to all new grads out there..

3 Hello new grads,

So i'm a fellow new grad in california. and i had my share of misery in the last year struggling to find a job. It's been a rough rough road but I finally found something. it's little but its something. I wanna give some advice out there for those new grad struggling to find a job.

1) turning in an application is not enough.. u gotta pick up the phone and call!

2) I volunteered at 2 different positions. they probably want to know what you've been doing for an entire year. show that you've been keeping up your skills

3) when i volunteered, i networked with several managers. i even got some on the spot interview just by showing up network network..

4) get ACLS, join a professional organization, get a mentor through professional org, take classes related to your field.

5) talk to your classmates .. they'll give u tips and info on whos hiring.

6) talk to your preceptor !! my preceptor told me so many good tips on whose hiring within the hospital.

goodluck
What professional organizations are out there and what do your recommend for a new grad? I've been looking at taking some classes to get my certifications and I'm going back to school to finish my BSN, but when it comes down to it I can't afford a lot of these things on a CNA's wages.

academy of med surg nursing if you're into med surg

I think the best way for a new grad who is struggling to get a job is to consider looking into remote areas and long term care. I graduated 3 weeks, and still have to take NCLEX-RN exam, but I have a job in a small town 70 miles from where I'm currently located if I want it in a a large LTC facility. Also, one needs to be prepared to work weekends and night shift. Too many new grads are looking for the perfect job and shift and it probably won't be there for them. ACLS/Volunteering etc is a good idea, but many employers want their new grads to be able to work all shifts, and that includes nights and weekends.

Even the 'remote areas' are filling up. My hospital (central WY pop 7000) has hired several new grad nurses from other states(including CA) who's only interest here is that they couldn't get an acute care job in their locale.

it is certainly slim pickins out there. i try to tell everyone that wants to leave their present job or switch majors into nursing, but they refuse to litsen and take note. might as well be sheep led to the slaughter.

Quote from RN1980it is certainly slim pickins out there. i try to tell everyone that wants to leave their present job or switch majors into nursing, but they refuse to litsen and take note. .

the flipside is that hospitals see that they can bank $$$ with reduced staff and hiring freezes..so what is their incentive to open up spots when any new grad class comes out.

Quote from RN1980the flipside is that hospitals see that they can bank $$$ with reduced staff and hiring freezes..so what is their incentive to open up spots when any new grad class comes out.

Thanks! I just graduated two weeks ago and I feel lucky to already have a job as an LVN. Just waiting to take NCLEX next! It doesn't appear that there are any jobs out there for new grads in California.

Quote from want2banurse35True and remember that there are 52-53% more new grads graduating than previously.

Quote from hope3456This is exactly the issue.....all the nursing programs I know of have significantly increased the #'s of admits they take each year. Even when the economy picks back up there will still be a large number - or backlog - of inexperienced nurses trying to get acute care (or not) jobs. What is worse is that they will have been out of school for so long they will probably need a refresher course.

what they need to do is make bsn the entry level degree for rn's. that will slow down the saturation of the market. thats one reason why pt, fnp's and crnas have done it & are going to it.