Is it too soon for me to look for a job?

[hmboykin76]

Hello,

I graduate May 2006 and would like to start looking for jobs. Does anyone think it is too early? What have you guys found helpful in searching for new RN graduate jobs on the internet? Have any of you looked for jobs out of your home state and taken them?

Thanks for any info that you can give. I am so excited to turn this corner!

Heather

[KatieBell]

Heather,

some people probably are looking for jobs. I would suggest you start in January. Right now, people are interviewing the December to be grads. May grad interviewing usually starts in Jan-Feb. Many people do go earlier, but I think it gets confusing- and it may be difficult for some units to forcast job needs that far.

I would HIGHLY suggest that you do not just fill out the on line applications. You should call the hospitals- even if you submit the application online, call a few days after to see if they have recieved all your information and what you need to do next.

If you decide to take a job outside of your state,be sure to test NCLEX for the state you will be working in, so you do not have to pay for reciprocity.

Good Luck.

[MIA-RN1, RN]

I respectfully disagree w/ Katie. I am graduating in 2006 and I already have landed a position. My reasoning was that I knew I wanted a competitive field (perinatal) so I may as well get looking now. I didn't want to compete with tons of other spring graduates, and I wanted a plan. I met w/ the nurse recruiter and the NM and had a job offer which I accepted. The NM asked me why I was looking so early and I told her (honestly) that I want my ducks in a row so I can plan.

I now have the security of knowing what I am doing after graduation and they will pay for a review course AND my NCLEX for me.

So, go for it. You have nothing to lose.

edit: I suggest calling the nurse recruiters at the hospitals where you want to work and asking them what opportunities they have for a graduating nurse. theyll have you come in and go over everything with you and then set up interviews as appropriate.

[wonderbee, BSN, RN]

If you're looking for a job out of state, I'd start looking at the beginning of your final semester. I got my out of state job in August for December graduation. It took a couple of months for the entire hire process to take its course with letters and contracts going back and forth. I probably could have waited, but I don't like leaving a lot to chance when something as big as a move out of state is in the works. It's nice to know that all that needs taking care of now is finding housing.