New grad can't find a job in Portland

zambezi, BSN, RN · May 4, 2005

Have you been calling human resources or been asking to speak with the managers of the departments you are interested in trying? I ask because most of the human resources/recruiters for hospitals that I have delt with are not that efficient and lack communication skills with both you and the department you are applying to (a blanket statement, I know), even if the hospital needs nurses...my advice would be to contact HR both by phone (unless you are already in the area) and with resume. Also send a resume and a phone call to the manager of the unit that you are interested in applying to. I wish you luck...

twarlik · May 5, 2005

Have you been calling human resources or been asking to speak with the managers of the departments you are interested in trying? I ask because most of the human resources/recruiters for hospitals that I have delt with are not that efficient and lack communication skills with both you and the department you are applying to (a blanket statement, I know), even if the hospital needs nurses...my advice would be to contact HR both by phone (unless you are already in the area) and with resume. Also send a resume and a phone call to the manager of the unit that you are interested in applying to. I wish you luck...

I've mainly been applying online through the various hospital websites. The few recruiters I have contacted directly rarely return my phone calls or emails. I'm getting pretty discouraged, but I have some new leads which look promising. Thanks for your advice. :)

BTW, any Portland area nurse managers reading this intersted in hiring a new grad with lots of ICU experience????? :rotfl:

RavenAngel · May 6, 2005

I heard that Salem Hospital is recruiting for BSN grads- they are going for MAGNET status and they need more BSNs to achieve that accreditation. :idea:Salem is about 45 miles from Portland.

Hi folks. I recently graduated with my BSN and am planning on moving to Portland at the end of June. I have been appl ying for jobs since the beginning of March and haven't gotten a single call back. I've applied at literally EVERY hospital in the area. The only thing I've gotten so far is a rejection email from OHSU for their critical care internship. I've read in other posts that there isn't really a nursing shortage in Portland and I'm beginning to question my choice to move there.
So my questions is, am I needlessly worrying or should I consider other options?
Thanks for any feedback.
~Todd

oregonrene · May 6, 2005

The cost of housing in Salem is a lot less expensive than Portland, too. Which is definitely a plus! Salem Hospital is a nice facility.

lady_jezebel · May 6, 2005

Hi folks. I recently graduated with my BSN and am planning on moving to Portland at the end of June. I have been applying for jobs since the beginning of March and haven't gotten a single call back. I've applied at literally EVERY hospital in the area. The only thing I've gotten so far is a rejection email from OHSU for their critical care internship. I've read in other posts that there isn't really a nursing shortage in Portland and I'm beginning to question my choice to move there.
So my questions is, am I needlessly worrying or should I consider other options?
Thanks for any feedback.
~Todd

A little more than a year ago, I moved to Seattle as a new grad from NC. I tried for months to obtain a job in Seattle before moving (ie. while still in NC), but also received not a single call. Like you, I wondered if there was something wrong with me, if they didn't like the fact that my degree was from out of state, or if the market was saturated in Seattle. None of these things turned out to be true. I later learned that no one had called me b/c I still lived in NC!!! As soon as I moved to Seattle, called the recruiters, and said "I'm here now", I was asked to do several interviews & was in fact offered 5 different positions in various local hospitals!! Nursing jobs are sooooo easy to get, since there's a huge need (lots and lots of vacancies) -- as soon as you move to Portland, you'll get more requests for interviews than you even have time for. Don't worry, seriously!! I know what I'm talking about here.

To explain their thinking: They don't want to waste their time with you right now b/c they don't know for certain that you will be moving & can make the commitment. Also, they probably don't want to hire you blindly (ie. from just a phone interview), b/c either you or they may regret the decision later, causing problems down the road. B/c nursing jobs are SO EASY to obtain (many hire the same day or the day after the interview), they will wait until they know for certain that they have someone who can start asap.

