How/when to reach out to prospective employers?

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I'm just coming up on the halfway point in my 3 year program, and I'm wondering from those who are practicing/have groups, when is an appropriate time frame to reach out to groups I may be interested in. I have been keeping an eye on gaswork and have run across a couple jobs/groups that on paper match what I am looking for (of course since they sound great, they disappear fast off that site). I'm open to several different states, the most important thing to me is independent practice, secondarily pay/benefits.

I still have a fairly significant amount of school left, but I was thinking about reaching out to the couple groups that had jobs posted to express my interest and open communication lines so they are aware of me if jobs come open around my graduation date. Is this prudent/smart to do, or should I wait until I have a full year of clinical under my belt? Any suggestions about how to go about getting a job in a different state than I went to school in? Luckily, my program is strong in regional, rural, clinical hours, and cases. IF I do contact them, what information should I include or how should I present my interest? Thanks for any advice!

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

I graduate in December, and was offered a job last February. I basically asked the recruiter listed on the job posting I was interested in when the best time to apply would be, and she replied with, "Send me a CV." Next thing I knew I had an interview, then an offer. For me, the job had ALMOST everything I was looking for (independence, regional, CVLs, location, 200k/year W2, 2-3 days a week with call built it, no trauma though), so I accepted it.

Having said that, I was later on offered a different job that offers a lot higher pay (290-350k 1099), and fits more of the criteria I was looking for (location, independence, blocks, CVLs, trauma, 44-54 hours a week etc). The only downside is they are dangerously short staffed (not even anybody running the board) and sometimes if you need an extra pair of hands in an emergency there will not be one.

I sometimes find myself wishing I didn't sign the first offer so early. Not just for the 5-10k monthly take home difference, but also because the second place sent my classmates that are signing on FT a 10k sign on bonus, which you know, as a poor SRNA goes a long way. They purposely sent it prior to graduation in an attempt to recruit us because they know SRNAs usually don't have an income. Part of me wants to bail on the contract with option #1, but I don't want to burn a bridge. Luckily, the second place let me sign on per diem. MAN, that bonus is enticing though.

The moral of my long story is that the market is wide open at the moment, so don't sign anything too early unless you're absolutely 100% sure it meets all of the criteria you're searching for. In this market, at least where I live, hospitals are desperate for CRNAs. My classmates are getting flown out to sites, getting sign on bonuses, hotels, rental cars, etc. Even my primary clinical site is raising their pay 30k/year because none of my classmates have signed on. We're very lucky to be graduating in this market.

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The job you are taking sounds exactly like what I'm looking for. If you don't mind PM'ing me, I'd love to take a look at where it is. I want independence, blocks, lines, and 200 W2---and if there are 3 12s, that would be my dream job as well-- leaving me free to pick up per diem or locums to knock the nasty student loans down. There are locations we have in mind but the right job could trump that, we are very willing to move.

Thank you for answering my question too, so you were about 10 months out when you applied. I still have to create a CV, so that's on the list of things to do.

I too feel very lucky to be in this market and this career. My rural site where I'm at now, the CRNA says it wasn't like this 10 years ago, so very lucky.

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Specializes in General nursing.

Is this in UK or USA? Because I need guidance on becoming a CRNA.

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Specializes in CRNA.
On 8/20/2019 at 4:38 PM, DreameRN said:

Thank you for answering my question too, so you were about 10 months out when you applied. I still have to create a CV, so that's on the list of things to do.

Shouldn't you already have your CV from applying to schools? All you would have to do is update it with everything that you've done in school.

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I have a resume, which I have tweaked over the years depending on what I job I have applied for and is about a page long, and I used that to apply to school as well.

My understanding is that a CV is much more involved and lengthy than a resume, and includes honors, grades, certs, job details, any research I have done....all much more in depth than a resume allows for. I could be wrong though, I think my program has us create one in our professional practice class down the road so I'm somewhat waiting for that.

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Specializes in CRNA.
1 minute ago, DreameRN said:

I have a resume, which I have tweaked over the years depending on what I job I have applied for and is about a page long, and I used that to apply to school as well.

My understanding is that a CV is much more involved and lengthy than a resume, and includes honors, grades, certs, job details, any research I have done....all much more in depth than a resume allows for. I could be wrong though, I think my program has us create one in our professional practice class down the road so I'm somewhat waiting for that.

Yes, a CV is much more in depth than a resume. PM your email and I can send you a copy of mine that I have been using to apply to schools. I thought most schools wanted a CV so I created one when I knew I was going to apply to schools.

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Specializes in ICU.
On 8/22/2019 at 11:29 PM, Sydney Ade said:

Is this in UK or USA? Because I need guidance on becoming a CRNA.

USA

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@ProgressiveThinking Where are new CRNA grads getting offer 290-350 K? and where did you go to school?

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