How soon did it took you to find a job?

Pretty in Ink · Jun 27, 2007

Thanks for the info...does anyone have any tips on how to go about this if you are in school but plan to move to a different city after graduation??

RNDude · Jul 3, 2007

...Yeah, all that early before graduation mess doesn't fly with me.

While I can respect your approach, it's worth pointing out that many hospitals have elaborate new grad paid training programs (weeks to months at full nursing pay rates) that start shortly after graduation--within perhaps a month or so. The candidates for these programs are often chosen prior to graduation, and someone taking the conservative approach of getting all your ducks in a row (graduating, NCLEX) before applying would likely miss out or have to wait six months to slip in with the next graduating group. In many programs you would lose your eligibility if you worked elsewhere as a nurse while waiting.

Sure, there are always other opportunities all over the place for new nurses to start. However, if you take the time to start investigating your options during your final year of school, you can easily learn the hiring timelines of your own top picks.

Some new grad programs even offer free NCLEX review as a perk. You would miss out on this, of course, if you didn't apply for a job until you were licensed.

lizzyberry · Jul 3, 2007

Wow it seems like a lot of you guys got a job before even graduating!!

pedsnurze1 · Sep 13, 2007

Wow, Every place I've been lately have ended with all we are waiting on is your background check. I get past HR and to unit mgrs have the tour of unit what my precep and orientation will cost off, etc. and yet this is how they have been ending lately. You guys that started the next day and such do they not do these checks in your state I'm in MI.

doe9181 · Sep 14, 2007

I took the summer off after I graduated to study for and pass the NCLEX. I worked part time as a pharmacy tech like I did through school. I interviewed with my current job at the end of August and started orientation on Sept. 11, 2006. I just called HR and they set me up with an interview that same day. It has been a year and i love my job. I had two other offers that same week and I'm happy I took the one that I did. Good luck.

Piki · Sep 14, 2007

I had a job offer 5 months prior to graduation. I applied online over Christmas break at the hospital I wanted to work at (they had indicated they were taking in apps for graduate nurses and interns), got called for an interview the next day, interviewed first week in January, got an offer 10 days later. I graduated in June. I was I believe the first in my class to get a firm job offer, but was soon followed by many who also started interviewing in Jan/feb. I would say about 80-90% of our class had jobs lined up prior to graduation, those that didn't were either undecided, or wanted to pass boards and get a job as an RN, not a GN.

Piki · Sep 14, 2007

While I can respect your approach, it's worth pointing out that many hospitals have elaborate new grad paid training programs (weeks to months at full nursing pay rates) that start shortly after graduation--within perhaps a month or so. The candidates for these programs are often chosen prior to graduation, and someone taking the conservative approach of getting all your ducks in a row (graduating, NCLEX) before applying would likely miss out or have to wait six months to slip in with the next graduating group. In many programs you would lose your eligibility if you worked elsewhere as a nurse while waiting.

Ditto, definitely. Where I work, only GNs were eligible for the sign on bonuses.