New Grads / First Job Survey

Published

Specializes in ICU.

I am sure there are many posts on this topic, but I wanted a more in-depth understanding of the hiring process and statistics of some of the new(ish) graduates. I wanted to focus more on 2011-2012 graduates, but please feel free to complete this survey regardless of graduation year. I hope this might shed some light on the hiring process for some of us 'new grads' who are struggling. I love research, as you can see ;> and I am excited to see the responses. If you are absolutely opposed to a particular question, please omit it. Thank you.

Degree type: Bachelors, Associates, or other (please list)

Graduation month/year:

Sex: Male or female

Age range: 19-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-55, 55+:

Job Setting: Hospital, Long Term Care Facility, Psychiatric Facility, Occupational, Prison, School, etc.

Geographical Location: Name state in the U.S. (or country if outside U.S.)

Race/Ethnicity:

How long have you been looking for your first job before being hired?

Did you do any volunteer work before your job?

Did you possess any additional certifications (i.e. ACLS) before you landed your first job?

Did a family/friend/clinical instructor or other connection help you land your job? Explain.

Did you work in the health care setting at all before your job? If so, what field?

Did you apply online, in person (at the facility), or other? Explain.

Did you participate in any follow-up inquiries after resume submittal of your application or interview? If so, explain. Email, phone call?

How far away do you live from your job site? Include minutes/hours.

Did you hold a p/t or f/t job while enrolled in your nursing program. If yes, list whether it was p/t or f/t position:

If you held a job during your nursing program that was not related to the health care field, please report the general field in which you worked (restaurant, retail, educational, business, etc.) Feel free to expand:

Did you receive any scholastic honors while in nursing school (Dean's List, Cum Laude, etc.?)

General comments:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Degree type: ADN

Graduation month/year: 12/2011

Sex: F

Age range: 19-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-55, 55+: 40ish

Job Setting: ASC

Geographical Location: Pac NW

Race/Ethnicity:

How long have you been looking for your first job before being hired? one month

Did you do any volunteer work before your job? nope- have three kids. no time.

Did you possess any additional certifications (i.e. ACLS) before you landed your first job? Bachelors in Psych, ACLS

Did a family/friend/clinical instructor or other connection help you land your job? Explain. Nope

Did you work in the health care setting at all before your job? If so, what field? Nope

Did you apply online, in person (at the facility), or other? Explain. Responded to online ad

Did you participate in any follow-up inquiries after resume submittal of your application or interview? If so, explain. Email, phone call? Nope. Interviewed, invited to shadow the next day and hired two days later.

How far away do you live from your job site? Include minutes/hours. 30 minutes

Did you hold a p/t or f/t job while enrolled in your nursing program. If yes, list whether it was p/t or f/t position: Nope

If you held a job during your nursing program that was not related to the health care field, please report the general field in which you worked (restaurant, retail, educational, business, etc.) Feel free to expand:

Did you receive any scholastic honors while in nursing school (Dean's List, Cum Laude, etc.?) Graduated with 4.0

General comments:

I truly believe the reason I landed an interview was due to my cover letter. I tried to be specific, enthusiastic and let the employer know what I could do for them. I review cover letters and resumes in my new position. It is amazing the dull and lackluster documents we receive from applicants. Compose a fantastic cover letter to get yourself noticed!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Degree type: BSN

Graduation month/year: May 2012

Sex: female

Age range: 19-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-55, 55+: 25-29

Job Setting: Hospital

Geographical Location: Florida

Race/Ethnicity: White

How long have you been looking for your first job before being hired? 5 months

Did you do any volunteer work before your job? Yes

Did you possess any additional certifications (i.e. ACLS) before you landed your first job? Nope

Did a family/friend/clinical instructor or other connection help you land your job? Explain. Nope

Did you work in the health care setting at all before your job? If so, what field? No

Did you apply online, in person (at the facility), or other? Explain. Applied online

Did you participate in any follow-up inquiries after resume submittal of your application or interview? If so, explain. Email, phone call? Short interview by phone before I was asked to interview in person

How far away do you live from your job site? Include minutes/hours. About half an hour away

