Nrsg student can't find a job...

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Specializes in clinicals.

I am on summer vacation after my first year of nursing school. I have been looking for jobs like PCA's and externships (18 to be exact). About 75% of them reply and say no thanks. The qualification states that they would like someone who completed one or two semesters of the RN program which I have. Some of these positions literally deny me within 1 hr. I just don't get it. I am getting kind of discouraged. I can't figure out if I'm filling out the application wrong or if resume is not interesting enough.

Does anyone have the same problem or is there a recruiter out there that could give me some suggestions on a different approach that may impress the hospital to even consider my application??

Thanks!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Have you considered the fact that the sluggish economy is affecting the availability of jobs, no matter how qualified you are for the position? Hospitals frequently post job openings when they never have any real intention of hiring anyone. Sometimes, the hospital or healthcare facility plans to hire internally, but they are forced to advertise the position to external candidates due to official policies.

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It takes persistence. I have a previous bachelors degree, CNA certifications, BLS, and a solid work history in research. I have been rejected for more tech jobs than I care to count. I finally got an interview and an offer as a mental health tech. Be flexible and creative, and most of all persistent. Deliver your resume personally to the nurse recruiters.

Other areas to look at working include unit secretaries, research technicians, plebotomy, and patient transport.

Also be open with your availability. Because my class schedule is all over the place in the middle of the day, I chose a PRN job with primarily night shift work.

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I know how you feel. I got my CNA in March 2009 and started applying to hospitals (not interested in LTC). One particular hospital keeps an archive, I've applied for 54 positions and got 2 interviews. I could have had both jobs but at the time I thought something else would come along.

Since then I've become a LPN and I'm now in RN school. I'm still applying for the same positions when one comes up that meets my needs. I even know the nurse recruiter so I know that my app gets passed on to the hiring manager but that's as far as it goes. Some of the positions have never been filled and others already had someone in mind when they posted it.

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I noticed in my quest to find a job, that employers were almost turned off by the fact I was starting nursing school. I had one flat out tell me they wouldn't hire me because she couldn't spend the time and money to train me, just to have me quit or go reserve. I finally landed a job (only part time) working at the hospital on the med/surg floor. Good luck, persistance pays off! I got my licencse in Dec.of last year, it took awhile to find the right job for me.

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Specializes in Med Surg - Renal.
I am on summer vacation after my first year of nursing school. I have been looking for jobs like PCA's and externships (18 to be exact). About 75% of them reply and say no thanks. The qualification states that they would like someone who completed one or two semesters of the RN program which I have. Some of these positions literally deny me within 1 hr. I just don't get it. I am getting kind of discouraged. I can't figure out if I'm filling out the application wrong or if resume is not interesting enough.

Does anyone have the same problem or is there a recruiter out there that could give me some suggestions on a different approach that may impress the hospital to even consider my application??

Thanks!

You either have to get very lucky or know someone at the facility you want to work at.

I was neither so I took a REALLY horrible job as a CNA in one of the worst nursing homes in the country. I learned a heck of a lot there though and the experience I gained eventually got me a CNA job at large local hospital.

Even so, with all my good fortune, my large local hospital ISN'T hiring any new grad nurses at all. Contract and travel nurses sure, but no new grads.

Oh well.

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I am very luckly, just got a job as a "Patient Observer", i have to recert my CNA so i can then float to PCT, i start the RN program in Jan2012~my community hospital is thrilled there is a closer location for the CT community college RN program and is eager to hire us students. Alot of the troubles i see with jobs, have to do with location, location, location, if its rural they must have excellent grant writers and community support, or you need to be by a teaching hospital that encourages growth of its employees, and can see a need in the surrounding community. Good luck for many times are difficult~

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