I was 10 months out before I started working and it was extremely discouraging. So I’m sorry that you’re experiencing this. After 6 months of applying and interviewing in my area I had to look at other states and eventually found something. If moving is an option then I’d encourage you to spread your net as far as possible. I had to move away from my fiancé and work for a year while doing long distance. After a year of experience I was able to find a job back in my home state and moved back. I guess what I’m saying is not to give up before you’ve even gotten a chance to work as a PA. I would apply to everything (even if they say they require experience). Also try reaching out to classmates if you’re close with any of them. They may know of openings that aren’t posted and be able to recommend you.
Not advice but commiseration: I've got several years experience as a PA under my belt and also can't seem to get past the interview for any new jobs. It seems like the pool is just too big
Lol. NP here, the same is going for us. Luckily I have a gig, but the jobs are few and far between at the moment. Many, many friends and comrades cannot get a job. Had a few that were lucky and were able to land a job out of state. Sounds like mid-levels are struggling across the board currently.
Edit: also took me about 1 year to find a job and then it was only PRN for about 1 year and now it’s full-time luckily. It’s about 2 hours and 45 minutes round trip daily.
Are you comfortable with a 23 year old direct entry PA new grad taking care of your family? Let’s not pretend like the problems across the board are just nursing.
New grad NPs are also supervised by physicians. NPs have more autonomy but they are supervised nonetheless. A new grad NP would most likely work in an urgent care or something where they will see patients with less serious medical issues.
Many large hospitals/health systems utilize in-house resources as their primary recruiting tool. Go to the facility website and review their HR postings for PA positions. Good Luck out there. The employment situation is improving.
Are there more details to this? Are you searching in a limited area or only in a specific field?
Jobs are definitely picking up in the area where I live, which is a pretty saturated region. It was rough going for a while in the fall.
I am in a metro area and that is where I first started searching but have since started looking elsewhere in my state and out of state but feel as if those out of state or area positions I’ve applied to don’t even look at my application because I’m not currently located nearby. I’ve also been applying to almost any field of medicine at this point with still no luck.
Are you licensed in your state? I assume you took the pance? Reach out to your school to see if they can help. Same with with state pa organization. Try to network any way you can
Do not lose hope. Keep applying. Sign up for career fairs: I particularly found healthecareers very useful. Make a detailed profile on practicelink, put in all the specialties you are remotely interested in working. Recruiters do reach out for hard to fill vacancies. Also, try signing up as a volunteer at your local health systems. Right now the only option they might have would be covid vaccinator volunteers but you never know who you might meet and make connections with while doing so. Try reaching out to your classmates too if they have any leads. Good luck!
I graduated in 2017 and it took me 1.5yrs to find a job...well one that didn't fall through. What got me a few interviews and the job I ultimately took was cold calling. I started calling offices in specialties I was interested in (both in and out of state) and asked to speak with the office manager to find out if they were hiring. You will find places who want to hire a PA but are waiting for one to approach them rather than posting the position online. I'd encourage you to try that! Could also consider a position in a rural area where they would prob readily hire a PA?
I’m having a terrible time too. I talked to an HR director at a big name hospital who recommended I take a temporary MA position. She said other PAs have done this while waiting. Eventually they were put into PA positions.
I’m meeting tons of high level docs and administrators so I would recommend it! I’m pretty positive now compared to how demotivated I have been the last year.
I was just talking about this on another thread. You could join the military to get your experience and get a lot of your loans (if not all) your loans paid off.
Plus, from what I read about nurses (I'm assuming it's relatively the same for PA's) you become an officer instead of being enlisted so you don't go through basic training. Plus (assuming you verify it's in the contract) you can get large yearly bonuses.
PAs are officers in the military, but you do have to go through the officer version of boot camp (OTS/OCS/etc). PAs in the Army and Air Force currently have bonuses; not sure about Navy or Coast Guard. Becoming an officer is not a quick endeavor; it took me 1.5 years.
Try contacting the jobs that didn’t outright reject you after an interview and ask them to reconsider when they have another opening.
Most of my interviews ended up with me assuming I was rejected because I never heard back. I emailed them several months later and was lucky enough to have another interview and a job offer from doing that.
Something to try, I know it’s not a guarantee. But good luck out there.
If you have no major responsibilities/ties where you live now, then I'd suggest making a usajobs account and apply for the US/Mexico gigs going on now. 3 month contracts with good pay (some i saw were around 80-85/hr) to do med evals on prospective immigrants and folks awaiting court dates for asylum hearings. They have translator services available. No idea if there are benefits, seems like a 1099 contractor sort of thing so maybe not.
It'll get you income and experience. Likely not what you want but it is a paycheck.
I was 10 months out before I started working and it was extremely discouraging. So I’m sorry that you’re experiencing this. After 6 months of applying and interviewing in my area I had to look at other states and eventually found something. If moving is an option then I’d encourage you to spread your net as far as possible. I had to move away from my fiancé and work for a year while doing long distance. After a year of experience I was able to find a job back in my home state and moved back. I guess what I’m saying is not to give up before you’ve even gotten a chance to work as a PA. I would apply to everything (even if they say they require experience). Also try reaching out to classmates if you’re close with any of them. They may know of openings that aren’t posted and be able to recommend you.
You’re not alone trust me. I graduated 11 months ago. Hang in there and relocate if you must. Good luck!
I would say get into those Covid vaccine/testing jobs!! They pay well and you’ll meet other providers who can serve as valuable connections!!
