Job search behaviors and employment success among nursing graduates: a cross-sectional observational study

Early-career employment represents a critical transition for newly graduated nurses, influencing professional identity, retention, and workforce stability. While transition-to-practice programs, work environment, and turnover have been widely studied, limited research has examined the pre-employment phase, particularly job-search behavior and its psychosocial determinants. This study aimed to describe job-search behaviors among newly graduated nurses in Kosovo, investigate associations with self-esteem and network resources, and evaluate their impact on job application activity and interviews obtained. A cross-sectional observational design was employed. All alumni who graduated between 2024 and 2026 from the Bachelor of Nursing program in a Kosovo University were invited to participate in an anonymous online survey. Data were collected from February to May 2026, yielding a final sample of 335 respondents (86% response rate). The Job Search Behavior Scale (JSB), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and Social Network Resources (SNW) were used for data collection. Linear regression, univariate General Linear Models (GLM), independent samples t-tests, and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) were conducted to examine associations between variables and employment outcomes. At the time of data collection, 47.2% of participants were actively seeking a nursing position. Linear regression demonstrated that self-esteem was significantly associated with active job search behaviors (β = 0.246 p < 0.001), while network resources did not show a significant effect (β = 0.021 p = 0.699). Employed nurses reported higher job-search behavior scores than unemployed ( p < 0.001, partial η² = 0.118), whereas self-esteem and network resources were not significant. Active job search behaviors were strongly associated with higher volumes of CV submissions Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) (IRR = 1.038 p < 0.001), which in turn was significantly associated with the number of job interviews obtained (IRR = 1.061 p < 0.001). Self-esteem was positively associated with active job-search behavior among nursing graduates, which was in turn associated with higher application activity and more interviews. Network resources may play a limited role in restricted labor-market contexts. These findings highlight the importance of supporting self-regulatory skills and strategic job-search behaviors in nursing education. The study also informs workforce planning in Kosovo and similar transition healthcare systems, emphasizing interventions that optimize graduate employability and retention.