Job Advice for a New Grad RN

[DH1234]

I am getting ready to graduate nursing school with a BSN this May. However, I still do not have a job. The only hospital I still have a chance at interviewing at is the one that I have been doing my clinicals at. The only reservation I had about working at this hospital is that it is in a city that is located about 4 hours away from my family. Other than that I actually do like the organization.

When the hiring recruiter reached out to me he said he only had interview spots at certain units I was unfamiliar with, but I still made an appointment for an interview at one of these units because I do not want to be job less. However, I been doing my rotations at the same hospital on the oncology floor, and I have began to love this floor. The nurses and my friends who got hired say their are more spots available on this floor. And people say since I have done my clinical rotations there I am more likely to get the job. Therefore, my question to you is would it be bad or inappropriate to directly email the manager of this floor to see if she is doing any more interviews when I already have scheduled an interview at the same hospital for a different floor. I am just not sure how to go about this situation.

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

If there is no job posting, they do not have an opening currently. You may contact the unit manager to see if there will be an opening in the near future.

How many hospitals have you applied to? Seems like you have only applied to two hospitals, near your family and the one you did clinicals at. Are set on living in a certain location? There are job openings throughout the country. There must be somewhere you can get a job.

[Matthew RN, MSN]

Is it bad or inappropriate to directly email the manager, I would say generally not, depending on the manager. Under most circumstances this is helpful in finding a job. Sometimes there is a disconnect between recruiters and managers. A local nursing unit will hire new grads even though the requirements list experience required. Sometimes a nursing unit will newly post an opening once they know someone is interested. I once called a nurse manager and said, "I will be in the area interviewing with some employers, this date, it will be your only chance to interview me." This phone call did result in an interview and a job offer.

The flipside to all this is it is possible it won't help. Some managers find people reaching out to them individually annoying. Some hospitals only want contact between potential nurses and recruiters, not between managers and potential nurses.

I would actually try to talk to the manager while you are at the unit doing clinicals, most hospitals have a hard time staffing oncology units, so knowing you are interested then the manager can ask your preceptors and get a good feel for you personally.

[SteelGrey]

I say network the shizz out of yourself. Contact people, reach out, be motivated--it never hurts to inquire. I had the best luck by "knowing people" and I did that through being pro-active and speaking up. Obviously not in an obtrusive or unprofessional manner, but if HR gets 89 resumes for a new grad position, but the unit nurse manager knows of you because your preceptor/floor nurse etc recommended you and is aware of your application in the pile of 89 resumes--you would likely get at least an interview.

Not always the case, and I know every geographical area and hospital is different but I think advocating for yourself, doing a great job in your clinicals and being proactive is very helpful in the job world.