JOB SEARCH TIPS FOR NURSES
Ø Individual career counseling sessions
Ø Graduate School Resources - Reference books & web site Grad School link
Ø Library resource materials, videos, and handouts on the job search process
Ø Resume Critique and Mock Interview sessions
Ø Networking Information and Strategies
Ø Resources on our website under Job Search & News/Events
I. EVALUATE YOUR CAREER GOALS
Ø What is your "dream job"? Where do you want to be 5 years from now?
· Visit the Major Options link on our web site to explore Career Planning Options for Nursing Majors. Discover potential career paths, desired skills, sample job titles of Rivier Nursing alumni, sample employers, professional organizations, as well as career and job related web sites.
Ø What skills and activities do you like to perform at work?
Ø What special populations interest you?
Ø What type of employers or industries attracts you? (public, private, self)
Ø What salary levels do you hope to attain?
A. List and assess your strengths and weaknesses - Include the following:
Ø Specific knowledge and skills related to NURSING fields of interest
(i.e. job-related skills like clinical interventions, use of medical equipment, patient care, etc).
Ø Transferable skills gained from work, volunteer, and community service positions
(i.e. research skills, communication skills, problem-solving skills, teamwork skills, etc.)
Ø Traits which reflect your personality, character, and ability to get along with others.
(i.e. dependable, motivator, detail-oriented, responsible, empathic, etc.)
Ø Leadership qualities (i.e. organizational skills, taking initiative, decision-making)
B. Be prepared to give specific examples of your greatest strengths
C. Minimize your weaknesses by presenting them in a positive way
D. Pursue that extra credential, certificate, or field expertise
To obtain an interview, you must get through the initial screening process. Consult the CDC’s online Resume Writing & Cover Letter guides @ http://www.rivier.edu/departments/cardev/Getajob.htm
A. Prepare an Outstanding Resume - Most important primary tool of your job search
B. Include an Impressive Cover Letter - Tailor it to the specific job vacancy
C. Obtain 4-6 Excellent References - Attesting to your job related skills, character, & work ethic.
Ø Professional Reference Letters - Clinical supervisors, Administrators at field related work/clinicals/volunteer sites, program chair and faculty members.
Ø Personal Reference Letters - Previous employers, community leaders, etc
View the CDC’s online Job Search Techniques guide @ www.rivier.edu/departments/cardev/Getajob.htm
A. Career Development Center’s website resources – Click on Job Search
Ø Riv Full-time professional job listings - posted weekly in conjunction with the New Hampshire College and University Council (NHCUC) on JOBLINE.
Ø Riv Part-time professional job listings – posted weekly
Ø Employment Positions and Job Search Resources on the Net- Links to: websites for job seekers (best general career & job sites), job listing sites by career/major field, researching employers and industries online, resume and cover letter writing, interviewing skills, local resources (newspaper classifieds and job banks), relocation assistance, and networking information.
Ø Annual NHCUC Job Fair & other Job Fairs – See our online News/Events link
B. Networking - Talk to anyone and everyone regarding job contacts and vacancies
Ø More people obtain jobs by networking than using conventional job search methods
Ø Ask employees and administrators where you’ve interned, volunteered, or worked, about job openings in their organizations. Ask for key contact referrals at other organizations of interest as well.
Ø Conduct informational interviews with professionals in fields of interest as a way to learn more about their job, educational background, career path to current position, industry pros and cons, and to obtain referrals that broaden your networking base. See the CDC’s online Informational Interview guide @ http://www.rivier.edu/departments/cardev/talk.html
Ø Ask friends, relatives, professors, and community members if they can refer you to contacts with hiring power or have information about vacancies in your desired field.
Ø Join national and local professional associations to develop a professional support network and obtain current employment information through journals and newsletters.
· National Student Nurse's Association-www.nsna.org/
· American Nurses Association- http://www.nursingworld.org/
· American Academy of Nursing- www.nursingworld.org/aan
· American Nursing Informatics Association-www.ania.org/
· Association of periOperative (Operating Room) Registered Nurses- www.aorn.org
· American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nurses- http://aaacn.inurse.com
· American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Inc.- www.aaohn.org
· American Holistic Nurses Association- http://ahna.org
· The American Psychiatric Nurses Association- www.apna.org
· Association of Pediatric Oncology Nurses- www.apon.org
· Association of Rehabilitation Nurses- www.rehabnurse.org
· Emergency Nurses Association- www.ena.org
· Academy of Medical Surgical Nurses- http://amsn.inurse.com
· American Academy of Nurse Practitioners- http://webmaster@aanp.org
· American Assembly for Men in Nursing- http://aamn.org/
· National League for Nursing- www.nln.org
· American Association of Nurse Anesthetists- www.aana.com
· Home Healthcare Nurses Association- www.nahc.org/HHNA/
· National Association of School Nurses- www.nasn.org
· Other Specialty Nursing Associations- www.ana.org/rnindex/snp.htm
· International Nursing Organizations- www.ana.org/rnindex/intl.htm
Ø Employer Directories
· Jobweb's Employer Profiles - www.jobweb.org/search/Profiles/ * Search for detailed company information by name or geographical region
· Health and Medical Employers on the Net-http://members.aol.com/pjpohly/emp.htm
· Hospital Web- http://neuro-www.mgh.harvard.edu/hospitalweb.shtml
*Database of US and International Hospitals
· Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Directory - http://www.druginfonet.com/maninfo.htm
· Worldwide Pharmaceutical Companies - http://www.worldpharmaweb.com/links.htm
· American Hospital Directory - http://www.ahd.com/
· Nationwide Database of Nursing Home Providers - http://www.annhl.com/
· Boston (New England) Area Health & Human Services Employers - from Siena College http://www.siena.edu/careercenter/J-CFh&hsemp.htm - Boston Area
· Yahoo's Health Business Search - http://dir.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy/Companies/Health/
· Yahoo's Industry Profiles - Business lists by industry - http://biz.yahoo.com/p/industries.html
Ø Newsgroups:
· Nursing Listservers and Newsgroups- http://nursingworld.org/listserv/index.htm
*List of web based nursing discussion groups from Nursing World which are very useful tools for gathering and disseminating academic as well as career and job related information.
