No one wants to hire me as a new grad. how do i get the experience!

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I am beyond frustrated. i can't get a job as a new grad RN. I have applied EVERYWHERE including LTC, homehealth agencies. I also applied where i use to work as a CNA, the recruiter called me to schedule an interview yesterday, she then called me today to tell me that she didn't know that i was a new grad and that they are not hiring new grads right now (so why did she call me and get me all excited about the interview) she could have read through my resume first. I am so angry and i am trying not to be depressed about this, i feel like nursing school was a waste of my money, i have started paying for the loans that i took out for school and still, i have no job. i graduated w honors from nursing school, i was so excited about starting my career. PLEASE PEOPLE DO NOT BELIEVE THE HYPE ABOUT SHORTAGE OF NURSES. There's no such thing. i think it's just a way for nursing schools to make money.

i don't understand what you mean by link to my resume & cover letter

can you give us a link to your resume and cover letter so we can see what you're working with? maybe we can give you some help

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Are you all in agreement that the 300 dollar ACLS course is worth the money to better your chances of getting a job?

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In this market, I would never guarantee it or anything. I am a new grad myself, unemployed, so I am in no real position to say what will land one a job! I just know that it could not hurt, and most positions that I have come across for experienced nurses state that they highly prefer ACLS, amongst other certifications. The way I see it is a manager has two applications on hand, both from new grads. Of course personality, work ethic, etc. is a very important factor in choosing an employee, but if the initiative to obtain these extra certifications and chances for learning was the deciding factor in who was getting hired, I would like to be on the side of the ACLS (or other certifcation) :-) It is very expensive, but if you have the option I would make the investment. I plan to when I can gather the finances. It is so frusterating being unemployed, that I just want to use my time wisely (perhaps it's my coping mechanism lol)

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Specializes in med/surg; LTC.....LPN, RN, DON; TCU.

True the expense of training a new nurse vs experienced nurse you can't really help. Have you considered relocating? If possible look at that area because there are parts of the US that have a long standing storage of nurses. In my area the young nurses stay about a year than leave for the surrounding big cities. Where I work we get at least 12 hours OT every 2 weeks because we don't have enough nurses to fill the gaps. Older nurses are prefered here because of the young nurses leaving when they get experience. In NM more nurses are retiring than are being generated by the nursing schools. :up:

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I would like to let you know that you are not alone. I graduated in June of this year and submitted about 200 applications, no joke. I followed up with letters, phone calls, and in some cases, additional letters. I mailed resumes to the recruiters as well as nurse managers. The thing that really surprised me is that I graduated tied for top of my class, with one of the top ten nursing schools in the country. I had awards, I had tons of volunteer experience with various social service type organizations as well as student government...while I worked the last two years as a hospital CNA. Even with this, I had an amazing senior year internship with many more hands on hours than most students ever get, had been self-directed to get my ACLS and any other certifications that I felt would make me more competent and marketable. I had excellent references, work and school and have been told that I am a nice and likeable person, I have never had trouble with interviews--the trouble this time was getting an interview...and I was literally beside myself that for some reason, nobody wanted to hire me and I was stuck into this category of "new grad" like it was a poison. Anyway, my best advice is to be persistent and to look to smaller communities in areas you may be interested in relocating to. My first job was with a smaller, regional hospital, that called me the day after I submitted my application and didn't even know half of the stuff that I just mentioned. I really like the managers of the unit I am on and have so far learned a great deal. Best of luck to you--hang in there!

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Specializes in Peds Hem, Onc, Med/Surg.

Maybe get a job at a flu clinic first. My friend is doing it through an agency and hopes that if she does an outstanding job and makes friends with administration she can at least get a home health gig with them. The pay is crap but money is money plus you get some experience and something is something.

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A couple of things to help you market yourself better.

1. Sell your commitment to staying put.

Hospitals are REALLY focusing on reducing their turnover of nurses. The loss of a nurse costs organizations huge amounts of money every year. I know at my hospital we are trying to hire nurses who we believe have longevity and will stay around for several years. If you can honestly say that you are not looking to make a career change for several years, that may help you.

2. Learn about shared governance.

A lot of hospitals are looking to be awarded 'Magnet Status'. Shared Governance is a critical part of that. It is basically an organization of nurses within a hospital that works together, with nursing administration, to give nurses more of a voice in things that impact them, like staffing. Many states have actually passed legislation enforcing shared governance within hospitals. Being able to talk about this and show an interest in participating in Shared Governance Councils would be very helpful in an interview.

3. Learn about Joint Commission.

This is the hospital accrediting body. Every health care organization goes through this accreditation process every couple of years. It is a huge hot topic when a hospital is going through the process. Being able to talk about it and show that you have been involved in preparation for a survey would be very impressive as a new grad.

