There’s an old saying that it isn’t what you know but who you know. This, in many ways, is nothing but the truth. With the current US economic condition, new nursing graduates are finding themselves unable to get employment not only because they are new, but because they really don’t know anyone or have any connections.

Your network can make all the difference in the world when you are new to the health care industry. Sometimes seasoned professionals can be crusty, cranky and inappropriately indifferent towards new health care providers (unless of course, you know who they know).

New health care professionals need to take every opportunity to meet everyone they can along their educational path. Nowadays you need to really think of networking and meeting people in a competitive manner. It is simply the way things work. If you are incompetent in your skills, don’t speak the language well, or are not very sociable, it can make landing the desired position very challenging.

When I say networking, I mean really making some friends. Meeting someone and becoming acquainted is not the same as going to barbecues and birthday parties with them. If you are a new nurse, you better do your best to click with as many professional people as you can. Watch them, study their networks, and work your way into that group until you too are invited to whatever is on the agenda for that little culture. If you are the “newbie”, whenever you are invited to an event, you better make it.

You need an “in”, and you are not going to get it just because you finished nursing school and have a license now. If you are shy, you better work on asserting yourself and being friendly. Get everyone’s phone number and call them periodically when appropriate.

You will find that the more people you know, the more opportunities will open up for you. Some people are naturally sociable, friendly and out going. Is it any wonder these people are always employed almost to the point that they can write their own ticket? C’mon people, do the math. They can write their own ticket because they are well known and well liked. So, if you are going through nursing school or any type of health care program, take a page out of their book and take networking very seriously. It can make the difference between you working part time at the clinic or full time at a Level 1 Trauma Center.

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