Why can't I get a job as CNA?

mvm2 · May 7, 2013

Have you only tried to get jobs at a hospital? Those jobs are really hard to get. They are coveted and you have so amny people that apply for those jobs. Have you tried the other places that CNAs work in LTC, Retirement Homes Hospice Home Care Rehab. Yo can find that CNA Job just might have to broden your search from just hospitals

RNewbie · May 7, 2013

Have you tried calling and speaking directly with a recruiter or stopping by the hospital and personally dropping off your resume? Some recruiters will not even see you without an appointment but you can leave your resume with the front desk and follow up.

CherryWinterStorm · May 7, 2013

I have come to find that jobs at hospitals are really hard to get unless you have a very good resume and experience. Not only that hospitals tend to need a smaller staff of CNA's. They tend to want PCT's instead. You will have a much better time finding a job in an LTC or even rehab. Try looking at Hospices in the area too along with retirement homes and ect. Good luck!

AM326 · May 7, 2013

Thanks Mvm2, I have applied in offices, unit clerk positions, rehab and ltc...and nothing I haven't JUST limited my search to hospitals. It's just I had interviews with them in the past and now it seems like I haven't gotten anything at all

AM326 · May 7, 2013

thx rnewbie, I have tried to go into the HR and request to speak to someone...but they treat it all as a lottery. I am pretty aggressive so I try all the time to go to the facilities that I apply to in person and request some time with the manager/nurse.

I guess I need to just keep trying

mvm2 · May 7, 2013

I am sorry it can be tough sometimes to find that place that will give you that job. Do you happen to have a vetrains home/hospital around by you. That is another great place to think about applying. I did my clinicals at our local vets home and it was a wonderful experiance. Here is a list of vet homes by state. List of State Veterans Nursing Homes - VA Aid & Attendance Try Home Health as well, they are always looking for aides/CNAs. I work for home health and I absolutely love it! I started a year ago as an aide, and then in Oct. took their CNA class and now am working for them as a CNA. Don't give up and keep trying.

duskyjewel · May 8, 2013

Have you had somebody critique your resume and cover letter? Get someone you trust to read it and give you feedback. Your CNA instructors would be a good choice for this.

When I was applying to the hospital near me, there was a phone number you could call to speak directly with their recruiters for advice on the hiring process, etc.

Also, while you're working retail, try getting into a volunteer position at the hospital. It will get your name on their radar and they will have experience of your work ethic and personality. You won't be just a faceless name in the crowd anymore when they can call up one of their own volunteer coordinators and ask about you.

Who are you using as references? People inside the nursing field or outside of it? I understand it's hard if you have no work experience in health care. Ask your instructors and even your preceptors at clinicals if they would consent to give you a reference.

Good luck.

flod · May 9, 2013

Where do you live? I thought there were plenty of CNA jobs; I guess not?

Guest707336 · Jun 13, 2013

It is very confusing when you see a position you've applied for closed and then reposted. Especially if you did not recieve an interview prior to the reposting. I've never been a recruiter, so I don't know their candidate selection processes. However, I do think that many times qualified candidates get overlooked because their resumes get lost amongst the hundreds or thousands of other resumes/applications.

I suggest you physically go to the places you'd like to work and speak with the DON or whomever is in charge and actually put your resume in their hands. This way you stand out and they can put a face to a name and it shows you are very enthused and proactive about the prospect of working with them. This has worked for me within several different career fields. Good luck:)

i_love_patient_care · Jun 13, 2013

It's hard to get a job in a hospital. A lot of times they will hire internally, and just post the jobs up because it's a formality. Good luck with your search! Have you tried the registries? When I had my year of experience in LTC, I started in a registry, and have almost two years of experience with that. That can help when searching for a job, because you can work in hospitals in your area, rather than volunteering. In my area even volunteering has a waiting list because of nursing students wanting to beef up their school applications. I've also heard of people working as a janitor to get into the hospital system. In my area the janitors actually make more than CNAs because their union is stronger.

mintygirl · Jun 14, 2013

Because hospitals require acute care experience and prior experience of working in a hospital. They don't really take new grads or ltc.