My great problem is not that I cannot pass the interview but that I do not get any in

carol72 · Oct 5, 2008

You did say Bay Area, did you not? I believe this is the reason why you have not had an overwelming response to your resumes. As per other threads, there seem to be very few positions available in the Bay Area. I only know what I have read, since I don't live in No. Cal. but please do seek threads on this topic. You are not alone.

Best Wishes.

suzanne4, RN · Oct 6, 2008

Every single facility already had their new grads selected for their start of the new grad orientation before you even applied. Things are quite tight and most facilities that have new grad programs only accept about 12 people for each class, and they get over 250 applications.

The Bay Area is one of the tightest areas in CA to get hired in as a new grad. With two years of experience, then there is no problem. You may have to look at other areas to be able to begin work now. Next hiring dates for the most part for the Bay Area are not going to be until after the holidays for a February start. Orientation programs for new grads are usually only two times per year, some have three times per year. But the summer is the time that most are graduating and with many programs in the Bay Area make it tighter as well as new grads applying from other states as well as other parts of CA.

Best of luck to you, but do expand your search to outside of the Bay Area. Another item to mention is that is also depends on how you are marketing yourself and what you have included in your resume. This can make a significant difference as well in getting offered an interview if they have an opening.

Bellybear · Oct 8, 2008

Hi romantic,

I was trying to send you a private message but I do not have the privilege of doing that, so I'm just replying to your post here...

I'm sorry to hear that you have not had much luck finding a job:( I feel your frustration, as I have had to wait a year and a half for a chance to start working. And I just found out two weeks ago that there are no jobs available in med surg units for staff I RNs...new grad programs are hard to come by,too, and even if there is one available, most of them have feeder schools that furnish the new grads they need...

So I have decided to explore my options: 1) to relocate and then come back after gaining experience; 2) get a job at a LTC facility; 3) go for a refresher course to sharpen my skills;4) get my BSN...5) keep on applying until I get an opportunity..

Which hospitals have you applied to as of now? I'd be glad to share any employment possibilities with you if I hear of anything available...have you taken any extra classes to sharpen your skills? Try to do that while you're looking...

CaliCNAxX · Oct 8, 2008

Hello all, My name is Angie and I am new to this site. This is what I am afraid of once I graduate from nursing school. There are not going to be jobs available. I do not want to be an unemployed nurse.

romantic, BSN, RN · Oct 8, 2008

Hi romantic,
I was trying to send you a private message but I do not have the privilege of doing that, so I'm just replying to your post here...
I'm sorry to hear that you have not had much luck finding a job:( I feel your frustration, as I have had to wait a year and a half for a chance to start working. And I just found out two weeks ago that there are no jobs available in med surg units for staff I RNs...new grad programs are hard to come by,too, and even if there is one available, most of them have feeder schools that furnish the new grads they need...
So I have decided to explore my options: 1) to relocate and then come back after gaining experience; 2) get a job at a LTC facility; 3) go for a refresher course to sharpen my skills;4) get my BSN...5) keep on applying until I get an opportunity..
Which hospitals have you applied to as of now? I'd be glad to share any employment possibilities with you if I hear of anything available...have you taken any extra classes to sharpen your skills? Try to do that while you're looking...

Hey Bellybear. Thank you for your reply.

Now my turn. I started the application process late, in July, so it might be, I say might be because I do not know, the reason why I did not receive anything from the hospitals for whose New Grad Program I applied. I applied for Kaiser San Jose and got an invitation for the info session; Kaiser Santa Clara sent nothing except that I am "on their list;" Kaiser San Francisco still continue to keep silence. John Muir Hospital ignored my first application, and today, when I again applied on-line, it took them only 2-3 hours to refuse my candidature. CPMC ignored me completely. I called a few times, I sent my application by fax, I even at some point thought to become a volunteer at CPMC:rolleyes:...I received a nice few sentences from their recruiter that say nothing specific. SCVMC send me a thank you note and requested to wait, and I am still waiting...

Now. One of my concerns is a small number of hospitals in Bay Area that have training programs for L&D; whereas, I think that I should apply only for L&D training program since I had my preceptorship on L&D floor and want to be L&D nurse. Please, do not think that I am picky. It is just difficult to imagine myself applying, for example, for ICU or Stepdown units after L&D experience; even though I consider these units to be very challenging, interesting, and being a wonderful start for a new grad, still, it is two different worlds, in my opinion. Of course, I might be wrong. However, what a lier I am:coollook:, I do apply for medical surgical unit, hoping that somehow the recruiter might consider my candidature and choose me from all other candidates who had their preceptorship in med surg because I have a good GPA and can speak second language:specs:

You asked me what do I do to stay on track. Well. I have NRP and ACLS certificates. I took FHM class on-line and am planning of taking STABLE class this month. I bought and have read a few books that were recommended by our members from Ob-Gynecology Nursing forum. (Thank you, Guys! I loved reading them!) I became a volunteer in a Kaiser Hospital; I do not know if it can help me to find a placement in that facility, but at least I have a job experience, meet new people, and feel like I am doing something. And I continue to memorize drugs, side effects, interactions, doses because I trully believe that this knowledge is my main wepon if I want to become a safe nurse.

Bellybear, if you have something to add, please do so; I will appreciate any of your suggestions.

You have a great suggestion. I agree with you-- Let's keep in touch. I'll post here everything I'll find might be helpful for you.

By the way, why do you have to wait a whole year to get started? As I understood, you said you have already received your greencard. Am I right?

romantic, BSN, RN · Oct 8, 2008

Hello all, My name is Angie and I am new to this site. This is what I am afraid of once I graduate from nursing school. There are not going to be jobs available. I do not want to be an unemployed nurse.

