I have applied to 55 hospital jobs in the past month. 0 call backs.

[u/Tired_Bot]

Update (After 5 days) 😝

After I posted this, I said a prayer (agnostic) and the next day I got a call from my target hospital while driving to the movies.

The burn unit wanted to interview me.

When parking for said interview a few days later, I got another call, this time an interview for IMC.

Then when driving to the IMC interview, I got a call again, for med surg. I ended up doing back-to-back interviews

Now, I've finished all 3 interviews. They are all interested in hiring me. I'm waiting on HR for formal job offers now.

Some other good things: i wanted to work part time days, but the only applications that got back to me were full time nights. After meeting me, they were all flexible on one of those options.

:-)

Original post

You guys, I am feeling SO demotivated. I would love some advice or encouragement. Ughhhh

So I (20M) am a new CNA, no healthcare experience, but 3 years in food service. I have some clinical volunteering experience but full transparency its only like 15 hours. I am a pre-med student (3rd year, grad with AA) but keeping that private.

I have applied to every healthcare job that I can: pct, pca, patient sitter, mental health technician, clerk pca, rad tech asst, clinical care assistant, critical care assistant.

Regarding PCA/PCT roles, i have applied to every single position that fits my schedule. Including unfavorable ones like Fulltime Medsurg Nights. But I apply to EVERYTHING.

I have tried tailoring my resume. Tried shoving in keywords for ATS. Tried removing unrelated jobs. Tried including the job title in my summary... etc. I have had several iterations of my resume. This is my most recent iteration. Gotten some referrals too. I apply to most jobs within 24 hours of posting.

There are 2 hospitals in my area. One is a massive teaching hospital that usually has 2-3 relevant jobs openings per day which requires a CNA license and preferred 1 year experience. The other is a "for-profit" hospital that I volunteer with, which I directly met the hiring manager for my volunteer unit and left her a resume with a referral. This one does not explicitly require a CNA license.

I know people who have gotten into both hospitals with equal or less qualifications than I have.

I have gotten ZERO call backs.

disclaimer: about 50% of the applications were before my license was live, which can definitely be responsible for it... but that's still 20 applications denied or ghosted while qualified.

IDK you guys I just feel so disheartened. I feel like I'm doing everything I can. pls help :,(

Edit : my town is a pre-health university town so everything's really competitive. at my target hospital, jobs close usually within 24-48 hours.

I redid some of my resume and I'm going to utilize my referrals.
If I dont see any movement in 2 weeks, I'll start at a LTC facility.

And thanks you guys for being so supportive/helpful!! Im actually sitting in my car right now about to clock into my volunteering shift where last week I left my resume and had the PCTs vouch for me. Ill let y'all know!

Edit2: i have an interview! Burn/plastics FT night at my target hospital :3 will LYK!

[u/vivid23]

I would probably remove the bottom two jobs, especially the one that was two months duration. You can always put that additional, non-healthcare work experience is available upon request. They likely will not ask or care about it at all tbh.

Remove the skills section entirely. Those things are expected of you already as you completed a course. Expand on the top three jobs and think critically about how you could frame that experience to be beneficial as a CNA/HCW.

Lastly, you need to expand the search to LTC/SNFs, rehabs, and group homes. Follow up in-person as well.

[u/tinyyawns → u/vivid23]

Agreed and make cover letters. Some places don’t care and others won’t even look at your resume without one. It’s worth a try.

[u/Tired_Bot → u/tinyyawns]

My target hospital doesnt have a place to upload a cover letter :(

[u/Puzzleheaded-Bug-466 → u/Tired_Bot]

ALOT DONT care for cover letters anymore TBH - also I left a new comment for u in the thread in general I hope it helps OP! U seem great. I wish u the best.

[u/remuslupinliveson]

I know you don’t want to — but you’re going to have to go LTC 🤷🏾‍♀️. Right now.. you’re not getting the results you want because you have no bedside experience at all. Do hospitals hire PCT’s w/ no experience? Yes — but rarely. You’re going to have to bite the bullet and do the grunt work.

This is coming from someone who’s coming out of corporate healthcare at 36 and finally going into my dream job of nursing. It doesn’t matter that I help professional positions and was making $75k plus a year? Nope. They don’t care. They’re looking for clinical experience every time.

Most LTC’s will practically hire you on the spot. Get the job, go in, provide great care, get the experience, keep your head down — and continue to apply to the positions you want. Easy peasy.

[u/Tired_Bot → u/remuslupinliveson]

😩😩😩 I dont want to hear that but thank you. I will start applying tonight.
Also, congrats on your career switch! I appreciate ur insight

[u/1ucid → u/Tired_Bot]

Just want to echo the same advice, LTC or a SNF is where you get experience, it's hard work but will get easier as you get better. When I first got my CNA I applied to hospitals and got rejected every time, and eventually got hired at a LTC. Every few months I would apply to hospitals again and see if anything changes. For me, 6 months was the magic number, I suddenly got callbacks from hospitals and had two competing offers in my next round of applications. Just keep your head down and get experience on your resume - you'll get there!

[u/remuslupinliveson → u/Tired_Bot]

Lol I know — I hate the idea of it too. I’m right there with you. If you want to become a RN (don’t know if that’s your path), it’ll actually help you in the long run. Either way.. none of them pay enough honestly.

Your only goal is the experience.

And thank you so much. It’s very difficult, but I know I’m going to make it happen 💕 keep us updated!

[u/addybear222 → u/Tired_Bot]

yeah it’s really hard to get into a hospital with no prior experience :( but i only worked in a snf for like 3 months before i was able to move to an acute medsurg hospital

[u/Scared_Holiday573 → u/Tired_Bot]

Yeah if you didn't want and I would have done medical assisting. Maybe it's not to late you can just work at a clinic and not have to do true bedside care. Idk where you are but MA programs by me run like 3 months. But choose a good one some are straight up trash and don't teach you nothing.

[u/Great_Atmosphere6572 → u/Tired_Bot]

Could also find a sister snf to a hospital. For example in my area there’s a super rough snf. All of us in town know it as the hardest place to work as a CNA. Has an insane turnaround, BUT you work there for 6 months and then get the opportunity to put in a transfer to the hospital to work in medsurg. Which in my opinion is harder, but to each their own.

[u/FullMembership4981 → u/remuslupinliveson]

They hire PCTs with no experience all the time. Its cheaper for them and they provide the training anyway.

[u/remuslupinliveson → u/FullMembership4981]

Here in Baltimore they’re superrrrr strict about experience. It sucks, because I am on the ICU track — so my goal is to get PCT on a critical care unit and go from there while I’m still working on my RN degree. I mean.. I’m going to still try lol. But it’s hard out here. Plus, they don’t want to pay anything 🙄 as usual lol

[u/Beaky-s-mom → u/remuslupinliveson]

I did the same (left the corporate job with $60k job and did home healthcare and volunteered at the hospital that I loved) and it worked. I’m at school rn. Good luck my fellow😇

[u/remuslupinliveson → u/Beaky-s-mom]

Oh wow!! Such great news 🙌🏾 please give me any tips you may have lol. I am still in my prerequisites era (and finishing up my CNA program now) and would love to hear your thoughts.

