wonder if one of my references is bad mouthing me =( I just keep telling myseld when the right job for me comes along I will get it. I have learned not to get my hopes up, because Ive been let down enough already.

[SimoneB]

Yeah something sounds fishy about this. How well do you know your references?

If you are unsure about one in particular I would try to line up an alternate. You just never know what people are saying about you; it's sad but true.

I would say this has gone on long enough that you should take some action.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I graduated in May and still no luck. I jave been on over a dozen interviews with nothing to show for it. Three of those interviews I thought for sure I had the job. The NM even told me how much she loved me, but apprently not enough to hire me. I have 3 years LPN experiance and graduated with honors both times. I am seriously starting to wonder if one of my references is bad mouthing me =( I just keep telling myseld when the right job for me comes along I will get it. I have learned not to get my hopes up, because Ive been let down enough already.

It took me 8 months after licensure to land a job...and I had 7 years of LPN experience; many of my cohorts thought that I would have a job before any of them.

Ensure you have the right references, tweak your résumé, start networking, even use LinkedIn and keep hoofing it.

[unicoRNurse]

I was licensed in July, contacted by recruiting in September to start the process, had interviews and shadowing in October, was officially offered the job in November, and started in December. I was called to interview by the other hospital system to which I had been applying a couple days after I accepted the position with the first system (November). Just keep plugging away and applying. Even if you don't start out in your "dream job," you will have your foot in the door somewhere, and the opportunity to get that critical first year of experience.