4. Most importantly:

Get your foot in the door. Don't take no for an answer. I can promise you hospitals WANT to hire good nurses. Nursing is a VERY difficult job and we want people who are persistent and committed and who won't take no for an answer. If you put in an application and are sent a standard 'We are pursuing other candidates' letter, call them. Be persistent. Show up at HR and ask to talk to a recruiter. When you talk to one and they tell you they aren't hiring new grads ask to speak to their director. (politely, of course). Impress upon them how much you want to work there and be able to tell them why. Know something about the missions and values of the hospital and explain to them your passion for working there. I can assure you, if you do this, you WILL be hired. If someone actually did all those things and showed up in our HR we would be so impressed we would find a place for them.

I wish you all the best of luck. If you would like further information on any of the things I mentioned, send a reply and I will post come links.

Best of Luck!!!

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A couple of things to help you market yourself better.

1. Sell your commitment to staying put.

Hospitals are REALLY focusing on reducing their turnover of nurses. The loss of a nurse costs organizations huge amounts of money every year. I know at my hospital we are trying to hire nurses who we believe have longevity and will stay around for several years. If you can honestly say that you are not looking to make a career change for several years, that may help you.

2. Learn about shared governance.

A lot of hospitals are looking to be awarded 'Magnet Status'. Shared Governance is a critical part of that. It is basically an organization of nurses within a hospital that works together, with nursing administration, to give nurses more of a voice in things that impact them, like staffing. Many states have actually passed legislation enforcing shared governance within hospitals. Being able to talk about this and show an interest in participating in Shared Governance Councils would be very helpful in an interview.

3. Learn about Joint Commission.

This is the hospital accrediting body. Every health care organization goes through this accreditation process every couple of years. It is a huge hot topic when a hospital is going through the process. Being able to talk about it and show that you have been involved in preparation for a survey would be very impressive as a new grad.

4. Most importantly:

Get your foot in the door. Don't take no for an answer. I can promise you hospitals WANT to hire good nurses. Nursing is a VERY difficult job and we want people who are persistent and committed and who won't take no for an answer. If you put in an application and are sent a standard 'We are pursuing other candidates' letter, call them. Be persistent. Show up at HR and ask to talk to a recruiter. When you talk to one and they tell you they aren't hiring new grads ask to speak to their director. (politely, of course). Impress upon them how much you want to work there and be able to tell them why. Know something about the missions and values of the hospital and explain to them your passion for working there. I can assure you, if you do this, you WILL be hired. If someone actually did all those things and showed up in our HR we would be so impressed we would find a place for them.

I wish you all the best of luck. If you would like further information on any of the things I mentioned, send a reply and I will post come links.

Best of Luck!!!

thank you so much for the advice. The DON that asked me to call her when i graduated and took my boards has refused to return my calls, i think l will show up to the hospital and ask to speak to her, although, i left her two voice messages and she never called me back. can you elaborate more on shared governance please.

I am so sad because this is my 2nd degree, after i get my BS in IT, i really could not get a job so i went back to do nursing. I worked so hard in school (tears)i neglected my husband and my toddler because of this. i graduated with honors, took my exam within 3 weeks of graduating in Dec 2008 and passed at 75questions. I have great recommendation letters from the coordinator of our Nursing program and my teachers, but no one to show it to. No one will give me a chance. I have done everything i can to get a job in the hospital, but nothing. I signed up to give flu shots with mollen immunization clinic but that is only temp job. i feel like i am struck with bad luck. I can't stop sobbing.

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can you give us a link to your resume and cover letter so we can see what you're working with? maybe we can give you some help

please i would appreciate if you can take a look, how can i send it to you. thank you

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please i would appreciate if you can take a look, how can i send it to you. thank you

you can make attachments on here. just reply to this and scroll down to the attach files part

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I have been looking for a job for three months, I finally got my first interview and have been waiting two weeks

for them to make a decision if I got the job..it is like water torture. I have two kids and an out of work husband.

this was suppose to be my "sure thing" borrowed money to go back to nursing school and can't get a job.

Our big hospitals are all connected by a employment system, nobody to call or talk with..I have walked into

the HR office of hospitals, they can not do anything. This is the most frustrating situtation I have ever been in.

RI has the second worst unemployment rate in the country..:banghead:

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First of all DON'T GO TO RECRUITERS. When I graduated I tried to get a job at a particular hospital, the recruiter who helped my friend to get a job there told me that they don't hire new grads. I applied directly and got a job. The HR manager told me that they don't pay recruiters for new grads, only for experienced nurses. So, the recruiter simply lied to me, because she couldn't take advantage of the situation.

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