Poll to " former" new grads. How did you land that 1st job?

scameron · Sep 1, 2012

It was hard!!!! Sent out resume after resume, told everyone I knew, stalked employers who had a position available! For real I called them weekly! It's a tough hunt lots going for the same job as you who have experience! I eventually changed my resume from the cookie cutter new grad. version and added where I obtained experience during clinicals and procedures I had performed in bold to the cover of my resume. Clinical hours do not count as experience but I needed it to be noted that I had 750 hours of clinical time and had worked in various healthcare settings even though it was for free I was still there! Treat it like its a full time job and if apps are only online try to figure out a way to show your face in person! Good luck it will happen you just got to get that one year in!

Nurse Connie · Sep 1, 2012

One of my professors set up the interview for me, and I got it! I had done clinicals in this hospital and had a lot of good things to say.

eholt19351 · Sep 1, 2012

I was hired by an HIT company a year before a graduated.... That got my foot in the door to a major (and majorly picky) CA medical center. I was interviewed with 350 others and landed a job after one interview, while all of my friends/classmates had to go through 2-3 interviews before they were hired. Just get your foot in the door somewhere, somehow! As a volunteer or something. Because I had my foot in the door already, it was relatively easy to get hired as an RN

eleectrosaurus · Sep 1, 2012

Nepotism!

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Sep 1, 2012

Went to the hospital, requested an application and filled it out. It was a long-shot as it was a psych facility and I didn't really have any psych experience or even desire to work in psych at the time, but figured that any RN job was better than no job. And I didn't have to stay past that golden year...

A couple of weeks later, I got an interview request. A few weeks later, I was hired and started the job. Two years later, I earned my psychiatric-mental health certification. Present day: I'm holding down two psych RN jobs--outpatient and inpatient--so I get the best of both worlds.

Now while I may consider dabbling in other specialties for the experiences, I love psych too much to want to fully leave it. Guess I got lucky and landed in my niche right away.

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Sep 1, 2012

Networking while in school

catladyRN · Sep 1, 2012

Networking. I applied at every hospital within an hour of where I live. The job I ended up accepting was at a hospital where a family friend works. She forwarded my resume to the nurse manager on the floor I applied for and wrote me a letter of recommendation.

sophBSN15 · Sep 1, 2012

Same here, my nursing chair, set up an interview and just so happen I also had my critical care clinical there. So it worked out for me.

Isitpossible, LPN, LVN · Sep 1, 2012

I applied online, followed up with emails, went to open houses for seasoned nurses. Though I didnt get that particular job, I was called the very next week by the same company at another facility. I interviewed for 2 different positions and did not get either. Third time was the charm, and just got another position in psych. Good luck!

eroc · Sep 1, 2012

Graduate next week...applied to two different places and have two job offers as soon as achieve my RN license. (One in a hospital, other in a rehab clinic)

The key is to stand out...I have years of management experience in a different field, so that helps. Listen to sucessful positive nurses advice, not bitter, negative ones.

peanutsauce · Sep 1, 2012

I did a clinical rotation at the facility where I was hired, but not on the same unit. I applied online, like everyone else, and was selected for a panel interview, and then a unit interview, after which I was offered the job. For me, it wasn't networking. I did attend a school that the hospital holds in high regard, so I suppose that combined with my hours done at that hospital helped significantly. And, good grades, lots of volunteering, and lots of prayer.