I cannot call myself a new grad anymore because I graduated last April 2010. A year has passed an I still don't have a RN job. I passed my NCLEX, took up BLS, ACLS, PALS, IV Therapy, ECG & Pharmacology certs. so I can be more marketable, but I'm still begging for a job. I live in NJ, and have licenses have been endorse to another 2 states, CA & TX. I've applied for about 250 positions...you name it from hospitals, LTC, Rehab, Clinics, Assisted Living, Agencies, Hospice. Got 6 interviews, 3 from hospitals and 3 from LTC, been to Nursing Career Fair, and no positive reply from those. I'm loosing hope. I just keep on praying.
Any thoughts? Am I the only one on this boat? :confused::confused::confused::crying2::crying2:
Maybe it is the way you're presenting yourself, either in the resume, on the cover letter, or in interviews. If you haven't learned in-depth about all these, research them. Even if you don't HAVE to submit a well-written resume/cover letter with your application, do so anyway. Even if you don't think it's necessary to wear business clothes to a nursing interview, do so anyway.
One of the posts ahead of me was totally correct in saying that everyone applying for these jobs will be basically qualified. They're all going to be licensed for the position in question, and will likely have an assortment of additional training.
So you have to convince the recruiter that for some reason, you are uniquely valuable. You're the only candidate who can offer something special. It's a painful truth that when you apply for a job, you're not really a person - you're a product to be bought. All you get to make is a first impression - there's nothing else - and if one thing is even mildly inferior to another candidate, you're out. If there's nothing wrong with you but someone else is more interesting or professional, you're out.
You have to be honest about your credentials, but do learn how to write in a very engaging manner and think about something you can put in your cover letter to show why you are special. The employer should feel that he or she will miss out if he or she doesn't hire you (though of course you shouldn't explicitly state this, since it's not professional etiquette).
Finally, I think some people forget to personalize their cover letters for each facility they apply to. Make sure to do this. You can often find out who will be responsible for reading your application, so address the cover letter to that individual. At worst, if you can't find out, come up with a reasonably warm greeting to human resources of the specific location - never "to whom it may concern," ew!
Then research the specific facility and hint at why you'd be a good fit there. For example, unedited and off the top of my head: "Yale-New Haven Hospital would be a great workplace for me because I thrive in a fast-paced atmosphere. Yale-New Haven is famed across the country for its excellent quality of care and will pose a uniquely rewarding challenge. In addition, because it is a teaching hospital, it echoes the value that I put on lifelong learning." You wouldn't know those things without at least reading a little about the workplace, and you can easily dedicate a paragraph to it. HR likes knowing you've genuinely paid attention to what the hospital is like.
Not sure if you're willing to re-locate but I know first hand that central PA is begging new grads to apply. On the up side, PA isn't too far from NJ. I'd recommend that you get a few yrs of experience in, even if it means re-locating. After that, you'll have your pick as far as where you want to work. Just my two-cents! Wishing you the best of luck:)
Specializes in Oncology, Rehab, Public Health, Med Surg.
"face the facts at last: i am 50 with an adn trying to rejoin the workforce. it ain't gonna happen."
not necessarily so . i took a refresher course at 50 (after a 18 year break from hospital nursing). i did some home health nursing and kept applying, applying, applying. finally ended up in an internship in the area of my choosing at age 51.
it's not always been a bed of roses but i was determined to make it work. now, my manager is so convinced of the value of return-to-the-bedside -nurses, that she's hired two more.
i don't remember ever feeling more discouraged and basically --unwanted--than when i was job hunting. stick with it though--you can do it.
"Not necessarily so . I took a refresher course at 50 (after a 18 year break from hospital nursing). I did some home health nursing and kept applying, applying, applying. Finally ended up in an internship in the area of my choosing at age 51.
It's not always been a bed of roses but I was determined to make it work. Now, my manager is so convinced of the value of return-to-the-bedside -nurses, that she's hired two more.
I don't remember ever feeling more discouraged and basically --unwanted--than when I was job hunting. Stick with it though--you can do it."
Wow, that is great!! Thanks for encouragement. I keep plugging away. I don't have any med/surg experience-it's all been all L&D/Nursery/OB/GYN when I was in the hospital so that hurts me for many positions including home health. I am in school now for general ed. Not sure if I will try BSN or just leave nursing altogether. But I keep my resume tweaked and try to make each cover letter special. I am just so worried for the next 15 years as we no longer have any retirement left, nothing to fall back on anymore. Always thought I would have the ability to find a job. Hope to eventually be in right place at right time!
:confused:
:crying2:
Little Miss Coffee
32 Posts
Maybe it is the way you're presenting yourself, either in the resume, on the cover letter, or in interviews. If you haven't learned in-depth about all these, research them. Even if you don't HAVE to submit a well-written resume/cover letter with your application, do so anyway. Even if you don't think it's necessary to wear business clothes to a nursing interview, do so anyway.
One of the posts ahead of me was totally correct in saying that everyone applying for these jobs will be basically qualified. They're all going to be licensed for the position in question, and will likely have an assortment of additional training.
So you have to convince the recruiter that for some reason, you are uniquely valuable. You're the only candidate who can offer something special. It's a painful truth that when you apply for a job, you're not really a person - you're a product to be bought. All you get to make is a first impression - there's nothing else - and if one thing is even mildly inferior to another candidate, you're out. If there's nothing wrong with you but someone else is more interesting or professional, you're out.
You have to be honest about your credentials, but do learn how to write in a very engaging manner and think about something you can put in your cover letter to show why you are special. The employer should feel that he or she will miss out if he or she doesn't hire you (though of course you shouldn't explicitly state this, since it's not professional etiquette).
Finally, I think some people forget to personalize their cover letters for each facility they apply to. Make sure to do this. You can often find out who will be responsible for reading your application, so address the cover letter to that individual. At worst, if you can't find out, come up with a reasonably warm greeting to human resources of the specific location - never "to whom it may concern," ew!
Then research the specific facility and hint at why you'd be a good fit there. For example, unedited and off the top of my head: "Yale-New Haven Hospital would be a great workplace for me because I thrive in a fast-paced atmosphere. Yale-New Haven is famed across the country for its excellent quality of care and will pose a uniquely rewarding challenge. In addition, because it is a teaching hospital, it echoes the value that I put on lifelong learning." You wouldn't know those things without at least reading a little about the workplace, and you can easily dedicate a paragraph to it. HR likes knowing you've genuinely paid attention to what the hospital is like.
Good luck...sorry to hear about your hardship.