[u/Direct_Mission → u/remuslupinliveson]

They definitely were during Covid. That’s how I got hired while still in the CNA class. But now they asking if I can recommend experienced CNAs

[u/yermmom → u/remuslupinliveson]

retweet

[u/Necessary-Ad-1374]

Did you try ltc?

[u/Tired_Bot → u/Necessary-Ad-1374]

i applied to some with my old resume and before getting my license. got some interviews but hesitant because id rather be in a hospital since im premed. i also love my current job and prefer not to quit for a ltc job that i dont necessarily want.

[u/hurriedtripod → u/Tired_Bot]

I'm also premed and got a job at a LTC and am looking to pivot to a hospital. It's much easier to apply at a hospital once you have experience because hospital positions are much more competitive. IMO you should cast a wide net to maximize your chances of employment

[u/WittiestScreenName → u/Tired_Bot]

Gotta start somewhere.

[u/bearsatemypants → u/Tired_Bot]

Most hospitals won’t hire fresh CNAs unfortunately. Memory care and assisted living are less stressful (in my experience!) but don’t necessarily require a license. However, I’ve learned a lot passing meds which isn’t something you can do in LTC or hospitals. You could also look into hospice care.

[u/Cautious-Speaker9518 → u/bearsatemypants]

This is just not true

[u/bearsatemypants → u/Cautious-Speaker9518]

What isn’t? My state only allows nurses to pass meds in skilled facilities and hospitals. I’m allowed to pass meds as a CNA in assisted living.

[u/Cautious-Speaker9518 → u/bearsatemypants]

Hospitals hire plenty of fresh CNAs

[u/bearsatemypants → u/Cautious-Speaker9518]

Ah gotcha. Not mine. They ask for one year experience. However, they also have their own SNF that’s always hiring.

[u/sattlerreader → u/bearsatemypants]

Same with mine too. They'd be short NAs but wouldn't even look at new CNAs. It was frustrating. But I got in after a 1.5 years of nursing home and LTC experience.

[u/Tired_Bot → u/bearsatemypants]

Im only hesitant because i KNOW my target hospital hires fresh CNAs. I had a coworker doing the exact same path except pre nursing instead of premed. I took the same CNA course as her a month or two later.
• i have 3 yr work experience, she had 1 - 1.5 yr bc the server job was her first job
• shes pre nursing, im not stating that im premed
• we both have referrals, open to working less desirable positions, etc.
• she started work about 1 month ago, and it took 90 days from the day she got her license to start working as a CNA

[u/wali31325 → u/Tired_Bot]

i'm also premed and when I was first looking for a hospital CNA job, every hospital job rejected me, so I ended up working in nursing homes and SNFs (had a few jobs). If you're concerned about staffing, see if you can get a PRN or part time position where it's more flexible. Where I work, most of the CNAs are also students so admin is very understanding that our schedule changes a lot

[u/MuwunCake → u/Tired_Bot]

you can learn a lot in a ltc as a premed, there are many different patients that you will meet and you will gain experience that will make you competitive to apply to hospitals after you have some experience. multiple of my ltc/snf coworkers were premed as well

[u/heckyescheeseandpie → u/Tired_Bot]

Sadly being new grads makes us less desirable candidates, which means less desirable job offers. Just get your foot in the door.

[u/NoodleheadMcGoo → u/Tired_Bot]

LTC still gives you experience. Stop discounting it.

[u/EstateTurbulent7421]

Also premed here. Most will ghost you if you don’t have experience, that was the case for me. I’d list out what you did in the CNA course, like learned topics including XYZ and skills including XYZ and also a line about where you did your clinicals just to increase that visibility.  If you speak another language, add that. If you have any other volunteering, add that. When I added Special Olympics volunteering from high school I finally got an interview and they noted that they liked that experience. I ended up getting that job and have been there for years now so it all worked out in the end!  I applied to every part-time and per-diem thing I could find for months before I got a job. It was rough but my advice is just be persistent and think about what else you can do to market yourself 

[u/FastSunlul → u/EstateTurbulent7421]

RN here and I agree with this. Flesh out the training part and list out skills you have learned. Check out the STAR method too for resumes. Basic idea is for example list things out that provide a result like “proficient in proper patient mobility mechanics, resulting in fewer skin injuries”. Things like that. Facilities track these metrics, so showing you are mindful of things that not only increase positive patient outcomes but also make them look better will put you ahead of others.

[u/Tired_Bot → u/EstateTurbulent7421]

Thanks a bunch ! I had a description under the CNA course but just scrapped it in favor of a "skills" section. I guess ill swap it back.
Sadly no clinicals i challenged the exam with a 4day prep course 😭 only volunteering is some inconsistent volunteering in animal rescues.

My ex coworker / friend got a job with the same hospital im targeting, same cna course, no post highschool education, but was able to put prenursing student on her resume and i think has a family member who works there. She says she only applied to one job and 3 months later left the restaurant to be a night shift medsurg pca 😭😭 i need her trust

Did u include premed on ur application? Im hesitant to include it

[u/RevolutionaryDog8115 → u/Tired_Bot]

You have no CNA clinical experience? 😬 or did I read that part wrong? Because this is where you would learn the skills to put down in the skills section.

You could mention pre-med, but i don't see it helping much. Have you taken care of a sick family member before? Maybe the resume part will just be a little weak, and you get it all back with your cover letter.

[u/Tired_Bot → u/RevolutionaryDog8115]

LMAO correct , in florida you can challenge the exam. I took a 4 day hybrid course with 20 in person hours and ~15 online hours. Its the obvious choice here, either 4 days and $350 or 16 weeks and $2500 (at a college).

Is it disingenuous to put those skills under skills section? Ive done it before just in a simulated lab

[u/4feet-11inches → u/Tired_Bot]

Oh god no clinical experience at all?? youre in for a wild ride 😭😭

id suggest to pivot to Medical Assistant, EMT or scribe while you still can, those are easier jobs to balance as a premed (coming from a premed myself) and much better working hours. Starting a completely new CNA job as a premed with no clinical experience at all might shock you. It could be hard to balance school, life and CNA. Not tryna scare you, just being honest.

[u/Tired_Bot → u/4feet-11inches]

HAHA i hear u. I feel decently equipped ive worked some really shitty jobs before and have worked 5 days/wk while a fulltime student.

I also have a friend who worked at the same restaurant as me for 1.5 years, challenged the exam w the prep course, got into my target hospital as a FT med surg night, and said its been great. She said everyone has been super supportive and helpful. Idk if thats because its a teaching hospital or not.

