I just graduated from an associate's degree. I plan to take the NCLEX within the next month or so, but now I am already thinking ahead of how to increase my chances of getting a job. I don't have any experience at all, except for the clinical rotations I had in school and I'm afraid my resume won't be very exciting
I've been browsing online in hospital websites on job postings ans it's very intimidating to see the qualifications like "experience preferred" and I only came across one or two "new grads welcome" but only in OR which I'm not too excited about (although I'm thinking of grabbing whatever position will be open as long as I get a job)
Should I look for externships even though I am already a graduate? (I wish I knew about these when I was still in school! :hdvwl:) Would that up my chance a little bit? Or should I just go ahead and send resumes anyway and hope for the best?
Hope anybody could give me suggestions what steps to take?
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
I wouldn't hold off on NCLEX. Here they don't want you applying until you have your license. Take it now and give your self a jump start on the job market. I drove 3.5 hrs to take NCLEX. I got my ATT on a Friday and I tested on Monday. Everyone else in my class is taking it locally and first group is taking it May 31st and second group is June 6th. I couldn't get anyone to take it with me because they were to nervous to take it so soon. We got our transcripts and were able to apply for our ATT before the other local schools. So this gave me a 2 week jump start on applying for jobs then my fellow classmates and a lead before other schools. It's proven to be a plus because I have an interview tomorrow and I had a pre screening interview from HR at. A local hospital who was very impressed with my phone interview and said if I don't get offered the position I am interviewing tomorrow that she will get me some more interviews on other units.
I have no previous medical experience and I only have worked 7 months, 5 years ago in the past 11 years. But I did my research on interview tips, resume tips, I looked up the hospitals mission statement and brought it up in my pre screening interview. I asked the lady what advice she could give me for interviewing after the interview and she said I blew her away. She said the fact I am open to any position and unit is a huge plus and that she is always shocked at how picky new grads are, she said the fact I knew the mission statement and found a way to bring it into the questions she asked was a huge plus, and she said most of all the enthusiasm I obviously have for nursing was the biggest thing, so she suggested I show my in person interview what I showed her.
Keep in mind new grad jobs are very limited here and my class was the last semester for contracted students (I wasn't one) because there aren't jobs available for the contracts. I was feeling really down about a job because of all the talk. New grads from last semester are just now finding work and most aren't in a hospital, but I decided to be pro active and positive and it's paying off. I don't have the job yet but I am feeling confident and just the fact I have gotten a few interviews lined up within 2 weeks of graduating is huge.
So take your boards, then take control and get yourself noticed and let the company know why they should hire YOU!!!
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
thank you sooooo much for all your replies! I appreciate them so much :) I am looking through hospital websites in my area that have nurse residency programs because I feel like I need more experience other than the clincals in school but I didn't realize even searching for those are not easy! so I guess I have to focus first on passing the nCLEX!
If you don't get a residency program don't worry about it. In the hospital anyway they won't just put you on the floor as a new grad and have you go to it. You will have an orientation period similar to your practicum for however long the hospital does. Most I hear are 3-4 months for general floors.
The way things are these days if i were in your shoes, I wouldn't limit myself to ANY job opportunities. If there's anything open in the hospital go for it, eventually you can bid off or you might come to love it. Consider that you may not be able to start off in a hospital. Expand your thinking to LTC, Home Health, Hospice, MD Office....anything to give you that first job experience. A lot of new nurses think they should only work in a hospital but Nursing is sooo much more. Good Luck and God Bless!
Choose a hospital that has a Nurse Resident Program. Then you will have a coach/preceptor for 18-24 more weeks until you feel comfortable.
But be prepared to fight it out with a lot of other people still. I was 1 of 9 out of 97 applicants back in december. This summer they took 22 out of 140 something that applied.
Craigslist has postings for the clinics, LTC, community health, and home health. The first day I broadened my search to include Craigslist posts, I got an interview in 20 minutes. That, however didn't work out, and so I went back to pursuing new grad jobs at the hospitals... and about a month later I opened my horizons to home health and the next afternoon I had an interview and a few days later, a job.
Yes, after an ED internship and wilderness medicine/rescue experience, home health is not exactly my passion. However it is giving me experience and confidence as I am working independently right off the bat! I will continue my search for an acute care position, but in the meantime I can gain experience, add some beef to my resume, and save up some money for when the loans come knocking!
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so I guess I have to focus first on passing the nCLEX!
~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN
5,259 Posts
I wouldn't hold off on NCLEX. Here they don't want you applying until you have your license. Take it now and give your self a jump start on the job market. I drove 3.5 hrs to take NCLEX. I got my ATT on a Friday and I tested on Monday. Everyone else in my class is taking it locally and first group is taking it May 31st and second group is June 6th. I couldn't get anyone to take it with me because they were to nervous to take it so soon. We got our transcripts and were able to apply for our ATT before the other local schools. So this gave me a 2 week jump start on applying for jobs then my fellow classmates and a lead before other schools. It's proven to be a plus because I have an interview tomorrow and I had a pre screening interview from HR at. A local hospital who was very impressed with my phone interview and said if I don't get offered the position I am interviewing tomorrow that she will get me some more interviews on other units.
I have no previous medical experience and I only have worked 7 months, 5 years ago in the past 11 years. But I did my research on interview tips, resume tips, I looked up the hospitals mission statement and brought it up in my pre screening interview. I asked the lady what advice she could give me for interviewing after the interview and she said I blew her away. She said the fact I am open to any position and unit is a huge plus and that she is always shocked at how picky new grads are, she said the fact I knew the mission statement and found a way to bring it into the questions she asked was a huge plus, and she said most of all the enthusiasm I obviously have for nursing was the biggest thing, so she suggested I show my in person interview what I showed her.
Keep in mind new grad jobs are very limited here and my class was the last semester for contracted students (I wasn't one) because there aren't jobs available for the contracts. I was feeling really down about a job because of all the talk. New grads from last semester are just now finding work and most aren't in a hospital, but I decided to be pro active and positive and it's paying off. I don't have the job yet but I am feeling confident and just the fact I have gotten a few interviews lined up within 2 weeks of graduating is huge.
So take your boards, then take control and get yourself noticed and let the company know why they should hire YOU!!!
Best of luck!