I'm a new grad RN (adn) applying for ANY, yes ANY, RN job in greater DFW Texas area over last 6 weeks. No, I can't move... family obligations. I'm even applying now to tech jobs, GN jobs, intern, extern, home health, hospitals, hospice, craigslist, and everything I can possibly find... EVERYTHING.
I got one email that told me I was over qualified for a tech job for $12 an hour. At least she was nice to reply w/an email instead of some generic auto-bot responder. I'm in the oldest catch 22, can't get experience because I have none. UGH UGH UGH
I'm at a loss of what to do next. I've passed nclex on first try, I've got the RN degree with great GPA, but can't get a job. I haven't had a single interview. I'm about to be living in my car.. or maybe a relative out-house or something. I just don't know what else to do. I'm so depressed... I've seen this following generic email in my inbox so many times i've lost count....
"We have not yet made a selection for the position for which you applied. However, because we have several applicants whose backgrounds relate more closely to our present requirements, we wish to inform you that we are not considering you further for this position."
How do you like that? They haven't picked their candidate, but they know it's not me, without even as a much of a phone call or interview.
I'm glad to know its not just me. Some good ideas above, I'm going to start showing up in person. I thought that was taboo, but what do I have to lose at this point?
I've applied to areas as far north as Denton, even Decatur, East Dallas, West Fort Worth, and everything in between... some of these would have been 2 hour commute each way. I haven't considered Oklahoma though.
I can't relocate my residence because I have joint custody with my son, and if I move, I'll be legally jeopardizing losing my son - I'll work at burger king before I lose my son.
The way I found my NG job about a year ago was looking small. I pulled the Medicare list of all the LTC facilities in my State and started driving to them. Many/most of the them do not have websites or online applications and are very small so they are difficult if not impossible to find online. Once I did that I found a job with my 2nd application.
How do you find this list? I tried googling... but haven't found it yet? Thanks in advance GREAT idea.
I'm glad to know its not just me. Some good ideas above, I'm going to start showing up in person. I thought that was taboo, but what do I have to lose at this point?
I've applied to areas as far north as Denton, even Decatur, East Dallas, West Fort Worth, and everything in between... some of these would have been 2 hour commute each way. I haven't considered Oklahoma though.
I can't relocate my residence because I have joint custody with my son, and if I move, I'll be legally jeopardizing losing my son - I'll work at burger king before I lose my son.
Good for you for taking care of your boy.
I've yet to get a job by applying online. When I first moved to Austin, I put my scrubs and showed up, resume in hand, and said "here I am, I am ready to work today." Granted I've been a nurse since 1991 but for several years prior to my move I'd been off bedside, so I really wasn't that marketable.
If you can work nights, especially weekends, you are way more attractive to managers. If you can tell them, "I know you're taking a risk hiring me as a GN, but I can commit to every weekend and holiday night for the next 12 months" that would make you a stand out in the crowd.
How do you find this list? I tried googling... but haven't found it yet? Thanks in advance GREAT idea.
I live and work in DFW. I applied online but I called the recruiter on a weekly basis for several weeks until I finally got the interview. You have to stand out some how.. Persistence pays off!
I just want to chime in and say that applying in person really helps. Especially for LTC facilities. You have to get more aggressive with them because most of them don't have websites.
Also, being persistent and calling nurse recruiters or unit directors is important and/or going to talk to them in person if you can. I know lots of people in my class got interviews from being very persistent and networking, networking, networking (I just graduated this year as well). What about where you did your clinicals? Did you make any connections with any nurses or managers? That's another good place to follow up on for potential job openings.
It had also been recommended to me to simply call the hospital and the unit to which I was applying to and ask to speak directly with the unit director - nurse recruiters can often times be more of a barrier than anything else in terms of getting your foot in the door. Look at each application as a game in which you have to figure out who specifically you need to talk to in order to be considered for that job - often times it's NOT the nurse recruiter.
On a side note, I've had nurses and nurse managers ask me why it is that new grads don't seem to apply for jobs at X facility, when it was the nurse recruiters who were not passing along people's applications, and/or weeding people out they deemed ineligible. I've also gotten call backs from jobs where I had applied 3-4 months earlier. Some places are simply slow beyond belief.
Good luck - it's brutal out there right now. I hope you land something soon!
I just ache for you all in these positions. i really do.
I feel you should send a letter of this nature to your local politicians, your state governor -- even to the White House if need be.
i feel the lack of hiring new grads in our healthcare industry is foolish and short sighted on the part of the hospitals. They are already overworking their staffs to the bone. I can't imagine the situation in 10 years or less ...
I just feel this is a total outrage -- and I feel for you.
I do know that a chain of hospitals called HealthSouth is advertiisng. They might not be hiring new grads, but they are hiring techs and other positions -- they are located throughout the south and southeast and are a sound company.
ALSO.... to EVERYONE, huge THANKS sincerely, I've read all your posts and feel like I got a "second wind" to keep trying tomorrow AM as it's a new week.
I feel you should send a letter of this nature to your local politicians, your state governor -- even to the White House if need be.
Not to dissuade anyone else from doing this, if this is your thing ... but personally I have found this to be a huge waste of time on my part. I have not done it for anything involving nursing but have written to my reps and senators on other important issues. Everytime I have done so I either never get a response or get back a form letter and nothing ever gets addressed. Perhaps I have bad representatives or senators? Perhaps. But I have done it enough to get discouraged and I am not about to do it again. And these are the same people that flood my mailbox at election time with flyers galore ... ... yeah, when I need you, you're not there for me but you want my votes? Meh!
ALSO.... to EVERYONE, huge THANKS sincerely, I've read all your posts and feel like I got a "second wind" to keep trying tomorrow AM as it's a new week.
PM me and maybe I can help you. I live in Ft Worth and maybe able to give you some valuable info that may help with your search.
... yeah, when I need you, you're not there for me but you want my votes? Meh!
kalop_rn
18 Posts
Thanks for the replies.
I'm glad to know its not just me. Some good ideas above, I'm going to start showing up in person. I thought that was taboo, but what do I have to lose at this point?
I've applied to areas as far north as Denton, even Decatur, East Dallas, West Fort Worth, and everything in between... some of these would have been 2 hour commute each way. I haven't considered Oklahoma though.
I can't relocate my residence because I have joint custody with my son, and if I move, I'll be legally jeopardizing losing my son - I'll work at burger king before I lose my son.