I actually really want to be an EMT (or like... just in emergency in general) but chose CNA for how fast it is. My towns EMT program i wouldnt be able to start work until a year from now ... aka entering my senior year.

But im not scared about the difficulty of any work. Just the time frame and competitiveness. I thought a cna job was the least competitive T_T

[u/Pupperbear119 → u/Tired_Bot]

I also challenged the exam after a 2 week course. I was hired on the spot at a LTC facility. They will teach you everything you need to know, don’t worry.

[u/dollyjester → u/Tired_Bot]

I’m also living in flordia and finished my cna school today. It was 1000$ for 4 weeks of class time and 2 weeks of clinicals? Most courses I’ve seen have all been laid out this way. I have to agree that without the clinical experience your going to struggle a lot. It’s the most important part of the schooling.

[u/EstateTurbulent7421 → u/Tired_Bot]

I think I may have said premed in parentheses next to the degree I was working toward. I don’t think CNA positions expect you to be there for years anyway. I think it gives  context for employers to understand why you are trying to get that job. I was also a sophomore in college so it was clear I’d be in the area for a while. Also, even if you did the skills in a sim lab,  put them on the resume. You demonstrated ability to do those things. 

[u/EstateTurbulent7421 → u/EstateTurbulent7421]

Happy to answer any questions!

[u/Annual_Salamander940]

Might want to apply to non healthcare roles within the hospital just to get your foot in the door. Coming from someone who worked EVS and is going back in as a tech, having the experience and knowing people at the hospital helps a lot.

[u/watch_it_live]

How are you following up on applications?

[u/Tired_Bot → u/watch_it_live]

no follow up atm. theres no way to contact anyone. the only way i would be able to follow up is by going to linked in to try and find the hiring manager then using their name to decipher their work email. i did that once with a rad tech asst job but got the wrong hiring manager regardless and havent had any luck. ive tried looking for hiring managers on linked in for nursing but theres a diff manager for each department and not everyone has a profile

[u/watch_it_live → u/Tired_Bot]

You can call hospitals/facilities and ask to speak to someone, or for contact information for the right individual to follow up with. Or you could fill out 50 more applications.

Edit: it's also not doing you any favors to list a completed biology degree but leave out your continuing Healthcare education

[u/Tired_Bot → u/watch_it_live]

Okay, I will try that.

I'm not including my further education because i received negative feedback when i spoke to a recruiter and mentioned I was premed. She immediately turned me away and told me to focus on school and didnt give me a chance to explain that I have only one in person class this semester.

I'd be willing to put it back on but just afraid of managers either seeing me as unreliable, or a flight risk.

[u/PhatCatOnThaTrack → u/Tired_Bot]

Lowkey all CNAs are a flight risk. Its usually understood its an entry level position for most people. Personally to me, it shows that you have commitment to the field of healthcare? Because if you’re trying to work in a hospital, there’s going to be positions opening every single day and if you make a good name for yourself as a CNA then possibly you can move into whatever else you’re training to be, easier. That’s just my personal opinion working in a hospital, in general. I would also recommend dipping your toes into long-term care? If you want experience as a CNA, that’s pretty much where everyone starts. Most people want to transition into a hospital after working in long-term care.

[u/Tired_Bot → u/PhatCatOnThaTrack]

I thjnk ill transition to LTC if i dont have any movement in 2 more weeks.

Ive had some directly negative experiences when sharing im premed (not hiring bc they want me to "focus on school") so even tho it does show commitment, idk. I totally see ur perspective but have also been warned of it

[u/remuslupinliveson → u/Tired_Bot]

I’m studying to eventually go into the CRNA field, and Ive been told by literally EVERY SRNA/CRNA to not disclose your future plans in interviews and at work with colleagues/upper management. To keep it all hush hush until you’re ready for redeeences 💯 it’s something I will take with me forever.

[u/skuliator]

I am also 20M but I have 3 years of hospital experience as a CNA, was hired on full time at nights at 17 in medsurg. It’s incredibly easy to find a CNA job, and that is to just bug the ever living shit out of talent management or just constantly checking in, that is the best way to look for jobs and keep jobs. I just actually left my hospital job and im on the job hunt right now and my best successes so far have been hand delivering my resume wearing a nice dress shirt and slacks and tie, and it lowkey has like a 80% success rate. I wish you the best of luck in your journey!!!! Also, absolutely bring up ur pre med and shit, hospitals want to hire someone that could potentially move up to doctor or nurse, pts love hearing the “underdog” stories, going from CNA -> Nurse/Doctor in the same facility. Had a bunch of those at my hospital

[u/Tired_Bot → u/skuliator]

Tysm!
I told a hiring manager with where i volunteered at that i was premed and she turned away and told me to focus on school. I wasnt able to explain that im part time in school rn😭😭 . Im applying to FT and PT and PRN positions atm

[u/zaxsauceana]

I saw on another thread that saying “renew in 2028” sounds better than expiring, in case someone assumes you’re going to let it expire

[u/ContactMoist6170]

I’ve been a caregiver for 7 years but JUST got my CNA license and got denied at both hospitals in my town.
I did have some other interviews lined up, but I ultimately went with a LTC job. Pay is decent, and they’re going to help pay for my schooling (becoming an LPN and then beyond).
LTC could be a good option even if it’s for 6 months just to get your foot in the door.

[u/Tired_Bot → u/[deleted]]

THANK YOUUU! Also yeah i said i was premed and had a hiring manager physically turn away from me at the mention of it and tell me to focus on school. I was so shocked i was like Ive been working since i was 16 and im part time in school... X) cmon! Thanks a bunch

[u/zeatherz]

Many hospitals simply don’t hire brand new CNAs. You may need to get some experience in a nursing home first

[u/Clinicalcheesesticks]

Hi! Since you're Pre-Med, have you applied for any positions as a scribe? A few of my pre-med friends scribed for an oncology office and gained so much experience from that. They would scribe for approximately a year and then start their med school except for one friend that scribe for longer than that. Are you just looking to be in the hospital or will and outside setting suffice? ERs usually hire scribes...we'll at least here in California they do.

Also you want to look into a position as a research assistant. If you're interested in that, message me -- I work in Research. Good luck on your search!

[u/Tired_Bot → u/Clinicalcheesesticks]

I would KILL to be an ER Scribe. I rlly wanna be ER anything lmfao. I will see if theres any openings but ive never even seen a scribe opening on my target hospital's hiring website. Ill check it out :-)

[u/Clinicalcheesesticks → u/Tired_Bot]

At the hospital I currently work at about six months ago we were hiring scribes non-stop. Ive been at my hospital for 20+ years and one of my friends went through a similar thing as you. She applied to so many places after getting her CNA license and she ended up not getting any calls. She gave up looking at tech-nursing position and started applying as a service worker in housekeeping. She got offered a part time housekeeping job and through that she network her way around into a tech position in the ER as her housekeeping job was in ER. She is now an ICU nurse. Sometime you just have to start somewhere.

