New Grad Nurse + Health Force Ontario INELEGIBILE = Tough Time Finding Job

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I'm new on this forum and did a quick search to see if there was a similar post but didn't find one so, sorry if this is a repost.

I'm a new RN from Ontario, Canada. As some Ontarians know, "new" grads are eligible for HFO funding meaning that the government pays the salary for these "new grads" for the first six months if they get hired. This is great for hospitals because, basically, hospitals get free labour for the first six months and if the hospital likes you, then they keep you.But you have to find a job within 6 months of graduating to remain HFO-eligible.

I graudated 7 months ago and have yet to find a job. I am now HFO-INelegible. So, I have the experience of a new graduate without the financial attractiveness of a similar candidate who is still HFO eligible and now I must compete with nurses with 1-3 year experience whereas I STILL have just whatever experience I got from nursing school.

Meanwhile, weeks/months go by and my references forget more and more about me. I was a good student in school and got average to above average grades and they still agree to be my references but are now going to just read off an evaluation of me they wrote almost 8 months ago because they just can't remember...I don't blame them, it's been a long time. One day those references are just going to go away...and you can't get any job without references. It's my second-biggest worry. I've had one interview (didn't get the job) in 7 months after emailing about a dozen job applications (HFO careers website not very good, IMO).

OTHER than sprucing up my resume and cover letter, is there anything else I can do? I am becoming quite desperate...I've been working full-time as a security guard (low-paying and totally unrelated to nursing) just so the bills get paid while I continue my job search.

I've thought of seeking employment in rural communities 12 hours away from home, moving away to another province/state, seeking employment in another country (i.e. USA), and even joining the army as a nursing officer. I've even considered working for FREE for the first two months (it'll really eat into my savings) and hopefully my potential employer will be satisfied enough to hire me on full-time. These are kind of last resort options but, I'll pursue those options if I have to.

Anybody have any suggestions? Sorry for the sob story but heck, even reading posts from people in the same situation would be comforting knowing that others on AllNurses share my issue. Thanks for reading my essay of a post!

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Do not feel alone with your frustration because I am a new nurse who is experiencing the same situation. I have been networking, signed up with agencies, emailing, faxing, personally delivering my resume and nothing is working. I am so broke. I have no money and the pain of not finding a job is emotionally constant. I graduated Dec 2010 and still have not received one reply to my resume. I met with job advisors, consultants, resume advisors and nothing is happening. If you know of any new avenues or job links please let me know and same will I.

P.S. I actually enjoyed reading your post and found it inspiring because someone else understands how I am feeling. It is frustration finishing school, excited about being a nurse and not given the opportunity to practice what u enjoy doing.

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Hi rpnOntario,

I don't know where in Ontario you are but, if you're willing to move up north then you might want to try applying to rural hospitals. That's my situation right now and it's been a positive experience so far. It's definitely going to be a change if you're used to being in a big city and it's a big/difficult decision to make. I'm so far away from what I'm used to but hey, I'm finally making some money and MORE importantly starting my career.

There was one nurse that left recently and some other nurses look like they're about to retire. Don't know if management intends to fill the position but it's worth inquiring about. I don't want to post the name of my employer online for privacy reasons I can give you my email if you're interested.

Good luck!

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Sure i would love that. I am still pretty new to this website and have not figured out everything as yet, so please send me a private message at your convenience.

Thanks

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If there's a way to send a private message on this forum then I haven't figured it out yet. My email is [email protected]

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Hi,

I am also a new grad, and although I have already posed my frustration on a separate thread, I will be happy to join this conversation.:) As you are, I am looking for a job at every possible hospital, for any position, but no one has called me yet. there's nothing else i could think about, but applying for agencies which i really was against, but even these places are not hiring RN's and if they do they want you to go to hospitals that are located 100km away.

So I honestly don't know what to do. I didn't graduate from Canada, and I have some experience in NICU, a position which I easily got in my home country. I have to tell you that based on my home experience and based on my friends experience from the U.S and other countries which they've moved to, that Canada is the hardest placed to get hired as a new grad. and frankly I don't understand why....

Moreover in my origin county, hospitals prefer hiring new grads, because they believe we are the future nurses, they are training you for3-4 months and sending you to many different courses, conferences and what not in order to make you the best skilled nurse you can be.... coming from that I wads very disappointed to find out that in Canada new grads will not be hired anywhere...

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It seems that it is a pretty hard time for new grads these days. I just earned my BSN in Ontario and wrote the CRNE. I am waiting for the result and trying to see what employers are looking for. There are no many jobs posted and above all there is no place for the new grads on the market…for each and every position they require additional courses and subsequent certificates…so I am a recent graduate like many of you; I am broke; the Osap is calling and I have no money for any course…however, I would like to work in an acute care facility because I worked in the hospital environment for 12 years as an RN in my native country. I did general surgery and anaesthesia. So, what should I do now? I am so confused and somehow disappointed. If the result from CRNE is positive, should I start Coronary Care 1 (the RN Critical Care Program)? Should I enrol for the RN Perioperative or even RN Neonatal Certificate? Let suppose I get some money to start the first course from any of these programs…do I have more chances to get hired if I put any of these on my resume?? Or would be wiser just to take an IV therapy course to get certification and an arrhythmia interpretation course? How are you guys doing when you apply for a job? You guys post your resume on a recruiting site or just send your resume to a particular position that you like? I feel helpless regarding my job search strategy and school does not help you with anything…I feel idiotic even if I graduated with honours…Thank you for taking the effort to read my posting. Good luck everyone.

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