New Grad Job Hunting

favthing, APRN · Dec 7, 2011

At the facility where I work, it is ALL about timing as to hiring nurses. It appears that if there is a need for a nurse, the first and most convenient applicant who 'walks in the door' gets the job. The more I'm observing (a couple of years, along with training most of the new nurses), I'm seeing it's not about quality or anything particularly special (we've let in some pretty questionnable ones, let me tell you), it's about the luck of timing. We hire new grads and we hire nurses with >20 years experience, no difference as long as they SHOW they can handle the rigors of the job. Just my personal observations.

My take, don't give up. Hospitals are quite regimented with hiring, and will likely keep your application for a potential in the future, but for the smaller places, keep applying and don't give up. Hiring is extremely regional right now, down to a certain part of the same area hiring and not the other. One thing, though, show up in the way of re-applying if necessary, but don't be a 'pain'. If you are bothering them now, you will be bothering them if they hire you is their thought. Just nicely keep presenting yourself; don't demand from them a response, for example.

And act 'as if', don't present as a new nurse even if you are in reality. Of course, facts on paper are as they are, but present yourself and talk yourself "up" as if you fit in already,...that is WHEN you do land that interview. Don't act desperate, even if you are.

As for the timing of being hired, again it depends on the need. It could be the next week you start training.

Broadway404, ASN, RN · Dec 7, 2011

I have been applying since July. i have about 500 applications out there. I have gotten actual feedback from a warm body on ONE application. A handful of other responses were sent by email. Seems like the recruiters and the unit mangers who interview you don't know how to communicate very well. I send a thank you for the interview and make follow-up calls. nothing. I try to be sure to get email addresses when I do interview. It's very frustrating. Just knowing if you did or didn't or weren't consider for a position helps you to decide what to do next rather than hanging in Limbo.

werkinit · Dec 7, 2011

I don't know where you're located, but in California the job-market is very contracted, over-saturated with new grads, and VERY competitive. We're easily seeing 1200-1500 applications for new grad programs at the major teaching hospitals (with few positions available) and I've been hearing about smaller hospitals being flooded w/ as many as 500 apps for a single opening. The new grad positions are few and far between!

HR departments are swamped...getting responses from them is basically impossible unless you get miraculously selected for an interview. Not to mention it often takes them months to actually get back to you to scheduled the interview...

Priority seems to be given to: RNs who already have their license (rather than interim permit), internal applicants, BSN or direct-entry MSNs, applicants who previously worked in an acute care setting as a tech or CNA...

Many new grads are taking side-jobs to cover themselves in the meantime: working as CNAs or Techs, volunteering, working in vaccination clinics, and networking, networking, networking like crazy....some new grads are taking jobs outside the acute care setting such as LTC, SNF, Home-health, or research.

I don't know if everywhere is as bad as this, but that's been the story over here. I'm not surprised at all that no one is giving you personal feedback on your application. I don't think it's right, but I'm not surprised... :uhoh3:

LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN · Dec 7, 2011

It took me 8 months to land my first full time position in a SNF. The job that I have now, I applied to 260 positions within the system (large health system with hosptials in 5 states)and the job that I have I applied to, then about 2 months later they called me for an interview.

Many of the online applications they will not call you unless they want to interview you, if you don't hear anything you were not selected.

You may have to look other places then hospitals to get you first job.

jabroadwater · Dec 7, 2011

In today's market, where everything is going electronic, it is very rare to speak with a real person when either applying, or hearing a response from a job application.

I graduated in December, took my boards in Jan, and landed my first job in March. HOWEVER, I went to school and live in New Orleans, and had to take a job in Jackson, MS to get hired.

Most of my friends who I graduated with, and didn't find jobs right away [those that did were through contacts they made by working as techs or clerks during school], and refused to consider leaving New Orleans are just now, after nearly a year, finding jobs.

My advice is, if you have applied to all the hospitals in your area and not getting any hits, start expanding your search outward. Consider some of the smaller city hospitals that are away from the major metropolitan areas where a number of nursing schools are putting out new grads on a regular basis.

Regardless of what everyone says, there ARE a number of Nursing Jobs out there, they just might not be where you are looking and you've got to be willing to go to them, or accept the ones that most people are passing over. Hang in there.

allnurses Guide · Dec 7, 2011

Should they be willing to give you feedback? Yes. Is it realistic to expect them to? In today's job market, no. There are far too many applicants for them to speak with each one.

NewRNin2011 · Dec 14, 2011

Thank you, all of you were very helpful and I talked to another nurse who graduated in this area the same time I did and was able to get a job and she said it took her almost four months to get a position. So now I know to lower my expectations on getting feedback, getting an interview and getting hired any time soon. And I will definitely have to expand my horizons when it comes to applying for positions.