Job Hunt Etiquette

[hishandmaiden]

I graduated in the beginning of December with my ADN. I'm taking my NCLEX next week and am fully expecting to pass.

Most of my classmates have been hired to their first positions. I'm having trouble getting interviews in my area. Unfortunately, my current financial situation does not enable me to move to a different city. I'm hoping that after I'm licensed, a lot of doors will open up.

Is it inappropriate to walk into the HR departments of local hospitals, resumes in hand, and ask if they have any open spots for new grads?

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

Inappropriate? No. But very unlikely to get you anywhere. Did you make any connections in nursing school you can reach out to? Are you tailoring each resume to the posted job positions? Are you making sure you target openings that state that new grad nurses are welcome to apply? I know where I live, the only way into a hospital job is through an internship. None of them hire direct-to-floor for new grads. Those internships only happen a couple of times a year. The application period for a start day in July is opening up next month at most of the local hospitals.

Are you applying only to acute care? Are you applying only to "certain" specialties? Have you investigated Home Health, LTACH, SNF, jails and prisons, physician offices and surgery centers? Have you had anyone look over your resume for blaring errors? Are you using a cover letter, tailored to the position for which you are applying?