Sorry Nurse Recruiters/Nurse Managers!

MN-Nurse, ASN, RN · Apr 18, 2012

Please, no home health without experience. That would be a disaster.

This is a myth. My personal experience in home health and the experience of my new grad classmates in home health points says otherwise.

PetsToPeople · Apr 18, 2012

OP, as a person who has done interviewing myself, you have to see it from their eyes. Imagine sitting in an office all day, going over resume after resume and interviewing person after person until it all looks the same and each person starts to blend together, because their resumes and interviews and outfits were all so similar!

You have to STAND OUT, and all that struggling that you went through to get your second degree gives you the courage and strong qualities that you can use to do this! It's all about personality...lots of other students in my class have struggled just as I have, but they don't stand out like I do! The way your resume looks and your networking will get you in the door, but then you have to capture the interviewers attention and make sure she remembers you after you've left. DO NOT let your interviewer give you a TRADITIONAL interview, if they do, make it a BEHAVIORAL interview, this is VITAL. Look up behavioral interview questions and practice, practice, practice. You have to be confidant and know what you want to talk about before hand.

I'll tell you why...When I was in the corportate world as a temp, I had to interview within the company in different depts sometimes twice a month and this was over a total of two years! It was always behavioral and I have been in front of a panel of up to 14 interviewers before (talk about exhausting!) but it has seriously strengthened my interview skills. The behavioral interview is tiring, you can trip yourself up if you don't practice and know what you want to say. You will be giving specific examples of what you have done, what you learned good or bad, how you specifically handled things, etc. And these example do not have to be specific with nursing experience, make them see that you can critically think, and that you can use your knowledge and experiance from previous jobs for any situation. I am trying to think of an example....

Interviewer-"I see that you do not have any nursing experience, how do you think you will be able to handle juggling six patients?"

Don't say, "Because I am a hard worker....I worked ten jobs while juggling a family and making a 4.0 GPA....My previous boss said I was his best employee..."blah blah generic boring answers that every interviewee will be giving.

Interviewee-"Your correct, I do not yet have any direct nursing experience, however let me give you an example of my organizational skills, ability to handle stress, work without supervision, etc etc and still be able to provide excellent customer service. I have previously worked as a waitress, where I was trained and on my own withing 3 days, whereas it the average is 1 week, within a week I was able to handle six full tables at peak dinnertime (same as the experianced waitresses), including food issues, busing, computer problems, helping other staff members blah blah you know what I mean? You are showing her that although you don't have the direct nursing experiance, you have comparable working experiance (handling stress, working unsupervised, figuring things out on your own, etc) and you have the nursing knowledge from school, show them you know how to put it all together. Such as you took that high stress, high volume, fast paced waitress experience and put it to use in clinicals so that you were fast and accurate with your report, assessment and med pass, etc Your answers will be more detailed obviously but the KEY is that you are giving specific examples of your actual history and providing a visual for that interviewer so they can VISUALIZE how you will be as an employee.

Don't give up, from your OP it sounds like you are a fighter, so it's time to put up your dukes! Psych yourself up before you go into the next office and in your head, tell 'em "you ain't seen nothin' like me!" Good luck!

nurse671 · Apr 18, 2012

I believe you will be an asset to the company that hires you. Don't loose hope soon you will find the right company for you. Goodluck to you.

Not_A_Hat_Person, RN · Apr 18, 2012

It sounds to me like you worked hard to do well in your nursing program and obviously are a smart person. However you seem a little bitter and I wonder why? After all you chose a field where grads are having a very difficult time finding jobs. I assume a person who put the effort into their program you did would have looked into their chosen field and known that finding a job after graduation would be very difficult or impossible and yet you chose to spend all that time and money becoming a nurse?

Remember when there really was a nursing shortage? Remember signing bonuses, relocation bonuses, and hospitals giving applications to students doing clinicals? It wasn't that long ago.

