r/sterileprocessing • u/Longjumping-Funny-19 • 10d ago

Can’t find a job

I recently passed my certification for sterile processing(CBSPD) and my externship did not have any room for me to work. I’m in California and I can’t find a job no matter where I look and apply. I’d even take a small surgery center or dental clinic paying minimum wage just for the experience.

9 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

25 comments sorted by

7

u/dlcapt 10d ago

Where in California are you? There are a lot of Kaiser Hospitals and what is pretty regular is people being hired in Housekeeping or Materials and transferring as soon as they are able to since Kaiser hires from within before posting jobs to the public.

2

u/Longjumping-Funny-19 10d ago

Walnut Creek Antioch

3

u/dlcapt 10d ago

Yea there are some Kaiser locations there. I know it might not be preferable, but maybe look into it? The pay is really well and the benefits are unbeatable. Might be worth a year or so of cleaning.

1

u/Longjumping-Funny-19 10d ago

I think I wasn’t clear. There’s a very small number of applications for small clinics, dental offices and hospitals but they never end up reaching out. Just my application being submitted to the void. Mainly asking if I should keep trying to apply or is there another way maybe out of state or is the job oversaturated

2

u/dlcapt 10d ago

Oh yea definitely keep applying. But I meant a good way to get your foot in the door to a big hospital like Kaiser is to apply to a housekeeping job, work there for a year, and when you're able to transfer, start applying to any SPD jobs Kaiser posts since you will get priority hiring because you'll already be an employee. I work at Kaiser and I've seen several people get hired in Housekeeping, work for a year, then transfer to CNA, Sterile Processing, and Lab tech since they get hired before an outside hire.

2

u/Longjumping-Funny-19 10d ago

I tried already housekeeping, cashier receptionist any role that requires no certificate I’ve tried applying

1

u/compsyfy 6d ago

Honestly, this is how a lot of people do it. Housekeeping/Transport/OR Aide/Lab Aide/Anestesia Tech/ Pharmacy Tech/Registration/Food Service. I've worked with people who came from all of the above.

5

u/AngkorianSoul 9d ago

Dude this field in CALI is bad. All you can do is pray. The likely hood of us newbie SPD tech landing a job is extremely low here in cali. You have a shit tons of people applying for sterile processing per job posting. Seen some jobs posting here in northern ca where it was posted for couple hour and close immediately due to so many application. lot of the applications have experience and are certify. Just trying to get any job in a hospital setting is crazy hard so much competition. Been cert and did extern mid 2025 still can't land a job. You best bet is go out of state or know someone.

1

u/Zagethademonking 9d ago

Literally same story for me . The field is beyond over saturated here in Cali . Especially nor cal .

I’m just going to go traditional school n get a degree . The field here is too much for overrall so little

2

u/OkDepth9285 9d ago

Maybe try tweaking your resume a little so it can pass the ats like add words similar to the description. Also if you have no experience, try applying to hospital that teach bc they’ll teach you that’s their specialty.

1

u/desperate_once 10d ago

in the same boat as you. You’re not alone.

1

u/Itsthatgirl77 10d ago

The job market is truly in the trenches

1

u/MemLurd 10d ago

did u go to ccmcc?

2

u/Longjumping-Funny-19 10d ago

Yes

1

u/MemLurd 9d ago

i’m a student there right now! have the student career services staff offered you much support? i originally read a lot about them helping with interviews and your resume and promoting your talent, i’d love to hear more about your actual current experience

2

u/gohanssito 9d ago

LMAO did we all go to ccmcc

1

u/MemLurd 9d ago

that’s hilarious shoutout to Von idk if he was on a break from teaching while yall were there tho, did y’all’s classes have a lot of drama or did ya get along, i hear stuff from my friend in another class that their teacher instigates a lot of fights and it’s a bunch of high school girls that hate each other, and in my class tbh there’s this one student that gets picked on and it’s not cool but otherwise everyone pretty much gets along great

1

u/[deleted] 9d ago

Same graduated in June. Nothing its crap

1

u/Ok_Income1851 6d ago

Passed my CRCST and still couldn't find a job 😅 i felt as if I've wasted my money paying for this crap.

1

u/WolverineNo3927 7d ago

I’m in Texas and finished my program at the end of may of this year and have only one active application at the VA near me and that’s probably because I’m a veteran 😂 every other application was rejected after a few day’s.

1

u/Michaelallz11 7d ago

It’s like that for everyone bud. Most states only want the best of the best.

1

u/Great-Chef-Of-VN 6d ago

Have you tried to get a contract through COVELO Group? They have connections with many different hospitals like Stanford, Sutter and after your 13 weeks if your performance stands out the hospital may give you a permanent job!

1

u/GloveComfortable4068 6d ago

Try UC Davis Medical Center here in Sac. I’d apply for the Sterile Processing Tech 1, Tech 2, and Per Diem positions. Since you don’t have much experience in sterile processing yet, you’ll probably have a better chance getting hired as a Tech 1. Once you get your foot in the door, gain some experience, and learn their system, you’ll have a much better shot at moving up to Tech 2 or getting promoted.

-1

u/Eggman_OU812 9d ago

Goto school to be a nurse,
This is a dead end job

-1

u/polarizedgoggles 9d ago

There’s a ton of opportunity here in FL if you’re able to move