The Benefits of Working with a Career Advisor

Starting out in a new career can be a daunting undertaking. There are numerous uncertainties, particularly to a new graduate. A person that has recently graduated from a nursing education program might be uncertain of the appropriate procedure when looking for a job. There are many decisions to make when seeking a nursing career.

Even the first step, choosing where to apply, can be frustrating. Simply finishing a LPN program or a RN program is not sufficient to obtain a job. Many factors determine who an employer chooses to employ. There are nursing shortages across the country. A nurse’s salary could be higher than $90,000 with a degree. However, this is not the norm. The level of degree, specialty of the degree and state of residence will be a determining factor in salary. A licensed practical nurse can expect to have an average salary of $32,000. A registered nurse can expect a salary of $54,000. Nurses are not only employed in hospitals. Hospitals employ a little over half of all nurses. The others have found employment in nursing homes, nursing education, insurance agencies and in public health centers. Nurses must keep their state boards updated. In the past, there were only a few nurses applying for the same job. It is different now that the economy has taken a hard hit. There might be quite a few new nurses and countless senior nurses applying for the same situation. A recent graduate often does not know how to handle competition for the same job. Writing a resume can be a confusing task for some. Many schools offer career advisors to assist students with job searching. These advisors are ordinarily free for students.

Credentials

A career advisor has a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school. They also must have completed the Career Development Facilitator Credential Training Program. Career advisors have to preserve a Global Career Development Facilitator Credential. After completing 120 hours of learning about business skills, technology, information and resources for the labor market, and helping skills, they have the qualifications to give advice. Larger universities might have advisors for every program of study offered by the school. A career advisor can be a significant source of support for graduates of nursing programs. These advisors have training to help graduates find jobs that are an excellent fit for them. Advisors help with every aspect of job hunting. This can be done by teaching graduates skills needed to seek employment. Advisors can also help with resume building by pointing out what classes and skills to highlight. Career advisors are a valuable tool for graduates to utilize. A recent graduate of one of the many online nursing programs can benefit from working with a trained advisor. Online RN programs may provide students the opportunity to talk to an advisor over the telephone. This option would still allow students valuable advice before starting to seek a new job. Online LPN programs might offer recommendations for local career advisors in the student’s city. This option is a worthwhile one. An advisor working in the same city will have connections to places the student desires to apply. They usually have a list of nurse jobs in the area that are available to new graduates. An advisor will also be able to provide students with contact information to prior graduates who have secured a job in one of the nursing occupations. Talking to people that are already employed as a nurse can be extremely useful. This is especially true when the nurse is working in the place of employment that the student wishes to be.

Advisors are Here to Help

A career advisor will have suggestions to what nursing associations a student should join. There are several different associations available. The two most common ones are the American Nurses Association and the National Student’s Nurses’ Association. They will also have suggestions for students wishing to join the Peace Corps or Project Hope. These types of jobs have different employment conditions and terms than conventional employers. For graduate students with high honor grades, an advisor will be able to point out the jobs that have a higher degree incentive. These incentives can include tuition reimbursement for pursing a higher degree while employed. An advisor will also help a student decide what certifications to pursue. A nursing education does not end with graduation. It continues throughout a person's career. Certifications can include salary benefits. Nurses with certifications are more appealing to employ than one without any.

It is the Students Job to Follow Through

A student should initiate the communication process with a career advisor in the first few semesters of schooling. Not many students choose to talk with a career advisor in the beginning of their schooling. With graduation years in the future, they think that they have plenty of time to prepare. At the minimum, this process should begin prior to the beginning of the last semester. There are scholarships available to students that have not finished nursing programs. Many times, these scholarships provide students an advantage when applying for jobs. Setting up interviews in the last semester is another benefit of working with a career advisor. Many employers will make a job offer contingent on graduation. Usually, these offers are available to students with high grades and several recommendations. It is never too early for a student to think about their employment after graduation. Several graduates find how quickly graduation approaches them. Caught off guard, these individuals are unprepared to find a job. If a career advisor is available at their school, a student should start utilizing their advice as soon as they can. If one is not available through the school, a student could get help through a private advisor.

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