Jobs in AB?

[MissElizabeth]

I'm living in Calgary, and I graduated last June (2013) with my Bachelor's of Nursing. Right before I graduated, I was originally offered a casual position on the unit where I did my final practicum (acute medicine), however after months of not answering my phone calls or emails, the manager then told me that the position was cancelled and they couldn't hire me anymore.

Since then, I have applied for over 350 positions on the AHS webpage, including rural postings, and dropped off almost as many resumes in person, as well as applying for non-AHS jobs on other websites like kijiji. I have had a few interviews, but the general consensus is that I don't have enough experience for the position, or someone else seemed like a better fit and more outgoing candidate.

I have tried to keep current by getting more training in things such as ACLS, NVCI, etc. however this doesn't seem to be helping my job prospects much. I know the situation is not great for external AHS applicants, but I am the only person I know from my graduating class that has not been hired even a year later. I have been so frustrated as it feels like I went through my nursing program for nothing. I am just wondering if any of you are going through the same thing, or if there is something that I am doing wrong that I could fix to help me finally find a job as a RN ?

[M3BWN]

Would that just be the AHS website where you can log in and have new job posting notifications sent to your email?

[Fiona59]

I think the content on the "staff log in site" is different to what appears on the "public" site.

[blissity]

AHS Candidate Management is a program I registered for when I initially signed up to make my profile on AHS website. This was the first email I received from them.

" My name is T**** L*** L***** and I am a Talent Attraction Assistant with Alberta Health Services (AHS) Candidate Relationship Management team. I received your online career profile when you created an account with us. Your profile contains information regarding your Placement Preferences, Education and other Career Information plus your resume.

In addition to our online career search services, Alberta Health Services’ Candidate Relationship Management team works with particular healthcare professions that are considered to be occupations in demand at AHS. Because a Registered Nurse is considered “in demand”, you are being offered the opportunity to partner with one of our Talent Attraction Advisors who will work with you through your search for a position with the AHS team. This support is available at no cost and no obligation to you.

However, our Candidate Relationship Management team is only supporting external healthcare professional in demand, who have already finished their program. Also, you must have or began the application process with College & Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA)? Their website can be found at: College & Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta - CARNA. This is needed in order to work as a Registered Nurse in Alberta."

After I finally received my RN licensing. Second email went like this.

"My name is N*** M**** and I am a Talent Attraction Assistant with the Alberta Health Services (AHS) Candidate Relationship Management Team.

Our records indicate that you are a healthcare professional who is seeking employment with Alberta Health Services. As a healthcare professional in an occupation currently in demand at Alberta Health Services, you are eligible to utilize the services of AHS’s Candidate Relationship Management team. This team of recruitment professionals is in place to assist and guide your search for a suitable match between your qualifications and interests and the employment opportunities currently available at AHS.

Please contact me by return email if you are interested in this complimentary service. After confirming some basic information, I will transfer your file to one of our Talent Attraction Advisors who will be happy to guide you and coach you through the AHS recruitment process.

I wish you every success in finding a position within Alberta Health Services. "

Anyways, I got into contact with her and spoke over the phone what type of job I was looking for. I emphasized the fact that I was willing to go rural to receive full-time work. She then passed me onto a some HR person who was recruiting nurses for the Northern Health Regions of Alberta and that was how I found my job.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Oh ok. That makes sense since rural areas are always desperate for nurses. This must be recent. Since AHS stopped using contract nurses, positions go unfilled for months in rural areas.

Many nurses are complaining to senior management all over AB because they're tired of working short. Same is true for the citles, but at least city facilities have float pools. Rural has zero. If you can stick it out for at least a year or two, more options should become available.

[Trishrpn80]

Yup.. its the HR recruiters. Northern spots are always hiring and desperate so they have recruiters to go through the resumes and/or career profiles to hunt you down. When I was a fresh new grad Manitoba recruiters called me.

[Fiona59]

We've been told that Calgary goes through all the applications for every position and makes the short list. How true it is, I don't know.

It sounds terrible and it is in real life, but the applicants that have been coming to my unit for interviews have been terrible. They interview well and when they are hired it's like a totally different nurse shows up. One managed to alienate the entire unit in under two shifts when they all didn't tell her we were lucky to have her and just stopped showing up. No phone call to say it's not working for me, I hate your unit, or anything. Just totally ignored all phone calls to see how the problem could be fixed.

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

We've been told that Calgary goes through all the applications for every position and makes the short list. How true it is, I don't know.

Somehow that wouldn't surprise me at all. Pretty much everything AHS does is Calgary-based and Calgary-first. Payroll, EHR software development, email servers... it's all down there.

