Job advice for students and new grads

Mike A. Fungin RN · Aug 9, 2009

My advice to you is to ask this question again when you're a year from graduating. Just as the job market looked totally different three years ago, it may look totally different three years from now.

There's nothing you can really do this early. Some may tell you to get a job as a unit secretary at a local hospital, then become a CNA there as you progress through school. The idea is that it gives you the inside track there on a job, which it might, but I know people who did that only to find out their hospital they'd put in two or three years of work with was on a hiring freeze.

If doing work like that while you're in school isn't a hardship for you and you're not that vested in it getting you an RN job after you graduate, do it. But if it's going to make things more difficult for you and the only reason you're doing it is for an RN job, it isn't worth it.

llg, PhD, RN · Aug 9, 2009

I agree with Mike.

waterpaint · Aug 9, 2009

I would highly recommend doing a summer internship with a hospital you're most interested in. You are pretty much guaranteed a job compared to the average new graduate applying for a job, that is, if you prove yourself as a worthy intern.

wee_oneRN · Aug 9, 2009

Interning is a good idea. It may not guarantee you a job there but it will look good on your resume, plus it might help you decide which area of the hospital you really want to aim for.

geocachingRN · Aug 9, 2009

1)Get a job as a CNA or or phelbotomist, or something in a hospital, out of the 5 people who actually got hired in a hospital from my class (December 2008), 3 of those were already working in their hospital. No they didn't do new grad programs, they precepted longer, but as they were already familiar with the hospital, they had an "in".

2) start a linkedin profile. Have your instrutocrs start writing letters of Rec to your profile.

3) Join the honors society and run for office, before nursing school stats. This shows leadership skills, and looks good on the CV when you want to apply for grad school and jobs.

4) if you can't get a job, find out where the free clinic's are in your area and volunteer. Or volunteer in the ER/OR at your hospital.

5) Get certificed to teach CPR and teach it! Red Cross will pay you to teach at least one class a month and it looks good on a resume.

That's all I can think of. Good luck!

Cheers,

elizabeth

geocachingRN · Aug 9, 2009

6) Do all the work study you can

7) learn as much of a second language as you can.