So who got a job and how?

NurseThis21, BSN, RN · Feb 19, 2010

I graduated in May 2009 and started my first job in September 2009. In Chicago, other nurse candidates were cut throat for a handful of positions and the majority failed to realize that a monotone cover letter and resume are not going to suffice these days. Employers are very interested in putting a name to a face and from that stance, see if you would be a good fit, even before the offering of an interview. And how do you do that? NETWORK!!!!!! And that doesn't mean go to a saturated career fair, talk to a few people you can barely hear over the noise and go home empty handed. I had to do a little volunteering here and there, talk to nurses who were friends with my mom's friends (that was awkward at times) and go to the Human Resource office and ask to volunteer/secretly find my way on a unit and speak with a nurse or nurse manager.

I networked to find my second job and plan on doing the same thing as I move up the ranks at my hospital. It's how you make it in the world today and employers will still be picky even after the economy lets up because they've been spoiled the past year or so. But I am sure that everyone will find their place under the sun. However, if you're in a big city like me or in an area where there's more nurses than hospital positions, then network a little more to guarantee yourself a position.

Just remember, presidents don't become president by just handing in a resume to the white house. It takes a lot of knowing who to talk to and when to use your charm!

Charms for everyone and good luck in your search!!!

melissakp · Feb 19, 2010

I agree on networking, I didn't get hired because recruiting liked my application. I got hired because I met the ED manager and took a casual job in a clinic in the same health system. I joined ENA and met other hospital ED staff and put my name out. I don't know any magic answer. :nurse: Melissa grad 9/09 job 3/10

Platypus · Feb 19, 2010

After a year of seeking and not even getting a call, something happened in January that changed it all. I actually looked on craigslist.com for jobs out of frustration and called about a job. I was called in for an interview and 2 days later called for a second interview. It was with an insurance agency and they told me it was between me and another nurse. The other nurse got it I was sad, but i was talking to a classmate (I am taking more classes to get an MBA) and she and I worked on a group project together. She was impressed with the way I handled some things and asked me to interview at her facility - turns out she was in the HR office. 3 days after the interview with her I was asked to have a second interview - and I was hired!!

In some ways, it is who you know - but I had had at least 4 nurses I know hand-carry my resume to the HR office to help me get a position. The HR office would call and tell me the same thing - They did not have jobs for new nurses. My resume was great, my references in school were great, I graduated summa cum laude and had experience in healthcare. It was the way I responded to it, my positive attitude and the way I treated people, that was noticed by a key person. You never know who is watching!

ncsportsfan · Feb 20, 2010

I agree with networking. I was about to start volunteering at free clinic for resume padding and to see who I might meet. I had an old high school classmate get me an interview but I think I bombed the interview and didn't get the job.

But here is how I think I got my job as a new grad. When I was in school I paid attention to departments/floors my classmates wanted to work on. I figured those were the floors everyone wanted to work on like ED, Tele, ICU, trauma, Peds, L&D. Although critical care would have been nice, I figured my odds better on a general med/surg like neuro, resp, or renal. I then decided that I may have to go to hospital that wasn't local. I applied for jobs that were in a 90 mile radius. Oddly enough I got two interviews close to home. The first one I didn't get, even though I had a good interview. Second I bombed because I didn't answer questions clearly or make myself seem confident and I didn't ask many questions for either interview, nor did I send thank you cards. I just wanted to work, get my 6mths to a year experience then move on if I wasn't happy.

I thought it was a wash on a hospital job so I went to about 7 or 8 LTC places. Got offered a job at two of them.

