New Grads / First Job Survey

I am sure there are many posts on this topic, but I wanted a more in-depth understanding of the hiring process and statistics of some of the new(ish) graduates. I wanted to focus more on 2011-2012 graduates, but please feel free to complete this survey regardless of graduation year. I hope this might shed some light on the hiring process for some of us 'new grads' who are struggling. I love research, as you can see ;> and I am excited to see the responses. If you are absolutely opposed to a particular question, please omit it. Thank you.


Degree type: Bachelors, Associates, or other (please list)
Graduation month/year:
Sex: Male or female
Age range: 19-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-55, 55+:
Job Setting: Hospital, Long Term Care Facility, Psychiatric Facility, Occupational, Prison, School, etc.
Geographical Location: Name state in the U.S. (or country if outside U.S.)
Race/Ethnicity:
How long have you been looking for your first job before being hired?
Did you do any volunteer work before your job?
Did you possess any additional certifications (i.e. ACLS) before you landed your first job?
Did a family/friend/clinical instructor or other connection help you land your job? Explain.
Did you work in the health care setting at all before your job? If so, what field?
Did you apply online, in person (at the facility), or other? Explain.
Did you participate in any follow-up inquiries after resume submittal of your application or interview? If so, explain. Email, phone call?
How far away do you live from your job site? Include minutes/hours.
Did you hold a p/t or f/t job while enrolled in your nursing program. If yes, list whether it was p/t or f/t position:
If you held a job during your nursing program that was not related to the health care field, please report the general field in which you worked (restaurant, retail, educational, business, etc.) Feel free to expand:
Did you receive any scholastic honors while in nursing school (Dean's List, Cum Laude, etc.?)
General comments:
Last edit by Scarlettz on Nov 28, '12
Degree type: BachelorsGraduation month/year: May 2012Sex: FemaleAge range: 19-24Job Setting: HospitalGeographical Location: CaliforniaRace/Ethnicity: MixedHow long have you been looking for your first job before being hired? Offer 3 months after graduation, but had been applying several months before graduationDid you do any volunteer work before your job? Yes: senior center, underserved elementary school, hospital volunteerDid you possess any additional certifications (i.e. ACLS) before you landed your first job? BLS, PALSDid a family/friend/clinical instructor or other connection help you land your job? Explain. I had strong recommendation letters from clinical instructors in my specialty (pediatrics), but those instructors did not have strong connections to the hospital... So I suppose the answer is no.Did you work in the health care setting at all before your job? If so, what field? Agency CNADid you apply online, in person (at the facility), or other? Explain. Online application process.Did you participate in any follow-up inquiries after resume submittal of your application or interview? If so, explain. Email, phone call? Phone call three weeks after applications closed.How far away do you live from your job site? Include minutes/hours. <30 minutesDid you hold a p/t or f/t job while enrolled in your nursing program. If yes, list whether it was p/t or f/t position: Part-time.If you held a job during your nursing program that was not related to the health care field, please report the general field in which you worked (restaurant, retail, educational, business, etc.) Feel free to expand: CNA, Lifeguard, NannyDid you receive any scholastic honors while in nursing school (Dean's List, Cum Laude, etc.?) Dean's list, magna cum laudeGeneral comments: Let us know what your findings are with the new grad survey!
