i have a question for nurses in Tornoto, and other ontario areas

ibale
have you looked for job posting on RNAO's website? I see that first health care is looking for immunization nurses
http://www.firsthealthcare.ca/job-postings.cfm

dishes

I don't know how far away from Toronto you're looking to go, but Woodstock always has job postings for RN's. We're close to London and Kitchener and really not that far from TO (Although you probably wouldn't want to commute every day)

Good luck....

ibale
have you applied to rehab or longterm care? Runnymede and Bridgepoint have job postings.
http://www.runnymedehc.ca/careers.html
http://www.bridgepointhealth.ca/Home.aspx?PageID=157&mid=_ctl0_MainMenu__ctl1-menuItem012-subMenu-menuItem005

Im surprised you are experiencing this. Look at www.charityvillage.com There are sometimes nursing jobs advertisd on this website. Also workopolis website is a really good website as well as RNAO website. Did you apply to Sick Kids. If you didnt, apply there. I really hope you get a position soon.

The Toronto employers have had limited job openings throughout 2009, many were filled internally. New grads are having difficulty finding work and need to be creative in their searches. I think canadiangradschoolrn's suggestion to try a charitable organization through charityvillage.com, is a good option at this point in time.
The job market, has always been cyclical, when I graduated in the 80's there were very few jobs in my area. I was chosen over other applicants because I had volunteer experience. The mid 90's was also a difficult time, but there were jobs in the states for new grads to go to. This time, the states does not have jobs, and new grads are finding it challenging.
Volunteering with a charitable organization can help a new grad gain knowledge and experience with a specific patient population and can make their resume stand out from others, so it is something to consider at this time.
regrads
dishes

I got my new grad position through HFO jobs, however, I find HFO jobs to be outdated for non new-grad-initiative jobs.

I find the websites of individual hospitals to have more jobs posted than HFO jobs for regular nursing positions.

And yes, the talk of the town is that there is, what seems to be, an unspoken slowing down of hiring in nursing. I had applied last year to UHN and in March of this year I got a letter saying that UHN was not hiring any new grads for fear that they couldnt gurantee them full time positions at the end of the new grad initiative.

I have heard of many new grads not being able to find full time positions.

ibale. I don't know whether or not you have an online application process in Canada. Perhaps you have to submit a CV. However - and I do not intend to be overly critical here - you MUST imrove your written skills. For an application to go to the top of the pile (in my experience) spelling and grammar must be really good. You have to 'stand out from the crowd'. Emphasise your knowledge and skills in your applications. Say how you can bring your skills to the job.

Is it possible to submit a CV to hospitals in Canada even though a job is not advertised. Therefore getting yourself noticed. Be proactive, sell yourself. Good luck and I hope to hear you have obtained a position soon.

Madeleine:

Have you applied for any jobs in Canada?

All health regions recruit via the on-line option (the applicant has the option of submitting a resume or not). If a job is not advertised it doesn't exist in the eyes of HR.

The health regions have traditionally recruited at the Colleges and Universities. Many units advise students on their clinical rotations to apply to the unit manager who will broker the application to the HR services.

Alberta Health is not looking at external applicants for roughly 99% of their positions due to the economy. British Columbia is undergoing health care funding reform. The Ontario situation is very similar to these two examples. Northern Nursing via Indian Affairs isn't the place for new grads. The Maritimes may have jobs but they are going locally or to experienced nurses moving home.

Canadian nursing is in flux. The world thinks we have 1000s of vacancies and many provincial Colleges are being flooded with overseas applicants. The reality is new grads unless they are willing to move are often out of luck when it comes to finding a permanent position. Many of the jobs are in units that are just not suitable for new grads (ICU, OR, Dialysis). There are jobs for experienced nurses who are willing to move or can afford to work very small part time positions.