RN

Well I can't think if a time where you could land a job 10 days after you started looking.

That is just a little more than a week, remember July 4th is a national holiday.

Do you mean that you have been applying for jobs via the hospital website since July 4, 2011? It takes a few weeks for the system to filter through applications & resumes. Then the recruiter needs to decide who is qualified for an initial interview.

Regardless of the industry I don't think I have ever heard back in a week after submitting an online application other than the cursory email "thank you for applying, due to the volume of applications submitted only qualified candidates will receive further communication."

But, yes it is that difficult to get a job in this economy.

There are plenty of opportunities for experienced nurses up in the Far North Suburbs. I've even gotten invites for them. Sadly, I am a new nurse and the email explicitly stated that the job fair was for experienced nurses only. They even conducted on site interviews! As a new graduate, it may take months to get a job. The Chicagoland area is a tight market right now.

I have been looking for a job since April 2011.