Question:
Dear Donna,
I am a new graduate who would like to work in case management, but some employers are telling me I should have two years of acute care experience first. I live in New Jersey and have no desire to work in a hospital. What should I do?
Toya
Dear Donna replies:
Dear Toya,
Many new grads have started their careers in case management successfully, so keep working at it. The people who are saying you should or must have two years of acute care experience are out of touch with what is happening in the job market and what new grads have been doing for nearly 20 years.
Rather than relying exclusively on classified ads (both in print and online), attend local chapter meetings of the Case Management Society of America (www.cmsa.org) as a guest. Do some informational interviewing with the officers and members. Have business cards for networking, wear a business suit and bring copies of your resume. Networking is well known to be a great way to find and get a job under any circumstances. And when there?s something you want to do, it makes sense to rub elbows with those already doing that thing.
You also should create a LinkedIn profile if you don?t have one already. This is another way to network with professional people and find decision makers or recruiters within companies. Many employers now check a job candidate?s LinkedIn profile when considering him or her for a position. You also might find this article helpful: ?New nurse, new job strategies? (www.Nurse.com/Cardillo/Strategies).
Persistence and determination will win in the end.
Best wishes,
Donna
Prepare for the Case Management (CCM/RN-BC) exam with the Case Management Certification Review Course.
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