Need some advice - Looking for first job!

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Specializes in school nursing.

Hey everyone - I need some advice on where to find my first nursing job. I have been putting out applications and resumes since I graduated from nursing school with my BSN and passed my NCLEX exam. I was in the top 10% of my class, made the Dean's list, and have already had one of my essays published and recieved a cash award for the article - it won a NY state wide contest. I am the 5th member of my graduating class to pass the NCLEX (1st try - 75 questions). I have had only 3 calls for interviews so far - and NO JOB OFFERS. I have been honest in that I am willing to take any position - any shift - any facility. I just want to practice my nursing. Salary is not an issue for me - just want full time work with benefits for my family - in or out of the hospital. I dress well, am clean and well groomed and hold an MBA degree with many years of professional success in my background. I have excellent references, no drug or alcohol issues, and am a hard worker and play well with others. WHY IS NO ONE INTERESTED IN ME? Please help!!

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How did your interviews go?

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

How long has it been since your interviews? How did you "leave it" at the end of the interviews? Are you sure they are not going to offer you jobs?

What is the job market like in your area? Are there lots of open positions? Are hospitals fairly well-staffed an not looking to hire? etc. etc. etc.

I think we need a little more information. Where I live, someone like you would have no trouble getting a job unless you really blew the interview.

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Specializes in school nursing.
How did your interviews go?

Interviews all went well - left off with "we will let you know". I have followed up with apropriate thank you letters to all involved. Other than the one "we will keep your resume on file for up to 2 years" the other 3 positins are still being advertised in the local newspaper as looking for graduate nurses - with sign on bonus - education incentives, ect.

I started the job search 6 weeks prior to graduation - Back in March 2007. Last interview was August 7th. Have kept in touch with each contact on a bi-weekly basis. Many classmates have been hired - I have been told positins have been filled by "more qualified" candidates. All my clinical teachers wrote flattering reviews of my nursing skills - never made any errors in 2 years of clinicals. I just don't understand why I have been passed over. Now my student loan payments are comming due - and my student health insurance has run out. I NEED a job to support my wife and daughter.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Wow. I can understand why you are concerned. There must be some reason you are "turning people off," but I can't say what it is. Do you know anyone (such as a former instructor) with any connections in the local hospitals who can put in a good word for you in addition to providing a formal reference. Sometimes, an actual personal contact from a former instructor can get a hiring manager's attention. Also, such a person might be able to get some inside information as to why you are not being hired. Finally, such a person might be able to better assess how you come across to perspective employers in light of the local job market.

Are you willing to relocate?

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Are you sending out a lot of resumes? When I looked for jobs, I usually sent out a lot of resumes everyday..I looked in the internet..I usually got calls for an interview..

Even for a new grad like yourself, you should be getting calls for interviews..I would keep on sending resumes out, at least 2 everday...That is what I did when I was looking for a job..

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Specializes in school nursing.
Are you sending out a lot of resumes? When I looked for jobs, I usually sent out a lot of resumes everyday..I looked in the internet..I usually got calls for an interview..

Even for a new grad like yourself, you should be getting calls for interviews..I would keep on sending resumes out, at least 2 everday...That is what I did when I was looking for a job..

I will put it this way - the good folks at the local post office know my daughter and I by our first names - that is how often we are in to buy stamps and mail resumes. Never cultivated a "mentor" relationship with any of my teachers. Most were interested in the female students less than half my age - and either ignored me - or questioned why I was in the traditional student's program in the first place. The "are you lost - sir - this is a NURSING class?" got rather tiring after 2 years. Because of this I learned to be impeccable in my technique and politically correct in all my exchanges - written or verbal.

I would be happy to relocate - but in the present housing market - it will probably take several years to sell our home in order to free up the funds to buy another. The buyer trafic is just not here at present. In the mean time I need to work to provide for my family. Any ideas?

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Do you think you can send out more than three resumes a day, everyday? Since the need for RNs are great, they will call you for an interview..More interviews means more chances..Your last interview was last month, that is very slow in terms of getting a job..

You will eventually find a nursing job..Mose people who are unemployed feel like you..I know I did when I was unemployed..

If things get very bad and there is no job, you can expand your search because you have a MBA degree...

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Specializes in school nursing.
Do you think you can send out more than three resumes a day, everyday? Since the need for RNs are great, they will call you for an interview..More interviews means more chances..Your last interview was last month, that is very slow in terms of getting a job..

You will eventually find a nursing job..Mose people who are unemployed feel like you..I know I did when I was unemployed..

If things get very bad and there is no job, you can expand your search because you have a MBA degree...

All I ever made with my MBA degree as a CEO of a international computer company was MONEY. I came out of my retirement to make a difference in peoples lives who are suffering. If I wanted to work like I was working - I would probably have more job offers than I could respond to - simply based on past success and business contacts. I want to do something different - I want to be the RN Nurse I am very well trained to be. All I ask is a chance - I am not afraid to get my hands dirty. Just tired of hearing about how everyone else is "better qualified" to be a nurse than I am. Funny - we all took the same classes - why do they have jobs and I don't? I have my licence already - and most of my class has yet to take the NCLEX. This seems to make NO DIFFERENCE! My wife is really getting upset about the whole situation - I had convinced her to sell our beach house over 2 years ago - and move to a place that does not have a shore in driving distance so I could persue my dream - Becoming a professional nurse and making a difference in the lives of my patients. Now I am in an area that does not need my nursing skills - and a housing market that makes selling problematic. I am concerned that if I can't get this new career rolling soon - it will cause marital issues - or worse.

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