New Grad, Can't Get Hired?

[Justineqt]

Hello!

I am a RN-BSN graduate from an accredited school of nursing class of 2016. I moved across the country upon graduation and got licensed in my new state in February 2017 (It took a while due to multiple long issues with the BON).

I graduated with honors and have 1,200 clinical hours and a 300 hour capstone. I have multiple letters of reference, a nice resume, and a nice cover letter. I've had old professors and preceptors look over all of my resumes/papers, and they say everything looks great. I also feel like I do well in social situations, ace all of my interviews (according to the people who interview me?) and generally people take a liking to me.

I have applied to most places within an hour of me, every position, every availability, everything I can find. I'm applying for about ~30 positions a day, and about 50% automatically tell me no. I also always check to see when new positions have opened that I can apply to. I get called in for interviews for a few positions...but not many. Interviews seem to go well, they act very pleased with me and interested in me, tell me they can't wait to see me next, then I get letters that another candidate was hired. Its been four months so far and none of my interviews have come to fruition. I am worried I will have to apply for a license in another state and start searching for jobs elsewhere.

One thing I keep getting is "We're looking for someone with more experience", but my last interview said they preferred New grads. I did two interviews (nurse manager and peer), and shadowed with them. The way they were speaking to me it sounded like they had already decided to hire me. They told me to look for a call from them the following week. Instead I received a letter stating "another application has been chosen...".

Is there anything I can do? Anything I am doing wrong? I feel I am getting so discouraged and stressed. I spend hours prepping for every interview, and the interviews keep going so well but then I don't get hired. I am so excited to start working, even anywhere, I don't care at this point, but every day I check my application statuses and see "another candidate has been chosen".

[Newnurse9999]

Any update on your Job Search?

[nhkimnurse]

I am a new grad this upcoming May 2018, and planning to my hometown NYC.. Seems like it is a terrible idea after reading all the comments above. This is last years post and am pretty sure the market has gotten a lot worse. I am looking for residency/fellowship programs for new grad but as many have quoted, it is highly competitive and I do not have my high hopes on it since I have no 'official hospital experience as RN.' Would you be able to advice me on which home health facility I can look up and apply? Although my goal is to get a job in the hospital at the end of the day, I don't want to risk spending 7-8 months fighting with hospital's website/recruiters.

Thanks!!!

I graduated from a nursing school in Midwest then moved to NYC. I realized it is all about connections. I applied everywhere and I got accepted from home health ( not hospital). I know everyone who apply get accepted lol they are desperate of finding RNs. I worked my ass off there even though it's is more like babysitter, but I tried to learn anything and try to ask question to my RN educator and learn whatever I can. 5 months later of being hired as home health, my manager at home health told me to give resume, 4 days later I got call for interview and got hired from one of the major hospital in NYC.

from my experience and from what I see in my hospital, it is all about connection. Take any jobs and do best in it. Get closer to nurse manager and educator. Always shows your motivation to learn. Always try to be likable.

I had no connection in medical fields so I needed to build it on my own.

You can do it too!