Nursing student wants advice on becoming a good candidate for job placement

[wpallais]

Greetings,

I am a first year nursing student. I start my clinicals this month and want to begin making myself a good potential candidate for the work place. I have seen other threads where nurses state how it was a lengthy process to find their first jobs. I am wondering what I can do to make myself stand out. I am ultimately interested in working in the ER. In specific, I am wondering, if volunteer service, even if abroad, look good on a resume? I ask because if I have a hard time finding an internship and/or job post graduation, I may have the opportunity to work or volunteer in Central America. Will this be looked at as some sort of viable experience within the US job market?

Thanks

[wildtulip]

Any experience and effort to gain one is considered better than none.

[chococroissant]

Network!! Of course you do the usual--excellent grades, ECs, externships, CEs after graduation-- but don't underestimate getting to know the managers of the units you're interested in during your clinicals and externship. Get their contact info and keep in touch, and express your interest early on. Because of the volume of applicants hospitals get, knowing the managers/ HRs, etc... will give you a step ahead. Good luck!

[cosmicsun]

Apply in the Southern states. They actually have job openings.

[MamaCJRN]

Take every opportunity to learn/perform new skills. You will be a better nurse and your instructors will be able to give an excellent reference. If your state offers nurse externships, apply for them. It does help to get your foot in the door and show potential employers you are hardworking and willing to learn. I know it's a no brainer, I will say it anyway, be accountable and responsible for your actions.

Best wishes!

[dittosaur-bandaid]

Maybe talk to your course counselor or instructors as well, find out what other students have done in the past that helped them be successful? Does your program have a career fair for nurses? They are a great way to learn about intern/extern opportunities. Keep your grades up and build relationships with your instructors, they may just be willing to write letter of recommendations for you. Stay driven and you will succeed!

[Riburn3, BSN, MSN, APRN, NP]

My advice to you is to learn as much as you can during your clinicals and maintain a good attitude. While grades are important, when interviewing as a new grad, displaying an eager, pleasant personality is by far the most important thing. You can teach new nurses new skills, but you can't change their personality.

If you want a good job with your pick of units, Texas, Midwestern, Great Plains, and other Southern states always have openings and cost of living is cheap. On the East and West coasts, a job can be found, but you will have to pay your dues if your trying to get yourself positioned into critical care units, etc. Of course there are always exceptions, and my next best piece of advice I can give is to start applying for jobs in the middle of your last semester. I can't tell you how many good new nurses I have seen miss out on job opportunities because they waited to apply until after they graduated. Even if they aren't hiring or you don't have enough experience, you get your file in their systems, your name out there, and more importantly, a head start. Best of luck to you!

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

Apply in the Southern states. They actually have job openings.

Any place that had job openings might make me ask "Why?"