Did you hold a p/t or f/t job while enrolled in your nursing program. If yes, list whether it was p/t or f/t position: no

If you held a job during your nursing program that was not related to the health care field, please report the general field in which you worked (restaurant, retail, educational, business, etc.) Feel free to expand: Retail

Did you receive any scholastic honors while in nursing school (Dean's List, Cum Laude, etc.?) No

General comments:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Degree type: Associates

Graduation month/year: 12/12

Sex: female

Age range: 30-34

Job Setting: Hospital

Geographical Location: NY

Race/Ethnicity:

How long have you been looking for your first job before being hired? 2 weeks

Did you do any volunteer work before your job? No

Did you possess any additional certifications (i.e. ACLS) before you landed your first job? Previous bachelor's degree

Did a family/friend/clinical instructor or other connection help you land your job? Explain. No

Did you work in the health care setting at all before your job? If so, what field? Yes, had a summer nursing internship, then stayed on as a patient care tech at the hospital through my last semester

Did you apply online, in person (at the facility), or other? Explain. I approached a nurse manager at an internal recruiting event and asked to shadow on her unit. She told me to call the nurse recruiter the next day to set up a shadow and interview.

Did you participate in any follow-up inquiries after resume submittal of your application or interview? If so, explain. Email, phone call? No

How far away do you live from your job site? Include minutes/hours. 10 - 15 mins

Did you hold a p/t or f/t job while enrolled in your nursing program. If yes, list whether it was p/t or f/t position: yes, 2 part time jobs

If you held a job during your nursing program that was not related to the health care field, please report the general field in which you worked (restaurant, retail, educational, business, etc.) Feel free to expand: Financial servicesDid you receive any scholastic honors while in nursing school (Dean's List, Cum Laude, etc.?) Dean's List, nominated by my clinical instructor for excellence in nursing award, phi theta kappa honor society

General comments: I think getting into a hospital as a tech while you're still in school is a good idea. You can make a good impression on the nurse manager on your unit and/or make friends with the recruiter so that you can get set up for interviews. Just my 2 cents. Good luck all new grads!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds OR as RN, Peds ENT as NP.

Degree type: Bachelors, Associates, or other (please list)...BSN

Graduation month/year: 12/2011

Sex: Male or female.. Female

Age range: 19-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-55, 55+:19-24

Job Setting: Hospital, Long Term Care Facility, Psychiatric Facility, Occupational, Prison, School, etc...Hospital

Geographical Location: Name state in the U.S. (or country if outside U.S.).. FL

Race/Ethnicity: African American

How long have you been looking for your first job before being hired?.. Two weeks after applying. Began three months after graduation.

Did you do any volunteer work before your job? Yes, at a clinic and for my nursing school.

Did you possess any additional certifications (i.e. ACLS) before you landed your first job?

Did a family/friend/clinical instructor or other connection help you land your job? Explain... Instructor wrote amazing letter of recommendation.

Did you work in the health care setting at all before your job? If so, what field? As a CNA

Did you apply online, in person (at the facility), or other? Explain... Online

Did you participate in any follow-up inquiries after resume submittal of your application or interview? If so, explain. Email, phone call? No they contacted me quickly.

How far away do you live from your job site? Include minutes/hours. Moved 7 hours for job. Now live within 30 mins.

Did you hold a p/t or f/t job while enrolled in your nursing program. If yes, list whether it was p/t or f/t position:.. Part time working in sim lab and as pharm tutor.

If you held a job during your nursing program that was not related to the health care field, please report the general field in which you worked (restaurant, retail, educational, business, etc.) Feel free to expand:

Did you receive any scholastic honors while in nursing school (Dean's List, Cum Laude, etc.?) Nope... Just glad I made it through ;)

