When will you/did you start applying?

I've wondered the same thing.

I graduated May of this year. I started applying in January. I got my top choice.

I started applying before my NCLEX and again after, still no luck here in Oregon. Melissa

Congrats HeartsOpenWide on getting your top choice. When you started applying in January, did you apply for GN or RN positions?

I got a RN position. They do not hire GN, they do not accept IP licenses, I could not start working until I passed my boards. A lot of hospitals are not hiring GNs in this economy; it costs about 60,000 to train a new grad, hospitals can not afford to start training on some one that is not guaranteed a license.

You should have started applying 3 months ago!

Jobs are VERY VERY VERY difficult to find right now. Try to lock something in now. Talking to my class mates and others on average the wait is generally 3-6 months with 300-600 apps being sent out.

If you do not have an offer before you graduate then expect to wait many many months.

Hmmm... I just reread my post and realized that I told you I'd be graduating in May 2009, but that's incorrect. It should be May 2010.

I'm in my first semester of an accelerated program and am already talking to prospective employers. Graduation is only 13 months away!

Graduate in December and began applying this month. The online application process takes a few hours to set up, so you might as well do it early. Also, the jobs posted now will be filled by January and (hopefully) there will be new ones up to replace them.

I was wondering when I should be looking for a job also. I'm graduating in June but I'd really like to travel before settling down with a job. I would probably like to start working around Aug or a bit earlier. I'm just concerned about the timing because of the competition and the different new grad programs accepting at only specific times in the year.

It seems like most programs in my area hire in June-Aug and Jan-Feb. So you would need to apply before those times to be in the running for that hiring. I graduated in 9/21 and nclex on 9/25 and I'm just being looked at for the winter hirings now. Melissa

I graduated in May of 2009. I started job applications the week of December 20th, right before I went home for x-mas break/right after finals. I landed an interview for a job that didnt start until August of 2009 within 3 days, I interviewed early January and had the job on the spot. I did not start until August 28th 2009 after I had completed NCLEX but that's what the application process was like. Oh and I am from Massachusetts and couldn't get anything closer than DC which is where I am now, although I wanted peds or NICU and I got NICU, I've been on orientation 10 weeks now and love it :-)

Moral of the story: apply sooner rather than later, some facilities will tell you to apply again in Feb/March (some told me that) but at least they already have your name and info and in the meantime you might get something else.

Good Luck!