New Grad

PeepnBiscuitsRN · Apr 10, 2012

A lot of times the e-mails are automated so I wouldn't put much stock in them. If the person you know said they'd be calling, then just let nature take it's course. I played this game for a year before I got the job I have now which is my first RN job. I've been at it a year and I don't miss the days of reading into every e-mail or job lead. I wouldn't "worry" about anything really- if it happens it happens. I took my resume to the nurse manager of one unit and she interviewed me right then and there, and she was very happy to have me- but I wasn't the exact fit for her unit so she passed my resume on to the nurse manager of my current floor, because she felt I'd do well there- and so you see where I'm going with this. You have a lead, your foot may/may not be in the door. You've done all you can it seems so just...relax.

Wow...I've really become laid back on this whole thing....wish I could be like this in real life...

beeker · Apr 10, 2012

HR moves slower than every other aspect of life on planet earth. From my job hunting experience as a new grad (beating down doors and looking for jobs) I learned a few things. Nothing happens in HR on Fridays. Ever. Mondays are 50/50 hit or miss. When you call them they don't much care and rarely return calls. When they call you, it is always an emergency you need to be available asap and clear your schedule at a moments demand. If you have an in, you can actually be in before HR is even aware it happened. If you have an in, use it if you can. I didn't have one, so it took LOTS of patience. Give it some time. As soon as you forget you even applied, they will call.

Sorry, I got a very bad perception of health care systems HR departments. Having worked in the business world prior to healthcare, HR was a whole different animal and worked at a different speed. Supply adn demand I guess.

PeepnBiscuitsRN · Apr 10, 2012

Yeah, I pretty much said to heck with recruiters and HR after a year of all the baloney and I just took my resume to the nurse manager. I know that too can be a big no-no, but at that point I was getting no response so like the child ignored, I figured a negative response was better than none. And hey- if they wanted to get pi**y with me for being genuinely excited to work for their hospital...well then they're some pretty messed up dudes there...bad PR...tsk tsk...word o mouth travels fast, that's all I have to say about THAT.

bugbugrn · Apr 10, 2012

Thank you so much for the advice. Maybe HR just moves slow! I don't know. I am a new grad and a lot of these places are asking for 1 -2 years of experience. I want to work in acute care so i can have the most exposure and learn. If i start out with rehab then i heard that you kind of get stuck there. Is that true?

allnurses Guide · Apr 10, 2012

Even with the employee referral they may have more people to look at than can be believed. An "in" with a current employee is great, but what you do not know is whether that person is well thought of, whether the hospital already has an internal candidate in mind or how many other people are coming with employee referrals on their side.

Apply for everything, everywhere. With the way the economy is you cannot afford to worry about getting "stuck" somewhere. Being stuck in LTAC/rehab with a paycheck is still far and away better than being stuck unemployed. You don't have the luxury of worrying about being stuck somewhere. Not when the job market is as tight as it is. Even if it is tough to change specialties later it is still going to be easier than trying to get hired when a long-term unemployed new grad. I can guarantee an acute care position will look at a person with rehab experience before they look at an inexperienced new grad.

Best of luck. Keep looking.

bugbugrn · Apr 10, 2012

That's an excellent point, i will start exploring.