What did you do to get hired as a New Grad?

[twentysomething]

Hello to my fellow new grads! For those who had trouble finding employment immediately after graduating - what did you do to finally get hired? In my case, it's been about 6 months since graduation. I'm working on getting ACLS and PALS; I would have gotten them sooner but the classes are expensive! I looked into volunteer opportunities and got accepted at a very good hospital in my area. I'm also completing an IV Therapy course, and am looking into taking an EKG Tech class to enhance skill and of course, the resume. Sometimes I start to get worried and want to apply to PCA positions, but don't even think I'm allowed to do that if licensed as an RN.

I'm doing all of this because I've accepted the fact that many new grads worked in the hospital setting prior or during nursing school. HR tends to favor them, and I can definitely understand. I definitely regret not working as a PCA throughout nursing school, but that's the past and I have to think of what I can do now. At this point, I'm trying to stay positive. With these classes, I'm enhancing my skills, but of course, I'm hoping completion of these classes will grab the attention of HR when its time to apply.

Anyway, I'd love to hear from those of you worked "extra hard" to finally land that job after graduation. Thanks in advance for your input! Feel free to PM me or just post for all to see :)

[jpeters84]

First, this is an incredibly hard market so its going to take time and patience.

I think understanding the new grad program hire times is important. Winter (jan, feb) and summer (june, july sometimes aug, sept) and really gear up for applying for jobs three months out and leading up to these start times. I graduated in August and found that most hospitals didn't want to hear from me until closer to the traditional winer new grad application dates. Apply to as many jobs as possible. I got called back for interviews for jobs I never thought I would hear from so you never know.

Being open to moving and living anywhere in the country is critical to getting a job the soonest. If you live in the Bay Area, LA, San Diego, Portland, Chicago, NYC, Boston and refuse to look outside these areas for work then it most likely will take you much longer to find a job. If you're willing to look for jobs in places like Idaho, Texas, Michigan, parts of Illinois and Colorado, Wisconsin, etc you are much more likely to find jobs sooner as long as you adequately explain your enthusiasm to move for the new grad position.

Find the medical centers that are actively hiring new grads or that have large residency programs and apply, apply, apply just be prepared for a long application and interview process.

If you have a specialty be sure to be dripping with enthusiasm, knowledge, and preceptored/voluntered/clinical/NA experience within this specialty.

I believe in the Yes to anything approach. By that I mean if they say its a night shift then responding with I love the night shift. If they want an interview say how fast can I fly there? This takes money and time and I know that that is not realistic for everyone but it shows how serious and interested you are and more than likely will lead to a job offer.

If you need to stay in an area then you must network! Talk to anyone and everyone from your dry cleaners to your grandmothers friends about how you are looking for a nursing job.

Join a professional association. Go to the associations local meetings/gatherings and network like crazy!

Get the email addresses by google research or by calling for the nurse managers of your specialty area at the hospitals you are looking at and send a quick email outlining your passion for your specialty, your experience, and your respect for that hospital and attach your resume.

Troll Indeed.com, Careerbuilder.com, your professional association job board on a daily basis and apply to open positions immediately. Sign up for their alerts so you know when new jobs are posted.

Go to the aamc website and look up teaching hospitals that have medical residency programs in your area and they will most likely have nursing new grad programs. Call the nurse recruiters at these locations and develop a relationship with them so that you know when they hire, what they're looking for and most importantly the nurse recruiters know who you are.

Get a job as a home health RN. I worked as a home health RN which was great because it allowed me to keep up my assessment, med administration, and clinical skills while making money. Also a number of the nurse managers were impressed with the fact that I was working as a nurse even though it was in long-term care and not in my specialty. One hospital even said I wasn't a new grad because I had this experience and I was able to apply for jobs that other new grads weren't at that facility.

Take any classes you can. Local hospital having a symposium on Hepatitis?-GO! CRRT training-Go! You never know who or what nursing managers you will meet there.

Finally keep the faith, don't take things personally, and take care of yourself.

I sincerely hope this helps and that you find your dream jobs soon! Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[NurseVN]

Above is excellent advices. Here are my advises:

1. Apply EVERYWHERE. Be flexible. I work Rehab part time while job searching and now have multiple job offers at teaching hospitals.

2. Move if you can. If you can't, look for smaller hospitals too. Broaden your search.

3. Set up Search Agent at websites mentioned and at hospitals' websites too.

4. Get your BSN.

5. Get certified in BCLS, ACLS, PALS, EKG,...Anything you have time for and can afford to. I had all the above and my interviewer were impressed.

6. Practice your interview skills.

7. Dress professional. I bought suit (for the first time) specifically for interviews.

8. Be optimistic. When one door closes, a better door opens.

9. Have fun. Volunteer. Work part time. Read a book that you don't have to memorize and underline :-)

10. Network with your classmates, professors, preceptors, friends, etc.

Best Wishes,

NurseVN

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

Join a professional association. Go to the associations local meetings/gatherings and network like crazy!

This is how I found my job. Two of my professors ended up knowing people I'd networked with as well, and they offered references.

[Wikireader]

Hello NurseVN,

thank you for your suggestions,

can you get your EKG certificate from anywhere, or does it have to be from specific organization?

[NurseVN]

Hello NurseVN,

thank you for your suggestions,

can you get your EKG certificate from anywhere, or does it have to be from specific organization?

You can get it anywhere that can provide proof of certification. I live in CA, so I did it with Heart Redlands (from ICU nurse at Loma Linda). Also, once you get an interview, read posts here about tips to interview well. Always research the organization you interview for- everything is on their website and they will ask! Good luck!

[huladoll76]

Great thread Twentysomething! I'm re-entering nursing after 9 years. To make myself a more desirable candidate for a job I decided I was going to take a skills refresher course and I'm working on getting my ACLS, BCLS, PALS and IV Therapy/Blood Withdrawl course. I'm still contemplating the EKG course.

:)

[meggo]

Great question twentysomething! I've also found that hospitals don't really want to talk to brand new grads until the next season's GN internship programs open up. I'll be taking my NCLEX this week and plan to take advice from this thread to help me get hired for a summer spot! Thanks!