I'm a 23 y.o nursing student, about to go to the last year of the 2 year ADN program. I decided to apply for several externship positions in several hospitals. I applied for 3 jobs recently, to increase my chances. I also applied for 3 other externship position 6 months prior, and the manager or whoever is in charge of hiring never called me back, I did not even get any interviews at all.
I call Human Resources (HR) to find out if if there is a way I can get a hold of the manager, a phone number to contact. Both times when I called HR in two hospitals, I talked to the receptionist , they told me that the way it works is that if they are interested, they will set up and interview and see if you will get hired. They would not give out the contact number so I can reach the manager.
Maybe I should not call the receptionist at HR, maybe I should contact someone else, like a recruitment representative and see if I can get a contact number for the hiring manager. What do you guys think?
The 3 jobs I applied for recently, I'm certain that for one of them I'm not hired, because I checked the status of that application online, although I am not certain.
I have a clean record, I've never been to prison or charged with a felony or any other crime. I guess the reason that I don't even get an interview or the fact that I am still not hired maybe due to the fact that I don't have any paid work experience, such as working at a fast-food restaurant or a supermarket. I did 50 hours of volunteer service, that's about it. Well I'm just frustrated. Getting a job at a hospital is much harder than I thought. I know I meet the minimum qualification, I am a student nurse who has completed the first semester of nursing school for ADN. In my area, we are eligible to start externship. I even provided 3 refererences from my instructors to supplement my non-existent work history.
I have 2 more applications that I am waiting to see the status of. I am going to go by what HR told me. THey told me if they are interested and I meet the minimum qualification, they will contact me for an interview and possibly get hired.
How should I go about it? Should I play the waiting game and wait for them to contact me, or should I be aggressive and find a way to get a hold of the hiring manager? I must be doing something wrong.
I got my job at the hospital I did a rotation at. my clinical instructor was on staff as a contingent. She helped me. Also consider the time of year you apply. most hospitals hire externs at specific intervals, interviews in march mean work in april or interviews in november mean work in december. good luck and don't give up.
ps
volunteer and get to know the managers on your own and express an interest
nursefreak1
13 Posts
Animaniac,
I got my job at the hospital I did a rotation at. my clinical instructor was on staff as a contingent. She helped me. Also consider the time of year you apply. most hospitals hire externs at specific intervals, interviews in march mean work in april or interviews in november mean work in december. good luck and don't give up.
ps
volunteer and get to know the managers on your own and express an interest