The job hunt struggle..

[TheNewNurse94]

I have recently completed my bachelor's degree in nursing, class of 2017. I'm still awaiting my registration to be complete though as I didn't get a new grad position I am finding it extremely hard to get my foot through the door as a registered nurse.

I have now applied for 56 positions in the past 5 weeks. And as my son turned 6 at the end of last year I now have a job agency jumping down my throat telling me I need to get into any position I can get. And any position I can get would be nice, if I hadn't just spent the last three years at university, sacrificing my time with my son before he started school so I could better myself to earn more money and to do what I love.

I went into nursing because I fell in love with the midwives who looked after me during my pregnancy, my passion for nursing was further built through the placements I completed and I now have so many areas I want to explore in my nursing career when/if it ever begins.

I've had countless emails telling me I was unsuccessful. I didn't even get a call back for my first interview. I had two more interviews yesterday and another one today. One from yesterday already called to say I was unsuccessful and the interview today was a train wreck when they found I was a new grad nurse.

I have no idea what to do anymore and it's all making me so depressed and emotional.. I thought it was meant to be somewhat easier than this! How WRONG I was.

So I need some advice on what to do before I give up on my nursing career because I'm so close to just throwing my degree away because I "don't have experience", I "don't have your new grad year". Agencies don't take new grads, the hospitals are proving to be extremely hard to get in to. Even the aged care facilities seem to be picky.

What am I meant to do???

[sparticus2008]

Yep. It's hard if you don't get a grad, Unfortunately you just have to keep applying

Look around at what you can do to upskill, for example: for example - most GP clinics want you to have your vaccination certification.

[K+MgSO4, BSN]

Start looking for mid year entry grad year.

Talk to grad year coordinators via phone or email. People drop out/ get pregnant/life gets complicated. There may be options to get in that way.

[EDNURSE20, BSN]

Not sure if your from nz or Aus. But I would recommend emailing Netp co ordinators if from nz. I emailed every dhb a personalised email/cover letter and attached my cv. Within 6 weeks I got offered 15 interviews for hospital positions. Every single one said they did because of my initiative to email them. I was an average student. Only had retail work experience. But showing imitative and passion is what got me my job. Apply to everything you can, just make sure you personalise every application, so employers can see you keen. Also reach out to your preceptors you had on placement, espically if you did anything outside of the hospital in your last year, thru can be your step in the door. They may just know some one who is looking and can pass on your info. Something else I did, but got a hospital job first. But my preceptors were very willing to help.