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In Part 1 of this series, we met Janet and Cori who were both in different places in their careers. Janet, as you may recall, is a brand new grad who is fresh out of school, pumped, and ready to make her mark in nursing. Cori, on the other hand, has been a nurse for a while and is suffering from a bad case of burn-out; as such, Cori has become restless and dissatisfied in her current position. She wants a change but is not sure about what she must do to find her dream job. Both nurses love nursing and want to continue in their chosen profession, helping people. Our challenge is to share different aspects of job hunting that will help them strategically find, apply for, interview, and land their dream job. Thus far, we've discussed seven job search strategies.
Today, we will shed light on networking strategies and internships. How can this benefit Cori and Janet? How does a nurse go about networking? Why would an experienced nurse ever consider an internship? These are the types of questions we will be answering, amongst others.
What do networking and internships have in common? They are both a non-traditional way of looking for a job. They both require the job seeker to step outside their comfort zone and think outside the box. In our chosen field, internships can be viewed as a form of networking. When done right, you can transition from intern to employee.
Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone
You see it time and time again. Some people let opportunity pass them by simply because they are afraid. When looking for a job, they unintentionally let fear hold them back. They pass up or fail to recognize opportunities that arise because it will take them out of their comfort zone. As such, they approach the entire job search process from a limited perspective.
A prime example of this is Cori who has been a nurse for over 12 years. In, as much as, she decries her current state, in some ways she is in a state of inertia. The feeling of being stuck and the comfort of her environment have made her stay in this low paying job for over twelve years. We cannot underestimate the power of a comfort zone. The result? Long lasting feeling of burn out.
It's tough sometimes to step outside of your comfort zone. However, that's often where the most promising opportunities are. Here are a few tips to help you look outside your own boundaries and structure to find your dream job:
1. Take an honest look at any job opportunity that comes your way - even if it's in a specialty you've never done before.
2. Connect with new people in and outside of your industry. Since you have been trained as a nurse, your nursing skills will serve you well in any specialty area, and even outside of nursing too. You may find yourself enjoying a different experience and a new group of people.
3. Take a different job just to try it out. One of the reasons people stay inside their comfort zone is ego. They don't want to do something different or 'beneath them.' However, sometimes any job is better than no job at all and there's always something to learn.
4. Try a new approach. If the old resume and cover letter to the classified ad posting isn't working to get you a job, try a new approach. Register to volunteer and network. There are many ways to find great jobs and many of them don't involve the traditional methods.
5. In the meantime, do something you want to do. What do you enjoy? What have you always wanted to try or learn? Do it now. For example, if you've always wanted to become a teacher, start volunteering at your local school. If you've always wanted to learn how to cook, take a cooking class.
Why? Because this is the first step to getting you out of your comfort zone. And because when you're doing something you love to do, opportunities will come to you. You'll meet people in that cooking class who know the perfect job that just opened up. You'll be there and ready when that position opens up and because you made such a great impression, you'll get the job.
Stepping out of your comfort zone is more than a life experience. To get a job in today's job market, it's a survival tactic.
How Networking Can Help In Your Job Search
As mentioned above, it is a good idea to step out of your comfort zone and network. Networking is said to be the single most effective way of landing a job. What is networking? And how does one network in nursing?
What is Networking?
Networking is a fancy term for getting out and talking to people. It's connecting with people you know and forging real relationships and friendships. Some people view networking as calling up everyone they know and saying, "Hey, I'm looking for a job." And while this strategy may work, it's a bit like throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks.
Others view networking as a calculated way of joining groups and targeting key individuals to meet them and ask them to hire you. That's stalking, not networking. It rarely works.
Networking is becoming actively engaged in the nursing industry. Even if you're not currently employed it doesn't mean that mangers have stopped going to nursing association meetings and community events. It really is a small world and when you make friends with people and talk, you'll learn what healthcare companies and nursing units are hiring.
Networking is also attending your local community events. Talking to your neighbors and your daughter's coach or scout leader. They're connected to the community and conversations can be enlightening, if not rewarding.
One of the best ways to get a job is to learn about it from a friend, neighbor or associate. Why? Because then you have a connection to the job itself. This can get you an interview without ever having to send a resume. Or it can put your resume and application at the top of the pile. It can also help you better understand the company before you ever set foot inside the door. And an employee referral is almost as good as a "welcome to the team" handshake.
Where to Network
We've already mentioned a few offline places to network. You can network at:
* Industry association or organization meetings
* Little league games
* The grocery store
* Social club meetings (like your local book club or running club)
You can also network online. Networking online works in much the same way as offline networking. You connect with people via blogs, nursing forums, and social networking sites like Facebook and LinkedIn. You interact, communicate and engage with others. Often, you'll learn about opportunities in your industry. The key with online networking is to make real connections and to be professional and courteous, at all times.
If you're looking for a job or want to change your job, freshen up your social skills and get out there. There are opportunities just waiting for you, you just have to find the right people to show them to you.
How Internships & Volunteering Can Help You Land A Permanent Position
Times are still tough for everyone. The economy is improving yet many are still unemployed. Companies are tight too. However, this present job situation also presents opportunities.
When the budget is tight, many companies hire temporary employees. This is because the budget for temporary and/or contract employees generally comes from a different account than full time salaried employees. Additionally, temporary and contract employees cost a company less in the long run because they don't have to pay benefits, payroll taxes, or invest in protracted training, healthcare, and retirement benefits.
Internships
As a person looking for employment you can use a temporary position such as an internship to gain access to an organization. This is assuredly the most effective networking technique. Many mangers hire from their pool of interns. This is because during your internship you are vetted by the people you will be working with. Internship is also another way to learn a new skill. So if you are a seasoned ICU nurse but have never worked with open hearts, an internship is a fine way to begin. Or you might be an Oncology nurse that is interested in transitioning to Hemodialysis. Moreover, if you are a student a job as a graduate nurse or intern will help you put one foot inside the door, well ahead of other job seekers; even before you pass your NCLEX exam. It's also a great way for you to try out a company before you sign a contract with them.
Volunteering
Another way companies are solving their hiring issues is to fill positions with volunteers and internships. There are paid and unpaid internships and they can be a valuable way to both earn experience and get your foot in the door at a company. Volunteer positions help you meet people within the organization and you're often the first person to know outside of human resources when a new job is going to be posted. This gives you an advantage over other job seekers.
Hospitals are common for using volunteers to fill positions as are non-profit organizations.
You can find internships and volunteer positions in much the same way as you will find a permanent position; use the job search strategies discussed in last month's issue to get you started. If you want to be pro-active you can call the company to find out if they have any openings or needs. Once you're in a volunteer or an intern, make sure that people around your know you're interested in working for the company on a full time, salaried basis. If you're doing a good job, they may find ways to bring you on.
Get creative and open yourself up to new strategies when seeking a job. That internship may lead you to your best job ever.
Article Source: EzineArticles.com/5743416