Kaiser SoCal New Grad residency 2026

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UPDATE: Changes: New Log In Requirement

Hi, wondering if anyone here knows when the next dates are available to the Kaiser SoCal New Grad residency program? I missed the deadline for the Fall 2025 cohort. Or how often they have new cohorts 

They are running behind. My manager told me.

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That's good news, I suppose!

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newgrad000003 said:

Are you talking about this round, or for a previous cohort?

Previous Cohort.

I went to the interview in Kaiser at Irvine. There were around 35 people and about five interviewers. They had us go up one by one, pick a folded paper with a question inside, and then answer it in front of everyone. The thing was, you don't have time to think about the question much because the only time you'll see that question is when you stand up to answer. 

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Happy_Healer said:

Previous Cohort.

I went to the interview in Kaiser at Irvine. There were around 35 people and about five interviewers. They had us go up one by one, pick a folded paper with a question inside, and then answer it in front of everyone. The thing was, you don't have time to think about the question much because the only time you'll see that question is when you stand up to answer. 

You remember what some of the questions were? 

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Happy_Healer said:

Previous Cohort.

I went to the interview in Kaiser at Irvine. There were around 35 people and about five interviewers. They had us go up one by one, pick a folded paper with a question inside, and then answer it in front of everyone. The thing was, you don't have time to think about the question much because the only time you'll see that question is when you stand up to answer. 

OMG nooo I hate these kind of interviews 😭 

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Last cohort had ~1300 applicants . Only ~50 applicants were hired. Wishing you all the best and keep your heads up!

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OCMedic22 said:

Last cohort had ~1300 applicants . Only ~50 applicants were hired. Wishing you all the best and keep your heads up!

Did you get hired?

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Yes, I did. If any of you have any questions, I will try my best to answer them. 

2
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OCMedic22 said:

Yes, I did. If any of you have any questions, I will try my best to answer them. 

What was the proccesa after interviews and what did you think of the new grad program?

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OCMedic22 said:

Yes, I did. If any of you have any questions, I will try my best to answer them. 

Thanks!!

Were you an internal applicant or external? How many of the new hires at your location were external?

Do you have any suggestions on how to stand out during the interview?

Also, do you know what reasons you may have been selected? Like, what was it about you that made you stand out?

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It's department specific but after the interview panel, it takes 2 weeks for them to make their selection. Once hired, you have administrative paperwork and 2 weeks of mandatory orientation. And then you do 12-16 weeks of training to fully take on patients independently. The whole year you'll be doing virtual classes and simulations. You'll have a primary preceptor and back up preceptors with follow ups from your educator and coordinator. I am currently enjoying it. Nursing is tough and challenging but I am enjoying it. It all depends on your views on workload. You're basically working 40hrs weekly. There is a lot of support and everyone is super friendly. But of course other experiences are different from mine. 
 

I worked for Kaiser previously. Quit and then went to school and then applied for this program so technically I was considered an external but I have references from the department. So it is important to leave with a good impression if you were ever to come back. Our department only took one new grad at first but opted to take a second one since this is the first time this department joined the new grad program. So there's only two of us. I believe there is only 3-4 new grads for med surg in our facility. 
 

Interviews are from a point based system. It is the typical standard of kaiser. It depends if you have masters, bachelors, associates. Internal or external. Previous hospital experience and your interview answers. Each panelist will individually score you. Kaiser prides on education because they want you to move up within the ladder and become a leader. My suggestion is to work on your interviewing skills because they will ask behavioral, situational, and work experience based question. You need to have all your certifications but it won't help you stand out because ANYONE can get those certs. They instead want to see what YOU can bring to the table. I can recall that they ask MI and stroke questions but, they don't expect you to know all the answers because you are a new grad without nursing experience, but they want to gauge on your thought process and what you do if you don't know the answer. Like ask for help, look at protocols, etc.

I believe I was selected because I interviewed well and I conducted research during nursing school used that as a leverage on how I can utilized those techniques to help improve current issues for quality improvement. In addition, my GPA helped to give me a boost as well. I know many say it doesn't help but it was used as a talking point.  I had multiple recommendations but there were others who had those as well so it was a rigorous interview.

my stats:

MSN from Johns Hopkins, GPA 3.95. BLS, ACLS, NIH. Research honors. Practicum in ICU. 7 years of EMT experience. Volunteered in Baltimore. 
 

however, with these stats. I have applied to various hospitals in CA. I put in about 50 applications. Only two interviews and it took about 4 months after graduating in finding a job. It is tough out there and I got lucky. Even then, once you're in a program it is definitely a humbling experience. 

2
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OCMedic22 said:

It's department specific but after the interview panel, it takes 2 weeks for them to make their selection. Once hired, you have administrative paperwork and 2 weeks of mandatory orientation. And then you do 12-16 weeks of training to fully take on patients independently. The whole year you'll be doing virtual classes and simulations. You'll have a primary preceptor and back up preceptors with follow ups from your educator and coordinator. I am currently enjoying it. Nursing is tough and challenging but I am enjoying it. It all depends on your views on workload. You're basically working 40hrs weekly. There is a lot of support and everyone is super friendly. But of course other experiences are different from mine. 
 

I worked for Kaiser previously. Quit and then went to school and then applied for this program so technically I was considered an external but I have references from the department. So it is important to leave with a good impression if you were ever to come back. Our department only took one new grad at first but opted to take a second one since this is the first time this department joined the new grad program. So there's only two of us. I believe there is only 3-4 new grads for med surg in our facility. 
 

Interviews are from a point based system. It is the typical standard of kaiser. It depends if you have masters, bachelors, associates. Previous hospital experience. Kaiser prides on education because they want you to move up within the ladder and become a leader. My suggestion is to work on your interviewing skills because they will ask behavioral, situational, and work experience based question You need to have all your certifications but it won't help you stand out because ANYONE can get those certs. They instead want to see what YOU can bring to the table. I can recall that they ask MI and stroke questions but, they don't expect you to know all the answers because you are a new grad without nursing experience, but they want to gauge on your thought process and what you do if you don't know the answer. Like ask for help, look at protocols, etc.

I believe I was selected because I interviewed well and I conducted research during nursing school used that as a leverage on how I can utilized those techniques to help improve current issues for quality improvement. In addition, my GPA helped to give me a boost as well.  I had multiple recommendations but there were others who had those as well so it was a rigorous interview.

my stats:

MSN from Johns Hopkins, GPA 3.95. BLS, ACLS, NIH. 7 years of EMT experience. Volunteered in Baltimore. 
 

however, with these stats. I have applied to various hospitals in CA. I put in about 50 applications. Only two interviews and it took my about 4 months after graduating in finding a job. It is tough out there and I got lucky. Even then, once you're in a program it is definitely a humbling experience. 

WOW, thanks for this indepth response. Your stats are definitely impressive! Fingers crossed. I only have an associates and a decent GPA. Thanks for your insight and tips!

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