Tips from new grads who got job offers

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I just thought it would be helpful to all of us new grads who are searching for jobs to get some tips from those who were able to land job offers since it is so tough out there right now. What tips can you guys provide? What do you think set you apart from the other hundreds of applicants? Did you have a high GPA? Did you have work experience as a nurse assistant or LPN? Did you volunteer? I'm sure any tips and advice would be helpful to us job searchers out there!

I got job offers right away because I started applying for jobs 2 to 3 weeks before graduation and sending in resumes. I also worked for a skilled long-term-care facility as a CNA and that helped me also. I did a lot of my preceptorship (which is 2 12-hour clinical days with an RN on a med/surg floor) with the hospital I wanted to work for. In addition to my clinical duties as a student nurse those two days, I helped out on the floor with the other patients, like answer call lights, etc, which really helped out the other nurses and aides. I did my preceptorship with a nurse that actually made a verbal recommendation to the department manager and I applied, and got an interview within a few days. I think it all depends on how flexible you are. I have noticed that some of the people from my graduation class do not want to work the nightshift, or a nursing home, so they are not finding jobs easily. I got right in on a med/surg floor less than a month after graduation, before I took my boards. In the state where I currently live, grad nurses are allowed to work 90 days until they take their boards. Of course, if a grad nurse were working and failed their boards, they could no longer work as a nurse, they have to work as an aide if there was a position. I worked as a grad nurse and (thankfully) I passed my boards the first time around. Also, I had to work for a much lower wage as a grad nurse until I could show proof to the Human Resources dept that I passed my boards. I bit my tongue and just worked really hard as a grad nurse, which was mostly spent on orientation so my patient load at the most was 2 to 3 patients. Some people say it is not a good idea to work as a grad nurse before taking boards. I don't agree with that, I actually learned a few things that helped me while taking my boards.

Anyways, you just have to be ambitious, I guess. I made it very clear during my interviews that I was willing to start as soon as possible and that in the event that I did not pass my boards, I was willing to work as an aide. It is all paid off, and I just received my first pay check as an RN, and let me tell you, IT IS NICE!! Good luck to you, it will all work out and fall into place. You just gotta take what you can, it's better than not taking anything at all.

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Here is my advice. I landed a job in a large well known hospital with no previous clinical experience, an ADN and a GPA of 3.0. It was also the only job I interviewed for. So don't let your academic experience totally discourage you. It is possible without coming from the prestigious school and the uber high GPA.

1 - Dress professionally. Keep in mind that nurse managers are generally older women who come from a different work era. Do not wear a trendy cute outfit. Save that for dinner with your friends. Wear traditional professional clothes. This is your first impression. How you represent yourself says a lot. If you have piercings or outrageous hair color find a way to tone it down for the interview. As much as it sucks nursing is still a very conservative profession.

2- Come with an organized portfolio. If you have no idea how to put one together, ask or pay someone to help you. It is worth every penny. It is something you should keep updated after you land your job. So forking out the money now is worth it.

3- A lot of new grads are very particular about where they want to work. Everyone wants to start in a specialty. Well, it is super competitive right now. If you are not interviewing for a particular floor, then I would tell them you "prefer" to work in X specialty, however you will go anywhere the hospital will send you. Yeah, it sucks. But if you want to the job you need to be willing to go where the hospital needs you. Same thing about shifts. Yes, it is okay to say you want days. But do not go in saying you will only work days. If they only have night positions, you just pushed yourself to the end of the list. Yes, they higher new grads on days, but realistically, most go to nights. The bonus, higher pay in most institutions. My hospital does not directly hire you into a specialty anymore. You can state your preference but they won't guarantee it.

4- I can't say this enough. Learn you hospitals mission statements and beliefs about health care and how it is provided. Work it into your interview somehow. If you applying to a non-profit that gives back to the community and believes it, then you need to be behind it. If you are applying to a hospital that believes in customer service, then you need to figure out how to work that into the interview too. Most hospitals will state a mission statement somewhere on their website. If you know someone that works there, ask them what ideals their hospital constantly enforces.

5- If you are a new grad you are most likely going to get the question "Why should I hire you over other new grads." It's okay to sell yourself if you did student externships and well in school, but think of other reasons, because you are going against other students with externships and good GPAs. It doesn't even have to be related to nursing. What other things or qualities do you have that will make you one step above other people. Part of being a nurse is being creative and looking at things and finding different ways to look at the same situation. They will look at how you sell yourself. Try and give them something to remember you by that is not the traditional "I was number one in my class, yadda yadda yadda."