Ø Job Sites:
· Nursing Spectrum Career Fitness Online Jobs - http://nsweb.nursingspectrum.com/classifieds/index.htm
· GreatNurse.com –http://www.greatnurse.com/- Free job classifieds to the Nursing Community categorized by location
· NurseWeek/HealthWeek Jobs –http://209.35.112.128/jobs/jobsearch.asp
· Nursejobz.com - http://www.nursejobz.com/
· Nurse Recruiter - http://www.nurse-recruiter.com/
· Nurse Options USA - http://www.nurseoptions.com/
· RN Wanted.com - http://www.rnwanted.com/
· Yahoo's Nursing Job Sites - http://dir.yahoo.com/Health/Nursing/Employment/Jobs/
· Health Care & Medical Employment - http://members.aol.com/pjpohly/links.htm - Links, resources, and articles for job seekers in the health care industry
· New Hampshire Health Care Association -http://www.nhhca.org/career.htm- career opportunities in long term health care
· Health Career Web - http://www.healthcareerweb.com/- Jobs for Healthcare Professionals
· HealthWeb - http://healthweb.org/- Healthcare Job Sites
· Nation Job's Medical and Health Care Jobs Page - http://www.nationjob.com/medical/
· Health Care Recruitment Online - http://www.healthcareers-online.com/
· Yahoo's Health Care Job Sites - http://dir.yahoo.com/Health/Employment/Jobs/
· MedSearch -http://www.medsearch.com/- Health Care Jobs from Monster Board
· America's Healthcare Source - http://www.healthcaresource.com/- Job Opportunities in many healthcare fields
· Wellness Connection - http://www.wellnessconnection.org/
* Jobs in health and wellness promotion
· National Wellness Institute Career Center - http://www.nationalwellness.org/Resources/index.asp
* Health promotion, recreation, and fitness oriented employment, internships, and other career resources
· HPCareerNet - http://www.hpcareer.net/
*For candidates seeking jobs in public health, health education, social work and exercise science
· Public Health Employment Connection - http://cfusion.sph.emory.edu/PHEC/phec.cfm
View the CDC’s online Interviewing Skills guide @ www.rivier.edu/departments/cardev/Getajob.htm
A. Research Employers - Impress the Interviewer by being knowledgeable about their organization. Who are the key people? What is their primary product or service? Who are their competitors? Use network contacts or the following resources to gather insider company information:
Ø Business Directories - Public Libraries, Regina Library, * CDC career library
· Standard and Poor's Register of Corporations
· Dunn and Bradstreet's Million Dollar Directory
· America’s Corporate Families
· Job Opportunities in Health Care*
· National Trade and Professional Associations of the US*
Ø Internet Resources
· Researching Companies Online Tutorial http://home.sprintmail.com/~debflanagan/index.html
· Individual Company homepages - use search engines like www.yahoo.com and www.altavista.digital.com to search by company name or keyword
· Employer Directories online - http://www.rivier.edu/departments/cardev/companies.htm
· Internet Job Search Strategies - http://www.collegegrad.com/jobs/internet.html
Ø Direct Company Contact
· Company Annual Report /Letter to Shareholders/Company Marketing Information
· Human Resources Department - Employment Opportunities info
B. Find out all you can about the responsibilities of the position and goals of the organization.
C. Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early – Maintain eye contact and portray confident body language.
D. Dress for Interview Success – Wear simple professional clothing, limit makeup and perfume.
E. Prepare Clear, Concise, and Relevant Responses to potential Interview Questions such as:
· Credential Questions
1. What was your GPA? Why is your GPA not higher?
2. What were the certification requirements for ___________?
· Experience Questions
1. What qualifications make you a good candidate for this position?
2. Tell me about yourself
· Opinion Questions
1. What are your greatest strengths? Weaknesses?
2. Why did you choose to attend Rivier College?
· Behavioral Questions
1. Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or professor? How did you resolve it?
2. In your current job, give me an example of how you contribute as a team player
F. Ask Good Questions
1. Could you tell me more about this position and the type of candidate you're seeking?
2. I consider myself a team player, as it can be a more productive way to work, do staff members here plan or work on projects together?
3. What are the opportunities for growth and advancement for this position?
4. What have been some of the interesting challenges and opportunities your organization has recently faced?
5. What do you consider to be the most important factors in being successful in this position?