Job Hopping as a new grad

Nurses New Nurse

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As a new grad , I have been applying to different places for jobs. Fortunately, I have heard back from a few.

Job A is at a hospital and Job B is in an esthetic clinic.

I value both these experiences but prefer Job A over B for some reasons. I feel a hospital experience will be better for me as a new grad. However the interview dates for Job A is only in Jan and Job B wants to interview me by next week. An interview doesn't guarantee a job but if any offer does come by, I will be hired first by Job B than Job A due to the timeline.

The locations of both these jobs are way out of place .so, doing PT at one place and trying to work w/ other option doesn't exist either.

I could take Job B ,work there and then leave it if Job A comes, but I feel that would be a disservice to Job B. Leaving so soon! What is the minimum time to work at your 1st job before hopping?Any suggestions coz I will probably run into this situation if things go well at the coming interview?

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I wish I had an answer for you. I interviewed yesterday for a position that is "eh" and I have a second interview for a job that is the one i want end of January. So the "eh" job offer if offered, would be in the next 2 weeks before I have a chance to see if I will get the one I really want.

It comes down to taking the B job and commiting to it, or holding them off until you hear back from A. It would be unfair to take B and then leave. I am leaning towards holding out for the one I really want, but only because I currently have a job (albeit a crappy one I hate)

I would just hate for you to turn down B in hopes of A and then not get it. If you dont have any job, you might need to settle. Can you afford to wait and keep looking?

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firstly, thank you for replying. i actually do have a job right now that pays me really well but it is a non nursing one. What I lack is a RN experience.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

fI took a job that was far from my first choice simply because it was the first one offered to me. I have declined to interview for two different positions during my first year because (a) I believe that it's dishonorable to jump ship within the first year, (b) that I'd be "poisoning the well" for the new grads who follow me, © that I'd both be burning bridges and losing out on future references, and (d) that it would make me less desirable in the long term.

My recommendation is (a) not to accept any position which you're not willing to commit to for 1-2 years and (b) not torture yourself during that time by looking around, applying, or interviewing.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
fI took a job that was far from my first choice simply because it was the first one offered to me. I have declined to interview for two different positions during my first year because (a) I believe that it's dishonorable to jump ship within the first year, (b) that I'd be "poisoning the well" for the new grads who follow me, © that I'd both be burning bridges and losing out on future references, and (d) that it would make me less desirable in the long term.

My recommendation is (a) not to accept any position which you're not willing to commit to for 1-2 years and (b) not torture yourself during that time by looking around, applying, or interviewing.

Even giving them a year may not be enough time to not "poison the well": I can't tell you how many times during interviews I've heard remarks and comments from the interviewer about how new grads seem to bail right at the one year mark when they (the employers) are looking for something longer from them. However, IMO, giving them a year looks a hell of a lot better than just giving two or three months.

OP: unless the situation at my first job was really intolerable, I'd try to give that first job at least a year before I started looking at job #2.

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