It sounds to me like she's in the same situation I was in when I graduated (in 2008); lots of jobs when she entered school, none when she graduated. I finally found a job in an ALF (after a nursing home job was cancelled) 10 months after graduation, and I had to move 250 miles for it.

RockinChick66 · Apr 18, 2012

OP, as a person who has done interviewing myself, you have to see it from their eyes. Imagine sitting in an office all day, going over resume after resume and interviewing person after person until it all looks the same and each person starts to blend together, because their resumes and interviews and outfits were all so similar!
You have to STAND OUT, and all that struggling that you went through to get your second degree gives you the courage and strong qualities that you can use to do this! It's all about personality...lots of other students in my class have struggled just as I have, but they don't stand out like I do! The way your resume looks and your networking will get you in the door, but then you have to capture the interviewers attention and make sure she remembers you after you've left. DO NOT let your interviewer give you a TRADITIONAL interview, if they do, make it a BEHAVIORAL interview, this is VITAL. Look up behavioral interview questions and practice, practice, practice. You have to be confidant and know what you want to talk about before hand.
I'll tell you why...When I was in the corportate world as a temp, I had to interview within the company in different depts sometimes twice a month and this was over a total of two years! It was always behavioral and I have been in front of a panel of up to 14 interviewers before (talk about exhausting!) but it has seriously strengthened my interview skills. The behavioral interview is tiring, you can trip yourself up if you don't practice and know what you want to say. You will be giving specific examples of what you have done, what you learned good or bad, how you specifically handled things, etc. And these example do not have to be specific with nursing experience, make them see that you can critically think, and that you can use your knowledge and experiance from previous jobs for any situation. I am trying to think of an example....
Interviewer-"I see that you do not have any nursing experience, how do you think you will be able to handle juggling six patients?"
Don't say, "Because I am a hard worker....I worked ten jobs while juggling a family and making a 4.0 GPA....My previous boss said I was his best employee..."blah blah generic boring answers that every interviewee will be giving.
Interviewee-"Your correct, I do not yet have any direct nursing experience, however let me give you an example of my organizational skills, ability to handle stress, work without supervision, etc etc and still be able to provide excellent customer service. I have previously worked as a waitress, where I was trained and on my own withing 3 days, whereas it the average is 1 week, within a week I was able to handle six full tables at peak dinnertime (same as the experianced waitresses), including food issues, busing, computer problems, helping other staff members blah blah you know what I mean? You are showing her that although you don't have the direct nursing experiance, you have comparable working experiance (handling stress, working unsupervised, figuring things out on your own, etc) and you have the nursing knowledge from school, show them you know how to put it all together. Such as you took that high stress, high volume, fast paced waitress experience and put it to use in clinicals so that you were fast and accurate with your report, assessment and med pass, etc Your answers will be more detailed obviously but the KEY is that you are giving specific examples of your actual history and providing a visual for that interviewer so they can VISUALIZE how you will be as an employee.
Don't give up, from your OP it sounds like you are a fighter, so it's time to put up your dukes! Psych yourself up before you go into the next office and in your head, tell 'em "you ain't seen nothin' like me!" Good luck!

Exactly right!! I was a mid life career change and was fearful my age was keeping me from getting that call back. I called my recruiter on a weekly basis....sold myself and told them I'd make a great employee. I assured my recruiter she would have no regrets in hiring me. I don't know if she just got tired of me bugging her or if she actually believed in me. I had to stand out! Some new grads get lucky and get that call back without being a pest but a lot don't. There are 200-300 applications.....Do what you have to do to get noticed! It sure can't hurt esp if you're not getting that call back!

PMFB-RN, RN · Apr 18, 2012

remember when there really was a nursing shortage? remember signing bonuses, relocation bonuses, and hospitals giving applications to students doing clinicals? it wasn't that long ago.
it sounds to me like she's in the same situation i was in when i graduated (in 2008); lots of jobs when she entered school, none when she graduated. i finally found a job in an alf (after a nursing home job was cancelled) 10 months after graduation, and i had to move 250 miles for it.