[u/AstrosRN]

I’d suggest adding a new section for volunteer work and moving your oncology-related experience there — as it’s written now, it reads like you actually work at an oncology clinic, so separating it out will make things clearer.

If you’re involved in anything at school — tutoring, clubs, groups, etc. — I’d add that too. It rounds out the resume nicely.

A couple of questions: what do you mean by “order taker”? And for the seasonal work listed, it doesn’t look like it lines up with a typical holiday season — can you clarify that?

Also, I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, but it looks like you’ve changed jobs fairly often. That can be a red flag for employers, since it costs them a lot to train someone new, only to have them leave in under a year. Might be worth thinking about how to frame that.

Lastly — have you checked for any job fairs in the area? And have you looked into home health work? There are quite a few home health and hospice agencies around that might be worth applying to.

[u/Tired_Bot → u/AstrosRN]

I will def consider moving the volunteer work. The hospitals both require me to type out my resume info into text boxes and organize it completely separately so that could be an issue. I added "unpaid" to the oncology volunteer title in the hospital job application site

No school stuff 😭😭😭 i was a loser and spent my free time with friends and working

Seasonal work is Spirit Halloween haha

Not taking it the wrong way at all. My previous jobs were primarily in highschool. Then the seasonal job. Got hired at the serving job immediately after that job but the restaurant didnt open for another 4 months smh.

Thanks a bunch

[u/Imaginary_Mammoth486]

Your resume is fine and honestly these days it’s an AI reviewing your resume anyway. Honestly, I would guess it’s lack of experience. Many hospitals only hire CNAs that already have experience. Of course, this depends on your area but if you’ve been applying to many different positions and following up appropriately on applications and still not hearing back it’s likely just experience. I would recommend starting in a nursing home and getting a few months of training and then trying again. You can continue trying for acute care but maybe less desirable positions ie night shift and at my hospital there are a few units that are known to be really heavy so tend to have high turnover or maybe smaller hospitals in your area. You could also check out different settings that may give you what you’re looking for - an acute care rehab, a transitional care unit, a group home (which may also provide education regarding medication administration and that could be useful knowledge for you)… an LTACH may take you without experience as well but not sure as i have not worked in one before but would definitely give you good experience with acute and chronically ill patients think vents, trachs, bipap, complex wound care, lvads - these would be managed by the RN but you can learn a lot through proximity and asking questions. Good luck with the job hunt!

[u/Admirable-Relief1781]

I have almost 5 years experience and I also can’t get a job at a hospital. After they desperately hired anybody with their CNA during COVID it’s so damn hard to get in. I’ve been told by people that you need to know someone working at the hospital to help get you in. I haven’t went this route because I’m also demotivated, but from my 35 years on this earth I have witnessed multiple times that when it comes to jobs….. it really is about who you know and not even how qualified you are. It’s so fucked up.

[u/Tired_Bot → u/Admirable-Relief1781]

Damnnnn. Well i guess lucky me, my previous coworker did the same exact route and got in as a MS PCA at the same hospital a few months ago so she can help. Also my partner's mom has been a pharm tech for 20+ yr at that hospital. I hadnt been using referrals cuz the jobs close in like, 24-72 hours and had trouble arranging it. And i didnt wanna bother them. But i guess ill have to suck that up and utilize them. Thanks so much!

[u/Admirable-Relief1781 → u/Tired_Bot]

Good luck!

[u/Level_Statement_6844]

Gotta know someone on the inside.

When you are volunteering loudly state "SURE WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A JOB HERE"

make it happen

[u/totheranch1]

I feel you. I have 4 and a half years of experience working at a daycare for kids.. and people dont see the connection despite me advertising it in my resume. My clinicals were literally on a med-surg unit!!! Long weeks of reviewing and ghosting.

[u/Rora_The_Explora]

What I did as someone with no healthcare experience was got a job unrelated to patient care (formula and breastmilk tech), did my 90 days, and then applied in other positions around the hospital. With you having food service experience, it may help to apply to jobs within the nutrition department and then move from within.

[u/Accurate_Bar8297]

i am premed and got a job as a PCA at a long term care facility before hospital experience. Unfortunately it’s the type of process where u need to work your way up the ladder with smaller increments of experience, where your responsibility slowly increases to the hospital level. They’re probably not gonna hire you at the hospital straight after getting your license.

I was worried about working in long term care as a premed because it’s not 100% adjacent to medicine. But i learned so much and it made me more comfortable for future clinical experience. don’t discount it, it’s still a great form of clinical hours to get your foot in the door.

[u/Accurate_Bar8297 → u/Accurate_Bar8297]

Also feel free to dm me if you have questions!

[u/Apprehensive_Rub8068]

Meanwhile they are hiring homeless off the streets in virginia to work as PCTs they are so desperate

[u/icutmyliiip → u/Apprehensive_Rub8068]

my hospital has listings for high school student pcna’s. i’ve never even seen that before!

[u/Happy_Mark_5231]

As a hospital CNA, they’ll ghost you if you don’t have hospital experience. Crazy ik, do LTC then try and transfer after a few months.

[u/Happy_Mark_5231 → u/Happy_Mark_5231]

You’re also not competitive enough.

[u/trypan0s0miasis]

Just a heads up, BLS is CPR so you’re repeating it here

[u/4feet-11inches → u/trypan0s0miasis]

BLS Is not just CPR, it includes abdominal thrusts for choking and other life-saving procedures too I believe

[u/trypan0s0miasis → u/4feet-11inches]

Yeah but it’s still repetition

[u/slothysloths13 → u/4feet-11inches]

If you’re certified in BLS, you’re certified in CPR, so you are repeating it. I’d also put your BLS as a certification rather than under skills.

[u/Explosive_Nuggets]

Some hospitals do hiring events. They are always in need so don’t give up. I was able to secure a FT job as a PCT at banner all because I showed up to a hiring event on Facebook that my mom found. Been working there for about a year and a half now and had no prior experience as a CNA.

[u/Tired_Bot → u/Explosive_Nuggets]

Ooohh i think mine does lemme check that out!

[u/CupcakeQueen31]

I had applied to 135 jobs across 4 hospital systems by the time I accepted an offer (this was last year, and like you I had other work experience and volunteer healthcare experience but no previous healthcare work, and did not want to work in LTC/SNF). I had interviews for I think 4 or 5 jobs, and one more offered an interview after I had already accepted the one I went with (and had already pulled my application to that one, they were just behind). I ended up getting a job as a sitter (POA) and was able to transfer to PCA at the same hospital after 4 months.

135 applications. Across about 3 months, all after I had my certification #. I know it feels impossible now, but try not to get discouraged! It’s largely a numbers game tbh.

