Why can't I get hired?

Nursing Students Technicians

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I am an Associates Degree nursing student between the 1st & 2nd year. I have 8 hospitals within a 30 mile radius of home and have applied for Patient Tech positions everywhere. The problem is...only 2 interviews in 3 months. I don't know what I'm doing wrong and am sooooo discouraged. This is a career change for me so I don't really have any "contacts" anywhere. Does anyone have ideas that will help me land a job? :rolleyes:

Specializes in ED.

I work as a tech. I'm also an older student. I knew early on that I NEEDED to find a tech job at the hospital to get some experience, make a few bucks, learn some, and get my foot in the door.

I finished my first semester of NS in November of 09 and applied to every single tech job the hospital posted - probably 12 in a 6 week period. I didn't get a single bite.

I started my clinicals on a family practice unit and bugged the snot out of my clinical teacher constantly. She finally talked to the nurse manager who interviewed me. I was honest and confident in my interview and go the job.

Many nurse managers don't want to hire students as techs because it is expensive to hire and train someone that will only work for one year. There is also that ever-changing schedule she will have to work around every single semester.

On the other hand, some NMs want to hire someone that sees the job as a REAL job and will take it seriously and will possibly consider working on that unit after graduation. You need to find THAT manager.

Start bugging your clinical teachers that have connections and do a GREAT job in clinical for that teacher and do your very best to communicate and get along well with all the nurses. Believe me, they talk and they know who is good and who isn't.

good luck!

meredith

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I am new to the site here, but am continuosly having the same problems. I have applied to nearly every hospital in the phoenix metro area and have now been forced to work at Safeway (not useful for nursing school or work experience). I have two years hospital experience, but since i quit my last position every interview I go to seems stuck on that point. The recruiters all want to find out in detail why I quit ( talking of harrassment issues at an interview with another hospital does not seem a wise convo. choice). Does ayone have any ideas besides constant contact with Human Resource departments?

gonewestaz,

Other options you have is making friends with nurses/techs in the hospital* or volunteering**.

*in some hospitals nurses/techs have an option on the sign in screen called "refer a friend", or they can simply walk down to HR and recommend you, thats one option for you and it worked for a friend of mine.

** you can volunteer 4hr a week --> many applications ask you if you volunteered with the hospital before, volunteering looks great on your resume, and you have a chance to interact with hospital stuff!!! (not to mention it is really fun and helps you want to be in the healthcare field that much more)

I hope this helps,

-Lela

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Thanks for the great idea about volunteering. I hadn't thought about it before, but it would be a great way to network also. :idea:

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I have had been given the same advice about volunteering but have found that that doesn't even help in my area (central NH). I have been volunteering in a local hospital for almost a year now. I am so disappointed because I had really wanted to work in a hospital setting but am now being forced to seek employment elsewhere - mostly LTC and even they are not hiring.

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Specializes in Home Health Care.

There's tons of jobs in FL, TX, and AL I can email more details.

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I wish that moving to another part of the country were an option. ( It isn't)

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Specializes in PCA-telemetry, STNA-LTC.

Honestly I think it depends where you live. Here in Columbus, some places may even prefer nursing students. I say that because some of us are more eager to accept reimbursement and tuition assistance as long as we sign a contract that we'll work there for at least 2 years upon graduation.

It is very difficult to get a PCA/PCT position because there is competition where there wasn't before. It will be especially difficult if you've never worked in a hospital as a PCA/PCT. I personally had 1 year exp in a LTC facility and worked in a non patient care area at a hospital for almost 4 years. I highly suggest that you just keep applying and trying. One thing that I did do differently to get this job is write out a nice cover letter to accompany my application. Honestly, in a hospital, it will work every time. As I've done this at least 3 times and have gotten interviews and been offered 3 jobs including a cover letter.

Good luck, and keep trying. Just like getting into nursing school, it will happen eventually :)

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