Are you getting nervous about landing your first new graduate job as a Registered Nurse? Your first nursing job will typically be the hardest job you get in your entire nursing career.
One reason is that new grad nurses are extremely expensive for a facility to train. As a new graduate nurse, the organization is investing in you. When they invest their time and money to hire you, they want to trust that you will stay with them, contribute, grow, and thrive with their organization! Below you will find 6 tips for how to land your first new graduate nursing job!
1. Reach Out to Recruiters
Don't wait for them to find you, you will have to make the first move. Reach out to recruiters on LinkedIn. You can introduce yourself, provide them with unique qualities about you as a nursing student/new nurse, and then send your resume to the recruiters. Do this after you have applied to the jobs offered at their particular facility then send them the job codes of the positions you applied for as part of a follow-up.
2. Join Online Communities
Join Facebook groups, forums, and other communities for new grads. Don't just join groups in your state or area. People are regularly posting job opportunities. There are also recruiters in those groups, so the recruiter may reach out to you if you are active
3. Consider Out of State
If you are having trouble finding a job in your state, consider going out of your home state. You can always come back or work wherever you'd like after training and nursing experience.
4. Make Your Resume Original
Make your resume original. Do this by using Canva for resume ideas. Whenever communicating with the recruitment team, create a narrative for what type of new grad you are. Are you the nurse that values teamwork and therefore gravitates to the tight-knit or are you detail-oriented, so you want to be in the NICU. What activities and organizations back up this story?
5. Make a Great Impression
Find a way to show the manager that you are consistent and dedicated. Many new grads leave their first job early on. Now nursing managers are strictly looking for a new nurse who will stick it out, even when times get tough. Always show positivity and that you are up for the challenge. The remember the manager is interacting and coordinating several things at once. They want to know that you will be an asset to the team and there will not be many chances for you to prove this so use every opportunity you can get to leave that great impression.
6. Sign Up for Alerts and Notifications
Set up notifications and alerts from job sites, such as Indeed, to be notified when new jobs are posted. Check hospital websites as well and sign up to get notified when new jobs are released. These jobs go fast; therefore, you want to be one of the first to know when they are available.
If you would like to access the new graduate job tips in PDF form, get the free downloadable here.
Happy Studying!