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Being a new graduate nurse is a hard adjustment and trying to find a job is even harder. With that being said, I wanted to share a few tips and tricks on how I was able to land my dream job in a highly coveted and competitive Level IV NICU!

Apply for New Graduate Residency Programs

As a recent grad, you’ve probably noticed that every job has required some form of experience. This can be demotivating and make it seem like you’ll never find a job. Apply for new graduate residency programs to ensure your best chances of landing a job, especially in specialty areas. Look up the available programs in your area and make sure you know when the applications are due and what is required for each application.

Make your Resume Stand Out

I know you probably got a template from your school and that is a great place to start but you have to remember, everyone who’s attended that school also has the capability of using that same template. What does this mean? YOUR resume won’t stand out. Recruiters have limited time and because of that, you want to make sure that when they get to your resume that it is something memorable. Don’t be afraid to use a little color and make sure your resume is no more than a page long. You can find several different templates online that will WOW your recruiter and make you stand out.

BE PATIENT!

Being a new grad, the hardest thing for me to do was to BE PATIENT. Everyone around me was accepting jobs and I told myself, maybe I should lower my standards and just apply for other jobs. The hiring process can be long and daunting but in the end, you have to remember YOU have to work here. Be patient and do not apply for jobs that you don’t see yourself being happy at a few months from now. A lot of time and resources go into hiring new graduates and it is not fair to the hiring team for you to come and stay a few months and then leave. Be patient, your time WILL come!

Follow Up

Don’t be afraid to follow up on your application process. It shows that you are interested and if you get a rejection, reach out and ask what you can do to make yourself a more competitive candidate in the future. Now don’t be annoying and call them every day lol but there is absolutely nothing wrong with calling to check the status of your application!

Put Yourself Out There

Don’t be afraid to apply for specialty areas. I know SO many of us have heard “start in med surg” and although that is a great place to learn a wide variety of skills, this is not the best thing for several of us. Would you tell someone who doesn’t like working with kids to apply to peds? NO! Same thing applies to you. If you know you are not going to be happy in med surg, do not limit yourself to only applying to med surg positions. Step out of your comfort zone, put yourself out there, and apply for those specialty area jobs. You won’t know unless you try!!

Be Yourself

I cannot stress this ENOUGH! During your interview, BE YOURSELF. Your hiring manager knows that you are a new graduate and they do not expect you to know things that an experienced nurse may know. Remind yourself of this and use this as a technique to calm yourself down if you start to feel nervous during your interview. Remember, skills can always be taught but character and personality cannot! The main purpose of your interview is to get to know YOU so don’t be afraid to let yourself shine bright!