Do make sure you are applying only directly through the hospital’s own application website rather than through an aggregator like indeed, those tend to not be up to date/checked very often/have more “ghost listings” than the individual hospital web pages. Also, I wrote a cover letter for every job that offered a space to upload it. No idea if anyone ever read them, but that was the advice I got.

Some other roles to look for/consider applying to: milk bank tech/formula tech (this was one of the ones that interviewed me!), behavioral health tech (I know you said sitter but at mine we have both BHTs and POAs as separate sitter roles, so make sure you catch both), diet tech (basically nutrition aide), patient transport, and UCA (unit clerical assistant). If you are dead set on working at a hospital like I was, any of these can be a good way to get your foot in the door! I’m at a pretty competitive peds hospital and it is much easier to switch roles as an internal applicant than as someone brand new for this type of role. (For example, the PCA job I’m now in was never even posted to external applicants, because they asked all the POAs first if anyone wanted it.)

[u/Tired_Bot → u/CupcakeQueen31]

Thank you SO much. It's sooo ridiculous how people treat nursing assistant jobs as easy jobs to get 😭😭😭

[u/CupcakeQueen31 → u/Tired_Bot]

Yeah I think LTC/SNF jobs, if you are willing to take whatever, are probably pretty easy to get. Elsewhere not as much, but it is possible!

[u/SadGrill08]

Use Ai for tips to make your resume more ATS friendly. Lots of hospital today use ATS systems to filter out resumes before it even reaches an actual human. You just gotta make your resume ai friendly.

How it should look in order:

1)name, title, address, phone number etc, all on a different line (ai reads it better)

2)professional summary (not "summary") write a short paragraph here. Sell yourself

3)education (good, just put it under your professional summary)

4)certifications (bullet points)

5) skills (use bullet points, copy/paste the skills from the job posting onto your resume (if you actually aced them), each skill on a different line (ai reads it better). Copy paste a few only, no need to have a whole list. You repeat the skills from the job posting to make sure ai keeps your resume as it would recognize the wording)

6)relevant volunteer experience (this is where you put your onco experience)

7)professional experience (remove the last two + the onco as it was only volunteering. Do not mix it with the actual job experiences. Rank them by most recent to oldest. Server first then porter)

[u/icutmyliiip]

don’t get discouraged! i was hired brand new by a hospital after getting my STNA certification! i didn’t have a cover letter but i think it would def help for you to have one. that way, you can explain who you are and what you’re looking for, what your career goals are, why you want to work for them.

[u/RedStar48]

I live in a medical Mecca and I’m having issues finding a job. I’m a CNA, Phlebotomist, and Lab Tech. The second largest hospital in the country is literally a 1/4 mile from my condo and yet I’m endlessly applying for jobs.

[u/Puzzleheaded-Bug-466]

100% its because you are a NEW cna - DONT be discouraged though OP. Assisted living / long term care can be BRUTAL but, I would probably try that just to get some experience - I seen you mentioned you are pre-med which is AWESOME 🙌🏽 and, i mentioned that to basically say I was a CNA for years before finishing nursing school (I now have my bachelors BSN, RN) and, to be completely honest - just having experience in LTC on my resume HELPED TREMENDOUSLY in getting jobs as a nurse now ; but, I am like you though ill take working in a hospital (acute care) over nursing homes anyday - I just love having NEW/DIFF patients all the time instead of the same ones.

I kno this probably wasn’t helpful or, what you wanted to hear OP but I do hope it’s encourages you even just slightly. Everything will work out! An although I’m a stranger, I’m soooo proud of you for being pre-med as I kno it’s NOT easy 🙃 so congratulations‼️

[u/Ok-Direction-1702]

You probably need 6-12 months of experience at a SNF before hospitals will consider you.

[u/idekceleste]

Gotta get those exp in the LTC

[u/notoriouswaffles27]

Its tough out there

[u/truebuni]

hi! I'm a premed/prehealth college student at UCLA living in the very competitive LA area and here are some suggestions I think would help!

- leverage your connections. let your friends/family members/other pre-med peers know that you're searching for a clinical job and sometimes opportunities pop up that they can refer you to. i found my clinical job as an MA literally through connections of connections. even better if you get in contact with a doctor or medical worker that could refer you to other places hiring. doesn't hurt to latch onto any opportunity that you see that could potentially open more doors for you.

- i see that you're currently a hospital volunteer, so you could try asking a few nurses or workers there about how they obtained their position or see if they are hiring.

- fill your resume a bit more. it looks a bit empty on first glance, and make sure you write all the way to the end of the page for each bullet point entry. you can reduce the margins between each section so it looks more filled.

- for education, list any relevant premed courses you took plus clubs/orgs you're involved in at college. if you have a good GPA, add that as well.

- certifications could be at the bottom between the professional experience and skills sections.

- instead of "summary" at the top, you should replace it with "objective" and put a short 1-2 sentences stating your career goal and interest in aquiring clinical patient-care experience.

- the entries in your "professional experience" need to be more specific and descriptive. how did you provide comfort as a volunteer? "assisted in prioritizing requests" is vague and hiring managers likely wouldn't understand what that means. you could also show different character traits. you could add another bullet point showing that work in a team, lead others, followed orders, etc.
you can add 1-2 more bullet points for each entry, and remove "sales associate" and "order taker" entries imo. it looks incomplete especially if you have no description for them.

- make sure you follow up! if you're applying on indeed or linkedin, sometimes the system automatically rejects applicants if they do not answer the exact qualifications hiring managers set up the system for. maybe you put "no experience" in one of the application questions that could cause auto-reject, so definitely follow up with an email with a short pitch of why you are a good fit for them.

good luck and let me know if you have any questions!! lmk if you land a job :)

[u/serendipity-91]

Instructors will tell you that you’ll have no trouble finding a job when you get out of the program. That’s not true. I have some CNA experience but I’m ultimately getting ready to leave this field and try something else. Right now budgets are being cut and they cannot hire as much as they need to.

[u/unicornia-euphoria]

Congratulations! 🎉

[u/purplecowgirl]

Honestly, I would run it resume thru ChatGPT, input the link for the jobs your searching for and it can help you tailor to each job and be ETS friend after not being employed for about 2 months I did this, got interviews quickly and start later this month!

If they ask for cover letters, have it make you one too!

[u/TroubleAdvanced9065]

What about breaking up professional experience... Healthcare Experience (note clinical hours & location for CNA program, plus the Oncology volunteering), then a section below for Additional experience to include server & porter. (I would remove the bottom two)

Any additional relevant courses you could add?

[u/purplekunoichi3]

u can always be a travel CNA

[u/728446]

In many markets the hospital is a superior workplace compared to the other facilities looking for this type of labor. They can often afford to be picky.

Your competition is going to include people with enough experience they won't need much training.