CaliCNA, I would like to share with you the tendency that I have noticed. For new grads with ICU and CCU experience it is easier to find placement than for others. Do not ask me why. I don't know. I just noticed. Maybe because these units are very critical care units :)...

So. Try to get your preceptorship on one of those critical care units.

Second. If given a choice to choose among different hospitals, do your home work and choose the best teaching hospital.

Start to ask for recommendation letters, write resume and cover letters as soon as possible. Do not wait until the last moment as I did. I have lost the window of opportunity. Apply for a New Grad Program about 4-6 months before the start of the program. Make a list of the hospitals you would like to apply, find the names and phone numbers of their recruiters, call and ask about New Grad Program start day.

And please do not get discouraged because of me or anybody else. We all are different and our situations are different. I think that 85% students of my class have already found placement.

Bellybear · Oct 8, 2008

Hi romantic, I know I'll help as much as I can -- I see that you've actually applied to more hospitals than I have...the reason why I was not able to apply as soon as I graduated was because I was looking for a hospital that petitioned foreign nurses. I found one hospital (other hospitals did not entertain me without any work permit in hand), and then there was the problem of visa retrogression so I was not allowed to start at this particular hospital. Fast forward to 1 year and 1/2 and here I am -- with papers intact but no job in sight...

I just applied at John Muir Health Walnut Creek and Concord campuses... I'll tell you how it goes, if I get a call back or something...

Don't worry, we'll find something soon:)

To CaliCNA: Don't worry -- there are jobs, but you have to apply fast (possibly get an interim permit) and keep busy studying. Make sure your resume and coverletter stand out -- everything's online now, so you have to take that extra step so your resume's not tossed aside. Good luck and keep us posted!

romantic, BSN, RN · Oct 8, 2008

BellyBear, in your previous message you wrote, "have you taken any extra classes to sharpen your skills?" What classes do you mean?

Did you find a refresher course in Bay Area?

Do you have a Green Card?

I wish you good luck with John Muir Hospital!

Bellybear · Oct 9, 2008

Hi, romantic! Thanks, I need all the luck I can get:)

Yes, just CE's or anything that might enhance your skills in medsurg and maternity. It's good that you've been taking classes, that surely is a plus! Oh, about volunteering for Kaiser -- I wanted to join the flu shot clinic, but does this mean I have to sign up for volunteer services in general? I signed up online, but I got the impression after doing so that I would have to do all the pre-training first...

I do have a green card now, my husband and I decided to get married early or be apart for 3 years or so (retrogression)...so we chose the first option:) Big wedding planned after I start working and saving up for it --yeay!

I got an email from John Muir this morning stating that they're going to call me if they decide I fit their criteria...all this waiting...:)

Are you willing to relocate, by the way? There are some openings in Tri-City Medical in Oceanside CA for a New Grad for their Maternity care unit...check it out and see if it's for you...I wasn't able to get the link, but just google it and it should come up...

romantic, BSN, RN · Oct 9, 2008

Hi, romantic! Thanks, I need all the luck I can get:)
Yes, just CE's or anything that might enhance your skills in medsurg and maternity. It's good that you've been taking classes, that surely is a plus! Oh, about volunteering for Kaiser -- I wanted to join the flu shot clinic, but does this mean I have to sign up for volunteer services in general? I signed up online, but I got the impression after doing so that I would have to do all the pre-training first...
I do have a green card now, my husband and I decided to get married early or be apart for 3 years or so (retrogression)...so we chose the first option:) Big wedding planned after I start working and saving up for it --yeay!
I got an email from John Muir this morning stating that they're going to call me if they decide I fit their criteria...all this waiting...:)
Are you willing to relocate, by the way? There are some openings in Tri-City Medical in Oceanside CA for a New Grad for their Maternity care unit...check it out and see if it's for you...I wasn't able to get the link, but just google it and it should come up...

Bellybear, I noticed that the tone of your voice changed, became optimistic. :yeah:

I do not see any connection between a flu shots clinic and volunteering for Kaiser. Could you please explain?

One more question. If you do have a Green Card, you should apply for any hospital you want, in my opinion, because the Green Card allows you to work in the USA. I have a Green Card too.

Yesterday, I found the mistake I made in my application for John Muir Hospital that can explain their brutality:). I wanted to kick myself. In subject, I wrote that I am seeking placement in the Labor and Delivery New Grad training program and they don't have the L&D program this time. I think I have to take short breakes between writing and sending :rolleyes:

I cross my fingers for you and wish you an interview with them. I have read that John Muir Hospital is a wonderful hospital with very suppotive staff.

I have been thinking about relocation... I am sending my resume to different hospitls outside the Bay Area. I want to get started and if it means relocation so be it!

zoopnever · Oct 11, 2008

I have a similar problem and I've been an RN for 9 years. I've gone to walk-in interviews, I've called the unit and spoke with the Director, I've filled in apps online to the hospital, I've faxed my app to HR. I'm beginning to wonder if there's something on my resume that says I'm box office poison. My present job I've had for a number of years and I was very careful in the interview because I needed to be hired. These days I interview some candidates and I know some things, like don't chew gum, do wear nice clothes AND shoes, stuff like that, but ultimately it's a personal decision by the interviewer, meaning did she like you personally. Anyway all I can say is keep trying and be careful to come across like a professional.

I should add that some HRs and some Directors just suck at their jobs and wouldn't know a good candidate if she jumped up and hit them with a shovel. That's why you get units filled with nasty nurses.