Need advice about job hunting...I am burnd-out!

[Mentalageis16]

I am so tired of sending resume and fill out the same questions over and over for the last 200 and more applications. No hospital contacted me yet. I need advice on how to proceed, this is very discouraging, I wish I am still optimistic, but the reality is...

I was at a local hospital to fill out application, overheard this manager called on the phone and spoke to a person and told that he/she got the job, she sounded so nice and friendly on the phone so I thought why not give it a try and talk to her... but when I asked her, she said there's no jobs for new grads (and she looked at me like I am very rude). She said I have no experience but my resume looks good...she also commented that I only applied for 7 months and I should keep trying even if it takes 7 years. Then she commented "you should apply online for jobs, I've never seen anybody coming here to fill out an application." She looked at me like I am a complete idiot... I felt very bad afterwards. I was polite when I put my foot into her office and knocked and smiled. I almost cried but I was tough enough not to do that.

All the HR offices I visited so far are very unfriendly. Like...seriously, I don't mind you telling me that I may not be quailified, but can you put it in a way that you don't hurt a person's feeling? I don't care how many people you need to say "NO" on a daily basis. But if it was me in her situation, I will never treat new grads like that.

Anyway, that was last Friday. I visited 2 hospitals in one day. Another hospital simply asked me to drop my resume and that's it...

So...I have no good news so far. will try harder...

[RN403, BSN, RN]

I am in the same boat as you and a lot of new grads right now. The reality is it is expensive to hire new grads and there are a lot of us out there right now with only a limited # of positions open. I saw that you posted a similar post in the NY section. Have you considered applying out of state? Maybe NJ? Maybe you'll have better luck.

It might be better to bypass HR if you can and reach out to NMs directly. You might find their information on Google or LinkedIn. Are there any new grad programs in your area? Or any you know of that might be opening in the coming months? Keep an eye out as those are probably better shots for us newbies. Good Luck, somebody will give you a chance eventually!

[estrellaCR, BSN, RN]

I would avoid contacting HR or NMs by phone or in person. They are busy and do not want to be bothered by unsolicited job applicants (ones with no experience) and will just tell you to apply online. However, you can try emailing the recruiter or nurse manager your resume and coverletter...with email they will not feel as hassled and they can reply to on their own time. Google recruiter or nurse manager at XYZ facility once you find their email then verify that they still work there by looking up their linkedin page then once u verify they still work there then go ahead and email them.

[mvm2]

I am sure you might have heard this already, but... are hospital jobs the only jobs you are going for? I only say this because that seems to be the only places you just mentioned in your post. It can really be hard for new grads to get those hospital jobs. If you get a job somewhere else and get a few months or even a few years under your belt your resume will look a lot better when you apply for a hospital position again.

Try LTCs, Home Health Care, Vets Homes, Homes for the disabled, Rehab, Retirment homes, Many of these places might not be your favorite places to work, but you get yourself a job and get that experiance under you and then later on get that hospital position you want.

[estrellaCR, BSN, RN]

MVM2 said it right. I have said this is many of my posts also. You have to be open to other RN jobs. It is better to apply to a hospital with any RN experience than none. Plus in the mean time u are getting paid and are kept busy for a large part of the day instead of being depressed that you are unemployed. Many people in my hospital RN orientation including me had our first RN job in alternate settings as opposed to having had no RN job at all.

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

Has your resume been professionally edited?

Do you consistently apply to 5+ jobs each week?

Have you applied to less desirable niches, such as ALFs, SNFs, psych, home Heath, agency work?

Doing these things helped me.

Good luck in your search!!!

I always wonder based upon my own experience but are you really qualified for those 200 jobs?

When I was looking, I applied for only three jobs... Because those were the only ones for which I met the requirements. Even 5 years in, I don't think I could find more than a handful of jobs for which I'm a legitimate candidate.

And for sure, nobody wants to have candidates just showing up at their doors.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

It's probably not what you want to hear, but any US company that can afford to do so has moved their recruiting/employment application process online for a reason. There are a lot of Federal requirements associated with this function - and organizations have to document their compliance, submit reports, and ensure that all their records are available in case their compliance is ever called into question (such as with discrimination lawsuits). Hiring managers are required to adhere to all of the company procedures - and can get in a bunch of trouble if they do not. These busy people always schedule interviews in advance. If you 'drop-in', they will just send you to HR or refer you to the employment website.

After an organization has invested a lot of time and effort to automate the employment process, it's not likely that anyone who tries to go around the normal processes will be received very well. At the very least, you may be considered as technologically ignorant or unable to follow instructions.... but at worst, you may be labeled as "entitled"; feeling as though the rules are only for other people, that you deserve different/special treatment. You really don't want to be categorized as entitled - that's the kiss of death for any new grad.