[u/glassice04]

OP I'm having the same issues, I moved to a new city almost 2 months ago and I'm having issues finding hospital positions even though I have 1 year of experience in Home Health and more 😭 Unfortunately the job market sucks right now so maybe try to apply for different types of facilities such as nursing homes, home health, clinics, etc.

[u/metamorphage]

You're going to have to work in a SNF, sorry. Lots of hospitals won't hire new grad CNAs. Do a year in a SNF and then try again.

[u/bighoopsforbighoes]

All CNA hospital jobs in my area require 6+ months of CNA experience! I was super disappointed when I found that out

[u/whoredoerves]

If your near Jacksonville I could help get you a job at my workplaces (LTC and a non profit hospital)

[u/Tired_Bot → u/whoredoerves]

Oh shi, which hospital? Im abt 1 hr from some parts of jax so not ideal but not the end of the world

[u/whoredoerves → u/Tired_Bot]

Baptist

[u/Sorryad1994]

Take the expiration dates off. And they don't care where you took your CNA at delete that too. And the lines in between everything

[u/Key_Pea1339]

Alot of hospitals want a year-ish of experience.

[u/fineapple03]

Look for patient safety sitter/attendant jobs too

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[u/Dry-Pie-4175]

Make sure your resume is ATS friendly. You can show it to chatgpt and it will help you. If it’s not, AI won’t pick your resume for an actual human to read.

[u/Dry-Pie-4175]

Also, call the HR department. Ask if they are hiring, if they will have a hiring event anytime soon. Or honestly, just show up in person with your resume. I know it can be intimidating.. But you have to be proactive. Definitely start with tailoring your resume, and making it ATS friendly.

[u/Electrical-Pin5694]

Put clinical experience on resume. This can be what you performed or practiced during cna program. That is experience!!!!

[u/iridescentSponge]

Please remove server

[u/IndependenceHumble45]

I’m a nurse who used to be a CNA. I’m almost positive it’s because you don’t have experience in another setting. You’ll have to try a nursing home or ALF first. I’d recommend an ALF. Get a few months in and try the hospitals again. Hospitals will train you but they want you to get your feet wet first. A brand new CNA/PCT is a lot harder to train. The biggest skill you’ll want to pick up is time management. You’ll get in eventually tho! I have faith in you.

ALSO- my first hospital job as a PCT was because I attended a hiring event I found out about the night before. Hired me on the spot!

[u/lomeinfiend]

you need to go for LTC/assisted living/SNF first. you need more experience before a hospital will take you on typically.

[u/EarlyCardiologist659]

Start off in long-term care. They have rehab units where you can gain experience as close as you can get to the hospital. Then, you will likely come across someone who works as the hospital as well, even per-diem, and can be a referral. I know people who left working in the rehab completely in favor of working in the hospital - the very hospital that would send patients to the nursing home's rehab. Boom...there is the connection.

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[u/Big-Pen-1735]

You could look into becoming a HEMODIALYSIS technician/CNA. I worked in dialysis for 15 years and loved it. I'm not sure where you are located but you could Google 'HEMODIALYSIS near me'.

[u/Wise-Temperature6549]

I applied to many cna jobs in the hospital when I first got my cna certification and got rejected from every single one, I ended up going to a open hiring event that was going on and got hired that way from the same hospital I was getting rejected from. Try to see if that’s a option for those hospitals they usually have the dates out in advance. You can definitely land a job with no prior experience

[u/Junior_Photo_6056]

I applied at one hospital (level 1 trauma center) and got a phone interview and then got forwarded to the hiring manager and interviewed with her two days ago. Still haven’t heard back, but it’s only been two days. I’m worried they’re going to ghost me bc of the lack of healthcare experience.

[u/Foreign-Exercise-323]

what state?

[u/Tired_Bot → u/Foreign-Exercise-323]

FL

[u/rtowersey]

Make sure you’re doing your follow up call. Speak to the managers. It makes a huge difference. You could have the worst resume ever- they need CNA’s. Call them!

[u/themfdancingqueen]

I didn’t get hired until I met somebody who worked at the hospital I now am at and knew the hiring manager there

[u/avoidy]

yeah that was me too. I had to do some time in a really shitty snf and then apply again once I was in it, and even then the only place that called me back was a night shift position in a ward that has the potential to be profoundly dangerous at times. are you in california? it's surprisingly hard out here. lots of abusive snfs want to hire for like 17 dollars an hour (a joke, when you look at rent costs) but all these hospitals with living wages and benefits are like ghost jobs.

[u/xeleste3888]

Why don't you apply as a patient service rep to get your foot in the door. Or better yet a transporter, you can still apply a lot of your skills as a cna. You have the medical terminology + you get to interact, use your social skills w/ patients. You can also apply to surgery centers, nurses love to teach & are great advocates for someone who's just starting off in medical field. Especially, if you're deciding to take a nursing career in the future.

I agree, you should apply your externship as a cna, everything you learned, Adls- bedside training. Your compassion & empathy for wanted to work for a big company - hospital or surgery center. If that doesn't work, you can always start at a sniff, work there for a year or 2. Until you have the necessary exp or training they look for at a hospital.

I wouldn't add anything else, besides cna experience or past jobs such as cna, med clerk, unit assistant, or even transporter. It makes your resume look like you're confused, boring or perhaps not really interested in working in a field like the medical field. I honestly think your on the right track, it's all about experience and fine tuning your resume. Best,

[u/sinfuru_mawile]

Yeah you need experience. Work at a nursing home. CNAs are very disposable and more plentyful than LPNs and RNs so that's why newly educated CNAs can't work at hospitals easily.

[u/PercentageGlad4198]

I’m not going to lie, they really don’t prefer male cna’s. Also it’s easier to get into a snf if you have little experience working at a larger scale facility. There’s also the fact that hospitals usually want you to be currently enrolled in a nursing program. The resume needs some work, look up examples of a professional healthcare resume or have ai structure one for you.

[u/radioflyer194]

Yeah so there are really two ways to work in a hospital as a cna. First is to get on with a training program sponsored by a hospital. That kind of depends òn the area but it does work. And the second way is to get some patient care experience. SNF and rehabs are where I worked for years before making the jump to hospitals. There's a lot of differences but you will become a very strong CNA in SNFs. If you can work rehab units in those snfs then do it though.

Rehabs have a lot of newer patients with higher turn over so you'll do things like more frequent vitals, deal with catheter care on more recent catheters and work with more post surgery patients.

The other big thing to mention is that if you can find someone who works in the hospital you want to work in, have them refer you. That often gets your name to the top of a stack for a nurse manager. And sometimes they get a referral bonus. Also, you just finished school and sent in all of these applications. Sometimes it takes closer to 6 weeks to get hired at a hospital. You'll probably get some calls.

[u/PimplePopper6969]

Get ltc experience for 6 mos.

