How'd you get your job?

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Just out of curiosity?? HOw'd you land your first job as a GN/New RN

Specializes in Step-down/ICU.

I applied online through their website. Overall, I've applied to 250+ hospital jobs, interviewed for 4 and got a call back for 1. I've been licensed for 3 months. They key is to be persistent, keep looking, keep applying... Additionally, make sure your resume is well put together. Always include a cover letter, if there is no space on the online form put it with your resume. After the interview send a thank you note. My interviewer loved it and mentioned it when they phoned with the offer.

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I graduated in July and passed NCLEX in Aug. I looked - applied - looked- applied. Nothing was working for the first month and the second... Getting really upset and felt useless. I got my 2 yr of Nursing education for nothing!!

Then, I thought "I should do something while I am waiting for calls/looking more for more jobs." So I did online ACLS course and got certified. -- something to add to my resume :D Since I knew nobody, I mean nobody to help me to open the door, I wanted my resume to stand out! And I was going to get PALS next. But then a hospital where I thought would never call did call me in for an interview and I got the job yesterday!!!

I was getting ready to look in another state but I landed on my first job at a hospital only 20 min away from my home :D I am so happy! The key is really the persistance. Keep looking and keep applying! Anything you see requires no exp, that's a sign that they are welcoming the applications from new grads. So go for it! See how it flies! Good luck to everybody. Just don't give up!!

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I applied everywhere for any job I thought I could do for at least 6 months. I also volunteered at a local hospital in order to get to know the people who did the hiring and to help fill some of that unemployed time. I was unemployed for 4 months and then got two job offers in one week.

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After finallllly getting a job last week, I now 100% believe the statement "it's all about who you know." It's unfortunate, because I personally like to believe that I got my job based on my own merit and personality, but I also had 2 current employees (one is a charge nurse) put in a good word for me. I also wrote a letter to the Chief Medical Offier, who used to be my primary care doctor a million years ago. To my surprise, he agreed to meet with me the day before my interview, and while I was there in his office, he called HR and put in a good word for me.

My advice: Think of anyone and everyone you/your parents/your siblings/friends/etc. know that might be connected to a hospital/doctor's office in some way and find a way to contact them. It's awkward and you'll feel weird, trust me, I know. But, I promise that they won't think it's weird (or at least won't act like it's weird). I hateeeeee calling people and asking favors, but I found that whoever I spoke to was more than happy to find out more info for me / put in a good word for me.

So... Does your mom have a good friend who's an RN or a Unit secretary or a X-ray at a hospital? Is your neighbor a doctor/nurse/tech? Does your brother's friend know someone who works on your dream unit? Find out their name/phone number/whatever and call them/facebook message them... do something to contact them... and ask them how they got their job/if they know anyone you should contact/HELP!?

Ex. My brother's friend's mother who I've never met before was the most helpful person I've ever spoken to in my life!:redbeathe:heartbeat:redbeathe

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I (finally) landed 2 jobs also within a week of each other. I should state that I did already hold 2 per diem positions, but FT is what I really wanted of course.

Anyhow. The first, got bc I was volunteering at the hospital so I got to know the RNs, CNAs, RN Manager, and Hiring Manager.

THe 2nd I landed from having previously submitted an application (handwritten, and very long paper app) over the summer to no specific unit, just for RN, even though they told me they had no RN openings. Several months later I got a call that they wanted to start a NG program, was I still interested? The next week, an interview. The next day, offer :)

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I have 20 years phlebotomy experience, a B.A., now an A.S. in nursing and after being with Kaiser Permanente for the last 13 years I am told by HR that I have to go somewhere outside KP to get experience then TRY to come back to KP. Not fair to me. Any suggestions folks?

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Applied to lots of jobs. LOTS of jobs. :) Got the job I have now because the cover letter I wrote caught a nurse manager's eye. I had done a clinical at this hospital and it helped that my cover letter addressed the nursing culture there. 2 other offers were the result of professors making phone calls to get me interviews. I do feel good that I got the job I ended up with on my own merits. :) But it sure was nice of 2 profs. to pick up the phone for me!

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After finallllly getting a job last week, I now 100% believe the statement "it's all about who you know."

Oh I believe that too! I used to think that I would get in anywhere because I got great grades in nursing school, graduated with honors and has a BSN. But I only got my job because a relative knew one of the doctors who owned the facility i work for now. He got me in even though I had zero experience, not counting school. But I'm proud to say that I make sure he doesn't regret letting me in because I always do my best. I guess nowadays, we need a helping hand first before we could prove that we are qualified to do our job.

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Specializes in ICU/CCU.

I was very lucky, and really aggressive. I graduated December 19, 2009. Instead of signing up for a Kaplan NCLEX class that was mid January (like the rest of my class), I signed up for an online version, which was WAY better for me, that was December 27-30. This allowed me to test January 7. I had then applied to nearly 1,000 places while I was waiting for my test results.

I found out I passed on january 9, and now I was ready to go. I started calling all the places I applied too and only one agreed to interview me (I only applied to ICU positions, bold, I know). So, I got dressed in a killer suit, went to HR and took their math tests. Instead of taking the new grad one, I asked to also complete the ICU test. I got a 100% on both and apparently they were impressed. I then met the unit manager and had my interview with her. I was honest and enthusiastic and she offered me the position on the spot. The rest is history, homies.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

I was very fortunate. My new job is in LTC, which I heard about from a friend I made here on allnurses. The other offer I had was for psych nursing, which I would love (but I had accepted the first offer, which is fine), from my instructor who also hires in that facility. The third offer was for 0R, which I sent a resume, and they emailed me a month later. It helps to know someone. And have a great resume.

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Specializes in NICU Level III.

First one I was offered I declined - I had done an internship in a CCU during nursing school and they offered me a job when I graduated. Great hospital but I didn't want to do CCU.

The one I took, a moderator on this site told me to apply for (he worked there at the time) and it was an internship. I got it, stayed a year, then we both got outta dodge!

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I have two jobs. The first I was able to get because I had worked full time at this hospital throughout my undergrad and had a tuition reimbursement contract with them. They paid for all my tuition while I worked as a tech and I owed them a year of employment. In theory they could have opted to let me go rather than hire me as a RN but they would have had to forgive over $30,000 in debt so they were pretty happy to hire me. Especially since they'd been grooming me for the position that whole time. I highly recommend working during school.

My other job I got on craigslist. Yes, there is a lot of junk on craigslist, but there is a lot of really awesome legitimate work as well. I have a great community health job that is incredibly fulfilling.

Another pointer: Immediately after I graduated I hired a consultant to give my resume a makeover. It's been my good luck charm. I've always been offered at least an interview. And like previous posters have said, it always helps to know someone, dress to impress, and put a face out there.

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