If you’re eager to hatch a career in Healthcare, look no further. Northern Health has a ton of amazing opportunities for young, aspiring professionals who are looking to get their start.
Located across beautiful Northern British Columbia, employees at Northern Health work with small, close-knit rural towns. If you’re the type of person who puts their heart and soul into their work, then you’ll fit right in with the team!
On January 14th, Northern Health recruiter Shannon Rodrigues joined us for a one-hour Office Hours Q&A. She answered questions from students and grads across the country, covering a wide range of topics such as company culture, relocation, and more.
Missed out on the event? Don’t worry, we have the full transcript. Check it out!
TalentEgg
Hi everyone, Office Hours with Northern Health will begin at 4 p.m. EST. Stay tuned!
TalentEgg
Hello, and welcome to Office Hours with Northern Health!
As part of Healthcare Week on TalentEgg, we’re featuring this eggs-tra special online Q&A. This is your chance to ask your career questions to Northern Health’s recruitment team.
Here’s how Office Hours works: for the next hour, we’ll be answering your career questions live. Some of you have submitted yours in advance. If you haven’t, you can submit them at any time during the chat!
Before we begin, let’s introduce our guest eggs-pert, Shannon Rodrigues. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Comment From Shannon Rodrigues- Recruiter- Northern Health
Hi all! My Name is Shannon Rodrigues and I am a Recruiter at Northern Health. I have the fabulous job of matching individuals like you with careers and communities in our Health Authority. I am what some call a “True Northern” girl, as I was born and raised in northern BC. I moved back after completing my degree for a variety of reasons which include the low cost of living, great job opportunities, and the beautiful landscapes! I am excited to be here with you today and can’t wait to answer your questions!
TalentEgg
Fantastic. And without further delay, let’s begin!
Elisha, a Food Science Technology major at Centennial College asks:
“What kinds of job opportunities are available with Northern Health? What qualifications must candidates meet to obtain them?”
Comment From Shannon Rodrigues- Recruiter- Northern Health
Thanks for the question Elisha. Currently Northern Health has opportunities ranging from housekeeping to specialty nurses and Physiotherapists to porters. I would depend on where you see yourself within our organization. Qualifications differ depending on what position you are looking at they can range from certificates to master’s degrees. I would encourage you to take a look at our current opportunities right here on TalentEgg or by visiting Northern Health’s careers page.
TalentEgg
Naureen, a student at UOIT asks:
“Are there a lot of career opportunities for new grads in nursing?”
Comment From Shannon Rodrigues- Recruiter- Northern Health
Hi Naureen – We LOVE new grads! We do have “new grad” friendly opportunities! It would just depend on which community within Northern Health you would want to work in. A good place to start is by looking at our current postings, and focusing in on qualifications. If your qualifications match what we are looking for… go ahead and apply! You can also connect with a recruiter, like myself, and we can let you know which postings would be best suited for you to apply on.
TalentEgg
Lu, a Physiotherapy major at McGill University asks:
“When it comes to CVs or interviews, what would you consider a ‘dealbreaker’?”
Comment From Shannon Rodrigues- Recruiter- Northern Health
Great question, Lu. I don’t think there are any things we deem as “deal breakers”, but a good habit to getting into when applying for jobs is ALWAYS include a cover letter. A cover letter is a great place to let the employer know you are willing to relocate, your interest in their community, and what skills and qualities you would be bringing to the position if you were hired. In interviews, know what position you are being interviewed for and know a bit about the community that you have applied into. It can be a bit of a letdown when an applicant does not know where the community is even located! So do your homework friends! Trust me you won’t regret it when you WOW a hiring manager in an interview.
TalentEgg
Get to know Northern Health through their TalentEgg Employer Page. They have articles, job postings, and more!
Dave, a student at Western University asks:
“Does NH offer some sort of package to help with finding accommodations or moving costs for out of province RNs?”
Comment From Shannon Rodrigues- Recruiter- Northern Health
Hey Dave! Thanks for being with us today! Northern Health does have a relocation reimbursement program. If the positions has relocation available for it, we would reimburse you for your moving expenses out to BC. This program is typically available to positions that are deemed difficult to fill. I would also encourage you to connect with the hiring manager you will be working with about housing opportunities in the community that you are relocating too.
TalentEgg
Amanda asks:
“How can applicants who don’t have experience compete with applicants who do?”
Comment From Shannon Rodrigues- Recruiter- Northern Health
Great questions Amanda! When you are a new grad or an individual who may not have the work experience required look for skill you have acquired from other jobs that would be relevant or related to the job you are applying for! This could include your extracurricular activities, volunteer experience, or even job shadowing. Also let they employer know in your cover letter that you are willing to learn these skills. You would be surprised how far your enthusiasm and drive can get you!
TalentEgg
Vineesha asks:
“Which is the best location to work at Northern Health?”
