Should I call HR or Nurse Manager?

[ximab]

Hello all!

I am new to CT and a new grad and I have posted for help earlier. I have been applying, but I have not been following up with my applications because I am not sure who to call, Should I call HR or NM directly? I actually did call one HR and they told me to wait until the manager call me. I am kind of afraid to call NM because she/He probably have so much on their plate that the last thing they want is a new grad bugging them about an interview.

I have gone to HR of the few hospitals here but they have strictly told me that everything is online and you have to wait for the manger to contact you.

Where I am from, we could go up to the floors and introduce our selves to managers and for the most part they don't mind it at all. But I feel in CT everything is online and they are resistance to see you in person. Am I wrong? Should I try to call managers directly? Should I call them and ask to visit their floor? I need advice, please help.

I have applied to one ER position, which said they will consider a New Grad, I do have EMT experience. It has been a week, Should I call the ER manager or should I contact the HR personal.

Thank you all, and sorry for the long message.

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

So a couple of places have told you to talk to the NM's. That must be the trend where you live? I'd go with that

[ximab]

Sorry, if I didn't communicate properly but HR pretty much says.. to wait for the NM to call me. So my question is, should I wait for the NM to call or should I just call them? I would love to call them but I do not want to get in their bad side for bothering them

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

You applied a week ago and expect to hear something? Hospitals work very slow. A job is usually posted for several weeks, HR weeds out the best candidates, those get sent to the hiring manager, then the hiring manager decides who they want to interview, then they decide to make an offer. That process can take several weeks.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

I don't think you should do either. You just applied a week ago. Weeding through new grad applications is not the only thing managers do all day long. Plus, if the listing said something like "no phone calls" and you do call, you could quickly find your application discarded.

[firstinfamily, RN]

I also feel you should hold off on calling the NM. It does take a few weeks to actually go through the applictions and decide which one they want to interview. The process does take time, you have to be patient. If HR told you the manager would call you then I guess that is their process. When I was applying for positions I only dealt with HR people, they were the ones who screened the applications and set up the first interview process. During the first interview I met the NM and it went from there. Put in more than one application at the facilities you are interested in. Try the urgent centers as well.

[ximab]

Thank you all for your replies. I also feel not calling the NM as I do understand that they have many more things that they have to work on.

[ximab]

Umm... I have applied to many positions but have not heard, I have been trying for about 5 months, the ER position I have applied, I am really interested so thought I would ask for some opinions.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Umm... I have applied to many positions but have not heard, I have been trying for about 5 months, the ER position I have applied, I am really interested so thought I would ask for some opinions.

My response differs from what you have received so far, but you are dealing with a local employment market that is saturated with far more new grad nurses than can reasonably be absorbed. CT has a tough market.

To increase your chances of finding a job, you might need to obtain nursing licenses in NY and NJ and be willing to commute. In addition, the most valuable asset in the job hunt is knowing someone on the inside of the organization who can put in a good word for you. If you have a friend or acquaintance who will mention your name to HR or the nurse manager, your application will move to the top of the list.

In essence, you need to network and create friendships with people who are nurses or other types of healthcare workers. You also need to apply to workplaces outside the hospital such as nursing homes, hospices, home health companies, jails, state prisons, and private duty gigs. Good luck in the Job Search!

[canigraduate]

In my experience, if you meet their requirements, it will be about a month before you are contacted. If you haven't heard from them in over six weeks, they have, generally, discarded your resume.

My advice would be to look and see if the positions you applied for that long ago are still open, and apply again, with a reworked resume that better shows how you would be a benefit to that specific unit.

I would not call either HR or the NM unless you are friendly with them personally or have been introduced to them previously. They will just get irritated and will have a bad impression of you.

Good luck.

[RunBabyRN]

I disagree that after a month, they discard your resume. I'm about to walk into a second interview for a position I applied to in July. There's no way to tell what the process will be. All you can do is apply, apply, apply, and network, network, network. Some postings may be up for a year, some for an hour. It's a crap shoot.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I disagree that after a month, they discard your resume.

On more than one occasion I've been called by HR or a nurse manager regarding an employment application that I had submitted 3+ months prior.