new grad no job DEPRESSION!

[anwurito]

okay seriously im starting to feel SO depressed because its been two weeks since ive put in like 1000000 applications! and nothing! not one call lol. okay i know its the holidays and all but GEEZ! lol not even a couple emails ? =[ whats everyones expirience like with jobs when you were a new grad?

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Your profile indicates you are in Las Vegas. You are in a high-unemployment, glutted city that was impacted badly by the recession. Yes, nursing positions were affected along with the jobs in food service, bartending, and the hospitality industry.

To be fair, you've only been searching for two weeks. January is not a stable month for hiring because managers and HR are still attempting to sort out the degree of attrition and turnover they've experienced over the holidays. You have several options:

1. Pound the pavement. Apply to every nursing home, home health company, hospice, private duty company, clinic, jail, and group home in the city. Apply during business hours (Mon through Fri from 9 to 5) while dressed nicely. This may result in an on-the-spot interview.

2. Make more friends who work in healthcare. Since 70 percent of all jobs are never advertised, you need friends who work in healthcare settings to put in a good word for you. It's amazing when your job application moves to the top of the pile because you know someone important who vouched for you.

3. Finally, be willing to move out of state if possible. Avoid glutted places such as California, NYC, and most major metro areas. The so-called nursing shortage is in places where no one wants to live such as North Dakota, Wyoming, etc.

Good luck to you.

[sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN]

first there is no NURSING SHORTAGE!

second you are in a population affected by recession. THE COMMUTER gave you excellent advise.

walk in every LTC/SNF within 45 mikes of your home and apply.

It is the holidays, they will probably be taking no action on applications until next week.....Your best choice is to physically , and looking professional, walk into every LTC/SNF near your home......You have no idea how many times when I was the DON, something would happen, someone quit, or had to be terminated, there was a staffing crisis, and the nurse that walked in the door, was reasonably bright, solved my problem and was hired......:)

[amoLucia]

And if you do a walk-in, ALWAYS be very, very nice to the receptionist, who is probably the first person to make an opinion of you.

I worked one place many years ago where the receptionist would give a heads-up call to any dept when she saw a good possible candidate. I pretty much hired every CNA she called about.

That was back in the day when there was a TRUE NURSE shortage and NO nurse every left WITHOUT an interview, even a preliminary one by SOMEONE in nsg administration after the receptionist called. The DON made the final interview.

So be nice to the front desk staff.

[Alex Egan, LPN, EMT-B]

Ahh yes the days of on the spot interviews. Long gone I'm afraid.

OP you have good advice. It's not always this hard once your experienced you will be able to move around easier. Land that first job and hold on for 6mo to 1 year. Even if it means relocating temporary for that first job.

[THELIVINGWORST, ASN, RN]

Local here, it's not nearly as bad here as other places.

Now in this town, LPNs work only in offices or LTCs/home care/ALFs. So look there.

[sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN]

south east texas we are hiring

[Nibbles1]

I turned in 33 applications before my first phone call. Took 6 months to find a full time job. This was northeast Texas in 2010.

[bethann27]

Again, there is NO nursing shortage. This is the reason for the push for higher education ...it's an easy fix for all those grads being dumped out of school that can afford to (or are willing to finance) continued education.

Pound the pavement for the jobs that are generally considered less desirable or continue your education. That's just how it is for now.

By the way ...one thing that has a sweet and sincere impact on HR is to follow up with a handwritten note.

Good luck!

[Ella26, BSN, RN]

When I was an LPN, I passed boards on 6/25/09 and had a job at a Detox/Chemical Health facility by 8/10/09. But, that was also like 5 years ago. Just be open to whatever job, do not limit yourself. Try, home care, jails, private duty, group homes, clinics, pain clinics. I'm not sure what your area is like, but just be persistent.

[PD82]

Graduated and passed NCLEX 12/19, put in about 10 online applications- with the holidays I didn't go crazy because I didn't want to get forgotten. After new years I noticed a lot more job postings. I've gotten several callbacks, and offered a couple clinic jobs that I turned down because I felt they were more of an MA position. I've walked into a few LTC and got interviewed on the spot-I highly recommended doing this because you can scope out the facility. ...There was 1 facility that looked great on the outside, but once I walked in I turned right back around and walked out! Go with your gut!

Also, call ahead places to see if they are hiring first, so your not wasting your gas. The jobs ARE there, you have to go find them, don't just fill out the online application and wait.

Good luck!! It CAN be done!

[toxicmommy]

I was really lucky I graduated in July and had an interview the next day at one of my clinical sites, I actually opted to deny the position because the hours wouldn't work for me. I ended up getting my first job within a month of passing NCLEX at a local jail,which strange enough I really like. I also work PRN at a local home group for people with developmental disabilities. LTC is not my cup of tea I'm more into the psyh and detox type stuff. I'm in MA and there aren't a ton of LPN positions that fit my exact needs and I'm picky but none of the students from my class had any issues finding jobs. Good Luck!