How has walking into HR worked out for you?

I skipped HR and went to the floor to give my resume to the NM. I got the job!

I skipped HR and went to the floor to give my resume to the NM. I got the job!

Where you already associated with the hospital or did you have to explain what you were doing at the front desk to get a visitor pass?

In my area, you don't need to get a visitor pass unless you are there after visiting hours, so I just walked in. Sorry, I didn't even think about the fact that some areas have that kind of security.

When I walked into HR with resume in hand, I was told by the administrator in a stern voice that the hospital accepts on-line applications only. I wasn't even given the opportunity to leave my information and it was very clear to me if I did, it would end up in the trash can. I didn't have much luck as a new grad obtaining employment by completing on-line applications - I attended a job fair, interviewed on site and was offered a position in a perioperative program (which I eagerly accepted) and have been happily employed for 7 months. Best of luck to you which ever way you obtain employment!

Yeah, I agree, HR people seem to be difficult to deal with. That's why I went to a nurse manager!

Funny that you mentioned job fairs...One of the big hospital corporations in my area opened a new hospital about 20 minutes from me and sent out invitations to attend a job fair. They required that you register to attend. All new grads who registered were then told we were not qualified and it suggested we stay away.

That's a discouraging experience. I'm glad you brought the job fair up. I registered with one through nurse.com later this month (the only google hit when I search for job fairs in my area). They have a specific time set aside for new grads but I don't know what kind of employers would be attending. If it's all LTC, home health, etc, I'd rather skip the 3 hr round trip since I've been able to get a couple of offers in those areas already.

If it's all LTC, home health, etc, I'd rather skip the 3 hr round trip since I've been able to get a couple of offers in those areas already.

Disclaimer: I really do not intend this to sound at all entitled or snarky, which I could it being interpreted as. I just want to be able to say I tried everything before I take something I'm not sure of.

Disclaimer: I really do not intend this to sound at all entitled or snarky, which I could it being interpreted as. I just want to be able to say I tried everything before I take something I'm not sure of.

Not at all. I think most of us can find SOMETHING in one of these areas with a little time spent applying. It's cracking that acute care shell that's so hard for us! I finally cracked and applied to ONE SNF, and got called an hour later and was hired by the end of the day. So far I've been there almost 2 weeks.

I'm planning to hunt down that NM tomorrow for LDRP, resume in hand. I've already applied online, but a face (and personality) behind a resume might make it stand out. Plus, having a couple of names to throw around can't hurt. I'll let you know how it goes!

Not at all. I think most of us can find SOMETHING in one of these areas with a little time spent applying. It's cracking that acute care shell that's so hard for us! I finally cracked and applied to ONE SNF, and got called an hour later and was hired by the end of the day. So far I've been there almost 2 weeks.

I'm planning to hunt down that NM tomorrow for LDRP, resume in hand. I've already applied online, but a face (and personality) behind a resume might make it stand out. Plus, having a couple of names to throw around can't hurt. I'll let you know how it goes!

Great plan. Glad you are going to the NM!!

As for HR, I think that when they go to school to get whatever degree they need their class list reads like:

How to have a stern face 101

Losing human empathy 201

How to listen to the song in your head so you don't have to hear what people are saying to 1&2

Psychology of saying no 301

with an elective class in letting everything go to voice mail.

I have been calling the hospital and asking who the nurse manager is. Once I find out their name I know their email address because its a standard format thru out the hospital system. I have emailed my resume to a few and have gotten positive feed back 2 don't have positions right now but strongly encouraged me to email back when I see something on the website for their floor and I have one interview coming up. So if you have a hospital with strong security this may be an option for you. Good Luck

So far I've been there almost 2 weeks.

I'm planning to hunt down that NM tomorrow for LDRP, resume in hand. I've already applied online, but a face (and personality) behind a resume might make it stand out. Plus, having a couple of names to throw around can't hurt. I'll let you know how it goes!

So if everything goes to plan, how are you going to explain leaving the SNF after only a couple of weeks?

I did the whole showing up at a unit managers office with resume in tow and it did not go as planned which has put me off wanting to do it again. It was the unit that I did my last, most intense rotation at and I fell in love. They didn't have any positions for it online, but that hasn't necessarily meant they weren't there. I was volunteering and after my shift (about 7pm), I went to the unit to say hi to my old preceptor. The manager was there so I went to ask if she had received the resume I left outside her office. She barely looked up from her desk and mumbled something about continue looking for positions on the website. She was clearly not interested so I didn't push it.

What prevents me from going to the unit managers directly is that they are never just sitting at their desks. So if I were to go, chances are I wouldn't be able to find them and I'd look like a weirdo wandering around. During clinicals, they would be on the move around the unit looking really busy. I still haven't figured out how to politely get their attention and have them actually take a few moments to talk to me. Argh...new grad social awkwardness 101

So if everything goes to plan, how are you going to explain leaving the SNF after only a couple of weeks?

I did the whole showing up at a unit managers office with resume in tow and it did not go as planned which has put me off wanting to do it again. It was the unit that I did my last, most intense rotation at and I fell in love. They didn't have any positions for it online, but that hasn't necessarily meant they weren't there. I was volunteering and after my shift (about 7pm), I went to the unit to say hi to my old preceptor. The manager was there so I went to ask if she had received the resume I left outside her office. She barely looked up from her desk and mumbled something about continue looking for positions on the website. She was clearly not interested so I didn't push it.

What prevents me from going to the unit managers directly is that they are never just sitting at their desks. So if I were to go, chances are I wouldn't be able to find them and I'd look like a weirdo wandering around. During clinicals, they would be on the move around the unit looking really busy. I still haven't figured out how to politely get their attention and have them actually take a few moments to talk to me. Argh...new grad social awkwardness 101

I don't have the SNF on my resume yet (still training), so nothing to explain there.

I stopped by the unit, but of course the manager wasn't there that day. It's an hour from home, so I'm trying to figure out getting up there again. I may just drive up there Friday and see (after calling to see if she's in that day). Or I may just e-mail her, since I know the format of their e-mail addresses, assuming I have the spelling of her name right... Thankfully, the way the unit is set up, there's a desk that you walk up to, and you can easily just ask for her by name. The ladies at the desk were nice enough to try calling her office, but they said they were pretty sure she was out that day before they tried. I'm just glad I wasn't greeted with resistance.

And yes, new grad social awkwardness- even once I DO meet her face to face, I'm still sorting out what to say. "So here I am, and here's my resume. You're welcome."