Little help for a new BSN grad

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Hi all,

Firstly, I must say that I'm very excited to have found this forum :yeah:and looking forward to gain more knowledge form other experienced nurses out there.

Allow me to briefly introduce myself. My name is Chaim Leiberman, 28, Male, soon to be a daddy to a baby girl, living in Evanston, IL.

I'm about to graduate form University of Illinois at Chicago Nursing school (May 6th), and about to take the NCLEX around June/July.

I'm interested in finding a job around Detroit, MI (my wife's family is form there, mine are in Israel).

How long typically does it take till I can find a job? I'm a bit worried that my girl will be born and I still won't have a job.

Additionally, I feel as the process of online application is missing the human interaction, meaning, if I don't fill in the box that I have my license the computer screens me out and if I can only give my resume to an actual human being and they can have a brief impression of me it will be much different. Did anyone have the same experience?

I appricate your response on the metter and any help will be welcomed.

Thanks

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Hi,

I don't recall the online applications requiring that I put in my license but in any case I'd call the hospitals you are interested in NOW and ask about new graduate opportunities. In my area even a few years ago when the jobs were plentiful if you didn't get a gig lined up well before graduation they were filled. If you don't think this is working you may need to take a few days, go there and hit the pavement because very often face to face contact is beneficial. Congrats on your upcoming graduation and good luck.

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Thank you for the info.

In almost every application I filled there was a question "do you have a MI license". I tried calling some of them to get some answers, but there were not really helpful.

I thought on going there myself, and I think that's what I'll do once I'll be there.

Thanks again for your help

Chaim

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Chaim,

There is also nothing wrong with crafting a cover letter and resume and mailing it to them. Sure, they say they want it online...but it doesn't hurt to do this. It will also help you focus on where you want to specialize. There are plenty of places that would appreciate the fact that you put the effort into it.

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Thank you for your response,

That's not a bad idea. I have a cover letter and resume that I've put together with the help of a career counselor.

I'm planing on going places and submitting cover letter and resume to HR in person.

Thanks again

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Specializes in Clinical Research.

i agree, sending a cover letter will help. in addition to applying online, you could always construct a small portfolio, which should include your resume/cover letter, 3 clinical/professional letters of recommendation, awards/certifications, etc. and then mail this to hr. you should also find out the hr recruiter's name and address it to them specifically.

also, i'm from detroit, are you applying to the hospitals downtown?

it's a rough area, but loaded with trauma experience (gunshot wounds, mva, gang fights, mental health, etc.) and much easier to get a job at henry ford health system, st. john's, detroit receiving, sinai grace, children's hospital and even karmano's cancer institute. furthermore, they're more apt to hire a male nurse due the aggressive environment, especially in the er (not sure what type of nursing you're interested in).

i do know that most of my classmates (i graduated in dec '09 from a university near detroit) found a job downtown as opposed to the suburbs. secondly, almost all of them got a job as soon as they passed the nclex. seriously, only maybe 5 out of a class of 60-70 actually secured a job before passing. once they did pass, everyone started getting interviews and job offers like crazy (makes me so jealous!)... especially at the university of michigan hospital and oakwood in dearborn... they l o v e bsn graduates!

i wish you the best of luck!!!! and don't get discouraged if you don't get an offer right away, it will be easier once you get your mi license. it just sucks waiting! i think it's harder for out-of-state graduates to get noticed, especially when there are so many in-state graduates to look at. once you finally have a mi address and rn license, you'll have better chances. trust me, i wish i had stayed in mi upon graduation, because i still haven't found a job! ...at least you're moving to an area with slightly better options! :)

hope this helps...

best of luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

-cami

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Thanks Cami,

I appreciate your insight on the matter.

I think down town Detroit is a great place to learn, and yes, I have applied to many of the hospitals there (Henry Ford, DMC...) and still waiting to find something.

I think that part of the issue is that I did not take the NCLEX yet (graduating May 6th, NCLEX is June/ July), so I hope the situation will be different once I have my license.

I will be in MI in 2 weeks and planing to submit my resume and cover letter in person to most of these places.

Thanks again

Chaim

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