New CNA graduate needing help!

GoosbyLPN · Sep 4, 2008

Keep trying and don't give up!!! A nsg home will usually hire inexperienced CNA's. That's where I got my big break..... :up:

blackdragonfly · Sep 4, 2008

I am sure a LTC facility will hire you on. I got my CNA in May and started working at a LTC facility last month. I waited till it was a good time to leave my old job. But I had no prior experience in any healthcare field but they hired me right away since I got my certification. You will probably go through an orientation with them first, where you are basically buddying up with the CNAs there already. Orientation can last from 3 days to 2 weeks depending on the facility. This gives you enough time to see how they run things, get familiar with the place and the residents. I've been doing it for a month now, and I'm getting the hang of it! Good luck!

rancelumsden · Sep 5, 2008

Could be any number of reasons. First, job market may be tight where you are. I'm in Chicago area and jobs, including for inexperienced, are plentiful.

2nd, are you going about looking for jobs 'correctly'. Most LTC's will allow you to fill out an application. I went door-to-door doing this plus online. I must have sent resumes to at least 50 places within a few weeks.

3rd, are you getting interviews and not getting jobs, or nothing at all? If people are willing to interview you, knowing you have no experience, and you do not get a job, then you may very well have issues with your interviewing technique. There are thousands of articles, and books, dealing with this subject. You need to have a well written, grammatically correct resume. When you fill out job applications, you need neat writing or printing, proper spelling and grammar. You need to be sure you present yourself well in an interview. Dress, mannerisms, etc. As I said, a huge amount of how-to interview info is available.

This is a subject I really talk about a great deal as I've had 3 major career changes, and used to change jobs a great deal. I've interviewed at least 100 times over 30 years and had some training in interviewing. Many people don't think of all these details. They merely 'show up' someplace not realizing they are not presenting a good impression.

Stereowire · Sep 12, 2008

I was wondering if you had put any applications in as well. Lacking experience usually isn't a hug deal when a facility hires a C.N.A. Put some in at places you are interested in and I'm sure you'll be contacted.

sonomala · Sep 12, 2008

I agree with the parts from other posters about not giving up and making sure at the interview your making the right impression. Good ideas from great people :)

Two other thoughts to consider, your job history and sadly in this day and age your credit rating. Most employers are now routinely checking credit history. Yours is probably awesome, because all cnas are awesome :) but at least once a year its always a good idea for anyoneto scan your credit history and make sure its accurate.

Oh and sadly it coule be your age, theres a lot of age discrimination against young people. Gather your references, bang on the door of every single ltc and hospital around you and eventually you'll find something :)

samsam22, CNA · Sep 13, 2008

When I finished my CNA program in may I had a hard time finding a job as well! I am young like you are too... im 18.

What I did is applied to a ton of home health agencys, they will usually take you with 0 experience, so i got a place to hire me, worked there for a while, then applied to some hospitals and other home heath agencys

Now I have a ton of places calling me offering me a lot of work and I cant even decide where i want to work(not that im complaining :wink2: ).

So basically you just gotta get your foot in the door *somewhere* just beg for a job, thats what i did for my first one, and be REALLY nice and positive at interviews and you should have no problem. GL :clown:

rancelumsden · Sep 14, 2008

.....So basically you just gotta get your foot in the door *somewhere* just beg for a job, thats what i did for my first one, and be REALLY nice and positive at interviews and you should have no problem. GL

Exactly right. Once you're in 'the business', in any capacity, and you're working making some money, you have the ability to then decide what you REALLY want to do (if that first job is not it). Be careful about frequent job changing, however. Keep a job at least 6 months and get what you can out of it as far as experience. Ideally, a year someplace make you look like a more 'stable' employee to perspective employers.

keenansmommy · Sep 17, 2008

Hey, don't give up! I challenged the state and passed the CNA exam on a Saturday (after several months of studying, of course!) and applied for a job on Monday and was offered a great position, making more money than I had expected, considering I had no experience and had challenged the state exam.

You can do it! Apply at Nursing Homes/ LTC facitilites. The pay is usually more that at Assisted Living Facilities, because you don't have to be a CNA to work there. They are called RCTs (Resident Care Techs) and the pay is about $5.00 less and hour than what I make. I hope this helps and Good Luck!