When to start applying for jobs....?

NICUplease · Aug 2, 2008

I've been told by nurse recruiters to start applying as early as Feb if you will be graduating in June. This is great bc you'll have a plan after graduation instead of trying to compete with the hundreds of other new grads in June.

llg, PhD, RN · Aug 3, 2008

The absolutely BEST time to apply is when the hospitals that interest you WANT you to apply -- or maybe just a little sooner than that. Just because 1 hospital wants you to apply in one month doesn't mean that a hospital across town doesn't have a different timetable.

So ... the best thing to do is to contact the Nurse Recruiters at those hospitals and ask them about their preferred timetable. You can do that at any time. I would suggest you do that over your Christmas vacation. Tell them that you are interested in their hospital and would like to know what their preferred timetable is. Also ask if they have any special programs for new grads that have any special deadlines, etc.

Don't make assumptions that what was true one year will be the same for the next, etc. It's always best to go to "the horse's mouth" and get the truth. Then, I would apply near the time the Recruiter suggests -- but on the early side of their timetable.

Good luck to you!

NurseKatie08, MSN · Aug 3, 2008

I say the earlier, the better. However, lots of things are important to consider in applying for jobs. First, you should consider (as the PP mentioned) what the time frame for specific hosptials are. Secondly, consider how easy/difficult it is for new grads to get jobs in your area. In my area it's difficult, (I graduated in May, started applying in February and have still only been given the time of day by the hospital that I worked at as a tech.)--so availability of jobs definitely varies from area to area. I would work on your resume/cover letter first semester, and then explore what the best thing to do is in your area/for the hospitals you want to apply to. You can't apply anywhere without a good resume, so work on that before you worry as much about applying to places.

TRINI_RN · Aug 3, 2008

I agree with llg. The hospitals around here started really taking applications in February/March. Are you doing an externship in your senior year? We did senior externships for our last 12 weeks of school and just about everyone accepted positions from that. Good luck to you!

Sherylbarl · Aug 8, 2008

Well, I am in Northern California. I have not heard of anyone having any trouble finding a position up here, most already have jobs lined up way before graduation, if not already have signed contracts now for when the are done. I have no desire to stay in my area; I am actually really open to go anywhere, I guess thats what makes it so hard to decide on where to apply, since I am open to many different areas. I may go to te LA area but othere areas of interest are the Bay area (SF), Hawaii, Nashville, Oregon, North Carolina...see, I guess I am WAY too open here. My plan is to just research some different areas I want to live, find out about the hospitals there and then get in touch with thier recruiters. I guess where I end up is where I get a job offer at. Thanks all you guys for your advice. I will start getting in touch with recruiters over Christmas Break.

examphobic · Aug 13, 2008

thanks guys for the infos.. ive been asking myself the same thing

casperx875x · Aug 14, 2008

I seriously started looking at the beginning of January. Getting in touch with recruiters can be quite the challenge, followed by nearly a month long process to get to the interviewing process. I had several job offers by mid-March - didn't make a decision until the beginning of May. My biggest piece of advice: if you are considering a job offer, shadow for at least 1 day with a nurse on the unit. It will tell you an overwhelming amount about the environment you may be working in. Good luck in your job search.

2bnursenikki82 · Aug 15, 2008

I graduated last Friday (BSN baby!!) and I started applying in mid-late June and I had a job by July 15th. I sign contracts next week.

I'm moving about 300 miles away, so it was important to me to have something set up before I moved. Other girls in my class that were staying here in town didn't start applying until late July. Some girls moved even further than me and still haven't applied!!

Even though there aren't a lot of August graduates, the hospitals in Fort Worth, where I moved to, hired a LOT of GN's in June, so I think that applying early really gave me an advantage to get a job settled in sooner.

MS. ICANDOIT · Aug 21, 2008

I don't graduate until September but I applied in mid April and had an offer letter on May 1. Like the above posters stated, both check with the Nurse Recruiters at the faclility you want to work at and apply early....I knew I would be compteting for ICU jobs with the June grads so I applied and secured my spot before they got out. My unit manager was happy to hold my spot.

GOOD LUCK!!!

lough6 · Aug 25, 2008

You might also want to check if your school holds career fairs where all the hospitals in the area come, offer you an application and might take your resume... usually this is january or february. I graduated in May of this year, and most of my classmates and I were applying in late February. This way, you will be finished with all of the pre employment classes and paperwork by the time you take your boards and will be ready to start orientation right after without having to worry about it.

supernurse20 · Aug 26, 2008

Id start looking at options come November and December in the areas which u choose. Also do go to the nursing job fair most likely thats your school of nursing will offer. And be pro active to nurse recruiters. Id really suggest working as a GN , rather then just taking boards and banking on passing the exam.