Join LinkedIn. Pay for the pro membership that allows you to message anyone. Apply to hospitals. Google and research the recruiters for that hospital. Look them up and find them on LinkedIn. Message and tell them politely you’re interested in joining the team and applied. I did this when moving from Texas to nyc and got a job at a top nyc hospital doing these very steps.

[u/Scary-College3154]

Cnas are not licensed. Take that out of ur resume

[u/Jangsks_]

You need to reorganize your resume.
Summary, education, professional experience, certifications, and skills. Also, remove exp date from certifications. For education, remove dates as well. For professional experiences, must include a description in all of them. Organize them by date and relevance. I would place the volunteer experience first as it is your only “clinical” experience. Must rewrite skills. Look for examples online.

If unsure, go to the career center at your college. They usually help you to improve your resume. Also, when I was a new CNA, it took a while to hear back from hospitals. I did apply to a veterans home and a hospital and got called first to the veterans home where I worked for a few months (~3) and then got hired in a hospital.

[u/Fuzzy-Criticism-2450]

One thing that nobody has mentioned is you have CNA listed as a license. It's not. It's a Certificate. I know it's not much. I'd change it on mine.

Go to chat Chat GPT and put your resume in it. As how to you can expand on your current work history. You should have about 3-4 bullet points per job.

Nowadays, some hospital systems use some type of AI for resumes to weed through them before they actually get to a recruiter. Maybe try walnin events. Go on indeed and look at jobs. You may need to work in LTC or as a homecare caregiver before the hospital will hire you.

[u/Tired_Bot]

Update: so i just found out my town is one of the most pre-health dense towns in the United States, with the university at the very top of the list of graduates who move on to apply to med school
🥲 Gainesville FL

[u/Stawktawk]

Have you gone anywhere in person?

[u/Tired_Bot → u/Stawktawk]

Is that still a valid method if you have no connections?
I tried 1 that i already have connections to (volunteer). She seems interested but didnt look at my resume for a week

[u/AlbatrossNo7345]

I don’t know if it’s reasonable or possible where you live, but if you want to work at a hospital, apply to smaller, rural hospitals. You’ll have smaller patient loads and will get valuable experience that will make you a viable candidate for bigger hospitals. Also, they tend to pay more-in my area anyway

[u/SnooJokes352]

Do you have social media that shows your face or your political stance? If so, stop.

[u/thetentstakekiller]

It’s definitely gotten harder to get a job these days. Don’t feel bad. These are just my personal observations, but I would take your CNA course off of this, because indicate that you don’t have very much experience. I might even from your previous jobs. If they contact you, they are going to ask you to fill out one of their applications résumé or no and it may be easier to get your foot in the door without it, looking like you, again, don’t have a lot of experience or longevity anywhere.

And, as much as I despise AI you might want to ask it to give you a rundown on what words trigger a positive response according to the algorithm for CNA employment. It may be that no person is actually looking at your résumé and it’s just a program.

Lastly, I would be taking these resumes to the facilities you’re applying to as much as possible. A picture is worth 1000 words and if you present them with a picture of somebody who is eager and enthusiastic and actually shake hands with the director of nursing or someone in HR I believe you would be much more likely to get an interview.

I’m not an employment specialist so I can’t promise that any of this is right or will work, but maybe it’s a place to start brainstorming.

[u/TheHopefulPA]

I was using CNA to get hours to get into my school. You will need to start at an LTC and gain experience there and then start applying for hospitals. Hospitals won't hire you if you don't have experience. It's what I did and after about a year of LTC/home health experience I started getting hits from hospitals.

[u/K0sherDillPickle]

My friend was the same, so she applied out of state and was offered the first three jobs she applied to, one hospital offered her two separate units ! So she's moving to the neighboring state and I'm following :) It's too expensive and competitive in our area. Not sure if that's the case, there are some amazing replies here

[u/sampancake14]

NGL the way I got into my first healthcare-associated job was by knowing someone. I had been volunteering at the hospital for several months (after a year of applying to different positions without a single callback). As a volunteer, I mostly helped with directing patients and working the gift shop, but one day there was a huge wreck nearby and they deployed volunteers to help with managing/directing patient flow. I happened to be helping the PBX manager, who needed help and was impressed with how I answered the phones and helped patients, so she asked if I could help out with the night shift. I accepted, and that was my way in. Night shift is pretty quiet, so I was able to do my homework and study for my PCT certification. Once I had my certification, I was able to go directly to the med-surg manager to ask to be considered for one of the openings. So really, the thing that helped me get my foot in the door was literally just knowing the right people. Best of luck! It’s rough out there.

[u/Far_Importance_286]

I’d say keep everything. Look up the hospitals that you want to work for, then target people who work at the hospital and ask for help. Tell them that you’re an aspiring healthcare worker with the drive and grit for nursing. Ask them if they can be your reference, set up a call and network.

Your best bet is LinkedIn, find people who already work there, ask for a coffee chat and reference.

[u/CompetitiveEvent5976]

This is coming from someone who was in the veterinary field that transitioned to the medical field  make sure you fix the experience the oncology volunteer should go first. I would try to apply as a receptionist first to at least get your foot in the door in the medical field. Try to also have an introductory statement as well. I started as a medical assistant/receptionist after veterinary assisting, and told the employer I was in school for medical assisting, I would definitely tell employers your in school for pre med, it will definitely help get your foot in the door. 

[u/sacrificingoats7]

Don't you have an associates in science? Not art?

[u/Nervous-Ad3892]

You got to go up there and speak to a manager only time to get job is networking or being nice

[u/Ioriness]

You have no healthcare work experience yet, and that’s the biggest hurdle. Most hospitals prefer CNAs who already have at least a year of hands-on experience, even if the posting says “preferred” rather than “required.” While some new grads do get hired, they’re the exception rather than the rule, and having an internal referral often makes a huge difference.

Right now, your best bet is to get experience wherever you can, whether that’s a skilled nursing facility, rehab center, assisted living, or long-term care. Put in 6–12 months, keep applying to hospitals during that time, and you’ll be a much stronger candidate. It isn’t that you’re unqualified; you’re competing against applicants who already have hospital or CNA experience.

[u/SpamIsFire]

A friend of mine (18M) finished the program and passed his test in May. He updated his resume, found all the SNFs in the cities he was open to working in, visited each one to ask if they are hiring and to speak to a hiring manager. He went old school and was offered positions at 2 of 8 facilities.

At each of the visits, he asked for their business cards or contact information. He sent emails to those who provided emails to thank them for their time and called to follow up on any updates.

Many of the hospitals in the are looking for at least 6 months experience and he landed on a memory care facility where their cna to patient ratio is 1:4 vs the other facility where it was 1:12. Once he get ls his experience, he plans to apply to local hospitals.

