Ok I give up

meta091 · Feb 19, 2015

I remember being right in the same place as you. Especially after hearing fellow classmates are landing great jobs (often times due to already working at the hospital or some relative is a manager).

Do you have your ADN or BSN?

- Many managers will only hire BSN grads. Espcially if the hospital is magnet or trying to be. It may be hugely beneficial (if you don't have your BSN) to put in your cover letter that you fully intend to get your BSN as soon as you can utilize tuition assistance.

Do you already have your state license?

- Again, I've had many many many managers tell me they toss out every application without a valid license in hand.

Where in the country are you applying?

- It is nearly impossible to get a job at one small rural hospital if that's all you're trying for. Branch out and apply to the nearest big city and cast that net wide.

live2nursebetter · Feb 19, 2015

Thanks for the reply peeps. I have my ADN and yes I have my RN License through the state of california. I'm open to relocating if the pay is reasonable. However, as a new grad I'm sure that will get me nowhere. I will look into North Dakota and see where that takes me.

kimmy20 · Feb 20, 2015

I feel like I'm in the same position. I had my license since November. I lost count of how many postings I have applied but I did get two interviews but haven't heard back. I got a couple of rejections saying I don't have enough experience despite the job positing saying new grads are welcome to apply. There are a few hospitals that I applied to that only allow up to 5 applications. I live in a big city with scarce opportunities for new grads because it seems like almost every 2-3 months there are a huge group of new grads coming out of school. Everyday seems to go by so slowly and I wake up every morning hoping to get an email or I'm waiting anxiously by my phone. In the meantime I'm doing some volunteering because I literally have nothing else to do so might as well put that time into something meaningful and I can add it to my resume. Hope everything works out for you. California is a brutal job hunting ground

haha341778 · Feb 22, 2015

I am in the same boat too. I have land some interviews but nothing solid come through

scaredsilly, BSN, RN · Feb 23, 2015

As another poster said, a lot of hospitals want only BSNs, you might have an easier time at a nursing home, LTC, clinic or Dr office. Where I am, my classmates and I all found out that going through HR was pointless. no experience on an online application got the application trashed almost immediately before a human ever saw it. We got hired by walking into a NM and handing them our resumes.

Also, I have heard N Dakota and Utah both are new grad friendly.

norynne328 · Feb 26, 2015

I'm in the same position, from the PA/NJ area. BSN and another bachelors. It's really discouraging. And extremely stressful with loan payments kicking in - yet no job in the field/degree the loans were taken out for. I'm trying to "keep the faith" but it's really quite hopeless. Good luck to you and all other new grads! Maybe we'll find something soon

And ditto to this that someone said above me "I got a couple of rejections saying I don't have enough experience despite the job positing saying new grads are welcome to apply. "

RunBabyRN · Feb 26, 2015

With an ADN in CA, I would strongly consider moving out of state, and pursuing your BSN while you're gone. I have my BSN, graduated in May, have worked in healthcare for most of the past 15 years, sent out over 2000 resumes (and constantly revising), and I finally just started a new full time clinic job (still not acute care, but it's okay, because this jobs is awesome). LTC and home health are the two big opportunities for new grad ADN-prepared nurses in CA, unfortunately. Be prepared to apply for anything you'd consider. I didn't think my specialty (urology) was all that (especially with a goal of L&D), but I love my job.