My job hunt experience so far...

[kimmy20]

As of today I have counted that I applied to 83 job positions since mid January. I applied to 23 different hospitals/facilities to any unit available and hiring so I wasn't picky at all. I got rejected from 35 of those positions through email (the dreaded "thank you for your interest in XXX, unfortunately we decided to pursue other candidates blah blah"). I had 3 interview and 2 of them were in-person with the nursing manager/unit director and one was through phone with a nurse recruiter.

Interview #1: I was able to interview in-person a L&D unit.. my dream job at my dream hospital (I felt so lucky!!) and it was about a month after I started applying. The interview went ok - not as well as I hoped but this was also my first interview ever as a new grad nurse. I mentioned this experience in another thread. Long story short...I was the first person to be interviewed out of 10. The unit director was sick and it didn't seem like he was all there and my interview was very short...maybe 10-15 minutes? He said I would need to wait about a month for a response. Two weeks later I was told that the hospital was at a hiring freeze for all new grads (internal issues) and he apologized for the inconvenience and if they post the job again they would let me know. It was disappointing but better than a rejection right? It means I might get a second chance if I happen to still be unemployed by the time they can hire again.

Interview #2: This second was through the phone with a nurse recruiter. This is more general and not to a specific unit. I thought I prepared myself well enough because I spent a lot of time researching questions for my first interview but I felt completely off-guard during the phone interview. The nurse recruiter was asking difficult scenario questions that I was not prepared for. I thought it was odd for her to ask me why I took so long to start applying for jobs. Anyway....I just knew I bombed it and I wasn't expecting a second interview. I get an email a week later saying that they don't think I am a good fit for that hospital. Not surprised...but still disappointed.

Interview #3: Got an invitation to come in for an interview at another L&D unit that is really close to where I live. Not my dream hospital but still my dream job and I was lucky enough to get struck by lightening twice for an L&D interview. This is a month after my first interview. This time I researched more questions and prepared myself even more! I think I literally looked at every thread related post about L&D interviews for new grads. The nursing manager only asked for a copy of my resume, license, and CPR card. I decided to add more like a cover letter, other certifications, recommendations letters, etc. This interview went much better than my previous ones. It lasted about an hour long and I got a tour of the unit and she also introduced me to the staff. She told me she was impressed with my clinical experience. She also mentioned that I was first among maybe 6-8 candidates to be interviewed. Can't believe I was first to be interviewed AGAIN. Originally, I thought being the first to be interviewed was a disadvantage because I felt like I would be forgotten easily. The NM straight out told me that personally for her, she always remembers the first and last candidates and joked that I was lucky. I don't know if this is a good sign but she even said that after the first interview she tends to be forgetful of the rest and she said said she hasn't even looked through the rest of the applications yet and decide who to give an interview for. It was definitely a good confidence booster that she offered to interview me first but I'm also prepared to be rejected because this is a highly competitive position. Honestly, I am just glad I even got an interview and I think I'm getting better with practice. I'm really hoping this is the last interview I go through.

I am still currently applying to other hospitals and facilities and I am still waiting for a response on that 3rd interview. I find it odd that of all the units/specialties I applied I manage to land not one but two L&D interviews. I was so convinced that after graduating that it would be impossible to even get a L&D job as a new grad nurse. Even if I don't end up in L&D it was truly a great learning experience for interviewing. It just sucks that it felt so close!

So my question for the rest of you is how many interviews did you go through before you finally landed a job? And did any of you interview for your dream job but not get it?

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

You ARE getting better with practice. Consider each interview as a 'dress rehearsal' to polish your skills. By the time you land "the" interview that is in your future, you will be so good that it will completely re-set the bar for any applicant who is unfortunate enough to come afterward. Hiring managers will be talking about your perfect interview for years to come!

Don't give up. Take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way. Every interview moves you closer to your ultimate objective.

[~Shrek~]

"I thought it was odd for her to ask me why I took so long to start applying for jobs."

What a stupid question. It takes time and effort to find a good job, it doesn't happen instantly the day you start searching.

[nursewr]

I happened to luck up.. One interview, one month after nclex, got offer 2 days after interview, in my dream job nursery/postpartum and got the job ! Keep trying you'll get it soon!