New RN and need assistance with job hunt

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I just recently graduated and passed my licensing exam. I also just moved to Toronto to be with my fiance, and finding it difficult to find a job. I know that nursing jobs are difficult to find in general in Ontario, even in Canada, but wanted to see if there are any websites that are especially good for displaying nursing jobs in Toronto since I'm not originally from here. Some of my friends have gotten hired in the places they did their consolidation, but I wasn't that lucky. Any tips would be very helpful

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Apply everywhere. Use hospital websites, workopolis, etc. Agencies are always hiring: VON, Saint Elizabeth etc. Just google: Home Care Ontario or Toronto and it'll list you tons of home care agencies. Flu shot season is coming up so there's probably going to be a bunch of postings for Flu Shot nurses. Go to nursing homes and ask to speak with the Direct of Care or Nurse Manager and hand in your resume. Try and get in contact with Human Resources (I have a few nurses that tried this method and it worked well for them). Are you an ontario graduate or you graduated from a different province? Because it's even more difficult if you graduated from a different province because you are not eligible for new graduate guarantee intiative and that's how some hospitals save dollars when hiring new nurses. Nevertheless, you just have to be persistent. I graduated in ON and it took me ~5-6 months (from the month I graduted) to land a job. Get your resume checked and rechecked. Always be prepared for an interview. A lot of places in Ontario have pre-interviews (face to face or phone interviews) before the "real" interviews with the Nurse manager and nurse educator, so just be prepared to answer general interview questions. Depending on what floor your interested, be prepared to be asked scenario questions regarding emergency situations related to that unit. Good luck on your search.

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jane thank you for answering. OP thank you for asking this question, hopefully us new graduates can help each other out during our job hunt.

jane, did you get your first job through HFO? or did you apply directly to various hospitals/LTC many of which state they would like minimum 1-2 years of experience? just wondering because i have unfortunately been unable to snag a job before graduation and i am looking at job postings at hospitals all asking for minimum 1-2 years of experience and i feel if i send my resume i am wasting their time. advice please?

thank you!

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Yes and please remember to practice interview case scenario questions. For example, if you are looking to work in mental....practice mental health scenario question ie about clozapine and agranularcytosis! Yes and please check all the hospital websites daily.

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To answer your question plainly, I applied everywhere. I sent out TONS of resume each day. I was picky at first but when it came down to it, landing the first job was key. I didn't want to look like I wasn't doing anything. Yes my first job was HFO and I applied both in the HFO website and the facility's website. Yes I applied to positions that require 1-2 years of experience. What do you have to loose? Think about investing in a Coronary Care 1 or ACLS course. I find that a lot of posting nowadays are asking for those two certifications.

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Jane, your answer was very useful! I'm also a new graduate from Ontario and I passed the June CRNE. I'm getting worried because I have had no luck in landing a job so far.. it's been 3 months since I graduated and it's gonna be past 6 months by October and then I won't qualify for HFO. I don't know where to go from there. Do you think where you did your last consolidation placement affects the opportunities? Because I really feel like I was ripped off because my last placement was in child mental health which is such a narrow field and there are no job postings in that area.. even the mental health positions want adult mental health experience. :( I don't know where to go from here, I had my resume and cover letter professionally edited, and I've been applying everywhere but I'm not being contacted for an interview at all. It's looking very bleak, and I'm trying to just stay positive but my confidence has dropped from this fruitless job hunt.

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I understand your desperation because I've been there. As to your question about your last consolidation placement... I would have to say YES and NO. Yes, there's SOME units that are specialized and are picky with consolidation (e.g., ongcology, cardiology, mental health, any critical care areas) but then there are SOME units that are NOT picky at all. Whether they're picky or not, it doesn't matter and just apply. I have heard so many managers and other nurses tell me that most of your learning will be on the job and that they're willing to train you as long as you are an eager learn. I got an interview on an oncology floor WITHOUT having any of my placements in oncology and got offered the job. It would've been a good opportunity; however, I already accepted a job from another unit. So what if you get rejected? At least you tried. If you don't get it, move on. At this point while you wait to get phone calls, practice some interview skills, and start thinking what to wear for interviews etc.

The mental health field is huge right now, at least in Ontario; but if you're searching only for mental health positions, you are limiting yourself. Just apply everywhere; when I mean EVERYWHERE, I mean every nursing position that is posted (within reason. i.e., don't apply to management jobs lol). Don't forget about your other placements, so start looking into how diverse your knoweldge and skills are. I also wasn't picky about location. I was willing to move to a smaller city for a few months to a year while applying to jobs back in the GTA. I looked at both hospitals and non hospital positions.

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Thank YOU Janesmithrevisited. Your advices really really counts to us at this time. It's really hard to find a job right now especially around ontario. Thanks again. I am motivated again...

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I find most jobs are not posted anywhere... just apply directly to the facility you want to work in, and send the resume often. I also call and talk to human resources to say I sent my resume and that I am wondering if there are any positions. This is what I do anyways! Good luck! And when you get an interview make sure you study... learn all about the facility and the speciality you would be hired for.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

Ontario has been notoriously challenging over the last four years for new grads. You aren't alone. As people said, apply EVERYWHERE. Do you have friends or nursing instructors who may have job leads? Utilize them. You can still get hired without HFO. Many people did when I graduated in 2010. Some people moved to small towns in ON for their first job when we were searching. Some people were hired agency, even as new grads. And some of us left the Province for better opportunities. If you can relocate, do so.

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