New Grad in Toronto Cannot find job

[Depressed_RN]

Hello All,

I am a new grad RN that cannot find a job. I graduated in April and passed the NCLEX shortly after. I applied to the Nursing guarantee initiative and unfortunately did not find a job, now I am stuck feeling so depressed. I have applied ALL OVER Ontario, also Nunavut, I have sent so far OVER 240 resumes with only one response. I went to the interview, stayed over night since it was 8 hours away from where I lived and bombed it because I was so nervous, not only that I was not prepared for medication type of questions (

I have had my resume looked over by TWO employment agency services. I change my cover letter for each job postings.

I have contacted the RNAO for help but they are useless, I have emailed the lady that reviews resumes 3 times and I doubt she even read my email since she has not even responded.

I have contacted health force ontario which claims to be committed to supporting nurses and they are also useless, I was told just to keep applying for jobs from the HFO and RNAO sites.

I have applied for a job in the U.S and they called me within a week. However, I was not aware of the LONG and EXPENSIVE process to become licensed in the U.S. So as of right now I want to focus on getting a job here in Ontario. Of course if I am still out of luck I will have no choice but to apply to the U.S.

I have become very depressed and I cry all the time, I am so frustrated that most jobs require at least 1 year experience, I am also frustrated when I see nurses complain about their shifts when theres nurses that cannot find work that would die for that chance.

As bad as it sounds I would work for less, I love nursing I would take a big pay cut just for the opportunity to work as a nurse, unfortunately with unions I know that is not possible but if it was I would do it.

I need help, places that would give a new grad a chance.

I'm a single mother, I'm so desperate right now.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

I am awaiting my licence and it is really scary reading about shortages of jobs for rpn. I will appreciate any advice and tips for job searching. I live in Toronto.

Have you asked the unit manager of the facility that you did your preceptorship if they hire new grads for casual positions?

Are you a member of RPNAO? Have you utilized their career resources?

[anxiouspn]

I am awaiting my licence and it is really scary reading about shortages of jobs for rpn. I will appreciate any advice and tips for job searching. I live in Toronto.

Make sure you look elsewhere other than Toronto, things are pretty dry here.

I'm nearing the end of my new grad and have only received one response after applying for many internal postings.

In addition I've heard from my preceptors that it's hard to get into Toronto hospitals because once people get in, they don't leave, and it's hard for new nurses to get a foot in the door. Of course this is subjective.

DO seek career assistance from the RPNAO, the counsellor there is really helpful when it comes to fixing you resume.

[Ayaoba]

Thanks for this info. I will definitely make use of RPNAO as suggested. It's really hard getting through school, waiting to write the registration exam, waiting for the results, waiting to get the licence and above all getting into a saturated job market.

[Ayaoba]

Is there any hope for RPNs in the U.S.

[Fiona59]

Is there any hope for RPNs in the U.S.

Read the LVN section of the board. US LPNs are underpaid, over worked, and under appreciated. They also usually have less education than Canadian PNs. In the US from what posters have said, Acute Care is a no go zone.

[LemonDrop1234]

To be fair, I did not read through every page of this thread. That being said, where did you go to school? In the area that you are applying?

Also, it might be wise to post the cover letter and resume you have been sending out...you never know...maybe the experts on this site can point out some shortcomings.

Do you have any volunteer experience or extracurriculars?

[OptNurse]

On 3/7/2016 at 7:14 PM, Depressed_RN said:

I would like to thank everyone for their responses and private messages!!!!!!!!

I really appreciate it. I would like everyone to know that I accepted the EMERGENCY ROOM position in NORTH DAKOTA!!!!! I had a good cry today, I literally cried like a baby when I got the call that I got the job...nobody can understand how grateful I am. Honestly I am beyond grateful that they gave me a chance and not only that....its in the speciality I wanted to work in!!!!!! it is so unreal. Im crying while i leave this message!!!!!!

Thanks again everyone!!!!!

Aaaaawwww. So inspiring. Congrats

[StudentGBC13]

On 12/21/2015 at 4:18 PM, Depressed_RN said:

And why should I care about those costs?? Did you forget volunteers put in time and energy for free?

Although hospitals value their volunteers immensely I think the point of volunteering is being missed. Most people who volunteer are elderly and retired looking for something to do, OR they are high school, college, university students looking for some sort of experience in healthcare. I had quite a few volunteer internships in the hospital close to my university in the dialysi last clinic, surgical floor, etc. and the way the coordinator and other nurses treated me was that they were doing me a favour letting me help out in the small ways volunteers do. Realistically they are giving you something to put on your resume so they don’t care you are putting in your time ??‍♀️ Additionally, not one job interview I have had in the past few months for healthcare related positions (I have a degree in kinesiology ) have asked me about my volunteer work which I clearly stated and outlined in detail in my resume. Which sucks so personally I wouldn’t bother volunteering, but everyone’s situation/opinion is different. Best of luck finding work.