A Few Tips to Finding a Job in the Nursing Field

by: Karen Williams

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Date: Tue, 27 Jul 2010 Time: 2:44 PM - 0 comments

Jobs in nursing are not hard to find. It takes some effort and a little bit of planning to find a job. If you are just out of nursing school, the school you attended most likely has a program to assist graduates in finding a job. They may have a job fair and invite medical facilities as well as anyone that has an interest in recruiting nursing students. Recruiting officers from all branches of the military may be allowed on campus to set up interviews and pitch the military as a nursing career. Head hunters will often get permission from the school or be part of the job fair and look for graduate students to fill positions that are currently open or will be in the near future. If you worked at a healthcare facility while attending school, that may be the foot in the door for employment after graduation.

One of the best ways to find a nursing job is networking. It is essential to join your local professional nursing association as soon as you are eligible. Pay your dues, read the newsletter and attend their after hour get together, seminars, classes and social events. The name of the game is networking. Get acquainted with your counterparts from other facilities. Let them know who you are and what you are all about. Most job and career opportunities make their way through the network before they show up in classified want ads, trade magazines and monster dot Com. If you keep your nose in the game, you will always know who is hiring and when. You may not realize you need a new employment opportunity until it comes around and smacks you upside the head.

Keep your resume up to date and a copy handy at all times. Have your resume ready to email at a moment's notice. Make sure you have a second to none cover letter to go with it. Sometimes professional organizations will keep a data base that includes resumes for job matching purposes. If your organization has that to offer, make sure your resume is on file. Just make sure they are not selling your information. If you have a web page, consider having a resume online, but minus your personal contact information except an email address.

Keep your skills up to date. Your licensing may require you take refresher courses every year. Make sure you keep up with those but always be on the lookout for training programs that will bring you new skills. The wider your skill set is, the more desirable you are for employment. Especially if you already have some training in a new skill or area of nursing under your belt.

If you truly are interested in finding a new job or even that first job, search out the areas that have nursing shortages. If you have a wide variety of skills, are willing to relocate or are willing to go through their training program if you are new to the field, you will have no problem securing new employment.