Jobs for new graduate in BC (e.g. Victoria, Nelson)?

cocoetco · Mar 11, 2011

Hi!

I'm in essentially the same situation - graduating in Ontario, wanting to move back to BC. Did you go to Nelson? I would love to live there but I'm worried about getting a job as a new grad...

forestmaiden · May 19, 2011

I'm a new graduate living in Victoria (did my nursing school here) and I can't find a job, I am currently unemployed after graduating over a month ago, the job market is terrible here right now

joanna73, BSN, RN · May 19, 2011

BC prefers to hire locals also. There is some RN work in rural AB....I see postings in small towns....but aside from that, jobs are scarce. I left ON in January for this reason. You really have to be willing to go where the job is these days.

orangecampino · Jul 8, 2011

The job market for new grads in BC is not very good right now, to be honest. Most new grads seem to get hired into positions on the unit that they did their final preceptorship in. But you never know - you could get lucky! I'd suggest talking to a recruiter from the health authorities that you're interested in (www.viha.ca and www.interiorhealth.ca), as well as checking the job postings religiously! I hear ya on wanting to move to Victoria - that's where I'm hoping to end up, too! Good luck.

Fiona59 · Jul 8, 2011

I wouldn't hold my breath on VIHA. I lived on VI a couple of years ago. Their hiring process moved slower than a snail and ultimately, they prefer to hire their own new grads or local nurses before hiring experienced from out of province.

LOTR_fan · Oct 6, 2012

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your replies. Some of you mentioned it was difficult finding a job in victoria. That was a year ago...i heard it is now easier to get a position there. I wouls be interested to know from those of you who work in victoria what you think?

silentdivide · Oct 8, 2012

I work in Victoria--casual RN on a few floors. I graduated from UVic. From what I've seen, this is a highly competitive place to find a job as an outsider...because there are a lot of nurses wishing to relocate her from the rest of Canada. And what was already said about the hiring process being sluggish...it's true; it's HORRIBLY slow here to get the ball rolling. Could take you 6 months to two years to get fully hired as a casual, IMO (as an outsider). VIHA just hired over 150 new grads (from the local uni) in April. And they will be doing the same thing again next year. It's their new grad initiative to retain their own grads. Honestly, no offense but good luck... :-(

joanna73, BSN, RN · Oct 8, 2012

Wow. I've always heard that it's a challenge to be hired in BC, especially now with this economy. I'm not surprised though, since the economy hasn't improved all that much in the last 4 years, especially in BC and Ontario.

LOTR_fan · Oct 8, 2012

Thanks for your replies Silentdivide and joanna73!

Yes I can definitely see why people want to move to BC, and why it would be competitive to get a position there. I do have two years of experience on a medical floor, but I won't hold my breath. Why didn't I go to UVIC for my nursing degree...sigh

joanna73, BSN, RN · Oct 8, 2012

If you were interested in moving west, you could probably find work in AB, Sask, MB, but part time to start.

natalia13 · Oct 20, 2012

Ya I'm out lookin in Yukon and all of Canada. I competed my RPN and OR course in Ontario and now looking for work... I'm just not very sure how my CNO license will work in other provinces?