Is it easier for guys to get a job as a new grad??

amoLucia · Feb 18, 2013

ATTN - please don't flame me for this post.

I can't prove (or DISPROVE) this, but I have had questions for a long time re some hiring practices.

Scenario - 2 applicants for same job. Both excellent prospects, totally equal on paper with credentials, education, experience and post- interview. One male, one female. Sex of recruiter not an issue/concern. All things being equal and betting dollars to donuts, I'd bet the guy gets the position. Why? Unconscious EEO. Either that or the toss of a coin! A guy fulfills the fill-in-the-box equal oppotunity block.

I KNOW it shouldn't be a conscious determinant, but who can tell? Personally, I find male nurses on the unit bring a stabilizing, grounded presence to the unit. I see them as team, rather than "me" people - maybe it's a male sports thing that comes with them from their childhood. To me, they're an asset. But I know personnel has to keep statistics that their hiring policies are open to all, and males fulfill a box. Much like those other boxes of handicap, ethnicity, veterans, etc. And HR/personnel works to avoid discrimination lawsuits.

I worked one Staff Development position where I had to record those attendance statistics for certain program offerings, again to demonstrate that educational opportunties were open to all levels of staff, incl line staff to top admin. I remember one gal livid that she didn't consider 'any of the above' catagories as reflective of her Mid-East background, She was ready to file a grievance because someone included her in a group not to her approval. I never figured out what she was, Arab, Israeli, Egyptian, Iranian, Iraqui. but whatever, her home country was at war with the box she was plugged into.

At another place, a nurse was hired for supervisor - Master's degree, American Islander, and male. He fulfilled 3 boxes. And I know the literature talks about discrimination just based on reading an applicant's name on a job application. Some years ago, there was a big scandal about college applicants applying for financial aid using false Hispanic names. Perhaps the diversities work in reverse and it may be to a guy's advantage that he IS a guy when applying for a grad nurse position. PROs versus CONs.

But to respond to OP - they just might have an edge at some places.

chuckster, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Feb 18, 2013

Hey, we were finishing up lab the other day and started talking about the job market for new grads, specifically in California. As far as I can tell the market in places like San Francisco is terrible. Just wondering if you think it will be an advantage being a guy and entering this market. . . Do you think hospitals are actively trying to hire more males and picking up new grads to do this?

Nope - at least not in my part of the world (Phila area). I graduated in 2010 with an ADN (plus non-nursing Bachelor's and Master's degrees) and got two interviews that year, with no job offer. I finished my BSN in 2012 and got one interview last year that also did not result in a job offer. In all cases, I lost out not to other new grads, but to nurses with several years of experience.

If there were two equally qualified candidates in terms of both education and experience, then perhaps a male may have a slight advantage, and I would emphasize slight. For the most part, I think sex plays no real role either way in the hiring process.

RNCowboy · Feb 19, 2013

It hasn't helped me in California. The job market is pretty bad around these parts. I was told during clinicals, by certian members of the HR, that they loved male nurses. They sighted female bickering and lack of drama amongst most male nurses as the reason. Alas, it hasn't been any advantage. Good luck to you though.

BriGuyRN · Feb 20, 2013

Although they say, "Equal opportunity", being male is definitely a plus in nursing. First step is landing an interview with a good resume and cover letter. Since your resume/cover letter shouldn't specific gender, they can only base their judgement on the facts at hand. Many names, after all, are unisex in todays society.

Once you're in an interview, be respectful and polite and don't think you have any advantage based on gender.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Feb 20, 2013

(Speaking from the hiring side of the fence and a many years of experience...)

Nah - that ship has sailed a few years ago. Nowadays, the pressure is on 'diversity' rather than gender. So, if you are male and also a minority, the latter will give you more traction than the former. I actually have seen an opposite effect for many hiring managers. They know from experience that male nurses tend to be much more ambitious. They want to hire people who will stick around a while, so they tend to favor female applicants... not saying it is right, but it happens. If you are male & physically imposing (very tall, large, etc) this can also be a negative in some areas & positive in others (ED). So - answer to the OP's question; "it depends"

One caveat - usually not openly recognized or acknowledged. Be sure you maintain a squeaky clean policy regarding any workplace 'relationships'. Once a promiscuous reputation is established (based on fact or not), our female-dominated workforce tends to become universally hostile. They're much more forgiving of female colleagues - again, dunno why but it happens.

Larry77, RN · Feb 23, 2013

I'm a hiring manager and my company does like diversity and brags that we have scored high nationally in diversity rankings but we are never encouraged to hire a minority before a non-minority. We are encouraged to hire the most qualified individuals whether they be Male, Female, Black, White, or Purple. We are trained to watch for our tendency as managers to hire people we can relate to more than people that may be different than us and to make sure we are hiring the highest qualified personal no matter what their background is.

It is a challenge to get hired as a new grad in many areas including my own. Personally it seems to be who you know and who is recommending you (letters, references, etc) or if you have a relationship with the company you are applying to that matters the most. It pays to network as much as possible in school and try and get supervisors in whatever area you do clinicals in to recommend you for hire as a new grad. Also look for ways you can set yourself apart from your classmates i.e. GPA, volunteering, mission trips, certs etc.

Good luck!

chiromed0 · Feb 24, 2013

Yeah, in my area it matters not. I have an ADN, BS and DC. Currently enrolled in an RN-MSN program and the ONLY thing that really matters is experience. I don't think that's a new song in any job but in a tight job market it's playing louder than ever. Experience trumps it all. The only time that guy card might work is if the hiring manager has a personal problem with patient lifting or something. I haven't come across that and I'll lift an elephant to get a break. Seriously, I'm going to probably relocate into rural areas to find a first job. I think that's the best chance.

murse301 · Apr 6, 2013

Its a funny thing depending on what side of the fence your on ! I have called nursing homes and spoken to nurses, who have out right said they NEED more men ! when i heard that, it was just so funny and really put a smile on my face ! On the other end, you general would like to hire the best candidate regardless of gender but males are nice to have around. sometimes all the estrogen in the air makes it hard to breathe !