General comments:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I am sure there are many posts on this topic, but I wanted a more in-depth understanding of the hiring process and statistics of some of the new(ish) graduates. I wanted to focus more on 2011-2012 graduates, but please feel free to complete this survey regardless of graduation year. I hope this might shed some light on the hiring process for some of us 'new grads' who are struggling. I love research, as you can see ;> and I am excited to see the responses. If you are absolutely opposed to a particular question, please omit it. Thank you. Degree type: Bachelors, Associates, or other (please list) BSNGraduation month/year: 5/08Sex: Male or female. FAge range: 19-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-55, 55+: 38Job Setting: Hospital, Long Term Care Facility, Psychiatric Facility, Occupational, Prison, School, etc.Geographical Location: Name state in the U.S. (or country if outside U.S.). CARace/Ethnicity: CAUCASIONHow long have you been looking for your first job before being hired? 5 months but let go after 3 months for not getting big picture. Obviously I ****** somebody off.Did you do any volunteer work before your job? YesDid you possess any additional certifications (i.e. ACLS) before you landed your first job? BLS, ACLSDid a family/friend/clinical instructor or other connection help you land your job? NO Explain.Did you work in the health care setting at all before your job? If so, what field? NOPEDid you apply online, in person (at the facility), or other? Explain. ONLINEDid you participate in any follow-up inquiries after resume submittal of your application or interview? If so, explain. Email, phone call? PHONE, IN PERSON, THANK YOU NOTESHow far away do you live from your job site? Include minutes/hours. I RELOCATED my family 3 hoursfor this position that did not work out. Then we moved again. I got to second interview for versant new grad program, then was disqualified because I had 3 months of experience! OMG I was not a staff nurse nor a new grad anymore. So disheartening.Did you hold a p/t or f/t job while enrolled in your nursing program. If yes, list whether it was p/t or f/t position: NO, I was single mom on disability fighting for custody of my children as my own lawyer and won! Then had to act as my own lawyer again in a criminal case and won as well. He had a public defender. All while I was surviving nursing school and raising two small kids alone with no family support. If you held a job during your nursing program that was not related to the health care field, please report the general field in which you worked (restaurant, retail, educational, business, etc.) Feel free to expand: Single Mom, Lawyer pro per.Did you receive any scholastic honors while in nursing school (Dean's List, Cum Laude, etc.?) DEANS LIST and graduated with honors General comments:
I knew nursing would not be easy, but I never thought I would not be able to find a job and when I did, I did not realize the enviornment would be so dysfunctional. If I had really known what nursing was like when I started, I would have pursued something else. Sad because, if I was just given a chance with decent orientation I would be that employee that gives 120% everyday. My son graduates this year and I will relocate anywhere.
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Degree type: Bachelors

Graduation month/year: May 2012

Sex: Female

Age range: 19-24

Job Setting: Hospital, Operating Room

Geographical Location: North Carolina

Race/Ethnicity: Caucasian

How long have you been looking for your first job before being hired? Began job search in January of 2012 while still in school, was offered position in May 2012

Did you do any volunteer work before your job? Yes, It was mandatory

Did you possess any additional certifications (i.e. ACLS) before you landed your first job? No

Did a family/friend/clinical instructor or other connection help you land your job? Explain. No

Did you work in the health care setting at all before your job? If so, what field? No

Did you apply online, in person (at the facility), or other? Explain. Filled out an online application, I actually didn't know what position I was interviewing for until I met with HR on the day of my interview, because I had filled out so many New Grad applications. I did not realize that I had applied for an OR position and even hoped I was not offered the job.

Did you participate in any follow-up inquiries after resume submittal of your application or interview? If so, explain. Email, phone call? I sent a handwritten thank you card to each of the people who interviewed me, I was invited to tour the unit and a few days afterwards I emailed the manager thanking her for giving me the opportunity and asking her a few silly questions just to let her know I should still be considered for the job.

