Job Searching

[akillinger]

I am about to graduate in August. Everyone I know keeps asking me if I have a job lined up and I feel silly when I say no. When is the appropriate time to start applying for jobs? I look online at the job availability in my area frequently but I thought you could only get a job after you graduate from nursing school. I am worried and feel like I should have a job lined up already but I am also so busy with school! Any advice is appreciated:)

[Jules A, MSN]

Absolutely start NOW! A good place is any clinicals where you made a good impression and felt like the unit would be a good fit for you. Even though you are busy now is the time to start. It is a very tight job market and I always cringe when people write in that they just graduated and are now starting to look for a job. Most of the people in my class interviewed during the break before our last semester and had jobs lined up before even graduating which was a relief. Good luck.

[RedhairedNurse, BSN, RN]

I am about to graduate in August. Everyone I know keeps asking me if I have a job lined up and I feel silly when I say no. When is the appropriate time to start applying for jobs? I look online at the job availability in my area frequently but I thought you could only get a job after you graduate from nursing school. I am worried and feel like I should have a job lined up already but I am also so busy with school! Any advice is appreciated:)

I started the job hunt a little later than my school mates. We graduated in May and most students had already started job hunting in December and had something lined up by Feb-March. Well, I was like you...didn't really know I should start so soon or I think I was just wanting school over with and wasn't really thinking of job hunting so soon.

When I applied where I currently work, I had to practically beat their door down because I was not getting a call back especially after all the applications they received from the soon to be graduates. You may have to work a little harder to get that job esp if the positions have been filled. But just don't sit back waiting for that phone call. Be pro-active and follow up with the recruiters....Even if it's on a weekly basis. :)

[Bobbkat]

Start NOW! It may not get you anywhere, depending on what are you are in (for example, I started applying for jobs in New England in August, graduated in Dec, and still have only received one callback), but it sure doesn't hurt to get started early. Maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones and find something.