While waiting to take my boards I got a call from another hospital. I did a phone interview which kind of took me by surprise. By then I had researched interview tips and found a good way of saying how I really felt. Which was there wasn't a particular area calling out to me, I know I want to get a good solid footing in a med/surg unit, I know that during my clinical rotations I work on these departments and I felt most confident and competent in these areas. When I got an actual department interview I changed my statements to reflect the floor I was interviewing on. I had questions about management styles, staffing options/ratios, equipment, philosophies, opportunities for me to join shared governance, training, etc. I then asked where they thought new grads went wrong or struggled the most. I asked to meet some of the staff asked them some of the same questions, expressed my desire to work, my understanding about 12hr shifts and wanting to know how best to make my transition. Got home wrote out thank you cards based on tips I saw on here. I got that job!

itsmejuli · Feb 20, 2010

Network, network, network.

I sit beside 2 LPN supervisors in my statistics class, they plan to interview me once a position opens in the LTC they work at. I got my LPN license in October and am still looking for work.

I start the RN program in May. I will start networking right away for a job in the hospital I'll be doing clinicals. I'd like to get that one year of hospital experience behind me and get out of the hospital environment.

LoriNJ · Feb 20, 2010

I can't say that any of the traditional job hunting methods helped for me. I was looking in a new city where I had no connections, so networking wasn't really accessible. I would apply online and fax/mail resumes and always followed up and it got me nowhere. For the job I actually got I applied online about 5 minutes after I saw it posted and received a call 2 days later. The only thing I can recommend is applying early. I called to follow up for one job and the woman had to sift to pages just to find if they had received my application. I was on page 6 and there were 150 applicants. If your name is higher in the pile, perhaps your resume and cover letter will actually be read.

I'm still praying for all the job hunters out there. Best of luck, something is waiting for you!

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Feb 20, 2010

While I was job hunting, I did volunteer work at a local clinic and went ahead and gotten as many certifications as I could afford to--doing those two things seemed to impress interviewers the most. Top grades and starting on the BSN early didn't hurt either.

I did network too...while I don't think networking was the deciding factor, that plus everything else helped me land my current job.

itsmejuli · Feb 23, 2010

I sit beside 2 LPN supervisors in my statistics class, they plan to interview me once a position opens in the LTC they work at. I got my LPN license in October and am still looking for work.

I finally have an interview with the DON this Friday afternoon! She told me on voicemail that it may only be PRN for now, but I'll take what I can get.

Keep your fingers crossed for me!

ScrappinSpidey · Feb 26, 2010

I spent an entire day going to facilities, filling out applications and leaving my resume, cover letter and a page with references. Several of my fellow students also did this. I got a nibble at one of the placed while I was filling out the application. They then called me the next day to interview me and by the end of the interview they offered me the position. I think one of the keys is to be flexible about pay and hours. Also be open to everything. I am working in Assisted Living. It isn't what I thought I would be doing (in many ways its better lol) Im excited to start my position.

One thing, I am a very shy person by nature. Making cold calls was extremely difficult but I was getting no where with hospitals or online applications. I dressed in a suit and was polite. You never know who you impress with that first meeting that might make them call you back. Several of my friends have no medical experience whatsoever but their first impressions were great and it got them interviews and jobs.

Good Luck~

Lynn/BW

Lovely_RN, MSN · Feb 26, 2010

I got my first RN job through networking.

I was working as an LPN at a LTC/SNF and the weekend supervisor was working the floor one evening because of a call-in. Luckily I have always had a good rapport with her and I just happened to mention that I recently got my RN license and was looking for a job with no luck. To my surprise it turned ou that she is a nurse manager at her other job and decided to hire me based on my performance at the LTC.

itsmejuli · Feb 27, 2010

I finally have an interview with the DON this Friday afternoon! She told me on voicemail that it may only be PRN for now, but I'll take what I can get.
Keep your fingers crossed for me!

I got the job! Now check this out: In reality a position doesn't exist for me, so the DON is going bring me in for orientation days whenever she can squeeze me in under her budget. She's giving me plenty of time for orientation with no set deadline on when I am to be on my own. So when I'm ready for PRN or a fulltime position opens, I'm in.

I am truly grateful for this job, the facility is pro education and I'm happy with the pay. I had a tour of the facility and inspected it fully. I was very happy to see the staff and patients all looking happy as well as the place being clean.