What am I doing wrong?

[masek77]

I am a male nursing student about to graduate in a few weeks.

I have a 3.3 GPA, strong letters of recommendation from every instructor, a well demonstrated strong work ethic, get along very well with everyone, etc but I cannot find a job.

Not even a nibble.

No one Ive spoken to seems interested whatsoever in hiring me.

When I did my preceptorship, I was told by over a dozen nurses to apply for that department. They told me I was the person they would want to work with, etc.

I took a resume to the department manager and she seemed completely disinterested in me.

She told me they had no openings, although I already knew they were about to have several due to imminent transfers.

That encounter with her was from my viewpoint so negative, that when I got back from lunch I found myself checking the wastebaskets for my resume.

I have asked for advice from several people and the general consensus is it isn't what you know, or how you work, but who you know.

From talking to the other students in my class, in every case where one of them has a job offer, or is going to interviews, they knew someone (by their own admission) who go the ball rolling for them.

I knew financially it would be hard to get through nursing school, but I did it.

I just don't want to be sitting here waiting on a call in three months. I want to be working.

Any constructive advice would be greatly appreciated.

[SSStill]

I'm also a male nurse. The fact is some women hate you because you are a man. They will hate you even more if you are independent and good looking. I've dealt with these little anklebiters for over 10 years and they are all the same.

"anklebiters"... love it! And it's so right on the money too!!!!

[DeBerham]

I move around a lot due to my wife's job and have had a chance to interview at MANY facilities because of that. I have found a couple of things to be true:

1) The job market right now sucks. Be willing to work areas that might not be your first choice. Critical care sections and ER, while appealing, are getting harder and harder to get in to. For a long time these sections were closed off to new grads and the pendulum, it seems, is swinging back that way. Apply to them, sure, but also apply to non critical care areas as well. Spread your resume out.

2) KNOW THE FLOOR YOU ARE APPLYING TO. Understand what it is they do there. As a new grad you will have a general nursing knowledge, but do some research at least the night before you interview. Don't be ignorant when you show up. Care enough about the job to do some research

3) Do not go in with a chip on your shoulder. If you don't think they'll hire you because you are a guy, you are too good looking, whatever it will show. Likewise, you are not god's gift to nurses. As a new grad you know just enough to be dangerous and a perfect GPA does not a good nurse make. Be confident, not a prima donna.

4) Be on time, dress the part... I suppose this can go without being said, but seriously... You are applying for a job.

5) There are standard questions that you will be asked: "Where do you see yourself in x years", "What are your strengths", "What are your weaknesses", "Why do you want to work here at this hospita/this floor" Think about these. You WILL BE ASKED. Be honest, but this is not confession... don't unload your soul on a potential unit manager.

6) Be flexible. As stated above, your unit manager doesn't owe you anything and the interview is not the place to start making demands. Given the choice between two equally experienced employees the one who shows the most flexibility will be hired. You can apply to switch shifts, put in time off requests AFTER you get hired.

7) After being hired the process is not over. Make yourself valuable. Participate in unit activities, learn valuable skills when classes are offered. GET CERTIFIED. Make your current and future unit managers want and value you. Many nurses kind of float through their careers doing the bare minimum... don't be that person.

[eaiston]

As a male that graduated in nursing, I understand your frustration about not being able to locate work. You may have to look at different avenues in nursing for your initial job. I wanted to work in the hospital setting, as I was a nurse tech in the surgical dept. all throughout my education. When I finished my nursing degree, I attempted to get a job and could not find one in the hospital setting. Problem being logistics: Too many students being pumped out of school and not enough openings in where I wanted to be. Best first bet should be attempt at med-surg, you will get the most out of your education and experience that will transfer over to many other departments. I wound up in long term care and now am a Nursing manager. However, I don't have the experience anymore that would grant me access into the hospital setting as I have niched myself into long term care. But, a job is a job and the pay is good. Sure at times I would love to have been working in the surgical dept. instead of doing assessments, paperwork, managing complications and issues, but at the end of the day, I am still a nurse and I do have a good job. Keep your head up, and look at as many different avenues as you can. Remember, any experience is better than no experience.