Tips for improving job chances w/1 year exp.

[Oatbran]

Hi everyone. After a year of searching in vain for a new grad RN position in the Bay Area, I decided to take a cardiac/telemetry position at a community hospital in Alabama for one year of experience (or more if necessary).

My question is: What can I do to make myself as competitive as possible for trying to find an acute care job in the Bay Area after one year?

My fiance (who lives and works in Palo Alto) and I are getting married next May and I would love to start our life together as soon as we can. I have a California RN license and am ACLS certified. I want to get PCCN certification but I think I need at least a year of experience for that.

I know Kaiser is opening their expanded Redwood City facility sometime next year. Any other tips for Bay Area hospitals that would even consider a BSN RN with one year of experience? What can I do now (10 months out) to improve my chances? Is it even worth trying for after just a year?

I know there have been similar posts but I really appreciate your input. Thanks everyone!

[zzbxdo]

Chances are slim, Bay area is competitive and saturated enough.. and minimal experience for experienced RNs are looking around 2 years it seems. Try getting a travel position in the area to rack up experience and time. However a buddy was talking to a recruiter and was told that they don't assign travelers to the bay area with less than two years. I assume it may vary by agency though. He was unable to find a job in the bay area but had relative ease with travel assignments elsewhere in ca. He ended up finding a ft gig in Socal so it's doable... But won't say the same for the bay.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Try to get two years' experience plus specialty certification. That will help a lot.

[gunrock]

Its not impossible. I just moved back to the Bay Area to a large teaching hospital with 1.5 years of experience.

Try to join committees at work and be in a leadership role. Try to join or be involved with initiatives like CAUTI reduction or CLABSI reduction, etc.

I'd also try to emphasize that you're moving to the area for a reason, not just the pay. I've noticed that a lot of managers have told me they really do look at location and they try to think about how long someone will stick around. Try to work it in there subtly that you're from the area and you're just trying to come home.

Also just be persistent and apply more than half the battle is getting past the automated resume programs and actually getting a manager to look at your resume.

Good luck in your search. Don't get discouraged. If it doesn't work out quick enough and you end up where you are for two years then a travel assignment would be your best bet for coming back. Ive never travelled but from what my friends have told me no reputable travel agency should be sending you on assignment with just one year of experience, many want at least two.

[Oatbran]

Thanks everyone for your kind replies. Yes, I am hopeful that networking with recruiters will enable something to come through after a year or a bit longer if need be. I made it to the final round of interviews for Stanford's nurse residency program that started in April so it was beyond frustrating to not be picked for a position. The Stanford recruiters told me to re-contact them after two years' experience. Being away from the Bay has been terrible but I know it's the experience that I need.

I agree, I am hopeful to be able to subtly point out that I will be in the area long-term. I saw someone else post about hoping to get a travel position in the East Bay after one year experience. I think it would be extremely hard to nail a travel position after a year (even in the East Bay) but would be a way in.

What about volunteering at an HIV clinic? It's not hospital-related per se but it is a great interest of mine. I just want to use my time here to make myself as marketable to Bay Area hospitals as possible.

In the meantime, I will get all my certifications and become as proficient a nurse as I can be. I also like the idea of getting involved on committees. Thank you all!