When will you/did you start applying?

[rencontrezmoi]

I am a senior nursing student in a BSN program... I will graduate in May, 2009. My school is in Pittsburgh, but I want to go home to the Philadelphia area after I graduate. Over the last month or so, a lot of people in my class have been talking about job applications and hospitals to which they have already applied. Am I way out of the loop here? I had no idea everyone would start applying so soon! It's November... I planned on waiting until at least after Christmas. Should I be starting the job hunt now? When did you or will you begin applying?

[ittybabyRN, RN]

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!