FYI, this environment is not unique to nursing. There's basically no such thing as a paper application anymore. Next time you are in your favorite big box store, take a look around. Since their applicants may not always have a home computer, they have designated computers on site for anyone who wishes to apply for a job. I know how discouraging it is to feel as though you aren't getting anywhere despite your best efforts. I wish I had additional words of wisdom for you.

[RunBabyRN]

I have applied for several hundred jobs myself. The market SUCKS for new grads, but all you can do is apply. I do apply for SOME stuff for which I may not be qualified, but I have started to narrow my search a bit more as I find more and more avenues.

Think outside the box. Have you looked into doing flu clinics this season? I am working for 4 agencies doing this, along with health fairs (doing BPs, cholesterol, etc), and through this, I was able to work at a kids camp for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Be open to positions outside of the typical hospital/SNF/HH, and scour those for new grad positions. I literally check local hospital sites a few times a day, because sometimes a position will go up and down within the span of an hour.

It used to be that going around the system and contacting HR and managers directly was a good way to get noticed, but now it seems to only get you noticed in a bad way. I think the only workaround that really works is utilizing connections. Get some good references with the hospital if at all possible. I have the former Director of Perioperative Services (recently retired) from a local hospital that's part of a major chain as a reference, and the doctor from the MDA camp as well.

Be your own best advertising. Put it out to the world that you're a new nurse looking for a hospital job in the XXXX department, "so if anyone knows of anything, please keep me posted!" That sort of thing. You never know what might work out. One of my instructors was telling us that she got one job through her dry cleaner.

I'm in the midst of getting my certs (NRP, AWHONN FHM, ACLS, etc), and once I have them, I am having business cards made so I can hand them out. I may make just a few while I'm working on those so that I have SOMETHING for now. There have been times they'd have come in handy.

[Mentalageis16]

Hey guys, just to update my status right now regards to job hunting and guess what! I am going to be working for a hospital but in their rehab unit as a full time RN starting next month, I am very very grateful to all of your inputs, thoughts and suggestions and could not have possibly done it without your comments and encouragement! so the story went like this...

This Monday, I felt even worse about job hunting, so my original plan was to go from door to door and hand them my resumes, but after second thought, I did not do according to my plan. Instead, I did find a recruter information on that hospital's website and did sent him an email about my interest of working at their company and then I left it alone...

I did not expect any responses back from anyone until all of a sudden, I recieved a call the next day, and over the phone, a manager there told me "there's no hiring right now but if you want to fax your resume here's the number..." so I thought to myself, it's the same BS, so I throw that behind and moved on and it didn't bother me...

Strangely, the next day, the same hospital called me again and they offered me an INTERVIEW (which is yesterday!)

So of course I was happy and surprised and at the same time nervous and unbelieving! I waited patiently until yesterday and I made sure I dress nicely and arrived just on time. The process was that I was asked to fill out forms first and then someone from HR took me to waiting area and I've done this before, I was thinking, it may just be nothing at all anyway, still it didn't bother me much, at that point, I was assuming I will not get the job regardless how I present myself....so I finally met RN Director, she greeted me with a warm smile and brought me to a conference room (just me and her alone). I was a little scared first but they we started conversation. I gave a lot information about myself, no secrets, no hesitation, I trusted her and I was willing to give my honest opinions and I was basicly self-evaluating, yeah...the interview felt like a self-evaluation, it didnt gave me any stress, I enjoyed the process and talked with her for almost 45 minutes. Finally, at the end, she took me to the HR office and they handed me a benefit booklet! yes! a benefit booklet!!! I thought to myself, is this for real???

and guess what, just this morning, I was asleep on my bed until all of a sudden my phone rang, I recognized the number immediately and jumped up in my bed and the manager told me, " You got the offer! and when can you start? "

In my mind, there's a tornado going like crazy and the joy seems out of control, I wanted to scream and tell the world that I am hired but on second thought, I held my joy inside me until I hang up the phone with him. Wow! I thought that was amazing. it's exactly "one door closes on you so another could open" kind of ...

I think I am lucky to find a hospital position and with full benefits and the best thing is, this hospital is the one on the very top of my wish list! which I could not imagine it has happend to me, just now!

I want to thank everyone and wish you guys the same and better in near future.

This experience tought me that always be honest and truthful when you go to an interview and do not be shy about lack of experiences as a RN, and there are jobs from hospitals out there, and they will come to you, and one thing, always always pray and have faith. also, speaking another language helped me in landing this job too.

[mvm2]

So happy for you. Just proves to everyone that it can sometimes be a very hard and even sometimes long road, but if you keep at it your turn will come. Hope everything goes well for you