That is all I can think of right now. Good luck! I really hope the economy picks up soon and you all land jobs!

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So I have sent out a few applications having graduated just this past Sunday. My question is how do you keep the process going once the job apps have been sent out? Is there a good way to get noticed with out coming over as that applicant that calls hr nonstop?

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Hey everybody I recently accepted a job offer and wish everyone who is still looking for a job good luck! I would snail-mail hand-written thank you cards to HR, the manager, or anyone else I talked to. I didn't hand in my application face to face with a manager, but I still got a job. I remember reading somewhere that computers scans a person's online application for certain keywords that the employer is looking for. So editing your resume, cover letter, etc., is important. Definitely come prepared, as other users have been saying. Bring all of the papers you need. I also bring a list of questions that I have for my interviewer and take notes during the interview.

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Specializes in NICU.
So I have sent out a few applications having graduated just this past Sunday. My question is how do you keep the process going once the job apps have been sent out? Is there a good way to get noticed with out coming over as that applicant that calls hr nonstop?

I think it is fine to call once and ask how the application process will happen as far as timeline wise. Then I think you have to wait patiently :) If you don't hear from them by the time they say you should hear something from them, then I think it is fine to call again! Goodluck!

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Have you gotten any jobs or job offers namiani?

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nowadays, its not even about luck or doing well at interviews. Merit and background are out the door. It's not what you know anymore....but WHO you know. If you know someone, you'll get hired from the back-end. It sucks, but its the truth.

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nowadays, its not even about luck or doing well at interviews. Merit and background are out the door. It's not what you know anymore....but WHO you know. If you know someone, you'll get hired from the back-end. It sucks, but its the truth.

Extremely annoying, but true I have a friend who was hired at Kaiser because her cousin knew the nurse manager and put in a good word for her, and guess what she was hired. It was quick too her cousin talked to the nurse manager and within a week she was scheduled for an interview and hired. It's annoying because I went to check the website for RN positions, and guess what there aren't any listings. So people like us on the outside never even get a chance. :crying2:

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Quick question,

What do you have in your portfolios? Is it resume, cover letter & references?

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Specializes in CCRN, House Sup, CCT, Unit Director, ICU.
I would like tips from RNs who didn't go to school in CA. I had to relocate because my husband is in the military I went to school in NC and I'm slowly finding people who can maybe help me.I just received ACLS certification and I'm thinking about taking more courses if it will help me get a job.

I moved to Orange County from Atlanta in June as a new grad. I got ACLS, PALS, EKG, And Wound Care certified. I applied to all of the advertised new grad programs only to get rejection after rejection. i went to pointless career fairs. Then I got smart and started calling smaller community hospitals (200 bed, etc) and asking to speak with the unit directors on the ER, ICU, Med Surg, etc floors and inquired about openings for RNs. While speaking to the unit directors, I did NOT immediately blurt out that I was a new grad. I would first tell them about my certifications, goals for the future (MSN, CCRN, etc). Often, smaller hospitals don't have advertised new grad programs, but have nurse educators and preceptors available for a special new grad. This is how I got my job. i started in ICU and they gave me a 3 month orientation, complete with classes on ventilators, moderate sedation, etc. Vey thorough!!!

So, if I were you, I would AVOID the crowds of new grads applying to the big hospitals as you didnt go to school here, etc. i have a high GPA, all my certs, bilingual, letters of recs, and 2 other Bachelor Degrees and this didnt get me noticed at the big hospitals, but I found the perfect job anyway! And it is 3 miles from my house and my starting pay was higher than Hoag and other surrounding hospitals!

Hope this helps!

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Specializes in Anesthesia, CCU, ICU.

I am graduating in May. I received a job offer in CCU where I precepted this semester. I had previously completed my ACLS, which seemed to impress the manager. The best piece of advice I can give - dazzle the nurses/manager with your fabulousity while precepting or doing your clinicals! By showing everyone on the unit your are willing to learn and help out however necessary, nurses on the unit will want to work with you. And everyone knows...word on any unit travels fast. Stay positive & best of luck to everyone out there embarking on the job hunt!

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