How do I get past the frustration of getting turned down for jobs as a new grad? Any tips beyond applying everywhere to land the first job?
I passed the boards about the same time as my friends when we were New graduates, and they had gotten jobs at the hospital where we did our clinicals, I found out there were positions open, so I printed up my résumé, dressed professionally, and showed up at the hospital and waited for that director to arrive when she did, I handed her my résumé and told her “I’m here to apply for the position in Ortho-Spine” and that I had done clinicals there, it helped that she recognized me and she said you know we have to go through HR, which we did, but I got the job! I tell everyone to do this! Take your résumé and go to the place where you want to work, Make sure you know who the Unit director is and what the job description is and go ask for it. You have nothing to lose. Even if it take a few tries, eventually someone will hire you!
Keep applying for jobs. Even if its a job you might not be qualified for the nursing world is in dire need of new grads.
Use any contacts from your student clinical sites that you may have, especially if a nurse manager or senior nurse got to know you well. Did you do a student internship on a particular service? Apply there. Send your resume to the manager with a proper cover letter. She will have to run it past HR/recruiting, but it gets your name in front of her/them. Consider taking a position in an assisted living or nursing home situation for some immediate experience. This shows you are eager to get out there and practice. Also think about an MD office; large practices are the best, as you will have opportunity to work with docs in different areas. Consider Visiting Nurse. Remember that no one will pay you the salary a hospital will, and some of those areas are not acute skills, but they will give you experience that hospitals are looking for. Years ago it was an unwritten rule that if you started in outpatient or non-acute care areas, you would have a hard time getting a position in a hospital. Also back in that time, you could ask hospitals what THEY could do to help you further your career. Times have changed vastly. Hospitals want you to come in with some basic skills beyond an internship if possible; and they want to know what YOU can do for them. Experience of any kind - even volunteer is a help. And if you are offered a unit that is not what you had in mind, take it! After 6 months to a year, if you have not grown to love it, you can transfer to a unit with an opening more to your liking. Hospitals hire from in-house first before they look outside for a new nurse.
There is nothing wrong with being turned down. It doesn’t reflect who you are as a nurse, just means you were not a good fit for that work environment if they don’t want to train new nurses. Reach out to hospitals and nurse managers if you can to show your interest outside of applying to a job. Some places appreciate the extra initiative and may offer a job!
Where do you live? I am shocked that even as a new grad you are having difficulty getting hired. Believe me, there are places that will hire you.
Every hospital wants a new grad. Don't be frustrated, but expand your application process to LTC or SNFs, which in this area are paying more than hospitals
