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What did the winning applicant have that you didn’t have? What did that person do that you didn’t do? If it seems that you’re getting passed over for every nursing position you apply for, it’s time to get an edge.
Whether you have loads of nursing experience or you’re a new grad and this is the first position you’re applying for, the truth is that you have to market yourself because the competition is tough for those coveted nursing jobs. Here are four ways to get an edge.
1. Networking
This is all about making and maintaining connections, and you can do this in so many different ways, like the following:
a) Create a business card and hand it out to people who are in administration positions or might have lines on nursing jobs. Collect their business cards and send them occasional messages (e.g., at Christmas or whenever you make a job transition) to let them know what you’re doing. The day may come when you’re the perfect fit for a position they know about.
b) If you’re planning on applying for a posted position, call the unit manager or the HR person to whom you’ll be sending your application. Introduce yourself, express enthusiasm about the position and give a quick pitch about yourself. Tell the individual that you’ll be sending in your application, and when it lands in front of that person, he or she will be able to put a voice to a name and think, “Oh yes, this was the person who….”
c) If you’re a new grad looking for a job or you’re between jobs, do some volunteer work at the hospital or clinic where you’d like to work. If you eventually apply for a job opening there, you’ll have an “in” because you’ll know many of the hospital staff and you’ll know the culture of the place.
d) After you’ve been interviewed for a position, send a thank you letter to the interviewing team. Even if you don’t get the job, these people may be there for a while and will likely remember you should you apply for another position in the future.
