New grad jobs: When to apply?

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aren't schools encouraging upcoming grads to start applying for jobs in their last year of school? while i know last june was different than this june based on the economy but almost everyone in my class had a position secured before the start of our last semester. maybe i'm mistaken but it seems to me that many of the "there are no new grad jobs" threads sound like they didn't start applying until after they passed nclex. in my area, which is still excellent for nursing opportunities, by that time many different schools have graduated students and the majority of positions are filled. not criticizing after the fact but hoping this will help other soon to graduate students.

In my opinion, If there are job postings already and you are graduating in May, go for it! Better to apply earlier than later because some jobs become "unavailable" as soon as there are a certain amount of applicants. You don't want to wait. Many jobs will hire you pending you pass your boards, so you can apply before you take your board exams. I've always heard of Nursing Students applying no earlier than their last semester because most hospitals will only hire new nurses from the more recent group of graduates. Again, if you are graduating in May, go ahead and apply, but I would wait if you are graduating in December or the following May.

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Specializes in Telemetry & Obs.

Not sure about *all* new grad programs, but the new grad fellowship I participated in didn't require a "committment" and it paid the same as any new RN. The major benefit was having a preceptor assigned to me, and me alone, for several months.

I also suggest applying while in your last semester.

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I'm glad to hear that, in this area some new grad said they only had 4 weeks tops, then they were flying Solo.

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Specializes in ICU, Informatics.
I had a corporate background before getting into nursing...so I knew how to interview.

However, nursing, I discovered, is different, the questions are different, they are obviously, not the business-oriented questions that I was used to.

So to prepare, I just researched threads on this website on what other senior members, members of managment, etc, wanted at a nursing interview.

I so agree with the above. My previous career was in the corporate setting too. Nursing interviewing is different. I had an interview with a nursing HR recruiter this past Friday and came out of that interview very surprised with the questions despite I prepared ahead of time. Fortunately, I must have done well with my answers because I was invited for a second interview.

To the original poster, I am located in an area saturated with new graduate nurses. I started applying for RN internships during my winter break (late Dec. '08). I submitted about 20 applications (within and outside my state) and just started interviewing (have four interviews lined up thus far - one of them a second interview). When one should start applying for jobs? I think the local market has a significant bearing on when senior nursing students should start applying.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
I'm glad to see this brought up, because I've been wondering about it lately. So... I'm an LPN student (who happens to live in the same general area as Jules), and I graduate in August. When should I start applying for jobs? Beginning of the summer semester, perhaps?

(And, for that matter, how much time should I give myself to study between graduation and taking the NCLEX?)

I would start looking around in the beginning of the summer semester. Our school actually brought in a couple of recruiters from local LTC facilities which was a nice touch. As for NCLEX, I prefer to take it asap and did both my LPN and RN 3 weeks after graduating. If it wasn't fresh in my mind then I figured it wouldn't ever be. :) Good luck!

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aren't schools encouraging upcoming grads to start applying for jobs in their last year of school? while i know last june was different than this june based on the economy but almost everyone in my class had a position secured before the start of our last semester. maybe i'm mistaken but it seems to me that many of the "there are no new grad jobs" threads sound like they didn't start applying until after they passed nclex. in my area, which is still excellent for nursing opportunities, by that time many different schools have graduated students and the majority of positions are filled. not criticizing after the fact but hoping this will help other soon to graduate students.

thanks for the help. i would also like to add my experience and many classmates. the economy is affecting even this needed field, since hospitals (where new grads are most hired) are still a business. it is not what it used to be anywhere.

in my city, even those who applied for jobs early on are finding it difficult. i had a job before graduating --thanks to great instructors--at the hospital where i had been an extern since just after my first semester. the hospital pursued hiring me, even sponsoring my graduate permit to begin working before taking my nclex. sounds wonderful, except due to budget constraints 3 months later i have yet to start working and have no guarantee that i will. (i did pass my nclex, at least!!) their hands are tied by financial planning. the hospital hires experienced nurses that do not require the charges new grads would incur. for example travelers that don't 'cost' health insurance or need new grad orientation. at job fairs, most hospitals are telling new grads outright there are no new grad positions, we can't afford to put the resources into it.

not to be doomsday crier. my point is--sadly, it is a much different world economically and its hitting everywhere. it is not the same for new grads now as for those before us. for those of us that are searching, there is great advice here. it can only help. but be prepared for it to take longer, much longer. and don't lose heart. we are needed and once things become clearer and calmer we will find jobs. we are used to working hard for our goal, that is how we survived school. we can't feel like failures. and we can't expect the red carpet.

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Specializes in OR Hearts 10.

I had my first job lined up about 3 months before graduation. Started a week after. Took the NCLEX 2 weeks after that.

If you have a good floor for clinicals where folks know you, that's a good way to get your name noticed.

There are still lots of jobs out in SOME places, including new grads. Anyone wanting to move to East Texas drop me a PM.

Good luck to all the job hunters............

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What state do you live in and what job fair did you go to?

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Hi, I live in NYC. The job fairs were major sponsors with both city and private hospitals from the tri-state area. Everyone was nice, but realistic, which was appreciated. I am definitely NOT saying there are no jobs. And certainly don't want to be discouraging. That isn't my purpose at all. I just found it helpful to know that others were encountering the same struggle. Judging from previous posts and the experiences of friends who graduated before, it was not such a struggle. Good clinical experiences, professor reccommendations and extern/internships easily led to continuing at those sites. But now it is different --atleast in many states. Which took some of us aback because it was so unexpected. And its not that we are getting a bad reception, it is just moving slower and the financial climate affects hospitals--even if they want you. So I just wanted to say: if the usual path seems to have obstacles, its not neccessarily a reflection on the new grad as much as the world around us. Don't lose heart, and it may take more work. The experience of others, even a few months ago, may not be our experience.

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Where I live...which is NJ...they only want experienced RNs...no new grads...I graduated in Jan, and I am having a rough time...so are my classmates. And I worked as a Nursing Assistant for a year !!! Most hospitals want you to have passed your NCLEX and have your license # before they will even look at your resume....then they tell you they're not hiring new grads at this time....this is on their website and also what HR says at the job fairs..I think it really depends on where you live, in the NY Metro area the market is very saturated and they only want experienced RNs...even at the nursing homes!!!! Good Luck....hope you don't live in Northern NJ !!!

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kargirl & others,

I also live in NJ and I just got hired at a place other than a hospital. I have been applying for and looking for hospital jobs since December. No luck! Maybe with some experience we will be able to get hospital jobs when the market is better. I feel your pain. Send me a message.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
Where I live...which is NJ...they only want experienced RNs...no new grads...I graduated in Jan, and I am having a rough time...so are my classmates. And I worked as a Nursing Assistant for a year !!! Most hospitals want you to have passed your NCLEX and have your license # before they will even look at your resume....then they tell you they're not hiring new grads at this time....this is on their website and also what HR says at the job fairs..I think it really depends on where you live, in the NY Metro area the market is very saturated and they only want experienced RNs...even at the nursing homes!!!! Good Luck....hope you don't live in Northern NJ !!!

Kargirl, do you think you could get a position at the facility where you were a nursing assistant? If they already know and love you thats huge in getting hired especially in tough times. Good luck.

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