Comment From Shannon Rodrigues- Recruiter- Northern Health
Hi Vineesha! All Northern Health locations are fabulous!! It all depends on where you want to live! Communities within Northern Health range in population size from 80,0000 to 500. They also vary in the type of amenities they offer. All the communities are so different from each other. I would encourage you to take a look at our Talent Egg page to learn more about them and find which community fits your lifestyle.
TalentEgg
Kim, a Chemistry major asks:
“Do you offer career opportunities outside of healthcare?”
Comment From Shannon Rodrigues- Recruiter- Northern Health
Kim – This is a question we get asked pretty frequently, and yes! I myself have my business degree and majored in marketing and international business. We have a variety of departments that support our hospitals, care homes, and health clinics. This includes departments like Human Resources, Finance, Maintenance (trades), and Information Technology.
TalentEgg
Olivia, a Cognitive Psychology major at the University of Waterloo asks:
“Are there any research opportunities for research graduates or job opportunities that have research responsibilities at Northern Health?”
Comment From Shannon Rodrigues- Recruiter- Northern Health
Hi Olivia! From time to time there are jobs offered within Northern Health that seek out individuals with research experience. For our most up to date opportunities check right here on TalentEgg or on the Northern Health careers page.
TalentEgg
Rebecca, a Nursing student at York University asks:
“Do you offer new graduate positions?”
Comment From Shannon Rodrigues- Recruiter- Northern Health
Thanks for the question Rebecca! New grads are great and we are always happy to have a new grad join our organization. When applying for any job, be sure that your qualifications match the qualifications asked for on the job description. If there are one to two qualifications that you have not quite attained yet, make sure these are skills that you are willing to learn, and take further education around and let the employer know that. Your willingness to learn and acknowledgement on where you might need to focus your learning will go a long way.
Comment From Elisha
Are there any possibilities of relocation for people living in other provinces?
Comment From Shannon Rodrigues- Recruiter- Northern Health
Hey Elisha! Thanks for being here today and for all your great questions! Relocation is something Northern Health offers. Now it is based on the position and the community you are applying for. It does not matter where the person is applying from, it depends where you are applying too. If you are applying to a difficult to fill location or position chances are you will be eligible for our relocation reimbursement program.
TalentEgg
Hamza asks:
“What can I expect for the interview process?”
Comment From Shannon Rodrigues- Recruiter- Northern Health
Fantastic question Hamza!! The interview process will start with the hiring manager contacting you to set up and interview time. They may also ask, depending on the position you applied for, to create a small presentation or complete a small project (Keep in mind not all hiring managers will ask for this). When you arrive for your interview the interview panel will ask approximately 10 questions relating to the skills and qualities they are looking to hire. Once the interview is complete the manager will be in touch with you to let you know the outcome! It is a pretty straightforward process and sometime can happen quite quickly!
TalentEgg
Did you know that Shannon is one of Northern Health’s newest recruiters? She also has a ton of recruitment experience under her belt. Get to know her better… read this Q&A!
Comment From Dave Acal
Hello again Ms. Rodrigues. I sent you an email last week. I hope you’ll have time to get back to me soon. I forgot to ask in the email what sort of options for RN career development does NH offer?
Comment From Shannon Rodrigues- Recruiter- Northern Health
Hey Dave!! It was so lovely hearing from you!! You email is in my inbox and I was just about to reply to you after my office hours!! I hope you have a wonderful Holiday season! We do offer RN development in the way of in house education programs, or professional development. We also have a tuition reimbursement program for courses you would like to take outside of work. Information on how to access these programs would be available to you at the time of hire.
TalentEgg
Jessica, a Child and Youth Worker at Ryerson University asks:
“Is there anything we should avoid during an interview? Certain topics, etc.?”
Comment From Shannon Rodrigues- Recruiter- Northern Health
Great questions Jessica! When you come to an interview, be yourself! But be aware if you would not say it in front of your grandma you should probably not say it in an interview! You do want to give the hiring manager a taste of who you are and what kind of person they would be hiring if they hired you!
TalentEgg
Manasvini, a Global Health and Human Services Systems major at Fairleigh Dickinson University asks:
“What opportunities are available for Global Health graduates with a medical background?”
Comment From Shannon Rodrigues- Recruiter- Northern Health
Good question Manasvini. This would depend on your current skill set. Where was your education focused? What kind of work experience do you have to date? What kind of position do you see yourself in within our organization? These questions would first need to be answered before I could provide you with a complete list of opportunities. It seems like you have a very unique set of skills. I would encourage you to check out our current career opportunities right here on TalentEgg or check out Northern Health’s career page.
TalentEgg
Pashupati, a Pharmacy major at Purbanchal University asks:
“I want to work as an admin or a pharmacy assistant. What should I do?”
