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.
Yes it would be easy to move on, but I feel like you're ignoring what we're telling you. As far as most employers are concerned, you're not a suitable candidate for a unit clerk position because they know you will leave.
You can choose to leave nursing off your resume also, but it would come to light during the interview anyway.
OP you can either accept our advice, or not. I understand your frustration, but that will not change the system.
Many of us have been involved in interviewing, hiring and training staff. Whether or not you perceive the current system as fair is irrelevant. There are thousands of new grads and few jobs. That doesn't mean you won't find employment, but it will be challenging.
When you're writing cover letters, try to link the organization's values with your skills. What can you offer the employer? Have you had relevant clinical experiences? Led a project?
Avoid telling them you're compassionate, always wanted to be a nurse, etc..... It's cliche, and does not convey much of anything.
Apply for everything. Good luck!
Thanks,
Its not really that I do not accept advice but I think most of the comments tended to focus on me leaving out the fact i'm a nurse on my resume for non-nursing positions. To me I don't understand why that should matter to anyone here, even if those are involved with the training and hiring. People do what they have to for work.
Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.
Its not really that I do not accept advice but I think most of the comments tended to focus on me leaving out the fact i'm a nurse on my resume for non-nursing positions. To me I don't understand why that should matter to anyone here, even if those are involved with the training and hiring. People do what they have to for work.
Integrity.
Accountability.
Ethics.
Morals.
Values.
Trust.
Respect.
As the CNA Code of Ethics states: Nurses are honest and practice with integrity in ALL of their professional interactions. Nurses clearly and accurately represent themselves with respect to their name, title and role.
Aw don't be depressed! I totally have been there and done that. It is very tough to find nursing employment right now. I am registered for the Medication Administrative and IV Therapy course at HCPT College as my friend referred me to it. She said she loved the content and course methodology of it, especially the employment referrals. This may be beneficial for you? I know when I was looking around, hospitals have these certificates as their requirements. Hopefully by taking these courses at HCPT college, I will be able to meet these employer requirements.
Hang in there :) you have so many different options, always important to make you to cover everything!
Yes it would be easy to move on, but I feel like you're ignoring what we're telling you. As far as most employers are concerned, you're not a suitable candidate for a unit clerk position because they know you will leave.
You can choose to leave nursing off your resume also, but it would come to light during the interview anyway.
Yes of course with any job if a nursing job came along I would leave, what people fail to understand is that some of us still have bills to pay.
Unless I am directly asked if I am a nurse, how would they know?
As the CNA Code of Ethics states: Nurses are honest and practice with integrity in ALL of their professional interactions. Nurses clearly and accurately represent themselves with respect to their name, title and role.
We are supposed to behave in an ethical manner, that's why it matters. The fact that you continue to question that is surprising. You have bills to pay, we all have bills to pay. At least be honest.
If an employer finds out you lied, they can terminate you and report you to the CNO for professional misconduct. Not a good way to start your nursing career.
It appears to me that some nurses are cutthroat and worried about themselves and their budgets. Do you care about my daily financial struggles? Nope because thats NOT YOUR problem but yet still I should care about YOUR budget.
I have been a single teen mother and at the age of 24 I have worked hard at the same cashier job for 5 years, do I feel like its time for a change? yes. I have my degree and has it changed my life? no I'm still struggling. Do I want people to feel sorry for me? Nope because outside of this forum I would never mention these things, I do not like telling people my personal business. Some people also believe I made my choices in life so I need to deal with it which is true, so I work hard not asking for a handout.
It appears to me that new grads are left to drown. You can't get a job as a nurse because you have no experience, you have no choice but to stay working your minimum wage until or even IF something comes up, you can't apply for any other non nursing positions in a hospital unless you state that you are a nurse and in that case you won't get hired anyway because you are over qualified, you can't volunteer because even though you really genuinely want to volunteer or that it may help your chances of getting hired as a nurse, you most likely won't get picked because you most likely cannot commit. Seriously???
I have had one interview for nursing and honestly, I should not have even applied to it because it was addictions counselling. Did I think I would get beat down with at least 4 medication questions? No, I was very naive about nursing interviews. Even though I did not get the job it was a learning experience. Another chance has not come up for an interview so I like everyone else will do what I need to do in the meantime for money. Regardless of if you feel leaving nursing out of a non nursing resume is wrong, why would I lower my chances for a shot at a job? nobody here is going through my everyday struggles to know what it is like so before you point and wave your finger at me, try to imagine yourself living in poverty with a child to feed. I am not asking for a hand out, I am a VERY hard worker and I want a chance to better my situation just like everyone else.
If I could find a nursing job this wouldn't be an issue which is why I made the post, for some direction. Clearly people skimmed through the words and focused on what they perceived as a threat, their budget.
Yes but those characteristics are relevant. You are not displaying them if you lie on your resume.
As I understand by talking to my manager today, omitting is not the same as lying. Some people omit things that are not relevant to the particular job which is understandable however lying is never ok. If I was asked during the interview if I was a nurse, in that case I would say yes....so as I understand, I should not allow anyone make me feel as if I am doing anything wrong.
Aw don't be depressed! I totally have been there and done that. It is very tough to find nursing employment right now. I am registered for the Medication Administrative and IV Therapy course at HCPT College as my friend referred me to it. She said she loved the content and course methodology of it, especially the employment referrals. This may be beneficial for you? I know when I was looking around, hospitals have these certificates as their requirements. Hopefully by taking these courses at HCPT college, I will be able to meet these employer requirements.
Hang in there :) you have so many different options, always important to make you to cover everything!
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joanna73, BSN, RN
4,767 Posts
Yes it would be easy to move on, but I feel like you're ignoring what we're telling you. As far as most employers are concerned, you're not a suitable candidate for a unit clerk position because they know you will leave.
You can choose to leave nursing off your resume also, but it would come to light during the interview anyway.