Health-care job fairs held to fill thousands of vacancies across province
Fairs promoting jobs in health care were held across Nova Scotia on Friday and at least two of them started with lineups before the doors even opened.
Events in Sydney and Halifax had people eager to get in early, said Michelle Murphy, assistant manager of recruitment for Nova Scotia Health.
The Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion in Sydney was busy from the beginning, she said.
"Our doors opened as of 10 o'clock this morning and as of 10:20 we had already seen 190 people through the door," Murphy said.
Most of the participants were Cape Breton University students, but younger students from several high schools across Cape Breton came to visit booths representing jobs in therapy, lab testing, pharmacy, cancer care and more.
"They're all pretty busy," Murphy said. "I think it would be pretty hard for me to say which one is the most popular booth right now looking around the room.
"Health care is not just about stethoscopes and lab jackets, so we have opportunities within nutrition and food, corporate services, as well as IT and nursing and physicians."
Darlene Wadden, head nurse in long-term care at Glace Bay Hospital, said she was happy to see a flood of job seekers. (Tom Ayers/CBC)
Murphy said she was happy with the turnout because there are about 5,000 vacancies in health care across the province.
The events were held in 11 communities and provided an opportunity to show off new technology.
Each booth featured a poster with a QR code that job seekers could scan to upload a resumé. Some of the resuscitation dummies were computer controlled and featured life-like actions.
Sharon-Rose Omaghomi, a high school student at Sydney Academy, said she wants to become a doctor. Omaghomi was amazed at some of the demonstrations, especially the live-baby simulation.
"They're a bit weird, but they're really interesting," Omaghomi said.
Nithin Nagappankurup, a student at Cape Breton University who used to work in health care in India, said he would like to find work here in his field.
Simulation specialist Ryan Power demonstrates a resuscitation technique for a couple of high school students. (Tom Ayers/CBC)
He said the job fair was an excellent way to meet people in the field and get his resumé out.
"This is a good platform for persons like us," said Nagappankurup. "We can get into the job we like to do and we used to do back in India."
Jayesh Vijay, an engineering student from India, said jobs in his field are hard to find in Sydney.
"The growing sector in Sydney is health care, so we will definitely try to look into that sector," he said.
Renz Pineda said he is looking for work in occupational health and safety and said the fair was helpful in showing him other options.
"If we have more of these events, it can boost up the opportunities for everyone. Not just for the international students, but for locals, too."
MORE TOP STORIES
