Job Search: Applying Online for RN Positions

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I have a question. I am a recent graduate nurse and have been applying to many, many RN positions online. (I have also applied in person at many facilities.) My question is, has anyone actually received a response to come interview for a position they applied to online? I get many automatic emails stating my resume is being reviewed...., but I was wondering what the likelihood is of ever getting an interview from an online application? Thanks!!

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Despite not being a big fan of online applications I actually did get an interview and was hired based strictly on an online app. However I also applied at probably 5 other facilities that didn't even acknowledge it. For a new grad my thoughts would be that it is best to have some face time with HR or preferrably a nurse manager. Do you have any contacts from your school clinicals that you could call? Good luck.

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Definitely follow up on an online application by calling the nurse recruiter; he or she should be willing to point you in the right direction (e.g., which units are more likely to hire new grads). Plus, it shows initiative.

Online applications alone are much more likely to get lost in cyberspace - or so it seems. ;)

Best of luck to you!

DeLana

P.S. I'm currently also looking for a job, so I can definitely relate.

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Specializes in med/surg, ER, camp nursing.

From my experience, most hospitals ONLY accept applications online. I started off hand delivering applications, but they told me to enter it online anyway...

I think it is important to follow up with a phone call a week or so later. That's how I ended up with the job I have now. I had sent in over 40 applications and learned quickly that ,on the ones I followed up on with the recruiter, I actually had the best chance of getting invited in for an interview.

Good luck!

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Glad I'm not alone...I have been searching online for jobs for the past couple of weeks...sometimes I get thank you no in the regular mail box with advice to keep applying and I guess trying,this past week I received a phone call (I applied to a clinic online) but I was denied the interview.Overall I applied to mabe 30 RN positions at one hospital that had many,many openings so I'm waiting for the fruits of my sweat but it has been arleady a week and they say that if they are interested in interviewing me they will let me know within 2 weeks and although my hope is declining there is still some left!!!! I dont go door too door and talk to the hiring managers I figure that we live in the century where everything is computerized and you have option to apply online and if it is meant to be you will get the job regardless of how you apply.

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Specializes in Med Surg.

I too am in the cyperspace vortex of online job applications! As a new RN, with only clinical school experience it seems like my email is jammed with automated "thank you will let you know"s. I have applied for about 50 positions at the 4 major hospitals in my area and was feeling exceedingly frustrated! But I will say happily to my surprise I did receive a call from an actual human being to schedule an interview for a post trauma position where I did my clinical rotation for Adult Health 2, only 2 days after submitting the online app.

I am going to the interview on Wed morning, God willing it will be fruitful! I have found though that the you can leave lots of messages for recruiters and still not have any bites. But persistance is what got us through nursing school so I guess that is what it will take to get us jobs :)

Good Luck!

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Glad I'm not alone...I have been searching online for jobs for the past couple of weeks...sometimes I get thank you no in the regular mail box with advice to keep applying and I guess trying,this past week I received a phone call (I applied to a clinic online) but I was denied the interview.Overall I applied to mabe 30 RN positions at one hospital that had many,many openings so I'm waiting for the fruits of my sweat but it has been arleady a week and they say that if they are interested in interviewing me they will let me know within 2 weeks and although my hope is declining there is still some left!!!! I dont go door too door and talk to the hiring managers I figure that we live in the century where everything is computerized and you have option to apply online and if it is meant to be you will get the job regardless of how you apply.

I have tried going in person to hand in my resume to nurse managers, but most hospitals in my area, will not even let you on the floor unless you have a pass or are working there. Sure, I have found a way to get on the floor in some places, but I only had luck with one manager, who looked so busy and sort of annoyed that I was bothering her with a resume. She took the resume but still told me to apply online.

Other places, even when managing to get on the floor, I was always told that the manager was too busy to see me, or that I needed an appointment. I guess it's easier if someone has contacts. But my experience with online resumes, I have never had a call back yet.

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Specializes in ICU, M/S,Nurse Supervisor, CNS.

When I first started working for the organization I'm at now, I received a phone call 2 hours after completing my online application. I have since moved into different departments within this company and the only option is an online application to transfer. My other part-time job in the ICU I applied for online as well and got a call about a week or two later. So, I think online applications are taken very seriously, though like others have said, I would follow up if it's been a while with no call.

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I don't bother with online applications anymore since all the ones I submitted in the past got no reponses. I went back to my tried and true method of in person job hunting, which usually gets me hired on the spot. You can't argue with success.

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I don't bother with online applications anymore since all the ones I submitted in the past got no reponses. I went back to my tried and true method of in person job hunting, which usually gets me hired on the spot. You can't argue with success.

I guess it can work in some cases or if you have alot of experience. But for new grads or those with less than 1-2yrs experience, especially in this economy, it's not that easy. Most hospitals these days won't even take your resume in person, and refer you to their website. You don't know how many times, I've tried to see if I can actually get to talk to someone and hand in my resume, and I was told 'Didn't you read our website', or 'It CLEARLY states on our website that we only take online resumes, etc. etc.'. You can only try to get past the rules so much, but it doesn't always work.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical, Oncology.

but who do you call? HR? the nurse manager of the department you are applying for? I have applied online but have no idea on who I call or how to get their information on the computer. Do I just call the main number for the hospital and ask for "nurse manager in the med/surg floor?" Please help me! it's frustrating! i have been applying all over the country, so it is impossible to go physically to every hospital.

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It sounds as though we need to be contacting HR to follow up on the apps. Whenever I have been contacted in the past from an online app, it has been the HR rep. In light of not receiving any acknowledgement regarding the online apps, I believe I am going to start following up with phone calls as well.

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