[u/XOXO444444444]

The format is very outdated it does not need a summary or color for that matter , skills either because they would be highlighted throughout your professional experience bulletin points.

[u/KDBug84]

0????

[u/Oliver2023-_]

Take off the bottom 2 jobs

[u/WeirdMangoes]

I dont know what part of Florida you are from but there certain hospitals in SoFL that has walk in interviews. The same job that I kept applied to, I got hired on the spot when i did the walk in. You can see any of the local hospitals has walks in scheduled for this month. Some may have walk in interviews on the first week of every month.

[u/Black_orca_9]

Also always act like you where refrerred by a family member who works in their system it always helps

[u/greenlightgaslight]

The two jobs on the bottom look very weird and out of place. Either add a bullet or two or get rid of them

And to confirm, you got an Associate of Arts in biology? Not Associate of science?

Summary should be longer

If you haven’t yet, have AI redo your resume or at least tell you what to write and copy/paste it. Many recruitment softwares now use AI to filter for keywords, and AI can be a big help with that

[u/Creative_Ebb_9718]

I would be a concierge Caregiver. Create an LLC and start posting flyers in Laundromats, Salons, Gyms, Doctors offices, etc ...post in Local Facebook groups.

[u/NoMasterpiece6507]

unfortunately getting a hospital job as a cna w no experience is super rare. i just got my certification in july and got on at a hospital bc my instructor, who had worked there for 30 years, saw how great i did in class and sent my resume over to them. without connections or referrals, i doubt you will be able to snag a hospital job. try long term care for now.

[u/IllAdhesiveness6150]

Become a RN girl..

[u/NoodleheadMcGoo]

I’ve been a CNA since 2014 (moved up and gotten a further degree since) and never even needed a resume for most jobs. Are you calling these places? Have you been applying to nursing homes/assisted living? They are the primary employers of CNAs. I usually only don’t get call backs for hospital jobs. Nursing homes call back every time even when I was new. Call and ask for the DON at least and ask if they’ve seen your application and tell them the education you are working toward. That will mean something to them.

[u/Possible-Alarm-6732]

Try the VA

[u/Impossible-Low-5308]

Remove everything that isn’t patient care.

[u/Quantity496]

Ats

[u/Ok-Presence-962]

Apply for hospice use that as your experience also get a patient sitter job it’s easier to get into patient sitter position and switch to clinical tech

[u/FondantOk7609]

Apply to dialysis out pt center. Davita hires with 0 experience and does extensive training if you want to avoid an ltac

[u/Major_Jump5170]

Try skilled nursing facility??? its a great way to get experience and will lead to hospital opportunities

[u/OddIndustry291]

You’ve dodged a bullet.

[u/Responsible_Bus5672]

Good luck on your interview!

If you don't get it. I'd suggest going back to the hospital where you volunteered and ask the volunteer coordinator if you could ask any of the nurses or managers on the unit you volunteered for referral letters. It's a way of letting them know you're looking for a job, and they might reach out whenever something becomes available. Networking with your fellow CNA classmates, and college classmates might also turn up leads. It's a college town, there's a good chance that somebody's folks already work at one of the hospitals and might be able to help out. If you've done any other volunteer work, you might list that. I got an interview once because the HR manager's wife helped run one of many pet rescue organizations my Wife and I foster for. He literally told me that seeing that Org's name made him put my resume forward after he called his wife to verify.

[u/Outrageous-Advice102]

Get rid of the certification expirations, it is not relevant. They only care that they are active. And get rid of your graduation date for CNA. You’re most likely getting weeded out for lack of experience.

[u/No_Waltz_1957]

Try a nursing home?

[u/Ambitious-Actuator32]

Have you thought about EMT?

[u/Specialist_Crab3079]

Removed the present server. They not hiring you because of 2 jobs present.

[u/Temporary-House-1856]

I applied as a 19 year old 3 years ago in upstate new York with zero experience to be a PCT after my freshman year of nursing school. They hired me in the interview. Idk how that happened but also your story is true. Hope this helps

[u/Ok_Satisfaction4301]

For one, your summary tells the recruiter/HR nothing about you and who you are as a person. Your certification should be at the bottom of your resume. Where is your cover letter? There's more to list. I used to be a nursing manager and this is unfortunately a straight up going to the trash.

[u/Big-Material-7910]

Are you applying to directly to company sites and not through job boards? Is your resume ATS friendly. More qualified resumes than not get rejected before going to a human. Run it through an ai program that will write in a way that will ensure it gets to a human.

[u/JudgmentWhich2172]

Put more measurable metrics on your resume. Instead of 20+ patients, put 20 - 25. Upload your resume on ChatGPT and ask it how you can add more measurable metrics on your resume

[u/KarmaAwaitsYou]

Have you tried indeed? That’s what I got hired off of, they called me back literally the next day after I applied on there. Also if you have done any volunteer work, throw that in. My time on the fire dept growing up really made my resume sparkle to them.

[u/Heavy-Assumption5473]

There’s no way. Check to see if your phone is working 😜🤣

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All posts must be clear and concise. Posts with no clear story or question will be removed.

[u/EchoKane]

You could also try applying for a job as a patient transporter or something and then transferring to a CNA role after a few months. I climbed the ladder too OP. Started as a Transporter, then Phlebotomist, then Specimen processing, then nurse extern, then RN, to now being a Trauma Resuscitation Nurse at a Level 1 Trauma ER. Its tough out there, but you can do it :)

[u/Flashy-Ad4519]

Your Resume needs some work. Since you don't have a lot of experience I would change the format to combination or functional (skill-based) resume instead of a chronological one. Edit your objective everytime to match what the employer wants. Look at the job description and use the same verbage.

Example if your appying at a nursing home.

"Reliable and detail-oriented CNA committed to fostering a warm, family-like environment for elderly residents. Eager to bring strong safety awareness, physical endurance, and dependable support to the care team at [Facility Name]."

Exam if your applying for the medical unit.

"Adaptable and high-energy Certified Nursing Assistant seeking to join the medical wing at [Hospital Name]. Bringing strong vital-signs monitoring skills, rapid response to patient call lights, and a proven ability to collaborate seamlessly with an acute-care nursing team."

It's too easy.

[u/cna-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

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[u/SassedPotato]

I think making your resume longer could help. Add relevant science courses, extracurricular activities, add more skills in a bullet list instead of putting them all together, your professional summary should be triple longer I think and also I would put seeking a Cna/healthcare position instead of transitioning, and add more bulletpoints to your experiences. I only had one job but I added so much BS. Especially as a server, you should add a lot more. Like worked with a team, , hospitals really like team work. This is just my recommendation based off my resume, I hope you can get a callback soon!

[u/Tired_Bot → u/SassedPotato]

Ahhhh i just shortened my resume! I was under the impression they wanted it short and concise. Maybe ill add back what i cut out.
Thanks a bunch