When to start applying for jobs....

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I was just wondering when you guys still in school were told you should start applying for a job. We are graduating in Feb and our instructors said if we are really interested in a particular place we should start applying in Nov or Dec. This sounds EXTREMELY early to me, I mean who knows what positions would be open at that time. OR are we just applying to show them we have an interest so after graduation they will already have our application on file?? We are having our job fair in a couple of weeks and I know some of the employers there encourage you to fill out thier application then. Just curious.... I am VERY eager to start working but don't want to be TOOOO eagar. Thanks for any info!

Denise:balloons:

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Many hospitals have special programs for new graduates that only start at certain times. If you wait too long, the spots in those programs fill up and you will be out of luck. Contact the hospitals you are interested in (or see them at a job fair) and find out what timetable works best for them. Let them tell you what their timetable is and then be sure to comply with that.

Good luck,

llg

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

The new grad program at our hospital starts interviewing in Feb/March (for the program which starts the beginning of July). I graduate in May, and hope to have my job lined up by March.

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Specializes in forensic psych, corrections.

I would definitely start early. I was a May graduate and had my first position secured by March (although I didn't start until well into the summer... Maryland doesn't have a graduate nurse status).

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Specializes in Emergency.

You mean you havent started yet?

RJ

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Im graduating in May and have already been meeting with nurse recruiters at various hospitals. I don't want to wait til the real push starts in the spring, I want to secure a position before that.

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Specializes in OB.

Many students apply and get jobs during their 4th out of 5th semester in school, early in the 4th sememster~

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I'm graduating Dec 05, began applying in August and have 1 job offer and 2 more interviews this week.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.

I applied for a position in June at one hospital very close to where I live where a few other students had been hired. BUT because they were getting inspected by JACHO, they were not hiring any new grads/students until after that. JACHO ended up not coming until Oct. After waiting four months, I found out they dropped my app and had to reapply.

Then I decided to apply at another hospital a bit further away and for less money but was hired into the ICU within a week. I start on monday!

You never know what could happen. Don't wait. You can always work just a few hours a week until you graduate if that is why you have been holding off. I am only finishing my second semester and I am one of the last students to get a job. Most of my classmates have been working as nursing techs since last semester.

Congrats on your upcoming graduation!:biggringi

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