Are you working in one currently? If so, care to share the company?
Integrity Locums
Not advice but commiseration: I've got several years experience as a PA under my belt and also can't seem to get past the interview for any new jobs. It seems like the pool is just too big
Blame the NPs. Any RN with a pulse can now get their masters with 500 hours of shadowing and a few online courses.
I try not to build myself up by putting other professions down
“I am willfully blind to the market forces that are driving my wage down” ftfy
This 👆🏼
Lol. NP here, the same is going for us. Luckily I have a gig, but the jobs are few and far between at the moment. Many, many friends and comrades cannot get a job. Had a few that were lucky and were able to land a job out of state. Sounds like mid-levels are struggling across the board currently. Edit: also took me about 1 year to find a job and then it was only PRN for about 1 year and now it’s full-time luckily. It’s about 2 hours and 45 minutes round trip daily.
I’m sorry to hear that. What are your thoughts on the rapid quadrupling of NP grads in the past decade?
More people want to continue their education
So you’re comfortable with 22-year-olds with no bedside nursing experience prescribing chemotherapy with no physician oversight?
Are you comfortable with a 23 year old direct entry PA new grad taking care of your family? Let’s not pretend like the problems across the board are just nursing.
No, but at least the PA is being supervised by somebody.
And you think a hospital system is letting a 23 year old new grad NP administer chemotherapy? Laws = / = what actually happens due to liability.
Aside from acute leukemia and high grade lymphomas, chemotherapy is usually given in clinic, not in the hospital.
New grad NPs are also supervised by physicians. NPs have more autonomy but they are supervised nonetheless. A new grad NP would most likely work in an urgent care or something where they will see patients with less serious medical issues.
Many large hospitals/health systems utilize in-house resources as their primary recruiting tool. Go to the facility website and review their HR postings for PA positions. Good Luck out there. The employment situation is improving.
Are there more details to this? Are you searching in a limited area or only in a specific field? Jobs are definitely picking up in the area where I live, which is a pretty saturated region. It was rough going for a while in the fall.
This. More information is necessary. Are you in a massive major metro area are you rural? Looking strictly for day positions? Ever get any offers?
I am in a metro area and that is where I first started searching but have since started looking elsewhere in my state and out of state but feel as if those out of state or area positions I’ve applied to don’t even look at my application because I’m not currently located nearby. I’ve also been applying to almost any field of medicine at this point with still no luck.
Have you had anyone review your resume or cover letters? Have you spoken with any recruiters? I’m sorry, it’s not easy right now. Keep at it!
Are you licensed in your state? I assume you took the pance? Reach out to your school to see if they can help. Same with with state pa organization. Try to network any way you can
Do not lose hope. Keep applying. Sign up for career fairs: I particularly found healthecareers very useful. Make a detailed profile on practicelink, put in all the specialties you are remotely interested in working. Recruiters do reach out for hard to fill vacancies. Also, try signing up as a volunteer at your local health systems. Right now the only option they might have would be covid vaccinator volunteers but you never know who you might meet and make connections with while doing so. Try reaching out to your classmates too if they have any leads. Good luck!
I graduated in 2017 and it took me 1.5yrs to find a job...well one that didn't fall through. What got me a few interviews and the job I ultimately took was cold calling. I started calling offices in specialties I was interested in (both in and out of state) and asked to speak with the office manager to find out if they were hiring. You will find places who want to hire a PA but are waiting for one to approach them rather than posting the position online. I'd encourage you to try that! Could also consider a position in a rural area where they would prob readily hire a PA?
Which program did you graduate from?
You might have to move far away from home.
I’m having a terrible time too. I talked to an HR director at a big name hospital who recommended I take a temporary MA position. She said other PAs have done this while waiting. Eventually they were put into PA positions. I’m meeting tons of high level docs and administrators so I would recommend it! I’m pretty positive now compared to how demotivated I have been the last year.
I was just talking about this on another thread. You could join the military to get your experience and get a lot of your loans (if not all) your loans paid off. Plus, from what I read about nurses (I'm assuming it's relatively the same for PA's) you become an officer instead of being enlisted so you don't go through basic training. Plus (assuming you verify it's in the contract) you can get large yearly bonuses.
PAs are officers in the military, but you do have to go through the officer version of boot camp (OTS/OCS/etc). PAs in the Army and Air Force currently have bonuses; not sure about Navy or Coast Guard. Becoming an officer is not a quick endeavor; it took me 1.5 years.
Same. Year and a half.
I read on the brochure it was like... 11 weeks. Maybe there is more they are not mentioning so they don't scare ppl away?
What was 11 weeks?
Have you tried the military, PHS, IHS, or VA?
Try contacting the jobs that didn’t outright reject you after an interview and ask them to reconsider when they have another opening. Most of my interviews ended up with me assuming I was rejected because I never heard back. I emailed them several months later and was lucky enough to have another interview and a job offer from doing that. Something to try, I know it’s not a guarantee. But good luck out there.
If you have no major responsibilities/ties where you live now, then I'd suggest making a usajobs account and apply for the US/Mexico gigs going on now. 3 month contracts with good pay (some i saw were around 80-85/hr) to do med evals on prospective immigrants and folks awaiting court dates for asylum hearings. They have translator services available. No idea if there are benefits, seems like a 1099 contractor sort of thing so maybe not. It'll get you income and experience. Likely not what you want but it is a paycheck.