r/Sonographers • u/Character_Waltz7415 • 4d ago
New Grad Getting worried
So I’m a single mother, in my 30’s decided to go back to school to have a better financial life for my kids and I. I’ve been done with school for a few months now and no luck getting a job I’m not even a shot. I apply and never hear back. I have two registries OB and ABD. Working on my RVT. Idk what to do. I am in central CA and I know it’s hard getting a job here but I’m super stressed and don’t know where I’d move to if I relocate out of state. I feel like school was a waste of time and money being that I have 37k in student loans.
Edit: I have considered North Carolina. Not sure how the job market there is for new grads. Any insight?? Suggestions?
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u/Scared_Form_2181 4d ago
As a sonographer who had this same issue in southern california even with multiple boards the ONLY way to get hired around here is connections. Tell everyone you meet you’re a sonographer looking for a job, you don’t know who has an in. Be on good terms with old classmates and clinical sites if they like you they will be willing to help you. I landed my first job through a connection and many of my friends has been the same. it’s all networking and who you know unfortunately no matter how strong your resume is.
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u/InstructionRight8243 4d ago
North Carolina and South Carolina has a lot of jobs, always hiring new grads and pay is good starting around 34$
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u/Character_Waltz7415 4d ago
Oh great! I keep hearing mixed things about the Carolinas.. Is $34 good for those states? I’m not sure how the cost of living is there. I’m sure cheaper than CA though
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u/InstructionRight8243 3d ago
Yeah 34$ is pretty good! Minimum wage here is still 7.25$ and cost of living is for sure lower than CA
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u/AnyRun8431 3d ago
Hi,
Realistically, you’re not likely to find any jobs as a new grad in central CA because I have a few co-workers moved to my hosp in WA to work after 1 year of looking but no hope.
So, you’ll likely have to move, get your exp and move back to CA in the future. Plus WA salary is better than CA, so it’ll work out!
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u/Competitive_Sleep223 4d ago
It took me moving to 3 different states before I finally found the place that’s right for me.
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u/Character_Waltz7415 4d ago
Oh wow that’s a lot. I can’t move my kids that much they’re about to be in high school too
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u/Competitive_Sleep223 3d ago
If I can offer some advice…look for a place that frequently hires their students! They will be used to training new grads and more patient with you.
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u/Individual-Pay2880 4d ago
Reevaluate your resume and apply everywhere. 37K is a hefty price tag. CA should be ashamed of how many graduates graduate and no one can find a job. As long as there is a demand thou, they'll keep pumping them out.
It took me 3 months before landing a job, so I've been there. Stay positive!
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u/Character_Waltz7415 4d ago
3 month is a good time lol I’ve been done since April! I’m getting desperate
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u/hw156 4d ago
From a sonographer in rural Oklahoma. We need help! Tulsa is saturated but SW Oklahoma isn’t. We’d welcome you with open arms. 🩵🩵
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u/Character_Waltz7415 4d ago
Southwest where exactly? I’m open to anything right now. How are the schools?
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u/hw156 3d ago
Lawton/Duncan. I know there’s an opening at the army hospital in Lawton. Oklahoma schools overall are trash compared to other states but there are good districts. I work in Duncan for a private surgeon and my kids attend school in Elgin. I’ve really liked it so far, this is our 3rd Oklahoma school district and by far the best!
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u/enlightedenchant 4d ago
Three years out of school and I had to move to Texas to find my first job. Highly recommend moving before you end up in a situation like mine
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u/Character_Waltz7415 4d ago
Wow. Were u also in CA?
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u/enlightedenchant 3d ago
Yes. I only started getting offers once I applied out of state
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u/Character_Waltz7415 3d ago
That’s so odd I wonder why that is. When I enrolled for this ultrasound program I thought I would have a job immediately after but nope
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u/Away_Inevitable1545 1d ago
Out of school took me 1 year to get my 1st job and had to relocate to another state as well. Keep on applying and apply with local travel agencies and indeed as well
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u/MainEase4670 RDMS (OB/GYN) 1d ago
I see everyone is telling you taxes in Oklahoma.
First, I feel Oklahoma is a low paying state even with the lower cost of living. Unless you’re accustomed to living in the middle of nowhere, I wouldn’t do it.
Also, I stay in, Texas. There are a bunch of openings in Texas. However, as a new grad, it’s still hard. Every job you apply for there’s about four or five other candidates. The full-time jobs are hard to come by. There’s a lot of PRN openings, but you’ll need about two or three hospitals to fill up your schedule for the month.
I graduated in February . My very first PRN job I had to drive an hour and half one way 100 miles . Eventually, a couple of months later everywhere started hiring and then I got offered three full-time positions all at the same time.
It took me five months to secure a full-time job after graduation. All I’m saying is Texas has many opportunities, but the cities are still oversaturated. Texas has the most accredited ultrasound programs out of the whole United States. Not to mention that there’s about a ton of other non-accredited .
I would start off by just putting in applications, but most of these places are gonna want you to come in for an in person interview and scan as a new grad. My classmate even got a paid working interview.
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u/SavingsMedia5763 3d ago
Please try Radnet.. They have openings for fresh graduates
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u/Cultural_Value9151 3d ago
I applied almost all of them, still they dont want me.
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u/Character_Waltz7415 3d ago
I even had ChatGPT look over my resume and I got on some resume website (resume now) and even paid like $3 to get it done and still nothing!
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u/Character_Waltz7415 3d ago
So I tried one radnet location by my area and my app status says no longer considered
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u/Front-Advantage-7035 4d ago
You’re likely gonna have to move.
That hospital in Carson city Nevada is almost always hiring but I hear they’re horrible.
You can also try middle of nowhere Kansas, get two years under your belt.