Question:
Dear Donna,
Can you give me some tips? New grad jobs are difficult to land in the San Francisco Bay area. I, like many of my peers, graduated from a prestigious private nursing college and passed the NCLEX. I am unable to find a job. My peers and I have done resumes online, talked with recruiters and managers by phone and in person, attended job fairs, had our resumes and cover letters rechecked by professionals, and dressed professionally for interviews. Personally, I must have sent more than 100 resumes out online.
It appears that the San Francisco Bay Area is oversaturated with new grads. Also, when we see jobs for staff nurse IP/I/II and apply, all we get are rejection letters. We're told that to get into a position, we need to begin in their new grad program (So why do they advertise for an interim permittee or staff nurse I?)
Yet, only a few grad programs are open during the year, and they appear to pick new grads with 4.0 GPAs and experience. Sadly, for wonderful students like me, who maintained a 3.2 GPA, raised two children on my own over the 6.5 years I was in school, and came into nursing with zero experience, it is really difficult!
Do you have any new advice for students like me? About 13 of us in my class have yet to find employment.
Sincerely,
Dedicated and Hopeful
Dear Donna replies:
Dear Dedicated and Hopeful,
This phenomenon is occurring in certain parts of the country. While you may have had your sights set on a hospital position, consider alternate work settings, such as rehabilitation, psych, sub-acute care, head trauma, and other facilities. You can get amazing experience in these settings, and if you wish, you can continue looking for a hospital position. This is not the end of the world, even though it may feel that way.
If there is a particular specialty you're interested in, such as pediatrics, look for a pediatric rehab or pediatric long-term care facility/unit to work in. If you are interested in OB, consider working in a Planned Parenthood clinic or a birthing center. If you're interested in med/surg, consider outpatient hemodialysis. You have tons of options. When I got out of school years ago, I wanted to work in a particular emergency department (ED). They had no openings, so I got a job in a psychiatric hospital, another interest of mine. After six months, something opened up in the ED, and I took it.
Rather than pine over what you can't get right now, look in a new career direction. You may just be surprised, and possibly even delighted, at where the road takes you. You can always come back to the hospital later if you wish.
My best wishes,
Donna