*** there has never been a nursing shortage in the 17 plus years i have been in nursing. yes i remeber when there where plenty of nursing jobs with bonuses being offered. even at that time there was no nursing shortage. there were plenty of rns, just a shortage of rns who were willing to work for the pay and working conditions being offered. plenty of nursing jobs is a very different thing that a shortage of nurses. the nursing shortage myth is only self serving propaganda put out by cynical people who stand to gain financialy from a glut of nurses. and it worked splendidly for them. nursing wages seem to be moving lower and nurse working conditions and getting worse.

PeepnBiscuitsRN · Apr 18, 2012

Honestly I never heard about needing CNA experience in order to be hired. In fact, the majority of the people I went to nursing school with were either CNA's (or PCA's, CST, PCT...whatever) LPN's or Paramedics. I know that 95% of the CNA's, some whom had been at their hospital for 20+ years, were not considered for jobs at their very own place of employment! Why? Because they had no experience and/or they were ADN's. Hey, thanks for the mondo kick in the donkey, after 20 years, not only did they not get hired for an RN job (and there were MANY open) they generally didn't even get to remain employed as an aide. Of course not! Too much money, they'd have to spend, yes. Wouldn't want to lighten the pockets of the sharp dressed executives now, would we!

bratmobile · Apr 18, 2012

I gotta say I disagree with this advice because you can't neccesarily just "go get some PCT experience" and come back later..CNA and PCT jobs are as scarce as nursing jobs..(Where I am anyway) ,, who goes back to PCT or CNA certification with a BSN?

Start thinking outside of the box..seems like everyone's hung up on working in a big hospital and that they are not a "real" nurse if they aren't in acute care..there are jobs out there,,home health and hospice, p/t rehab facilities.. try small places where apps are taken in person so you can make personal contact..ask for a brief meeting with the don or adon ..ask questions, smile a lot..I had little experience but was told I was chosen over current pool and part timers for my full time postion because I have excellent customer service skills and a lot of small places depend on word of mouth..

DookieMeisterRN · Apr 18, 2012

Unfortunately your situation is NOT unique. It's too bad the nursing programs aren't being more factual about job prospects for new grads. It's too bad future grads didn't research their chosen career BEFORE starting school than they wouldn't be broad-sided after graduation with the lack of job prospects.When there are so many applicants to choose from its only a given that the ones with experience be chosen first.

OnlybyHisgraceRN, ASN, RN · Apr 18, 2012

Well, that's the thing about vents. Do we (the ventees) dare offer suggestions for improvement (in this case, improvement in the job search process)? Do we point out glaring misconceptions or outright inaccuracies? Or do we stay silent and in the name of the almighty vent, let the venter continue to believe that she's (in this case at least) being dealt with unfairly?

This was not what I meant. I think it is great to offer advice. I was just hate when members say things like" I hope you don't have this attitude when applying for jobs" or "I hope you don't act like this at work"

If half of us stated or acted out the feelings we post on AN, most of us will be jobless. We need to loose the judgemental ( spelling) attitude. I guess, I'll be preaching to the choir. LOL.

OnlybyHisgraceRN, ASN, RN · Apr 18, 2012

that flat out sucks....I can't sugar coat it....I am counting on my experience as an LPN to help me transition into an RN position myself....starting my BSN in the fall....I question if it is even worth it now....

I was a LPN before RN and I emphasized on that when I looked for jobs. Trust me not everyone discounts LPN experience. Not only did my currently employer recognize it I also got paid a little extra than the new grad RN without any nursing experience.

Palliative Care, DNP · Apr 18, 2012

I may get flamed for this but take this opportunity to continue your education. Get the BSN, MSN, or DNP while you are looking for a job. Become an advanced practice nurse. Many on here will tell you not to do that without experience but they are completely different roles. Good Luck!