No work experience at all? What to do?!

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So the time finally came a month ago. I passed my NCLEX exam and I finally got my license. I'm officially an RN, but I have no work experience. At all. So I am very concerned. I'm starting to apply to places and I freak out every time I get to the work experience section because I have nothing to put! I have volunteered for a hospital before for over a year but I'm not sure if that will really be considered since it wasn't really a paying job. I have the option to lie on my resume and say I worked for a store with a supervisor willing to vouch for me BUT I don't really feel comfortable with that. I have no idea what to do :( Help would be greatly appreciated!

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If you have no work experience then you have no work experience. Maybe you could do some volunteering while you wait for a job to help beef up your resume or help you make connections within a hospital.

Whatever you do, DO NOT lie on your application. Might you get away with it? Possibly. But there is always that chance that you will get caught and it could cost you your potential job. Honesty is the best policy.

If called for an interview be honest that you have no work experience, but, speak up about what you can bring to th table. Talk about your clinical experiences and life lessons that you have learned from that gave you skills that you can bring to your job.

Volunteer experience is not work experience but you can surely use your experience to beef up your résumé. Just be sure to put it under your volunteer experience section.

Good Luck in your job search, it is tough to get a job as a new grad so I urge you to please not lie on your résumé or application, it could potentially cost you a job in the long run. Don't make it more difficult for yourself. Now, while I say it is difficult to get a job as a new grad, it is certainly do-able.

It just takes time, patience, and persistence. Best wishes.

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Specializes in dealing w/code browns and blues.

Make sure you note your clinical experiences on your CV. Not as work experience, but I think you can list it under schools. If you had a strong experience with good work ethic then sometimes this can count just as strongly as paid work experience.

Sent from my overpriced Apple device

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Don't lie. You will get caught & fired eventually.

Seek letters of reference from your clinical and nursing instructors. If you received any clinical excellence or academic awards add those to your resume. New grads are not expected to have nursing experience. If your volunteer work was healthcare or customer service related list it under volunteer activities on your resume.

Listing clinical experience is only often helpful if you had a unique experience or preceptorship such as critical care, wound care or other elective that was uniquely chosen.

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I completely agree with you RN403. Thank you for your kind words. And definitely npgirl23 :)

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Yeah I was never really comfortable with lying in the first place. I am extremely worried about not even being considered because of no work experience but I'll just have to highlight my strengths. I'll just have to apply endlessly lol

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You might consider looking for private duty home care situations on job boards such as craigslist, for a start. Of course, you need to be careful when dealing with craigslist, that is a given. I never respond to a blind ad there. There must be a name, address, and/or phone number so I can do the minimum of research first. You can seek private duty work even if it does not seem to be at the RN level of responsibility. At least you could develop a good job reference from the client. And remember, even though you are inexperienced, private clients are often impressed with an RN before they look to hire an LPN or a HHA/CNA. Just a thought.

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

Definitely no lying. List your volunteer experience, and keep volunteering. What about babysitting or something along those lines? Have you done any of that?

I agree about considering non-hospital jobs for the sake of experience. It'll help you build your resume and learn how to work.

Even WITH other experience, it's smart to apply like crazy. I graduated in May, and I've applied for over 800 jobs. At this point, I have a few random per diem positions, and I'm interviewing for a hospital position Monday. Just be persistent, and keep brushing up your resume as needed. I constantly come across things I can adjust on my resume.

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I think your hospital volunteer work is a great experience.

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Don't lie. You volunteered. Put that one your resume. In your cover letter, state "although I have no prior work experience, I have volunteered doing XXXXXX at XXXXXX." Plus, list where you did your clinical rotations, and get those letters of recommendation. Not just from your professors but the nurses you precep'ed with. A letter of recommendation goes a long way.

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