How far away do you live from your job site? Include minutes/hours. I had to move to another city when I accepted the position, I currently live about 15 minutes from the hospital

Did you hold a p/t or f/t job while enrolled in your nursing program. If yes, list whether it was p/t or f/t position: yes, Depending on the course load and its difficulty I would switch back and forth from f/t and p/t hours

If you held a job during your nursing program that was not related to the health care field, please report the general field in which you worked (restaurant, retail, educational, business, etc.) Feel free to expand: I worked in Restaurants, Waiting tables and Bartending

Did you receive any scholastic honors while in nursing school (Dean's List, Cum Laude, etc.?) No

General comments: I had a few interviews with other hospitals and different units, but none of them ever panned out, and I was offered the Operating Room position. I Have never wanted to be an operating room nurse, It never crossed my mind in school, and since starting the job in July I've only grown to hate the job more every day. Its a specialty for a certain type of personality and I am not that type of personality. I still send out applications and resumes, however no matter how much I hate this job, until I am offered a new one I'm just grateful I have something.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Degree type: Bachelors

Graduation month/year: 08/2012

Sex: female

Age range: 19-24

Job Setting: Hospital

Geographical Location: Orange County, California

Race/Ethnicity: Asian

How long have you been looking for your first job before being hired? 2 1/2 months

Did you do any volunteer work before your job? no

Did you possess any additional certifications (i.e. ACLS) before you landed your first job? ACLS, BLS, PALS

Did a family/friend/clinical instructor or other connection help you land your job? No.

Did you work in the health care setting at all before your job? If so, what field? No

Did you apply online, in person (at the facility), or other? Online hospital website

Did you participate in any follow-up inquiries after resume submittal of your application or interview? If so, explain. Email, phone call? Yes, delivered hand written thank you notes to all of the people in my interview. Definitely helped me, I think.

How far away do you live from your job site? 25 mins no traffic

Did you hold a p/t or f/t job while enrolled in your nursing program. If yes, list whether it was p/t or f/t position: p/t receptionist on campus

If you held a job during your nursing program that was not related to the health care field, please report the general field in which you worked (restaurant, retail, educational, business, etc.) Feel free to expand: Student affairs, student government, leadership

Did you receive any scholastic honors while in nursing school (Dean's List, Cum Laude, etc.?) Magna Cum Laude, Dean's list throughout undergrad, several honor societies including Sigma theta tau

General comments: Just as i was about to give up hope finding a job, i got a random phone call from the hospital where i was hired for an interview. I had completely forgotten I applied there. So i was surprised. This was my FIRST and ONLY interview after submitting my applications for literally hundreds of nursing positions all over the state of CA. I live in Orange County so it is very populated here and I was really not counting on finding a job so close. Anyway, I knew that getting an interview with this prestigious hospital was literally like one in a million, so i went into the interview swinging lol. I prepped for hours and practiced questions and printed out their mission statement, values, awards, things i liked on their website, and questions to ask the manager. although it is not in the unit that i would have liked to work, it is a residency program, and i am still happy i got a job at a great hospital. Moral of the story, JUST APPLY. Be ready for a call back, and when you get an interview GO ALL OUT.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Degree type: ADN

Graduation month/year: 01/2012

Sex:female

Age range: 30-34

Job Setting: Hospital

Geographical Location: NYC

Race/Ethnicity: Latina

How long have you been looking for your first job before being hired? 1 month

Did you do any volunteer work before your job? Yes

Did you possess any additional certifications (i.e. ACLS) before you landed your first job? ACLS & PALS

Did a family/friend/clinical instructor or other connection help you land your job? I didn't have any connections I made the connection myself with the nurse manager.

Did you work in the health care setting at all before your job? If so, what field? No

Did you apply online, in person (at the facility), or other? Explain. Nurse manager set up my panel interview and flagged me as hired

Did you participate in any follow-up inquiries after resume submittal of your application or interview? If so, explain. Email, phone call?

How far away do you live from your job site? 1 hour

Did you hold a p/t or f/t job while enrolled in your nursing program. No

If you held a job during your nursing program that was not related to the health care field, didn't work or held any jobs during nursing program.

Did you receive any scholastic honors while in nursing school (Dean's List, Cum Laude, etc.?) Phi Theta Kappa , Dean's list

General comments: From my personal experience I would be generous to state that 90% of acute care jobs at least in nyc are thru personal connections, but don't expect nurses to fess up. I got hired thru a connection and most in my orientation also had connections such as moms works at the hospital i.e RN, a nursing professor clinical instructor set up their interview which means a lot it means the scale is been tipped in their favor, even internal candidates still required a little hand to get ahead. I was lucky to have the nurse manager help me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion