When should new grads apply?

[jan18]

Hello,

When do you think new grads should apply for RN positions? Three months before graduation? More? Is there a disadvantage to applying too early...say six months before graduation?

Thanks for your help!

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

now is not too soon. Our HR has a way of keeping up with which applicants are new grads so we can try to place them all over the facility,not in just one spot.

[Jules A, MSN]

We applied during the break before our last semester so it was about 4-5 months. Definitely don't wait until after you have passed NCLEX! Good luck.

[belgarion]

It's never too soon to start developing contacts. Be sure that during your clinicals you find a way to let the clinical managers, charge nurses, and anybody else you come in contact with know what you like to do when you graduate. A good way to start is to go to the floor supervisor and ask about the hiring procedure at the facility. I would estimate that at least half my class got their first jobs at facilities where we spent some time and they laid the ground work for being hired while there. A few even had job offers before graduation.

Finding a job in today's world takes preparation and planning. Getting the jump on everyone else can be the difference between working and sitting at home reading the want ads.

[jan18]

Thanks so much for the suggestions. I don't plan on staying where I am, or where I've gone to school, so I feel I'm at a slight disadvantage because I won't be working where I have clinical. It's hard to make contacts when I'm not in the city I want to get a job.

[Lizzy88]

From what I have read you need at least a year of experience before anybody hires you. Why don't you make an effort and work for at least a year where you are doing your clinicals? And after that you can begin applying to where you really want to work.

[jan18]

That cannot be true. Not everybody gets their first job from where they did their clinicals. Though the market is tough right now, some hospitals hire new grads. Am I wrong?

[Jules A, MSN]

That cannot be true. Not everybody gets their first job from where they did their clinicals. Though the market is tough right now, some hospitals hire new grads. Am I wrong?

No you aren't wrong but depending on where you are going to live it probably won't be as easy to get a job now as it was in the past. I would not wait until after graduation to apply especially if you are applying to new grad orientation programs.

[juliaann]

That cannot be true. Not everybody gets their first job from where they did their clinicals. Though the market is tough right now, some hospitals hire new grads. Am I wrong?

It really depends on where you live...

Sometimes having a contact from clinicals can make the difference in getting your crucial first job. I don't plan to stay in the state I currently live in long term after school, but I do plan on working here at least a while to get some experience to make me marketable where I move next. I've been a tech at a hospital in my city for 2 years now, and I know that will be a huge help in getting my first RN job here (I pray they'll have openings when I graduate, so I can just do an internal transfer!). After a year of experience and some good letters of recommendation, then I'll relocate. :)

[belgarion]

That cannot be true. Not everybody gets their first job from where they did their clinicals. Though the market is tough right now, some hospitals hire new grads. Am I wrong?

No, you're not wrong. I never did a clinical where I got my job but I got it in great part because the facility is located in the area where I grew up and I was able to use contacts I had for years. It also didn't hurt that there are a couple of those "dedication plaques" with my family's name on them hanging on some walls here. Also, this place is very happy to hire a new grad as long as they don't already have a "rookie" in training. In short, I pretty much lucked out.

[Tsiasn]

...if you have to ask, then you're already too late :)

[jan18]

Well I don't graduate for 5 months...so I don't think I'm too late as of now. But thanks for your reply.