When to Start Applying for Jobs

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Hello! I'm in my last semester of an Accelerated BSN program. I graduate in May; when should I start applying to jobs?

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Specializes in ICU Stepdown.

I've read mixed reviews on this - some people say employers won't even bother to look at your application unless you have your license. I think it depends on where you live though. I also graduate in May with my ASN and I started applying a couple weeks ago and have 2 interviews lined up.

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Specializes in NICU.

You can definitely apply to new grad residency job postings and job postings that are specifically new grad job postings. Many of the hospital online job boards will ask you "Do you have a current license for the position you are applying for?". If you answer "no" because you haven't graduated yet, it will automatically change you application status to "No longer considered for the position". Many hospitals and hiring managers have been burned too many times hiring a new grad and have them not pass NCLEX causing them to start over in the hiring process. It is a lot safer to hire someone that already has their license. But, it depends on the market in your area. Hospitals in your area may be short nurses and are willing to hire you before you graduate in order to beat the other hospitals in town.

If you choose to apply before you graduate, I wouldn't apply before April. It will take 5-6 weeks after graduation to get your ATT, so you would not be able to start until mid to late June. Anything beyond 2 months to wait for a new hire may be too long to wait if the department has an immediate need for nurses.

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On 1/20/2019 at 2:55 AM, NICU Guy said:

You can definitely apply to new grad residency job postings and job postings that are specifically new grad job postings. Many of the hospital online job boards will ask you "Do you have a current license for the position you are applying for?". If you answer "no" because you haven't graduated yet, it will automatically change you application status to "No longer considered for the position". Many hospitals and hiring managers have been burned too many times hiring a new grad and have them not pass NCLEX causing them to start over in the hiring process. It is a lot safer to hire someone that already has their license. But, it depends on the market in your area. Hospitals in your area may be short nurses and are willing to hire you before you graduate in order to beat the other hospitals in town.

If you choose to apply before you graduate, I wouldn't apply before April. It will take 5-6 weeks after graduation to get your ATT, so you would not be able to start until mid to late June. Anything beyond 2 months to wait for a new hire may be too long to wait if the department has an immediate need for nurses.

Hi, thank you for your advice. I am wondering how to search to see if the market in my area is in need or nurses or not. Thank you.

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Specializes in Neonatal Nurse Practitioner.

Call the hospital HRs you are interested and ask them when they prefer. I had a job by March for my May graduation. I applied in January.

Another hospital told us not to apply until after a certain date (in March) and gave us specific instructions like click yes for 'licensed' in the screener questions even though we weren't yet. Otherwise, the system would dump our application before the recruiters ever saw them.

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Specializes in Neuro.

I just recently asked this question under my states forum as well, I kinda got the feel to wait until about April to apply in my state and then it could only be at certain hospitals. Sounds like it is very dependent on not only your state but also the healthcare organizations.

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