New Grad Application Rejection

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Hi guys,

I am looking for a little insight here. I am a new grad nurse with an AD, currently enrolled in a Bachelor's Program. I recently passed my boards and I am in the market for a job. I don't have any nursing experience whatsoever, besides my clinicals. I have been a bartender for years. I have applied to several different jobs recently and within hours or a day my application status says "Reviewed; Not Selected". I am a little frustrated as they don't give me a reason for this, therefore I don't know if my application was denied because my resume/cover letter or for any other reason. I have applied to jobs that I am qualified for according to their job listing. So my question is, is this normal to get rejected like that within hours? Do new nurses typically have to apply to many many positions before they get an interview? I guess I am just a little confused and surprised because for all these years I kept hearing that nurses are in such a high demand, I won't have a problem getting a job, yet it seems like the opposite. Thank you for your input!

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12 minutes ago, CBerries said:

I guess I am just a little confused and surprised because for all these years I kept hearing that nurses are in such a high demand, I won't have a problem getting a job, yet it seems like the opposite.

Although it does differ region to region the "nursing shortage" is by and large a myth. Especially if you are looking in large cities.

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I am looking in the Twin-Cities - Minnesota area, if that matters at all.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Also, what types of jobs are you applying to? Is it possible you are applying to big hospitals and/or specialty units that might prefer that their new grads have BSN's?

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I have applied mostly to hospital jobs. It is true that they "prefer" BSN and experience, although it is not "required". I have thought about applying to a nursing home, however, this is hard for me to do as I would make significantly less money than I make now as a bartender. And not to mention that I have been told by a few people that long-term care experience won't necessarily help you get a hospital job. There are many hospital listings around me, some have been up for weeks or months, which means the positions haven't been filled, however I keep getting rejected.

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Specializes in school nurse.

Also, keep in mind that some organizations have perpetual postings and sometimes are not actively seeking to fill them.

Being a new grad can be difficult, because of the experience catch-22. (How can you get experience if nobody gives you the chance?)

Also, the nursing shortage myth is largely a...myth. (in spite of geographic pockets with jobs)

That being said, would you relocate? Some people on this site have shared areas where hospitals are looking for help...

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Unfortunately you are going to widen your cast. You're in a huge metro area with probably dozens of nursing schools pumping out BSN's who were CNAs during school also applying for those coveted acute care positions. Can you move?

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I am definitely not looking to move out of state, however I would be willing to move somewhere else in Minnesota.

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How long have you been applying? This time of the year when I graduated, it took me 2 months to get a job and I had several years experience of working in healthcare. The market was so infiltrated with new grads applying for jobs. A few people I know got great jobs a few months later when the market was less saturated. You could always do a nursing home for a couple months and continue to applying to hospitals. But I also reccommend getting out of a nursing home as fast as you can once you get a good offer.

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There might be a small town with a hospital that would help you get your foot in the acute care door.

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Are there any new grad residencies in your area? That would also be a good way of getting your foot in the door. If you're willing to relocate around the state, start looking at areas that are outside of the metro area. Small town hospitals are always looking for nurses.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
5 hours ago, CBerries said:

Hi guys,

I am looking for a little insight here. I am a new grad nurse with an AD, currently enrolled in a Bachelor's Program. I recently passed my boards and I am in the market for a job. I don't have any nursing experience whatsoever, besides my clinicals. I have been a bartender for years. I have applied to several different jobs recently and within hours or a day my application status says "Reviewed; Not Selected". I am a little frustrated as they don't give me a reason for this, therefore I don't know if my application was denied because my resume/cover letter or for any other reason. I have applied to jobs that I am qualified for according to their job listing. So my question is, is this normal to get rejected like that within hours? Do new nurses typically have to apply to many many positions before they get an interview? I guess I am just a little confused and surprised because for all these years I kept hearing that nurses are in such a high demand, I won't have a problem getting a job, yet it seems like the opposite. Thank you for your input!

It's probably your resume. Resumes these days are screened by a "bot" that's looking for all of the right keywords. The "right" key words are different for each job, so you need a resume with the proper key words for each job. sucks, doesn't it!

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