New Grad Looking for Job with No Connections

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Hi everyone,

I just graduated this Spring from a school in Northern CA and am waiting to take the NCLEX. In the meantime, I have been researching hospitals that hire new grads in my area. I've just become very worried because I feel like I have no connections to help me get a job, and I know how important networking and connections are in the nursing field. My senior preceptor has worked at the same hospital for 30 years and unfortunately that hospital doesn't hire new grads, so she isn't much help in the networking arena. I also feel like I didn't develop that great of relationships with my faculty because we were off campus for the majority of my program due to Covid, so it was difficult to make strong connections. I did have one connection who gave me the name and email of a nurse manager; I emailed her and told her that I was applying to that hospital's new grad program. She said that HR will look at the applications but she'll keep an eye out for my name, but HR might not even send my application to her department. I know these sound like excuses, but I'm not sure where to start in making connections and eventually finding someone who can help me get my foot in the door to a hospital. Therefore, any advice or tips would be appreciated. Thanks! 

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
35 minutes ago, RowRN_8855 said:

any advice or tips would be appreciated. 

Using the shotgun effect, shooting at anything that moved, and camping out on a prospective employers doorstep, until they hired me or told me to stop harassing them, worked for me, RowRN.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
5 hours ago, Davey Do said:

Using the shotgun effect, shooting at anything that moved, and camping out on a prospective employers doorstep, until they hired me or told me to stop harassing them, worked for me, RowRN.

Good luck!

I agree. I had to follow up many times to get jobs in the past. Some managers are so swamped they don't get to applications for a LONG time. Keep on trying and keep following up until they know your voice. LOL!

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
2 minutes ago, SmilingBluEyes said:

I agree. I had to follow up many times to get jobs in the past.

I usually gave prospective employers a week after applying, and if I didn't hear anything, I'd contact them.

With one job before I got into nursing, my employer told me that the only reason that I was hired over the other applicants was because I was the only one to call and check on my application status.

My employer said my actionst showed him I was truly interested in the position.

Boy, did I have him fooled!

 

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
1 minute ago, Davey Do said:

I usually gave prospective employers a week after applying, and if I didn't hear anything, I'd contact them.

With one job before I got into nursing, my employer told me that the only reason that I was hired over the other applicants was because I was the only one to call and check on my application status.

My employer said my actionst showed him I was truly interested in the position.

Boy, did I have him fooled!

 

LOL We are cut from the same cloth, Davey. They hired one girl and got another when I started on. Fortunately they liked her fairly well. ?

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
5 minutes ago, SmilingBluEyes said:

They hired one girl and got another when I started on. Fortunately they liked her fairly well.

I don't understand, SBE.

Bait and switch?

Oh: Or RN Jekyll and Ms. Hyde?

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
1 hour ago, Davey Do said:

I don't understand, SBE.

Bait and switch?

Oh: Or RN Jekyll and Ms. Hyde?

yes.

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Nor Cal is hard, hard, hard for new grads. Most people I know didn't have connections at the hospitals where they were hired. They were just lucky (and interviewed well, I guess). Be prepared for a difficult job search and be open to working in the Central Valley for experience.

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Specializes in Postpartum.

I was told not to contact people which is why I haven't messaged anyone after applying! I am really interested in the NICU and know it's 100% what I want to do. I just applied and I'm so nervous even tho it's only been 2 days. Because of covid and having multiple people I care about that are immunosuppressed, making connections in school was the least of my priorities. I'm kicking myself over it now. It's also hard to find the name of nurse managers for units as well. I honestly just feel so lost. 

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Hello,

how’s your job search going so far?

here’s my advice - go on indeed.com or linked, there are plenty of new grad options, but probably not in California. You need to be ready to relocate to land a great job on your resume - 1-2 years will be enough to open many doors for you in California. If you don’t hear from the recruiters back within a week, submit more resumes to other recruters. Don’t submit directly to hospitals, you’ll be waiting forever. Good luck!

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