twarlik · May 6, 2005

A little more than a year ago, I moved to Seattle as a new grad from NC. I tried for months to obtain a job in Seattle before moving (ie. while still in NC), but also received not a single call. Like you, I wondered if there was something wrong with me, if they didn't like the fact that my degree was from out of state, or if the market was saturated in Seattle. None of these things turned out to be true. I later learned that no one had called me b/c I still lived in NC!!! As soon as I moved to Seattle, called the recruiters, and said "I'm here now", I was asked to do several interviews & was in fact offered 5 different positions in various local hospitals!! Nursing jobs are sooooo easy to get, since there's a huge need (lots and lots of vacancies) -- as soon as you move to Portland, you'll get more requests for interviews than you even have time for. Don't worry, seriously!! I know what I'm talking about here.
To explain their thinking: They don't want to waste their time with you right now b/c they don't know for certain that you will be moving & can make the commitment. Also, they probably don't want to hire you blindly (ie. from just a phone interview), b/c either you or they may regret the decision later, causing problems down the road. B/c nursing jobs are SO EASY to obtain (many hire the same day or the day after the interview), they will wait until they know for certain that they have someone who can start asap.

I am so glad to read this. Some people had suggested that perhaps my locations was a problem. I've actually started including on my applications and cover letters that I'm relocating in June and am willing travel for an interview. I have sort of accepted the fact that I may have to wait until I get out there to get hired.

Thanks for all the great advice everyone. I'll be taking a look at Salem Hospital.

twarlik · May 13, 2005

Hi all. Just want to thank you all for your advice and update you on my status. Well, I took the bull by the horns and started making some phone calls. As of this morning I have three meetings/interviews set up with recruiters, with the possibility of a fourth.

I've been getting the impression that Portland has a TON of new graduate nurses and not nearly enough positions for all of them. One recruiter told me that they weren't hiring as many new grads this year as they have in the past. I'll just keep my fingers crossed and hope that I'm one of the chosen few...

Thanks again!

~Todd

AKav8trix · May 19, 2005

I've been getting the impression that Portland has a TON of new graduate nurses and not nearly enough positions for all of them.

Hehe, yep, that's for sure and I'm one of them. :) There several schools in the metro area that have a bunch of new nurses graduating this month and the next.

It's been encouraging to hear you've been able to get a few interviews. Maybe there's hope for me. I too have a fair amount of ICU experience and would love to start out in critical care...but we'll see what happens. I'm beginning to get the idea that I'd be lucky to even get a med/surg job here in Portland if I don't take the one in the hospital where I currently work as a US/CNA.

Best of luck to you, and I hope your interviews go well :)

smk1, LPN · May 20, 2005

i am surprised to hear this because there are lots of positions listed on the websites for legacy emanuel, kaiser, southwest Wa Medical center and there are lots of positions listed in the paper. Granted many want experience but not all say that. We do have a lot of centrally located nursing schools so i know there isn't really a shortage here, but I would still expect to be able to get hired given the amount of positions listed at all the hospitals around here. Am I just wasting my time and money?

twarlik · May 20, 2005

i am surprised to hear this because there are lots of positions listed on the websites for legacy emanuel, kaiser, southwest Wa Medical center and there are lots of positions listed in the paper. Granted many want experience but not all say that. We do have a lot of centrally located nursing schools so i know there isn't really a shortage here, but I would still expect to be able to get hired given the amount of positions listed at all the hospitals around here. Am I just wasting my time and money?

I was told by one recruiter that if I had a year of experience I could easily get a job out there. I was told by another recruiter that his hospital is committed to interviewing and hiring local grads. Basically my problem is that I'm from out of state.

I don't think you're wasting your time and money. I would try to get a job as a tech at one of the hospitals while you're in school, since that seems to give you a leg up with some of them once you've graduated.

AKav8trix · Jun 2, 2005

I was told by one recruiter that if I had a year of experience I could easily get a job out there. I was told by another recruiter that his hospital is committed to interviewing and hiring local grads. Basically my problem is that I'm from out of state.
I don't think you're wasting your time and money. I would try to get a job as a tech at one of the hospitals while you're in school, since that seems to give you a leg up with some of them once you've graduated.

Todd,

Just curious if you've landed a job yet? Have you been able to get interviews for ICU jobs/internships or just Med/surg or Tele? I'm trying to figure out if I should still keep trying for ICU or just take a med/surg job and wait a year. :)

Thanks a bunch