Job Searching Advice for New Grad

CrazyGoonRN · Feb 22, 2011

I am a new grad too. I got my first interview last week. I had faxed my resume and I called a few days later to make sure they recieved it and to find out when they would be interviewing for the position. She put me on hold and found my resume and told me that the position I applied for had been filled but they would be hiring some PRN and that I could come in for an interview if I was interested. That is how I got the interview. I don't think I would have got an interview if I hadn't called.

I have called other places to make sure they got my resume but I have just got their voice mail. I leave a message and tell them when I faxed my resume and that I am available for all shifts and ask when they are scheduling interviews and leave my name and number. No one has called me back yet but I figure that It's better than sitting around and waiting for them to call me, and it lets them know that I am serious about finding a job. I definatly think its a good idea to call HR :-)

piper79 · Feb 23, 2011

I graduated in Dec and have been frustrated with the job search. One of the local hospitals in my area has the most jobs open. I had submitted apps online and met their nurse recruiter in person, to drop off my resume and cover letter. She told me that they only take apps online and were not hiring new grads at this time, but to keep looking. I knew this was BS, so I went to the nurse floor managers on the two units for which I was applying and brought the resume and cover letter.... I was able to sit down with one immediately and she seemed very interested. She told me she'd request my info from the HR lady (who had previously told me that they were not hiring new grads). The nurse manager then told me that she would be calling me for an interview- and she did today!!

I've applied at all 4 hospitals in my area and not received any response. I was #1 in my class and the president of our local SNA. I do not have direct nursing experience (never teched), but I was shocked that I was not getting any calls back. This is my advice- go in person to the floors, if you can. Find out the names of the managers and meet them to prove you are a real person! I have a feeling that most of us 'new grad' resumes get stopped by HR and we never make it to those who will actually be hiring us.

Don't give up hope...!

im_melba · Feb 23, 2011

i graduated may 2010 with my bsn... having a heck of a time finding work. how is the job market where u are located? i am willing to move but still, no job offer to move for! I would say look at residency programs, i applied to a total of three of them, made it to the final interview with the nurse managers each time, but never got the job b/c there are 700 applicants vying for 25 spots! yes, its an accomplishment to make it to the fiinal interview, but to land a job would be great! Right now, I have given up on my "dream job" of landing a spot on a med surge unit in a hospital b/c i dont want to keep holding out for something that may never come and then the next thing i know, its been a full year since i've graduated!

i also suggest craigslist... thats how i got my one and only nursing experinece as a flu nurse. it was for two days of contract work, but its something. i have an interview for this friday at an assisted living facility, and i found the job posting on craigslist! u'd be surprised whats there. most hospitals are not hiring new grads at this time unless u get hired via there residency program. I have called some hospitals and spoke with the nurse recruiters and have been told flat out that they dont hire new grads AT ALL. Also, i have a friend who graduated with me and got a job on the unit she had her capstone on and she told me that there was a job posting. it was a saturday, so i went onlilne, applied, and i kid u not, one hour later, my inbox has a message from HR telling me that they are going to look at more qualified applicants at this time. I met the minimum requirements, but b/c i dont have nursing experience (and b/c i cant count nurisng school as experience) the computer automatically kicks me out of consideration, even before an actual human being reads my resume, cover letter or refs!

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Feb 28, 2011

i met the minimum requirements, but b/c i dont have nursing experience (and b/c i cant count nurisng school as experience) the computer automatically kicks me out of consideration, even before an actual human being reads my resume, cover letter or refs!

oh, yes, the filters!!! this is why i have not landed a job outside of acute care. i was hoping to find a prn in psych but i do not have one year experience in that area as a nurse. like the others said, if you are able to meet with a hiring manager, you will have a better chance of being hired (this is how i landed my med surg job as a new grad). once i move and get settled into my new job i plan to network in the psych nursing community locally and see if i can land a prn job that way. gl!