New Grad Jobs in California

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Hello everyone,

I am a new grad for June of 2012. I graduated Cum Laude, completed a preceptorship in the ED of my hospital and passed my boards easily. Not to mention that during my preceptorship I was starting 15 IV's a day on my own as well as inserting Foleys and doing UA's as well as every other nursing task in the ED. However I still cannot get an interview, anywhere.

This is by no means disrespect to those who are working, but how is any new nurse supposed to get experience if no one will give us the opportunity. I have tried SNF's, weight loss clinics, immunization clinics, hospital new grad programs and the list goes on, with not even a call back. It is very frustrating and discouraging to know that I passed the same boards as the nurse who started working a year ago with no experience, yet now it is required to at least have one year to get an interview. So basically I am being told you need to have experience to get experience.

Currently, it is seeming impossible to even get a call back, let alone an actual postion. I am at the end of my rope. I wanted to be an RN more than anything when I was in school and was so excited to graduate and move on with my career, but now I am just disappointed. I feel that the longer all of us new grads are out of work, the harder it is going to be to find a job.

If anyone has any idea what I can do or who to call I would love your advice. Right now the only advice I'm getting is to "wait it out" but I can't afford to wait it out any longer. I need to begin to work so that I can feed my family. Please help if you can.

Thank you.

L

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Hello and welcome to these forums!

I am originally from southern CA, but had to relocate out of state to land my first nursing job. Now that I have 6+ years of experience, I must still remain in my current state of residence if I wish to be employed because I have been unable to secure employment in CA. To be totally honest, the local job market is horrid for new grads with no experience.

I know that not everyone has the time, money, or inclination to uproot the pieces of their lives to relocate, but please consider it if you can. Good luck to you!

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I'm a May 2012 grad in Florida. The only place that has called me back since I started applying in May was a Pediatric Home Health agency. I took it and I'm about to start my orientation and training. I was bummed at first but now I am actually pretty excited to get to work in the nursing field in SOME way. I would say if no hospitals are biting try the home health route. Let them know you have IV experience and I'm assuming experience drawing blood? When I did ride alongs in nursing school with a home health nurse we drew a lot of blood for pt, INR ect and IV therapy, along with a head to toe assessment. Not too bad really. It will get you some money and experience while you wait out the hospital.

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I feel for you, OP. I was in the same situation as you; but I had no savings, no parents to live with, anything like that - and I was offered a job before I even graduated in Missouri, so I am here now getting my experience. I must tell you, most people are correct when they say that if you want the experience, you really should move out of state for a bit. HOWEVER, it has really been affecting my personal life off the clock (I have nothing here besides this mediocore med/surg position and it's really starting to eat me up) - so, if you have the resources, stay and pound the pavement out there and dig deeper.

Have you had anyone look at your resume - is it showing you off as well as it could? What about your cover letters, what are you saying to make yourself stand out?

I must tell you that I resumed my job search in Northern CA this past weekend, and I got a call back the second day. That said, my luck was on CraigsList, the position was my dream job, but it was going to pay substantially lower than what an RN should be making out there. That said, I think I was lucky - I don't anticipate any other call backs to my 30+ applications I've put in so far.

I've definitely had all my luck on CraigsList; whereas hospital websites just throw out most new grad apps immediately. Feel free to PM me if you want someone to look at your resume, or we can talk more.

Try and keep your head up.

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OP, I am experiencing the same thing as you and beginning to wonder if I just wasted the last 2 years getting my Associates degree! I am looking into beginning the RN-BSN next year, but I don't know if it will change things and then I will have wasted even more time and money. I know it's a little early to give up since I just graduated in May and was licensed in June but the climate is really unwelcoming for new grads here. When you look at all of the job postings and they say "No New Grads" as if you are something dirty, you cannot help but feel discouraged. New Grad + No experience = No callbacks. I don't know what to do anymore. I didn't think it was going to be easy but I didn't expect to be made to feel so worthless. I have 2 young children and a husband whose income is dependent on us staying in California. If it were just me, I would be out of here in a heartbeat to get that experience, but it's not really an option right now. I truly hope that someone is willing to give us a chance soon. Good luck to you and as I am sure you already know, you are not the only one with these feelings.

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Hello all,

By a stroke of good fortune, I was offered a job today via phone interview. The position is about 2 hours away, but is attainable as long as I drive our Honda Civic. Thank you so very much for your support. The last poster stated that you would be gone if you didn't have kids. I was in the same situation. I also have two kids and a husband (and an ex-husband) which is why I didn't move out of state as soon as I graduated. The interviewer did mention that my extra experience (internship) was part of the reason she called me back. So not all was in vain. Keep plugging away at it guys. I will continue to update this. I was very surprised that I even got a call. Sometimes God's little ways are a mystery.

Hello everyone,

I am a new grad for June of 2012. I graduated Cum Laude, completed a preceptorship in the ED of my hospital and passed my boards easily. Not to mention that during my preceptorship I was starting 15 IV's a day on my own as well as inserting Foleys and doing UA's as well as every other nursing task in the ED. However I still cannot get an interview, anywhere.

This is by no means disrespect to those who are working, but how is any new nurse supposed to get experience if no one will give us the opportunity. I have tried SNF's, weight loss clinics, immunization clinics, hospital new grad programs and the list goes on, with not even a call back. It is very frustrating and discouraging to know that I passed the same boards as the nurse who started working a year ago with no experience, yet now it is required to at least have one year to get an interview. So basically I am being told you need to have experience to get experience.

Currently, it is seeming impossible to even get a call back, let alone an actual postion. I am at the end of my rope. I wanted to be an RN more than anything when I was in school and was so excited to graduate and move on with my career, but now I am just disappointed. I feel that the longer all of us new grads are out of work, the harder it is going to be to find a job.

If anyone has any idea what I can do or who to call I would love your advice. Right now the only advice I'm getting is to "wait it out" but I can't afford to wait it out any longer. I need to begin to work so that I can feed my family. Please help if you can.

Thank you.

L

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Hello all,

By a stroke of good fortune, I was offered a job today via phone interview.

Congratulations!
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Congrats! That's what I like to hear :)

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