Relocating but can't find a job!

[ThinkerBelleRN, BSN, RN]

I am currently working as an RN in the medical floor in the midwest, hate it and already so burnt out. Last spring I finally made the decision to relocate to upstate NY and still waiting to get my NY license, but have been applying for jobs because I really want to make sure I have a job lined up before I resign from my current job. However, even after getting a call back from the hospitals I applied to, which sometimes I would miss because I work nights, none of them would return my call or reply to my email. There was even one time when this one rehab facility scheduled a skype interview, but never called as scheduled. I called them after 30 minutes of waiting and emailed but they never even respond. Anyway, I don't know what I am doing wrong. I have total 8 years of experience outside of the US both in medsurg and outpatient (wound clinic), I have a BSN, although I know I still don't have a NY license yet, but do facilities really do this? Just ignore calls and emails? My coworker who moved to California got a facility consider her even before she got her license, and all she had to do was update them when she got her license. Because of this, I really started to wonder what's wrong with me and started to lose confidence.

Even though I want to make sure I have a job offer before I give my notice, the hospital I really want to work prefers to do face to face interviews but I wont be able to travel to NY anytime I want to because we plan our schedule at work 2 months ahead. I have been so depressed here and find myself crying often and anxious before going in to work. I hate working inpatient already and have been wanting to just do anything but working in a medsurg unit. However, being that I need a job ASAP, I have gotten to a point that I am considering even a PRN job in a medsurg unit just to get my foot in the door and then transfer to the unit I really want.

I am so torn whether I should just give my notice, move and then try to find a job when I'm already in NY or still try to find a job before I resign. A lot of people say it is easier to get a job when you have a job, but I am at a point where I can't stand it here anymore.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

New York is known to be a tough market and it is understandable that they may not wish to consider you until you have an active license in that state. I would cool your jets until your New York license comes through.

NEVER quit a job until you have another in hand. It is much easier to find a job when you have a job. Moving to a new state without a job lined up is a recipe for disaster on a huge scale.

You cannot compare your experience to your coworkers. It may have been a different time, its a completely different state, she/he is a different person and those applications were all to different employers. I suspect this is the real reason you are so anxious - you thought it would be easier than this.

Consider reaching out to employers in very rural area. Consider a different location than upstate New York. You are going to have a much better shot if you widen the net you are casting and you are going to have a much better shot when you have an active license.

And yes, ghosting by potential employers is very common.

[Red Shirt 6, CNA]

Recently I was looking for work out of state. I had similar challenges. Somebody from HR that I was able to talk because "they made a mistake in calling me" admitted that the were not interested unless I moved into the state. They are unwilling to offer a job to anybody with less than an MD that is from out of state.

Any updates on your situation?

[ThinkerBelleRN, BSN, RN]

Update. I found a job in a large teaching hospital, and just gave my notice at my current workplace. Will be moving to NY state after my 4 weeks is up!