100+ new grad applications and counting...

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Hi, I'm a Dec '08 BSN grad looking for a new grad position in the SF Bay Area. Earlier this week, I hit the "Big 100" as in I've submitted 100 applications for New Grad and Staff Nurse-1 positions with local hospitals. So far, I've gotten interest from 1 hospital. I graduated with honors, have approximately 1200 hours of hospital clinical time, BLS/ACLS, but don't know what else to do.

Went to a job fair today (Kaiser Modesto) and wasn't allowed to even give my resume to any hiring managers because only nurses with at least a year of med-surg experience were being allowed into the conference center to meet with hiring managers.

What do you have to do, to get your first nursing job? Without at least 6 months of experience in acute care, you are unemployable as a nurse. And no one wants to give you a chance to get that experience. Nursing pre-requisites were hard, and nursing school was harder, and the NCLEX was harder still.

But I never thought that once I overcame had overcome all of that, that I might not be able to find a job.

Nursing shortage? It's all a bunch of lies. :cry:

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Specializes in Med Surg, Telemetry, Long Term Care.

I have the same problem too so what I did is apply first in a skilled nursing facility.

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Specializes in O.R., ED, M/S.

You see, your first mistake was thinking you could get that job in an area so saturated with new grads it just oozes! The Bay area is the first place, it seems, that everyone in the country wants to go and work. Employers today don't care if you have a BSN, ADN or even a MSN. Graduating with honors means squat to them. Clinical hours in a nursing program does not translate into actual experience. What employers want today is experienced nurses with practical knowledge of the area they are interviewing in. This doesn't mean you are really less qualified, it means they don't have the money or resources to commit to training you. They want someone they KNOW will hit the floor running. You answered your own question in the first line on why you can't find a job, "new grad looking for a job in SF Bay area. If you look at all of the posts concerning the inability to find work after graduation it will mostly point to people looking for work in this area or even San Diego. You are in the same boat as many, many other new grads and to tell you the truth I am not sure what the answer is. Staying positive and not giving up is probably a way to success. You have shown somewhat more determination than many others by your persistence, 100 apps! If possible look anywhere else for work and you might just find something. The Bay area will always be there, jobs might not. Good luck!!!!!

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Specializes in Trauma.

I don't know what to say. It took me a year and three months to find a job and that was from LAST October 2007 till December 2008 last year.

Maybe you don't want to move, but in other parts of the country, they're having a nursing shortage still. Maybe move for a little while until you get the experience you need and then apply again.

100 applications/resumes is a lot and with only 1 interest? I remember in my interview at my current, the nurse recruiter picked up a BOX of resumes and applications and said, "we are inundated with resumes; we get 6-10 per day and we haven't even looked at the ones from a month ago yet."

Stay focused and persevere. It's what I did; it was tough. Thankfully it worked out in the end.

Good luck!!!

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I feel your pain MBA2RN.... you are not alone...

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Why don't you try this at least you will be working and gaining experience (and a paycheck).

I truly don't believe that no one will hire you for a med surg position if you work SNF or another area for a few months or a year. I think it's better than sitting at home while the expiration date for your student loan grace period draws ever closer. :twocents:

I have the same problem too so what I did is apply first in a skilled nursing facility.
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It's hard when you have competition with other graduates in the area and also new foreign grads all applying for those new grad programs...From what I heard almost every hospital in the south bay area is having a hiring freeze and including new grad programs...If you currently work within, your chances are better...Good luck to everyone.

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Do a search here at allnurses for new grad SF Bay area. This is an area that has been notoriously glutted with new grads. You will probably have to move to get experience. I talked to a new grad that had applied at EVERY hospital within a 150 radius of the Bay and never got an interview.

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Specializes in Pediatric ICU.

Have you considered moving to a different area? They need nurses in Humboldt Co. Try Mad River or St. Josephs...

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SullyRN- I am sure they need nurses but the question is will they take new grads. Every hospital in the bay area has openings for nurses but none of them will take new grads. I appreciate the info though and will take a look!!

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When you get tired of wasting your time, pack your car and go somewhere where there is a job waiting for you.

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Specializes in Pediatric ICU.
SullyRN- I am sure they need nurses but the question is will they take new grads. Every hospital in the bay area has openings for nurses but none of them will take new grads. I appreciate the info though and will take a look!!

Many new grads from my graduating class got hired on at Mad River and St. Joseph's Eureka. Sutter Coast in Crescent City hires new grads too. I was offered new grad positions at Fremont/Rideout in Yuba City and Enloe in Chico.

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