Degree type: BachelorsGraduation month/year: November 2012Sex: FemaleAge range: 19-24Job Setting: LTCGeographical Location: NZRace/Ethnicity: NZ EuropeanHow long have you been looking for your first job before being hired? got offered position 2 weeks after starting to apply, 1 week before graduation. started 3 days after passing state finals. I applied for 12 jobs in total, all in different areas, got 3 interviews. Did you do any volunteer work before your job? NoDid you possess any additional certifications (i.e. ACLS) before you landed your first job? NoDid a family/friend/clinical instructor or other connection help you land your job?Explain. NoDid you work in the health care setting at all before your job? If so, what field? casual carer at rest home (different one) Did you apply online, in person (at the facility), or other? Explain. OnlineDid you participate in any follow-up inquiries after resume submittal of your application or interview? If so, explain. Email, phone call? NOHow far away do you live from your job site? Include minutes/hours. <10 minutesDid you hold a p/t or f/t job while enrolled in your nursing program. If yes, list whether it was p/t or f/t position: noDid you receive any scholastic honors while in nursing school (Dean's List, Cum Laude, etc.?) No
Degree type: ADN (Nursing); BSBA (Marketing)Graduation month/year: 05/2012 (Nursing) Sex: FemaleAge range: 30-34Job Setting: HospitalGeographical Location: CaliforniaRace/Ethnicity: CaucasianHow long have you been looking for your first job before being hired? 9 monthsDid you do any volunteer work before your job? No.Did you possess any additional certifications (i.e. ACLS) before you landed your first job? Just BLS.Did a family/friend/clinical instructor or other connection help you land your job? Explain. No. I had no connections in CA.Did you work in the health care setting at all before your job? If so, what field? I had an externship the summer of senior year.Did you apply online, in person (at the facility), or other? Explain. Online to a job posting.Did you participate in any follow-up inquiries after resume submittal of your application or interview? If so, explain. Email, phone call? No.I did not follow up with an email or phone call after I applied or after the interview. I was called less than 24 hours after the interview and offered the job.How far away do you live from your job site? Include minutes/hours. 45 minDid you hold a p/t or f/t job while enrolled in your nursing program. If yes, list whether it was p/t or f/t position: No.If you held a job during your nursing program that was not related to the health care field, please report the general field in which you worked (restaurant, retail, educational, business, etc.) Feel free to expand: N/ADid you receive any scholastic honors while in nursing school (Dean's List, Cum Laude, etc.?) No. General comments: I do have a previous degree which I believe helped because I have previous work experience and management experience. I am also currently enrolled in a BSN program.
[FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Degree type: ADN[FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Graduation month/year: Dec 2012[FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Sex: female[FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Age range: 19-24[FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Job Setting: Hospital[FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Geographical Location: Nebraska[FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Race/[FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Ethnicity: White[FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]How long have you been looking for your first job before being hired? Couple weeks.[FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Did you do any volunteer work before your job? Worked as an LPN and CNA. No need to volunteer for experiences. [FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Did you possess any additional certifications (i.e. ACLS) before you landed your first job? BLS[FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Did a family/friend/clinical instructor or other connection help you land your job? No, complete luck. The nurse recruiter just liked me a lot and wanted me in for an interview.[FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Did you work in the health care setting at all before your job? If so, what field? LPN and CNA. Home health and Rehab center.[FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Did you apply online, in person (at the facility), or other? Online application.[FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Did you participate in any follow-up inquiries after resume submittal of your application or interview? Phone interview, interview with floor manager, and peer interview.[FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]How far away do you live from your job site? 20 minutes [FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Did you hold a p/t or f/t job while enrolled in your nursing program. If yes, list whether it was p/t or f/t position: Part-time[FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]If you held a job during your nursing program that was not related to the health care field, please report the general field in which you worked (restaurant, retail, educational, business, etc.) Feel free to expand: LPN & CNA[FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Did you receive any scholastic honors while in nursing school (Dean's List, Cum Laude, etc.?) Nope... and that was definitely not an interview question! [FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]General comments: I lucked out because I randomly applied to a hospital floor where the manager prefers new grads. A real oddity in the hospital world.
Degree type: BachelorsGraduation month/year: May2012 Sex: FemaleAge range: 19-24, Job Setting: Hospital or Psychiatric Facility(I havent choose which job yet)Geographical Location: TnRace/Ethnicity: BlackHow long have you been looking for your first job before being hired? 2 monthsDid you do any volunteer work before your job? NoDid you possess any additional certifications (i.e. ACLS) before you landed your first job? NoDid a family/friend/clinical instructor or other connection help you land your job? Explain. My friends mom told me to apply there because they hire new grads, otherwise no inside connections.Did you work in the health care setting at all before your job? If so, what field? Yes, Nurse AssistantDid you [COLOR=#003366]apply online, in person (at the facility), or other? Explain. OnlineDid you participate in any follow-up inquiries after resume submittal of your [COLOR=#003366]application or interview? If so, explain. Email, phone call? NoHow far away do you live from your job site? Include minutes/hours. 15 mins Did you hold a p/t or f/t job while enrolled in your [COLOR=#003366]nursing program. If yes, list whether it was p/t or f/t position:Full Time If you held a job during your nursing program that was not related to the health care field, please report the general field in which you worked (restaurant, retail, educational, business, etc.) Feel free to expand:N/ADid you receive any scholastic honors while in nursing school (Dean's List, Cum Laude, etc.?)Deans List only one semesterGeneral comments:I have applied to more than 300 jobs close to 400 in the past 2 months and just now started getting interviews and offers!
