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Discussion

Knocking on Doors

Hi,

I am a VERY recent graduate (officially graduated a RN + BSN program Dec 7th), who sent in my resume to the health regions system about a week ago. Prior to finishing my final practicum I went and talked to the manager of nursing on the floor I was on and gave her my resume, but the floor is small and they are already 2 GN's working there.

I met some of my preceptors from another rotation who encouraged me to apply for an available job at the NICU, but I cannot directly apply for that job as I am applying externally. They encouraged me to meet and give a copy of my resume to a woman we once met, but she is a Nurse Educator, and I think they don't normally deal with hiring..?

I passed by the NICU today as I thought it couldn't hurt. I asked the unit aide if the nurse manager was around and she called her for me. I could only hear one end of the convo, but the manager didn't seem too interested and with the unit aides prodding basically said she was very busy today and that I could pass by tomorrow. I kind of feel like she was trying to brush me off, but I may just be sensitive, as I normally just apply for jobs online.

ATM there are no postings for jobs where I am. I know this is partially due to the holidays, but I recently heard rumors of a possible hiring freeze as the health region was way overbudget.

Do new grads normally go around knocking on doors? Or is this a good way to piss people off? Also would it be a good idea to pass by tomorrow?

Thanks in advance for any input!

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    • Featured Replies

    You will hear it both ways on here. Ask people who actually work there. At our local facilities (hospitals, ltcs, etc) most do online only and will not see you for resume drop off. The facilities that are desperate will take your resume and hire you on the spot...

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    Sometimes it helps, sometimes not. Depends entirely on the facilities hiring process. Our local places only take online applications and the nurse managers that actually do the hiring don't see the applications unless HR flags them as a possible match for the job posting and forwards them along. Even then the hiring managers hands are a little tied as they are required by union policies to give the position to an internal candidate based on seniority before they can even look at outside candidates. So unless you know your application has been forwarded to a nurse manger by HR that manager will have no idea who you are. Once you know the hiring manager has eyes on your application then by all means make your presence known, let the hiring manager know how interested you are in the position. Until that point though knocking on the door and introducing yourself wouldn't do a bit of good as there is no leeway in the hiring process.

    I know this because a friend is the manager on one of the more popular units and has complained to me about how her hands are tied when hiring new nurses. Due to the union requirements she is stuck hiring whoever has the most seniority instead of who she thinks is the best fit for the job.

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    • Experts

    It all depends on the mood of the unit manager...

    You might be told to wait until you are called, or you might be welcomed and given the time of day. Based on the experiences you described, I don't think the units you've visited are too welcoming of new grads who visit the unit without being called. In other words, your cold-calling technique is not welcomed there.

    Good luck to you.

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    I just posted asking another version of this same question. I am in a big metropolitan area that is saturated with new graduate nurses. I don't know whether to pester the nurse manager or just leave it alone, whether I'll be annoying her and blowing my shot, or making her job easier by showing her who really wants to be on her unit.

    It's tough out here! Keep trying don't get discouraged!

    I find out the names of the nurse managers personally and address cover letters to them. You at least know who she is, you could write her a letter or emal. I have asked over the phone for unit clerks who have never met me to put my resume on the nurse manager's desk for me. Usually, non nursing employees of hospitals are pretty friendly and try to be helpful when I've asked them to help me out with a name or title of a recruiter or nursing supervisor.

    Best of luck!!

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