New Grad: feeling defeated

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

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Anyone else out there having a hard time finding a job as a new grad?? I graduated in May and passed my boards right away. I have been looking for a job for over a month now and all I get are the automated rejection emails. I'm quickly loosing hope. I have been a paramedic for over 5 years and I thought that would help me secure a position, but apparently I was wrong. I have applied to med/surg, ER, PACU, New grad residency, you name it I have applied and yet all I get is "you don't have enough experience." Even with the ER positions when I have all the certs they ask for (BLS, ACLS, PALS, PHTLS, RN)!!! I can intubate people, I can work a code with my eyes closed by myself, I can read EKGs, I can do IVs, I have experience with peds, but yet it's not enough because I don't have experience as a nurse other than school. I know it hasn't been that long, but I didn't think it would be this hard... frustration is starting to settle in and I'm loosing hope :(

Specializes in ER.

Just a silly question---if you are not getting ANY callbacks, perhaps there is a typo or something wrong with your resume. Did you send a resume? Have someone proof it for grammar and typos. As a former department manager, I have seen some terrible resumes---embarrassing to read! Typos, poor grammar, and the like. It could be as simple as rewriting your resume. Most HR people will throw a resume in the trash if it has typos or really bad grammar.

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I grad in december with bsn, passed boards in March, i have experience as med assistant for 2 years and where I currently work as RN now. Been applying to hospital jobs since March. Had a few interviews that did not lead anywhere. I'm on Long Island btw. I applied to every hospital here and city. Ridiculous. I don't personally know anybody to help me get a job. I've had it.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Have you tried talking to the managers in the hospitals you transport to? Especially if you're hospital based als. That should give you an in.

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I know it is frustrating but don't give up!! We need new grads. You are the future of nursing. Here is a good article with some great resume tips that might help.

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I'm not a new grad, but having same problem. No jobs available, yet nursing magazines and newspapers say there are nursing jobs. I don't know who to believe. I am considering looking for work in healthcare, not as a nurse. Lots of people are working into their 70's. I figure I could work longer as a non-nurse; come home less frazzled at night. Less money, but more peace and calm.

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Specializes in GYN/Med-Surg.

You haven't been looking long enough. I graduated last May (2012) and still do not have a job. I've been searching since December though. Keep it up! You obviously have impressive qualifications that many other candidates fresh out of nursing school do not have. Someone, somewhere, will see the value in hiring you. Just keep looking and applying.

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It is pathetic that you can't find a job. Try volunteering in any capacity at the facilities where you want to work. I hate to say it, but it's true.... it's who you know, not what you know. Try finding chapters of local professional nursing organizations and attend their meetings... You don't mention where you live, or whether you are willing to relocate? Some areas are flooded with graduate nurses do to proximity to schools cranking out grads and those grads want to stay in the area. Likewise, some facilities prefer to hire travel nurses. While the cost per hour is more, in the long run, it may be cheaper for them due to no fringes, and HR hassles. Its all about the bottom line even with non-profits. ObamaCare is making it worse. So for all of those who thought that would be great for nursing... the handwriting was on the wall... so you might want to rethink that.

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Specializes in hospice, HH, LTC, ER,OR.

Yes I have been an LPN for 4 years. I have been licensed as an RN for 17 days. I had my first interview yesterday. I was offered less money than I make now. I have another interview on Monday. I pray that it goes well. Also the irony of having a classmate that failed boards and with no experience get hired at a hospital and I cant! It seems as if the automatic rejection email return just as soon as you submit the job application. Hugs and Good Luck :)!

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Specializes in oncology, MS/tele/stepdown.
It seems as if the automatic rejection email return just as soon as you submit the job application.

At least you were getting rejection letters. I heard nothing! I was actually excited to get a rejection email for one job because it meant someone took the time to look at my application. For the rest of them, I heard nothing, and wasn't told anything of value from human resources. I'm so glad I was able to get a job, because the process is a nightmare.

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I graduated a year ago and many of my classmates have yet to find a job.

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try working in LTC, it's A LOT easier for you to get hired in one than at a hospital, at least in my area it is. Then take that experience from LTC and apply at hospitals. Deal is you gotta start somewhere, and that's at the bottom.

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Specializes in Registered Nurse.
I'm not a new grad, but having same problem. No jobs available, yet nursing magazines and newspapers say there are nursing jobs. I don't know who to believe. I am considering looking for work in healthcare, not as a nurse. Lots of people are working into their 70's. I figure I could work longer as a non-nurse; come home less frazzled at night. Less money, but more peace and calm.

Ditto for me. However, there are not many jobs in healthcare interested in hiring RN's to perform in areas other than nursing. I'm sure part of this lack of jobs, is the horrible economy. I don't

expect the same pay as an RN for working in another area. I would accept a serious pay cut, but not minimum wage. Fortunately, I have a full time job as an RN. As much as I hate it, I will keep it for now. I don't want to be unemployed. It used to be, that an RN who wanted a change in specialty, could do so. However, now employers have a host of requirements for employment. I have the BSN, but no call backs. In my state, there is employment in long term care facilities. I've heard working conditions can be more than challenging in long term facilities. I sometimes work in long term care facilities to educate nurses, case management.... so I see the shortages. I wonder how many people would enter the nursing field, if they knew they had to work long term care facilities. The reality is that the OR, ICU, ER, or "dream job" is not available , so do you still want to be a nurse now?

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