1 year old RN seeking advise for obtaining a job.

Marisette, BSN, RN · Sep 28, 2013

wow, this is baffling. Perhaps this is why no one has answered so far. I'm not much older than you and have run into the same situation when trying to change specialties. I can only guess that it's the age thing. Are you applying for hospital employment only? Have you tried long term care? You can gain some experience in a long term care facility which could make you more attractive for other positions in the future. I think a BSN these days is almost a requirement, but it may not be enough to get employed. You may need some medical, long term or chronic care experiences to add to that resume.

applewhitern, BSN, RN · Sep 28, 2013

Wow. You certainly sound qualified to me. I have nothing to offer, but wish you the best of luck.

Elizabeth Renee · Sep 28, 2013

I could be totally off base, and I hate to say it, but I really do think that it's ageism. You sound like a wonderful applicant, which makes it even more unfortunate that I suspect that that is happening to you. Especially with the fact that you're bilingual - man, you'd think with how heavy nursing leans on culture and diversity these days that they would snatch you right up for having that skill!

I am so sorry. Please keep trying, as hard as that may sound. I am sure you will find something. I have hope that every nursing grad who works hard to put themselves out there will land their first RN job eventually.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Sep 28, 2013

Have you tried long term care? You can gain some experience in a long term care facility which could make you more attractive for other positions in the future. I think a BSN these days is almost a requirement but it may not be enough to get employed. You may need some medical, long term or chronic care experiences to add to that resume.[/quote']
I agree with THIS.
I also suggest becoming more prepared in interviews; a strong interview makes a difference in getting a position.
You have stated you do not prepare for your interviews; when someone asked why you were looking at a particular job instead of nursing, you were not prepared to answer that.
Honing your responses is a way to be prepared; not rehearsing, but HOW will you respond to an unexpected question?
For example, I answered a question honestly-NO FILTER, when I went for an interview, and I didn't get a call back when I didn't get the job.
Instead of stating "passion for nursing," what would I actively do AS A NURSE is highlighted; how I assess situations and use collaboration presents a specific type of personality. I'm also wiling to make difficult decisions and seek help if needed; that's presenting my ethical path.
Once I realized how I could've responded better form that first interview, the next interviews were followed up with job offers.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Sep 28, 2013

I have done lots of hiring in my day. Not nursing hiring, but hiring in many other fields. Here is what I have come to learn. People's age did not matter to me. When I was hiring I wanted someone who presented themselves well to me. Which meant they were appropriately dressed, could speak well, and had a good presence. And what I mean by that is someone who seemed like they could tackle the job to me. Without seeing how you conduct yourself in an interview I cannot tell you why you are not getting jobs. I feel like someone who has a well written resume and is a good interviewer doesn't necessarily need any experience. I was always willing to train the right candidate. But a big problem may be you now have a gap in your employment history. Employers don't generally like to see that. I would find a job somewhere and get working then do what the other posters have said about finding some experience somewhere, whether it is a LTC or Home Health Care and get some experience. I would also look at how to do proper resumes and brush up on interviewing skills.

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Sep 28, 2013

It may be your interviewing skills. Perhaps practice a few answers or at least prepare. Know what your strengths and weaknesses are. Know of a time when you encountered conflict and how you resolved it. Know what you will bring to that job. Dress nice, smile, make good eye contact, use a firm handshake, and after an interview send a thank you card.

NewRN089 · Sep 28, 2013

I am 50 and have been offered two jobs since graduating. So ageism is not always the reason.

Have an HR person or recruiter look at your resume and cover letters. A fresh objectIve eye can see things we don't. Also our school offered interview coaching. The would even video the practice interview so you can see yourself. It can really help you catch any unconscious mistakes that might be holding you back. Can you go back to your school for this type of help?

You sound passionate and caring but sometimes we need a little polish too.

Good luck!

Misskala · Sep 29, 2013

You know what else helps is practicing interviewing with one of your friends from nursing school. Have them ask you questions and you answer....sometimes when I hear the words come out of my mouth I can hear a pause or a stumble and I think "hmm, maybe that means I'm not really sure what I think of that question," so I think more deeply about it. Also you mentioned that you are compassionate and caring....not to be funny here but that is kind of a given, and honestly I'm not sure an employer wants to hear that anymore :) They want to hear what kind of worker you are going to be; they are thinking "will she fit in with the present staff? will she collaborate with others? is she flexible and will she shift priorities when i need her to? will she ask questions and be train-able? does she have an instinct for customer service?" I KNOW! not what we learned in nursing school, but interviewing for a job is really about this! good luck and learn from every experience!

