My RN Job Search.....

[jessRN6896]

Hi everyone...just thought I'd post here because I absolutely love these forums and all of the encouragement and advice that come from them!!

I graduated with my ADN this past May 2011. I just took the Nclex-RN on Aug. 4th and 2 days ago found out I passed....I'm OFFICIALLY an RN! Even though I am so excited and I feel so relieved....I already see myself starting to stress about finding a job. I DON'T have experience as a CNA/PCT/UAP OR LPN, which I know will only make getting a job THAT much harder. I live in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago and there are plenty of job openings around me posted on sites such as monster, career builder, and the websites of specific hospitals & nursing homes.

I'm wondering if anyone has any advice for me as I am beginning my search.....I don't want to just be "another online applicant" to all of these hospitals. Is there anything I can do to REALLY increase my chances of getting an interview? Also, how do I go about answering questions confidently despite my lack of experience in the healthcare field?

I would really appreciate ANY help, advice, or ideas for getting noticed, getting an interview, and eventually getting a job.

Thank you all SO MUCH!

[ghostchili]

one thing i can think of is to physically go into the hospital and introduce yourself to the manager and see if you can set up a time to shadow one of the staff nurses after you've applied. this way, they'll put a face to the name and when they call you to interview, you can speak to specific things you liked about the unit and things you noticed that pique your interest.

good luck!

[jessRN6896]

one thing i can think of is to physically go into the hospital and introduce yourself to the manager and see if you can set up a time to shadow one of the staff nurses after you've applied. this way, they'll put a face to the name and when they call you to interview, you can speak to specific things you liked about the unit and things you noticed that pique your interest.

good luck!

Thank you! That's a great idea! Are most hospitals open and willing to allow someone to shadow one of their RN's? Or do you think they would look at that as a strange request...?

[DizzyLizzyNurse]

I didn't have any success getting contacted after submitting an online app so I started calling all the HR people myself. I'd try to speak to them personally but if I got voicemail a bunch of times then I'd leave a message. I just said I was a new grad and had applied, was wondering about the status of my application and was looking for any tips/words of wisdom. Everyone was nice except this one lady who was rude and there were a few I never heard from.

But I talked to enough people that I just got hired by Mollen Immunization Clinics, and have 2 interviews. One tomorrow and one Friday. :cool: I've been applying since January, but didn't start calling until I got licensed a few weeks ago. So it only took a couple weeks. Neither is my dream job but I'm looking at it as a foot in the door.

You can find any HR's number. You might have to google "Name of company" and "HR". That's what I had to do a couple times, but I always found a phone number. Best of luck!!!

[DizzyLizzyNurse]

I'm also paying for my own certification. I really want to work with babies in some capacity (L & D, nursery, or NICU) so right now I'm studying for my NRP. It's costing me $35. I'm hoping it will make me more marketable.

[AudyLynnRN]

Do you have anyone you can contact at the hopital you did clinicals at? Perhaps you could approach the manager of the floor you were on about a job?

[ghostchili]

Thank you! That's a great idea! Are most hospitals open and willing to allow someone to shadow one of their RN's? Or do you think they would look at that as a strange request...?

I honestly have no idea; I've only worked in one unit. I know we have people shadow, but I'm not sure if that's before or after they interview. It never hurts to ask, though, and I imagine it will set you apart as someone who's willing to go the extra mile to apply to that unit.