Prepare while you are still in school
Apply early. Your school's career office can fine-tune your resume and connect you with hospitals and health systems, and faculty and practicum supervisors can write your recommendation letters. Use them.
Clinical rotations are your best networking tool. You are working alongside the people who hire, so treat every rotation like an extended interview. Students who stand out get mentioned to the manager.
When to look
Start in your senior year. If you want a specific specialty, track how many openings exist in that area and which hospitals post them. That intel can also guide where you choose your practicum site, since landing a clinical placement at a hospital that hires into your specialty puts you in the room early.
Clinical instructors often help last-semester students find entry-level positions, and recruiters from hospitals, hospices, home health agencies, and surgery centers visit campuses to talk with students. Most schools also run in-person and virtual career fairs throughout the year.
Where to look
Campus career fairs and faculty connections are the obvious starting points. Beyond that, search hospital websites directly, since many health systems now build feeder internships with nursing schools to develop candidates early. Recruiters can also place graduates who have no paid nursing experience yet.
Keep your LinkedIn profile current with your graduation date, stay active in your program's online groups, and talk to staff beyond the managers. Other employees know about openings before they post.
Entry-level options
You can land entry-level roles with upward mobility at any education level. Nursing assistants and orderlies are projected to grow 2% through 2034, with the top 10% earning more than $50,140. Home health and personal care aides are growing 17% through 2034 at a median of $34,900. Medical assistants earn a median of $44,200 and are projected to grow 12% through 2034.
The shortage and the market
An aging population keeps demand high across hospitals and long-term care, but high demand does not mean the market is uncompetitive. Candidates who specialize in areas like gerontology, or who hold at least a BSN, have the widest range of options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a license before I apply? No. You can apply before you are licensed, and some states let graduates work for a grace period while they pursue licensure and sit the NCLEX. Every RN still has to graduate from an approved program with a diploma, associate degree, or bachelor's degree.
Can an employer hire me before I pass the NCLEX? Yes, but expect a deadline to take and pass it. Most graduates test about six weeks after finishing school, and each state sets the earliest date you can sit the exam.
When should I start the job search? In your senior year, before you graduate. Apply early, use your school's career office, and treat clinical rotations like extended interviews, since you are working alongside the people who hire.
Will the hospital where I did clinicals hire me? It is possible but not common. Make a strong impression anyway, show a solid work ethic, and leave your resume with your clinical supervisors so you stay on their radar.
Is the nursing job market still strong? Yes. RN employment is projected to grow 5% through 2034 with about 189,100 openings a year (BLS, May 2024). Demand is steady, but candidates who specialize or hold at least a BSN have the widest range of options.
How do I build experience while still in school? Join groups like the National Student Nurses Association, volunteer, take a feeder internship if your school offers one, and sharpen your tech skills through campus resources.