Degree type: AssociatesGraduation month/year: 12/12Sex: femaleAge range: 30-34Job Setting: Hospital/RehabilitationGeographical Location: GARace/Ethnicity: AAHow long have you been looking for your first job before being hired? 1 monthDid you do any volunteer work before your job? NoDid you possess any additional certifications (i.e. ACLS) before you landed your first job? NoDid a family/friend/clinical instructor or other connection help you land your job? Yes, a friend of mine worked there as well and gave me a reference Did you work in the health care setting at all before your job? Yes a medical centerDid you apply online, in person (at the facility)? OnlineDid you participate in any follow-up inquiries after resume submittal of your application or interview? NoHow far away do you live from your job site? 30 minDid you hold a p/t or f/t job while enrolled in your nursing program. If yes, list whether it was p/t or f/t position: yes both a full time job the first year then p/t the second yearIf you held a job during your nursing program that was not related to the health care field, please report the general field in which you worked (restaurant, retail, educational, business, etc.) Feel free to expand: n/a
Degree type: BachelorsGraduation month/year:May 2012Sex:FemaleAge range: 30-34Job Setting: HospitalGeographical Location: PennsylvaniaRace/Ethnicity: BlackHow long have you been looking for your first job before being hired?9 months(I looked for a job prior to graduation and licensure; my nursing classes ended 12/11 and my accelerated required courses ended in March 2012; licensed in June 2012)Did you do any volunteer work before your job?No.Did you possess any additional certifications (i.e. ACLS) before you landed your first job?No just BLSDid a family/friend/clinical instructor or other connection help you land your job? Explain.Nope, even though I knew 2 other people that worked at the hospital, I didn't use them.Did you work in the health care setting at all before your job? If so, what field?Yes, I worked as a PCT/CNA, and a LPN (12 years total)Did you apply online, in person (at the facility), or other? Applied online.Did you participate in any follow-up inquiries after resume submittal of your application or interview? If so, explain. Email, phone call?My process included phone screen, interview with HR, Nursing leadership, and peer shadowing. I communicated through email directly with my recruiter. During the process I communicated with her on a weekly-biweekly basis. She would call as well. The whole process from phone screen to job offer was 3 months.How far away do you live from your job site? Include minutes/hours.30-45 minutesDid you hold a p/t or f/t job while enrolled in your nursing program. If yes, list whether it was p/t or f/t position:Yes, LPN at pediatric extended care facility 30 hrs/wk (Part Time)If you held a job during your nursing program that was not related to the health care field, please report the general field in which you worked (restaurant, retail, educational, business, etc.) Feel free to expand:N/ADid you receive any scholastic honors while in nursing school (Dean's List, Cum Laude, etc.?)Nope, 2.89 GPA was good enough to land the job. General comments:Because of my previous experience, I used a skills based r�sum�. I spoke to a recruiter at a career fair at the beginning of my job search. She gave me suggestions to improve my r�sum�, as well as suggested I work at my then current job for six months if I desired to land in a nurse-residency program. I tweaked my r�sum�, and got the call to my current job, as well as a reversal of 50 rejections per week. I had been working at my previous job as a RN for 3 months. I started last week at my new position;I have been out of nursing courses for over a year before I started my nursing orientation, which is class time, then preceptorship/residency for 9-12 months.
Degree type:AssociatesGraduation month/year: Dec 2011Sex: Male Age range: 19-24Job Setting: Hospital, Geographical Location: indiana, near chicagoRace/Ethnicity: Hispanic How long have you been looking for your first job before being hired? Two monthsDid you do any volunteer work before your job?noDid you possess any additional certifications (i.e. ACLS) before you landed your first job? NoDid a family/friend/clinical instructor or other connection help you land your job? Explain.Family member worked at hospital. He knew the HR recruiterDid you work in the health care setting at all before your job? If so, what field? Pharmacy techDid you apply online, in person (at the facility), or other? Explain. OnlineDid you participate in any follow-up inquiries after resume submittal of your application or interview? If so, explain. Email, phone call? NoHow far away do you live from your job site? Include minutes/hours. 5 minutes Did you hold a p/t or f/t job while enrolled in your nursing program. If yes, list whether it was p/t or f/t position: f/t as pharmacy techDid you receive any scholastic honors while in nursing school (Dean's List, Cum Laude, etc.?)NoGeneral comments:I had a few offers to work on Med surgery ortho floor, medsurg onc, medsurg renal. I ended up on renal floor.