michelle9655

I finally have a job.... An amazing job at the best hospital in the state- Northwestern Memorial. However it was my first hospital job and I only got hired at the end of July. It took me 9 months total to find my first job and I applied to every single hospital in Illinois, and then also hospitals in Iowa Indiana and Wisconsin. Awful. Haha but I have a lot to be grateful for now and now I will be "experienced" so I hope I don't ever have to go through that again.

KG, before I got my part time job in my area, I applied to tons of jobs out of state too. No luck in Illinois, Wisconsin, or Indiana- however! I did end up getting a position offered to me from University of Iowa hospitals ( they're magnet and super nice!) but since I found this job I didn't take it. But anyways so I know at least they will hire new grads from out of state?

So, update- I have found a job- part time. Finally! I've worked there for 2 months now. The pay is unbelievably low for this area, and they don't offer benefits, but I am so happy to just finally have my foot in the door. For the past 2 months I have continued to apply for hospitals jobs and I haven't even gotten a call for an interview since February. I'm still not making my bills and I had to get my student loans deferred due to not making enough. I am probably going to move back in with my parents next month. But still. So relieved and grateful I at least am making progress.

I'll try St. Louis too! I am down for anything. I've applied to Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana, and the ENTIRE state of Illinois, so Missouri can be next I guess! This is out of control. I've applied to over 500 jobs now. Gotten 4 interviews. Zero job offers. It's SO UNBELIEVABLY hard to keep trying. I feel so discouraged and hopeless, I cried the whole day yesterday after I still haven't gotten a call back from either of my job interviews from last week. I keep having friends and family and so on giving me "leads" that go no where. I am sick of getting my hopes up every time my phone rings just to get disappointed. ugh! so over it!

Iowa never called back so I didn't get that job apparently... I had 2 more interviews last week and haven't heard anything from them either. Now I'm starting to think there's something wrong with me since I've had interviews but still can't get a job. I thought all of my interviews went well but apparently not. I researched and prepped really well for all my interviews since I want a job so badly. Idk what else I can do.

Iowa City! Total college town- university of Iowa. My friend goes to school there so at least I would have one friend :/ knowing my luck I won't even get this job.

Ok update... I took all your advice and applied for jobs where I would have to relocate... I had interviews in Iowa on Tuesday. I really really don't want to move there but at least getting experience would be good and worth it. In the mean time I've still been applying all day every day and have not had any luck for any other positions. If they offer me a job in Iowa, I'm gonna take it.

I've looked into Indiana a little bit but didn't try applying to anything.. I've tried applying to Wisconsin jobs with no luck. I should probably try Indiana and see how to obtain a nursing license in their state. My boyfriend can't move for two major reasons.. He is going to school here and not a lot of places offer his major. He also has to help take care of his mother who lives alone and is very dependent on him. The more I am reading online the more scared I am becoming. There are SO many new grads having trouble finding jobs! This is getting crazy. I am getting the feeling I'm going to have to move to Wyoming or some other random state where going from living in Chicago will be quite a culture shock lol.

Thanks so much for the advice! I think I've decided what I'm going to do... I'm going to keep trying to find a job around here as hard as I can for the next 2 months or so. My student loans are going to start coming in April so if I don't have a job by March I will consider all my options exhausted and will move as my last resort. I feel I will be able to find a job if I move.. it's just around Chicago and even its distant suburbs they don't want anyone without experience. Hopefully something will come up. I spend literally hours every day looking and applying.

I know there are other topics on here about this- I've read them all. I'm feeling so so depressed lately. I graduated in October 2011 with my BSN and passed my NCLEX in November. I started applying for jobs in August, hoping to have one set up when I graduated- with no luck. But I kept high spirits knowing that that would have only been ideal for that to happen and I wasn't really expecting it. So October I started applying again once I graduated (Cum Laude, in Honor Society, etc. etc.). Ok, no call backs, but maybe it's because I didn't pass my NCLEX yet. So, I passed my NCLEX- tried again. This time I applied everywhere and I mean EVERYWHERE within a 2 HOUR drive of Chicago (Aurora, Joliet, you name it). Ok. Maybe no call backs because I don't have my license number yet from Illinois. SO I got my license number. applied everywhere again!! and more! even 'unwanted' jobs- abortion clinics, drug rehabs, etc. Still no calls. I am so so depressed. I am questioning why I got my degree and license. My student loans will be coming soon and me working as a waitress currently will definitely not cut it. Actually it already isn't enough- I have to ask my parents for help with my bills this month. I live with my boyfriend and I'm asking him to relocate with me to central/southern Illinois because maybe I could find a job there, but he says he can't. So I would have to be alone and move somewhere I would absolutely hate. I am now to the point of applying for irrelevant jobs to nursing- data entry, secretary, receptionist, customer service, and on. (With no luck in that either!!) I need a full time job. So, in conclusion. Any advice? I am so beyond depressed I can't even eat or sleep.

Yeah I'm debating leaving another one this morning... I feel like I should though and then not tomorrow since its Thanksgiving obviously. I just don't get it, I called her back 20 seconds after she called me and have been trying to get a hold of her since. I just wish I could go back in time and answer that call!

I am a new grad in the Chicago area and there are NO jobs for new nurses here. I've applied to over 50 jobs probably. Well, yesterday I walked away from my phone for literally 1 minute and 30 seconds to microwave hot water and in that 1 minute- of course a missed call and voicemail from Northwestern Memorial Hospital. It would be like my dream job to work there. The HR woman gave me her name and direct line so I immediately called back and it went to her voicemail. Tried again, voicemail again- so I left a voicemail. I continuously called her for the rest of the day with no answer or return to my message. So today I'm thinking she will call back. She doesn't. I left another voice message at like 9:00 AM. Still no return. I tried calling the general HR line and there's no option to let me talk to someone- only leave voicemails and listen to recordings. What do I do?!?! I feel like I missed my one and only opportunity and I'm beating myself up over walking away from my phone for 1 minute. I feel like I will never get through to this person and she will give away my position before I have the chance to talk to her.

yeah! the overall nln percent for the AD column. as long as you are in "academic good standing" with harper you're fine! they don't look at your gpa for who they let into the program.

mikelee1976, if you got over 90% composite score, then what are you worried about? yes i am going to harper, but didn't you get those nursing packets at that information meeting? it says "the nursing program here is very competetive, normally we only take the top 80-99th percentile!" so first of all i think that they are exaggerating a little bit, and second of all we are both in the 90's. mine's at 93% because i took extra classes that give you points. so i'm not really worried, i don't think you should be either!

AHHH! i did it!!!!! :) i got a 129 composite score and i am in the 91st percentile! my school says they usually take the upper 80-99th percentile so i am hoping and pretty sure i made it!! i will find out in march for sure. hmm 2 more months of waiting.. :/