New Grad in need of Advice =(

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After pulling all nighters, biting my nails, and not sleeping some nights I finally graduated! :yeah:The only problem is I do not have a job.:crying2: I've recently graduated with a BSN and have been looking for a job sense mid October. I really did not start fill out a lot of applications until mid December. So far I have filled out 30-40 applications. I have had two interviews and they both turned me down. I take NCLEX the first week of February. Right now I'm not currently employed. My loans payed for living expenses and because I graduated those funds are pretty much gone. I have people who are dear to me helping me financially, but there is only so much they can do giving the fact that they also have their own expenses. Any advice to my situation would be greatly appreciated.

P.s. The majority of those that I graduated with have a job. :icon_roll

You haven't passed the NCLEX yet and you're using your boyfriend as a reference. Those are two application KILLERS right there.

1. Pass the NCLEX. In this economy there's no reason for employers to spend much time on a pre-nurse when they've got 100 applications from actual nurses. After you've passed, re-apply to the 30 or 40 positions you've already covered. The longer you wait to take it, the longer you get passed over AND the more suspicious the gap between your graduation date and licensure becomes. To me, if you graduated in october there is no reason you shouldn't be prepared to write the NCLEX tomorrow. Bump your date from February to ASAP.

2. Have someone look at your resume and spruce it up. Either from your college or a paid service - just have knowledgeable eyes go over it.

3. Get better references !! It is absolutely NEVER appropriate to use a boyfriend or relative as a PROFESSIONAL reference. You need references from former employers/managers (even non-nursing) or clinical instructors. If your 'friend who is a nurse' has never worked with you in any capacity, they are not an appropriate reference either.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Very true: most applications will specifically tell you not to list friends or family as references. Some better choices for references are:

  • Your nursing/clinical instructors
  • Your former employers, even if they're not nurses/in healthcare
  • Your former coworkers, again even if they're not nurses/in healthcare
  • Your former teachers
  • Your community leaders (e.g., your church pastor, a member of civic organization)
  • Your volunteer supervisor (haven't volunteered yet? Seriously consider it. Great resume booster and more importantly, you're giving back to your community)

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To coast to coast. I graduated in December. I'd rather give myself a month and prepare well for it than fail and retake it.

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I have called back some facilities that I have applied to and most of them tell me that they have filled in the position. I have listened to people talking around campus and I would hear they got positions that I applied to. The thing that hurts me the most is the fact that they are ASN graduates while I have a BSN! I even got called by hiring manager for an interview. I called him back and he asked me about an ASN graduate in my school and when she would have her paper work ready. Yes, I still scheduled an interview, but I keep asking myself what does and ASN graduate have that I do not have. I have been really trying to get a job. I have been applying like crazy! I do not understand why I am not getting anything. I was told it is about who you know and not really what you know. It's disheartening to hear that. Any advice???

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Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.

Moved to Nursing First Job Hunt Assistance forum. Read through threads/posts in this forum and others in the Career forums. Hopefully you will get some good advice and encouragement, and even more importantly secure a job in the near future.

Good luck!!

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Any advice would be helpful! :uhoh21:

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Don't take it as a slur against your degree because there could be a ton of reasons why the ADN got hired, none of which have to do with the fact that you have a BSN:

  • The ADN could have had prior experience as a CNA/PCT/LVN
  • She could have certifications and/or skills that you don't
  • She could have had clinicals or a preceptorship on that unit
  • She could have had her preceptorship in that specialty
  • She could know someone who works there
  • She could have volunteered there in the past
  • She could have had a higher GPA
  • She could have a stronger resume
  • She could have really good references
  • She could have applied earlier than you did
  • She may have been more flexible about when/where/what she would work
  • Or she could have simply been in the right place at the right time when she applied

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The job market is really tough right now for new grads..believe me I feel your pain. Please do not beat yourself up about it.

Most new grads are expected to be hired between 6 months-1 year post-graduation (which is a long time I know). I graduated in Spring of last year and most of our class did not get job offers until last month. That's about 6-8 months of waiting and looking around EVERYDAY for jobs. You have only submitted 30-40 applications which is not a lot IMHO considering some people have submitted hundreds of them, I know I did. And plus, you are yet to take the NCLEX which I believe could be a factor to whether you get hired or not, unless you know someone from the inside.

I think you should really focus on taking the NCLEX for now, because that test is challenging and you need to really give it your all. Your priority should be passing the NCLEX. When I took my NCLEX, looking for a job never crossed my mind , and yes I passed the first time :nurse:

With that, I wish you luck and trust me, it's gonna take a whole lot more than 40 apps and longer than 1 month to land your job (not trying to be negative..just telling you the truth). Keep your head up, focus on the NCLEX, apply for jobs here and there, and remember to have faith! :heartbeat

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I am in the same boat as you. December graduate but I was the first in my class to take the NCLEX, by at least 2 weeks, and have been looking for a job and nothing. The job market around here is horrid. I did talk to the one hospital system in my area hiring and they stated we had to have our license number prior to applying or we would be automatically rejected from their system. I have that, applied to everything, and still nothing. I've also applied to nursing homes, SNFs, ALFs, clinics, home health, mental health and anything else that I could find in my ENTIRE state, and still haven't heard anything. I did land an interview for today at a nursing home an hour away from my house and am going to interview however I still hope to hear something from someone soon.

I have 13 certifications, including ACLS, and had an Externship (that I left because my grades started to slip). I am running out of money too.

I wanted to post this so you don't feel like you are the only person experiencing it. I plan on going to this interview today and knocking their socks off. I don't know if it's going to be worth driving an hour each way but it doesn't hurt to go and talk with them about the position, hours, etc. If it doesn't pan out, I plan on getting a job through a temp agency and still applying to RN positions (maybe that's something you can do too?).

Good luck and take every day as it comes. With a little hard work, I think that we can find what we are looking for!

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Don't take it as a slur against your degree because there could be a ton of reasons why the ADN got hired, none of which have to do with the fact that you have a BSN:

  • The ADN could have had prior experience as a CNA/PCT/LVN
  • She could have certifications and/or skills that you don't
  • She could have had clinicals or a preceptorship on that unit
  • She could have had her preceptorship in that specialty
  • She could know someone who works there
  • She could have volunteered there in the past
  • She could have had a higher GPA
  • She could have a stronger resume
  • She could have really good references
  • She could have applied earlier than you did
  • She may have been more flexible about when/where/what she would work
  • Or she could have simply been in the right place at the right time when she applied

I'm sure this was probably skipped over. Very viable reasons, we just don't know what's going on, on the other end.

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I hope I'm posting in the right place, I do need advice. I have had my license now for 4 months. I applied to several places but I haven't received any calls. I did get two rejection letters so at least I did get a response. Anyway here's my question.

I may have a job in a different city, the commute is about an hour and 45mins. I'll have 3 twelve hours shifts, probably night but I'm not completely sure. My question is...do I take the job and make that commute or keep looking for a job closer? Moving isn't an option at all, we just bought our house 3 yrs ago. I'm going back and fourth with this. I need to call the manager to set up my interview but I just don't know if it's the right thing to do.

Thank you in advance.

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c2brn7 - If it is possible for you to stay in a hotel or rent a room between your shifts, I would say go ahead and interview. If you think you are going to have to commute between your shifts, I would look for something closer. I've done the driving thing after 12 hour shifts and it is scary and unsafe. Good luck!

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