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 Pain, critical care, administration, med.
I am a director at a large hospital on the east coast. It is very tough right now with slim pickings for new graduates. Hospitals are in a hiring freeze and if not they want BSN. Healthcare is in such turmoil with volumes decreasing,patients having higher deductibles and reimbursement decreases it makes hospitals cringe. There is no answer except to keep at it. Even a job in a subacute facility or nursing home. Gain some experience then look again. I wish you luck!
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
About 2 decades ago, I had the same situation and my preceptor with whom I kept in touch with gave me a great advice, "Apply for the graveyard shift and get your foot in the door." It worked like a charm. Within 6 months, an opening became available for the morning shift,
and guess what? I guess you don't have to guess that.
Sorry to read this maine. I think it will be easier to get a job in long term care especially for a new grad. Many hospitals don't want to put new grads in ER, PACU, etc. simply because the grads are new. Start in LTC and work your way up.
I'm starting to realize that getting a job at LTC may be the only way new grads get a job in some areas. However I live in Fort Lauderdale and it seems to be getting worse here too. I'm not a nurse yet, but have many friends who work for Broward General and Memorial Regional and two years ago when they finished, they got jobs right away, and not with the scholarships either. One got a job at night at Broward making 35/hr plus shift differential, the other was 30/hr for morning, and another got 45/hr for work in the ER at night, all with no previous experience besides clinicals! Hearing that made me very hopeful that work would be plentiful, but every job posting I see says the same "1 year of experience", making me very nervous when I finish. I don't think it's fair that you should have to know someone to start your CAREER when you bust your hump in nursing school or any other degree for that matter in order to start. Pretty soon trade schools will have far more students, because getting a degree for other's on the outside looking in, won't seem that appealing anymore.
I felt the same way when I graduated in may 2012. What landed me an interview was waking up early in the morning and going to different floors at the hospital that I had already sent an application to and asking to speak with the nurse manager. I would then hand her a paper copy of my résumé and say "hi my name is Larry Wood. I submitted an application online, but I just wanted to drop off this application in person and show my face". Believe it or not, sometimes this can give you that winning edge. At least two nursing managers called me after that to give me an interview soon and I was employed by July after I really got motivated and started doing this. One manager told me "I'm glad you came here in person, I see this long list of applicants on my computer and I may not call them back"
Yeah it does seem like location and persistence is the key to finding a job nowadays. Almost all of my jobs have been at areas that no one wanted to live in.
As the previous poster mentioned, physically handing your resume to the nurse manager or director makes a huge difference. Persistent follow up on the phone also gives you an edge. Just merely putting in an app won't cut it anymore.
As the previous poster mentioned, physically handing your resume to the nurse manager or director makes a huge difference. Persistent follow up on the phone also gives you an edge. Just merely putting in an app won't cut it anymore.
If anybody here decides to go the route of personally handing a resume/cover letter to the nurse manager, please find out from somebody if that is ok to do. Where I live there are 2 major hospital systems, and both screen applicants through a recruiter before the nurse manager is aware of who the potential candidates may be. Both employers also state that applications are only accepted through their online system, so directly contacting a nurse manager with an application could ruin any chance you might have had at landing an interview.
I felt the same way when I graduated in may 2012. What landed me an interview was waking up early in the morning and going to different floors at the hospital that I had already sent an application to and asking to speak with the nurse manager. I would then hand her a paper copy of my résumé and say "hi my name is Larry Wood. I submitted an application online, but I just wanted to drop off this application in person and show my face". Believe it or not, sometimes this can give you that winning edge. At least two nursing managers called me after that to give me an interview soon and I was employed by July after I really got motivated and started doing this. One manager told me "I'm glad you came here in person, I see this long list of applicants on my computer and I may not call them back"
Was this a "new grad RN" position, or a general staff RN position? The reason I ask, is because there are not many new grad programs in my area, so I've resorted to applying for staff RN positions that I don't necessarily qualify for because of experience. I'm hoping between applying for anything and everything and meeting these managers, it will show them I'm determined and willing to go the extra mile. I'm just hoping this will still work even if it's not a job posting for a new grad.
I work at a small hospital in the Ft Worth area (north). A lot of hospitals in the Dallas, Ft Worth area hire new grads. Even into ER and ICUs. They do prefer BSNs, but they are even hiring LVNs. These hospitals like new grads because they can pay them so much less than experienced nurses.
My ICU is short so many nurses it is painful. Just hired about 14 new nurses and need more. But don't have enough experienced staff to train them. We have nurses that only have 1 year exp training new grads.
My advice, if you are willing to move is too pull up a list of all hospitals in north Texas, then look at their open jobs and start calling or applying.
Just know that as a nurse in Texas you can be let go at any time, for any/no reason. And you will be paid less than other places. That said, I know nurses from Alabama, Tennessee, etc that come to Texas cause the wages are higher.
I do like my job and the people I work with, so that's a bonus.
And I must say that I love Texas and the people are very kind and warm hearted.
If anybody here decides to go the route of personally handing a resume/cover letter to the nurse manager, please find out from somebody if that is ok to do. Where I live there are 2 major hospital systems, and both screen applicants through a recruiter before the nurse manager is aware of who the potential candidates may be. Both employers also state that applications are only accepted through their online system, so directly contacting a nurse manager with an application could ruin any chance you might have had at landing an interview.
Just about every hospital states that applications are only accepted online. And yea, prior to physically handing in your resume, you should already have your online app in.
In this economy, if theres nothing risked then theres nothing gained. To get a job you have to be aggressive and persistent and continually making follow up calls to the nurse manager or even director of the department that your applying for on top of physically handing your resume to them if possible.
As far as it ruining your chances, for every 1 person who is black listed from a hospital for making too many follow up calls or physically handing in a resume, there are hundreds of other applicants who just put in an app and don't even get a call back. Jobs are too tight, competition is very stiff. The only edge that new grads have nowadays is to put a face and voice behind that app thats underneath a pile of hundreds.
Just about every hospital states that applications are only accepted online. And yea, prior to physically handing in your resume, you should already have your online app in.
In this economy, if theres nothing risked then theres nothing gained. To get a job you have to be aggressive and persistent and continually making follow up calls to the nurse manager or even director of the department that your applying for on top of physically handing your resume to them if possible.
As far as it ruining your chances, for every 1 person who is black listed from a hospital for making too many follow up calls or physically handing in a resume, there are hundreds of other applicants who just put in an app and don't even get a call back. Jobs are too tight, competition is very stiff. The only edge that new grads have nowadays is to put a face and voice behind that app thats underneath a pile of hundreds.
I agree. I'm not sure how personally handing in a résumé will "ruin" your chances. Maybe it won't get you anywhere, but at least you tried. Definitely can't imagine a manager not picking an applicant solely because the person showed motivation to introduce themselve.
I am having the same issue finding a job. I graduated a YEAR ago in August and got my RN license in March. I live in NJ and all the hospitals want BSN's and/or one year experience. I can't afford to go back to school yet, and desperately want a job. I'm willing to work anywhere.
lmccrn62, MSN, RN
384 Posts
I am a director at a large hospital on the east coast. It is very tough right now with slim pickings for new graduates. Hospitals are in a hiring freeze and if not they want BSN. Healthcare is in such turmoil with volumes decreasing,patients having higher deductibles and reimbursement decreases it makes hospitals cringe. There is no answer except to keep at it. Even a job in a subacute facility or nursing home. Gain some experience then look again. I wish you luck!