SENSUALBLISSINFL, BSN, RN · Sep 29, 2013

I appreciate your comments, I suppose it is my turn to be in what is called a "funk", I am just not used to not working.

I have eliminated the supervisor title from my resume, as I think this is why I did not get a job offer on my non-nursing job interview, the same place that asked me - you are a nurse, why are you here comment. The reason that I believe that is because the person that got the job was an ex colleague of mine who took over my postion when I was laid off, applied for that same position by chance, and since we are always in touch with one another when she told me she got the job we discovered we applied and interviewed for the same position, she also told me she did not put supervisor in her resume, nor mentioned it. She is also going to school to eventually enter the nursing program, she omitted telling them that; whereas as on my resume I have that I am currently attending school on my resume. I am speculating here, but these are the differences in our resumes, I also have more experience than her. Of course there is the thing that they just did not like me or how I came across ... yep, that is also possible, after all not everyone has to like you :unsure: it is not like Everyone Loves Raymond show.

Her getting the job is bittersweet, I would have wanted that job so much as it was at the VA, but I am glad if I lost it to someone it was to her as it was great to have had her in my team and I could always depend on her while I was the team leader in my last job, she is a great choice and they are lucky to have her. One friend suggested that since the job did not require me to be in that role, I should not have put it on my resume. So I have eliminated it from my resume now. I originally put it on my resume as a way of showing that I can be in a leadership role, not to show off that position.

Regarding my gap, although I have not been working, when the subject comes up, I say I have been going to school doing the pre-requisites for the BSN, and volunteering in church programs. I have from time to time, been in an aide capacity, but on my own and not through an agency, and I also do not want this to reflect home health because well... it is not true. My job in this capacity has been for example, some of my friends who work at a doctor's office may tell me of a patient that is having surgery, may need to have someone for a few days over their home and stay with them, making sure they are resting, taking their medications, more like a companion, and also since this is temporary, on my own, VERY sporadically and not through an agency, I do not have this on my resume, because frankly, I am not sure how to put it and how to reference it.

We were not prepared for job interviews in my program, I think it would have been awesome. The workshop for resume writing was not great. One of you suggested, I have a recruiter look over at my resume, that would be great if I had access to one. I have changed my resume, from 2 pages when I first graduated to one now, as I have read some posts on here, that the attention span of a recruiter is not much, so just highlite, your education, where you did your rotations and work experience.

The nursing homes are getting tougher too, because that is where all the new grads go to, so the competition is there as well. South Florida is so saturated. One classmate, got hired a few months ago as a new graduate in a nursing home and was only given a three day orientation and then it was sink or swim. I am so worried about that and put my patients in jeopardy for an error I may do due to that lack of more time to orient, so that is also what scares me from nursing homes.

I just learned yesterday, a classmate lied in an application for a hosptial that only takes applicants if they live within a certain mile radious to them before they apply, by saying she lived in the area by giving a friend's address, and got the job. She will eventually move, once she passes her probation. I would love to do that, but what will happen when one is on call and cannot get there within say 20 minutes? The hospital according to mapquest is 53 minutes away from me (I am sure this means no traffic). Besides, even if I wanted to lie and go that route, I know no one that lives in that area.

Some of you collectively responded that it may be my interviewing skills.... I think you are right about that, it has been so long since I interviewed being in a job so long. I am the common denominator here.

I am still not losing hope, I am running on steam as I said in my original post.

Wowwww, do I like to write, I am sooo sorry for this :barf02: LOL...

Again, I appreciate your comments. Thank you for taking the time.

crystalNC · Sep 29, 2013

I work with people who have had the same issue and moved six to nine hundred miles to find their first job. The organization I work for does this point thing, and you would have quite a few points. Have you considered looking out of state?

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Sep 29, 2013

I'm 60, became a nurse at 53, and have had no problems finding work. But try LTC.