It’s the eternal question we all consider – is it the right time to be looking for a new job? Now more than ever that question has particular pertinence. Nursing is an industry with too many qualified staff and not enough qualified nursing positions, an NHS in the midst of a total overhaul, and recruitment bans, pay freezes and budget cuts throughout the entire country in both public and private sectors.
It’s a tough time for job security for those lucky enough to still have a nursing job, but for those newly qualified nurses trying to get starting in the industry it can be a terrifying time. However, I happen to think that the answer to the title of this post is yes, because it can’t do any harm as long as you go about it in a sensible way.
You can never be sure if a department is about to have a recruitment freeze, or if a job you like the look of will be advertised again in the future, so you have to enquire while the opportunity is there. It’s natural and in most cases necessary to look for a post that reflects your ever expanding experience with an increased salary or benefits, so don’t be afraid to send an enquiry because the worst that can happen is they say no. You don’t have to give away your referee details unless you’re about to verbally accept an offer of employment, so there’s no chance that your current employer could get wind of your job hunting unless you want them to.
It’s an uncertain time for nurses, with many newly qualified nurses turning to the private sector for nursing positions that come with a preceptorship – the competition can be fierce. But whether you have a career of nursing experience behind you or are a newly qualified nurse straight out of uni, you still need to make sure your CV, covering letter and personal statement are as great as they can be. We publish plenty of tips and advice on how to do this in our nursing careers section, but it’s important to say that applying for jobs with the aim of being successful is more time consuming than simply sending off the same personal statement and CV with every application.
Recruiters are time poor so it’s in your interest to create a CV that delivers enough detail for them to decide if you are suitable for the job in a simple, clear layout. Someone reading your CV doesn’t want to have to figure out whether you have the right experience or not, they want to be told and shown evidence to back it up. If you’re completely in the dark about where to begin or haven’t updated your CV in years, why not start with our guide to updating your nursing CV.
