Finals have ended. Caps and tassels are being thrown in the air. Celebrations for all the new nurses are being thrown. Studies for the NCLEX begin. Applications for jobs are completed. How do you manage it all? More so, how do you keep your chin up in a still difficult job market for new grad nurses?
To answer these questions, we’ve turned to our nurses who were in your shoes not that long ago. These nurses, through persistence and optimism, have landed their first jobs, and have shared with us (and you!) a few gems of wisdom on how to keep going through your job search! Meet Megan H., Christy C., Mia C., and Heather H.
What was the toughest part about finding a position as a new graduate?
Megan: “The toughest part about finding a position depends on location. For me I got a job offer from the first two places I applied to. The most time consuming part of the job search process was putting together my professional resume and completing application after application.”
Christy: “That’s difficult to say. I applied to quit a few different places but I ended up getting an offer at the hospital that I did my externship at over the summer. The hospital called me directly and asked if I wanted a job – I never heard back from the other applications I submitted. If it weren’t for the externship that I did on my last “summer off” then I wouldn’t have the job I do now.”
Mia: “The toughest part for me was that I applied to positions before I graduated, and the problem with that was not many people showed interest or wanted to talk to me. At first I took it personally and I got the impression that no one wanted to talk to me because I was a new graduate- the real reason was because I did not have my license yet. Once I obtained my license I had a job within a week and a half.”
Heather: “The toughest part for me was the entire application process. The application process is very overwhelming but what I found to help was contacting the recruiter. It gets your foot in the door. After I got in touch with a recruiter, the application process got a lot easier.”
What advice do you have for new graduates looking for positions?
Megan: “I applied to positions that said they were not accepting new graduates. What I have found is that even when they say they prefer one year of experience, they will still consider a new graduate so it is always worth it to apply! I would suggest that any new graduate looking for an RN position in a hospital should work with a recruiter, it makes such a difference!”
Christy: “When you have the summer off, don’t take it off. Try to do an externship before you graduate. Almost all of the people I know that did an externship before graduating got hired on right away. The people I know who took the summer off and didn’t do an externship are still looking for jobs.”
Mia: “Be flexible and be open-minded!”
Heather: “Be confident with your answers in the interview. Most hospitals want someone who really wants to work for them and someone who is comfortable and confident – confidence in the interview is the most important part. Also, something I know now that I wish I would have known is to ask ALL of the “stupid” questions!”
With so much going on after graduation and through the application process, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure. Keep your chin up, and don’t hesitate to reach out to our Student Outreach team to look over your resume, practice credible and realistic new grad interview questions, as well as have support through the entire process.