New Grad, no Job

Nurses Job Hunt

Published

Hello everyone I just joined today and I was hoping you guys can give me advice. I graduated in May 2013 in NY and passed my boards in July and still I am struggling to find a job. I had two interviews just last week, one for Virginia for their new grad program however they pay 21/hr and me moving there is not gonna work out with this low pay. I have applied everywhere in NY as well as CT because I live in CT. I don't know what to do anymore. I try everyday applying and keeping a positive attitude but its December now and I have to start paying my loans. This is seriously making me depress and doubt myself as to why I became nurse when this job market is horrible! How am I suppose be experienced if no facility will hire you. Please give me advice as to what I should do, obviously still keep applying, but anyone have any suggestions please let me know.Thank you.

0 Votes
Specializes in NICU.

$21 is around the starting rate for new grads in my area and is doable with the cost of living here. From what I've seen on this site, it's common for a lot of places. I would check out the COL near the Virginia hospital; it could be much less than CT.

0 Votes
Specializes in geriatrics.

All major cities are saturated with new and experienced nurses. New York is extremely tight and facilities are closing. It is not you personally. The job market has been dismal since 2007.

Consider relocating for work. Many nurses have relocated, including myself.

Good luck!

0 Votes

What areas (hospital, SNF, etc) have you applied to?

I'm not familiar with the job market your area since I'm in Washington state but I know a handful of new grads here that started out in SNFs and home care. This helped because they at least gained some nursing experience which opened more doors to other positions later on. One of my close friends did pediatric home care nursing for about 6 months and then got hired into an RN residency afterwards. I met one RN resident during my senior practicum that worked in a SNF for a year before she was hired into the RN residency.

Relocating is also a possibility if the job market is not as ideal in your area.

Hope this helped. Good luck

0 Votes

We're on the same boat, but I don't have any job experience outside my clinical rotations. I passed on September. Never lose hope.

0 Votes
Specializes in Geriatrics, Telemetry, Med-Surg.
$21 is around the starting rate for new grads in my area and is doable with the cost of living here. From what I've seen on this site, it's common for a lot of places. I would check out the COL near the Virginia hospital; it could be much less than CT.

The starting rate here is $16-$18 for new grads. I would love to be making $21/hr!

0 Votes
The starting rate here is $16-$18 for new grads. I would love to be making $21/hr!

16 to 18 for an RN!!?! No way!!!

Is your cost of living dirt cheap??

I started at 28 as a new grad.

0 Votes
Specializes in oncology, MS/tele/stepdown.

You have to take cost of living into account. Of course you would get paid a lot more in NY or CT, but those are expensive places to live. If it means getting a job and you can financially make the move, I would do it.

0 Votes
Specializes in Geriatrics, Telemetry, Med-Surg.
16 to 18 for an RN!!?! No way!!!

Is your cost of living dirt cheap??

I started at 28 as a new grad.

Yeah, I started at $18. I don't know if it's 'dirt cheap'. It's not as expensive as living in Cali, but I've never lived anywhere else, so I have nothing to compare it to.

0 Votes

Hey everyone I graduated in May and passed my boards in August. I've been looking for a job since August and haven't seriously gotten any offers I've only had one interview and that didn't go so well. I've been looking in states like New York North Carolina and Maryland which is where I would like to relocate. I have updated and change my resumes and cover letters several times still nothing. I've tried calling HR but I just get a dead end. I'm considering going to any one of the locations and walking into the facilities and just talking to whomever but I'm not sure what to say or how to do that approach. I've applied to numerous hospitals LTC SNFs etc and nothing. Any suggestions?

0 Votes
Specializes in ER.

I would look into the cost of living. We start out at 20-25 dollars depending on which system you are in. I am making 20 dollars as a graduate nurse intern till I pass NCLEX and it goes up to 23 dollars an hour. I'd take the 21 dollar an hour job, get a year of experience, and then start looking for a higher paying job. So many people sit here and do not get hired.

0 Votes

Sorry to hear this, but it is nice to know I am not alone! I think everyone in my graduating class has a job but me, so needless to say I was starting to have major doubts! All I can say is keep trying and you may have to go to the places you didn't consider before just to get some experience until you find the job you really want. That's what I am doing. Have an interview next week so even though it isn't the job I really wanted, I will take anything at this point! As far as loans go, just be sure to call them. They can defer your payments for up to 12 more months. I had to do that and it only took a 5 minute phone call. Good luck

0 Votes
+ Add a Comment