New Grad - Just got a job at Starbucks. Help.

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B · Jun 6, 2015

The time to be able to apply for nursing jobs would be your days off, or after/before work. I am sure you need to begin paying off your student loans soon. You need to be able to work to be able to do so.

You could schedule any interviews on your days off.

I would have a professional look at your resume and cover letter, and make suggestions on how to make it stand out.

Best wishes!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jun 6, 2015

I'm 6 months post-grad in Southern California.

The best career decision you could make at the present time is to obtain a job out of state, amass that golden year of experience so you'll be marketable, then relocate back to CA. CA has a 40+ percent unemployment rate for new grad RNs, so your prospects will look dismal whether or not you work at Starbucks.

If you cannot or will not relocate, my advice is to look into jobs outside the acute care hospital: SNFs, nursing homes, home health, private duty, psych, rehab, dialysis centers, etc.

FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN · Jun 6, 2015

I am very sorry that it has gone this way.

My suggestion is to keep your Starbucks job, but not to let it interfere with your search for a nursing job at all.

Do not let your work schedule stop you from going to interviews, networking.

Call out if a nursing interview comes up. Whenever possible, tell your boss beforehand, but don't consider it a requirement.

A lot of people have a hard time putting themselves before their jobs, but you must train yourself to do it. It's coffee. No one will die if you don't show.

If they fire you, so be it. Chalk it up to it just not working out with your schedule.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Jun 6, 2015

You act as though working and looking for a nursing job are mutually exclusive. You can do both. You should do both.

I know too many people with TWO full-time jobs to think that you cannot pursue nursing jobs at the same pace as you are now. However, if you don't know it yet you will soon, SoCal is saturated. Your best bet (at least from all the reading I've done here in the past couple of years) is to look at underserved areas out of state.

Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN · Jun 6, 2015

I was a new grad who relocated to LA, got a Starbucks job, started in the NICU a few months later, and kept up Starbucks part-time alongside the hospital job for the next ten months or so. I had a manager who was fortunately very understanding of the importance of my "main job" (and I wouldn't necessarily recommend my approach to anyone), but part-time at Starbucks definitely does not exclude applying and interviewing for nursing jobs. Also, once I started working in the hospital, I was very grateful for a side job where making a mistake didn't mean potentially killing someone :nailbiting:

That said, I do agree with other posters that you'd do well to see about casting your net out of state if you can, given the glut of new grads in California.

JoseQuinones · Jun 6, 2015

Or start applying in a state like North Dakota where new grads are welcome. Everyone wants to live in California, so employers can afford to be picky.

calivianya, BSN, RN · Jun 6, 2015

If you're only working part time, I'm assuming you're working 30 hours per week or less. If you look at the 40 hours between 9-5 Monday through Friday as being reasonable business hours to call people back/do phone interviews, there are at least 10 hours per week that you are not working at Starbucks that you are available to get job search related things done. I don't really see how this is a conflict. Definitely keep the Starbucks job.

caliotter3 · Jun 6, 2015

A discreet "Is your employer hiring?" or "I'm a nurse" to a customer wearing scrubs might turn into a welcome advantage to working at Starbuck's. Total strangers can be helpful in the job search. If a regular customer, they will get to know you and just might be amenable to helping you out. Just be careful.

bathrobemom, LPN · Jun 6, 2015

If you apply online you can do that at any time during the day, it doesn't have to be during normal business hours. Do people still apply in person? I didn't think anyone did that anymore. That should leave time for interviews on your days or times off. The hiring process takes weeks, so any day that works for you most likely will work for an interviewer. I agree with Invitale, if you have to blow off Starbucks so be it. I doubt it will come to that though.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jun 6, 2015

The best career decision you could make at the present time is to obtain a job out of state, amass that golden year of experience so you'll be marketable, then relocate back to CA. CA has a 40+ percent unemployment rate for new grad RNs, so your prospects will look dismal whether or not you work at Starbucks.
If you cannot or will not relocate, my advice is to look into jobs outside the acute care hospital: SNFs, nursing homes, home health, private duty, psych, rehab, dialysis centers, etc.

A year's experience is better than being a new grad, but honestly, make it 2 years of experience before you come back. Most RN positions around here are looking for at least that much, and you'd be in a much stronger position if you have 2 years' experience.

Unless you have the funds to support yourself while not working, I agree: keep the job. You can still job hunt during those 90 days, and unless you're working 90 straight days in a row, you'll have at least a couple of days off each week to schedule things.

Best of luck

Candogal · Jun 6, 2015

I agree with the other posters, keep your Starbucks job and keep applying for RN jobs when you can. It can take a loooong time to get hired as a brand new nurse. You are still using skills that will be handy in nursing- multi-tasking, customer skills etc. In the meantime look-up interview skills and typical nurse interview questions. Best of Luck!