It sounds terrible and it is in real life, but the applicants that have been coming to my unit for interviews have been terrible. They interview well and when they are hired it's like a totally different nurse shows up. One managed to alienate the entire unit in under two shifts when they all didn't tell her we were lucky to have her and just stopped showing up. No phone call to say it's not working for me, I hate your unit, or anything. Just totally ignored all phone calls to see how the problem could be fixed.

And I thought our unit was the only one having this experience... Not just the interview-with-the-doppelganger aspect, but the no-call, no-show, no-remorse aspect too.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Wow that's just terrible but not surprising. I thought nurses were supposed to have more integrity overall, but unfortunately I don't think that's true based on what I have already seen and heard. Nursing has some great people....but others....I'm not sure how they passed.

I wouldn't dream of not calling or showing up for work, especially a new job. Don't people hope to make a positive impression?

[Aspie, BSN, RN]

Hi blissity,

I'm a new grad going through the same process with AHS Сandidate Management at the moment. They scheduled a phone call with me. I wanted to ask you to share your experience about talking to them. I have already screwed up one interview, so I'm nervous. Will that phone call from AHS Сandidate Management be about asking questions as it's an interview? Or is it just a chat about my preferences?

[blissity]

It's to chat about your preferences. The phone call is pretty easy going so really nothing to sweat about. They ask what positions you are looking for, where you want to work or are willing to go etc. they also give advice on how to improve your resume and cover letter.

[Kikilaroo]

I hope you've found something by now, but I figured I'd share my experience anyway.

I just finished school in April and was really stressed to find a job. The unit I did my preceptorship on was a no-go (it was LDRP - I loved it there, but they were laying off 4 RNs and hiring LPNs instead, or so I was told...). I should mention that I was already an internal candidate, I'd worked as a NA at a local Edmonton hospital, but my experience wasn't great and my manager had no idea who I was which almost COST me a job offer.

I treated applying for a position as a full time job itself. (I do wish I'd spent more time studying for the CRNE, which I may regret in about 3 weeks). I made long and completely tailored cover letters for each position I applied for. My 3 page resume included all the basics from school plus any courses, projects, or papers I did that gave me a specific edge (eg. I took a motivational interviewing course as a part of my 4th year elective; did a presentation for teen parents on infant safety, safe car seat use, talked about specifics of nursing I am passionate about like family-centered care, etc). It was ridiculously organized and I made sure it sounded perfect.

I applied for anything that interested me, but I really made sure to put extra emphasis on those positions I really, really wanted. I also included my future goals with time lines for when I plan to achieve them, and how the this position was integral to a successful, long-term career.

Using these strategies, I managed to receive about 15 calls for interviews, I actually went to about 8 interviews, and I've had 6 offers - one of which is in Calgary in maternity - literally my dream job and the entire reason I went into this profession. The managers told me it was my passion and enthusiasm along with my knowledge that made me stand out. I hope I can live up to what I conveyed in my interview, but I'm not really giving myself a choice, either.

That being said, two of my first interviews were TERRIBLE. I fumbled on the basics, blanked on things I should have known because nerves got the best of me. I analyzed and replayed those interviews over and over, and I made so many notes on what I said that was good and not so good, I watched videos and read numerous articles/blogs/forums on the important things to make sure you do and don't do in an interview. In the end, you still need to be yourself - you may do everything right and still not get the position because you just don't fit. It sucks, but it's usually for the best. I actually had one unit turn me down, and I thanked the manager for the opportunity and asked if she had any advice for future interviews - two months later, and she just offered me a position. Be professional, be confident but humble, and share your knowledge and experience and why it makes you perfect for the job (but don't compare yourself to others, you don't know who you're applying against, all you know is what you have to offer).

I also wanted to emphasise what others said as well; when I first started applying and things looked bleak, I emailed the HR recruiters with coventant health and they got back to me within the same day. They told me their northern sites, specifically Bonnyville, desperately needs nurses. You may need to look at packing up and leaving home for a bit to get some experience, but at least it's something. You may even find a new "home". (Plus you get a nice living bonus for working up north). I'm uprooting my entire family to move to Calgary now, but I haven't had any calls for interviews for any of the positions I *really* wanted in Edmonton so I'm going to where the offers are instead.

All the best of luck to you, I hope things start to look up. Feel free to ask me any questions if you like.

[Aspie, BSN, RN]

Kikilaroo, wow, your story is impressive! Good job!

Do you still have the list of the links and videos to get prepared for an RN job interview?