Comment From Shannon Rodrigues- Recruiter- Northern Health
Both are really great career options Pashupati! Northern Health currently has positions in both admin and pharmacy. It will come down to where your passion really lies. You have to make sure you love what you. Make sure you have the proper education and training for the job you want.
Comment From Macy
Hello I was wondering how I can know which one of your locations is the best for me? Do you have different specialities or features?
Comment From Shannon Rodrigues- Recruiter- Northern Health
Hey Macy!! Great question!! A great place to start is right here on Talent Egg. We do have a few videos you can check out that highlight different communities and areas of our Health Authority! You can also connect with recruiter, like ME , to can chat about what you want in your ideal community and provide some recommendations of communities that might work for you and your lifestyle!
TalentEgg
Well said, Shannon! Here’s a great video to get you started, Macy.
Now seems like a great time for our poll:
What are most egg-cited to learn about today?
- Northern Health’s career opportunities (0%)
- Life in Northern BC (27%)
- The application & interview process (45%)
- The work culture at Northern Health (27%)
TalentEgg
Only 30 minutes left, everyone. Keep submitting your questions!
Chuck, a student at the University of Manitoba asks:
“What are the most popular career paths at your organization?”
Comment From Shannon Rodrigues- Recruiter- Northern Health
Great question Chuck. Currently the big career paths would be nursing, which include RNs and LPNS, diagnostic imaging and rehabilitation professions, such as physiotherapists and occupational therapists. These are all great careers are all in high demand and that will allow you to really help people.
Comment From NaureenL.
What is the interview process for out of province applicants?
Comment From Shannon Rodrigues- Recruiter- Northern Health
Thanks for being here Naureen! Northern Health’s interview process is the same for all applicants. The only difference is we might interview you over the phone or via video conference. The questions and the hiring process would be the same!
Comment From Karima
I have decided to switch careers paths and go into nursing. But all my experience is in business and not healthcare – will that screen me out?
Comment From Shannon Rodrigues- Recruiter- Northern Health
No fears Karima!! We love new nursing grads! You past experience could actually help you down the line! As long as you have the nursing education, that is what we would be looking for. Your business experience may come in handy if you ever want to into management or a head nurse role!
TalentEgg
Ashana asks:
“When applying, do you require anything beyond our resume and cover letter?”
Comment From Shannon Rodrigues- Recruiter- Northern Health
Hey Ashana! Thanks for the question. When you first apply to Northern Health, you will need to create a profile through the Northern Health careers page. Once you have completed your profile, have your cover letter and resume ready to apply. Once you have applied be willing and ready to chat with either a recruiter or hiring manager about your interest in the role and the community that you have applied to.
TalentEgg
Yana, a Social Work major at Humber College asks:
“What types of social worker positions do you offer?”
Comment From Shannon Rodrigues- Recruiter- Northern Health
Hey Yana! Right now Northern Health has some unique opportunities available for social workers. We are currently seeing social workers to travel to local first nations communities and provide mental health and addictions support. Currently there are 4 positions of this kind and will have more being posting in the near future. For these opportunities and more please see our current posting right here on Talent Egg or by visiting Northern Health’s Careers page.
TalentEgg
Ready to explore your career options at Northern Health? Take a look at their job board.
Janelle, a Nursing major asks:
“Do you have a lot of people applying from outside BC? How does the hiring work in that case?”
Comment From Shannon Rodrigues- Recruiter- Northern Health
Awesome question Janelle!! We see applications for all corners of the world! The hiring process for all applicants is the same on our end. If you application is considered for a position you will be contacted by either a hiring manager or a recruiter for further discussion about your interest in the role, which could be follow-up with an interview. Applicants applying from outside our province or country would need to register with whichever licensing body that overlooks the profession in which they are applying to, and make sure all paperwork is in order to legally work in the province of British Columbia.
TalentEgg
Kunil asks:
“What is the average amount new hires have to pay to relocate to BC? What is the cost of living?”
Comment From Shannon Rodrigues- Recruiter- Northern Health
Hey Kunil! Thanks for the great question! Relocation amounts are based on the distance to will travel to fill a position in Northern Health. So there is really no average amount. They are done on a case by case basis. The cost of living will depend on which community you would want to relocate too. So be sure to do your homework on the communities you are applying for! Where I live, which is Prince George BC, the average house cost at the moment in $250,000 for a 2-3 bedroom detached home. So I would say that is pretty affordable!
TalentEgg
Rosa, a Life Sciences student at Memorial University asks:
“If I get a Master’s degree, does that increase my chances of getting a job with Northern Health?”
Comment From Shannon Rodrigues- Recruiter- Northern Health
Hi Rosa, thanks for your question. This would all depend on which type of position you a hoping to attain. We do have positions within our organization that do require a minimum of a Master’s Degree. As I have said before be sure to double check with the job description what level of education is required.
TalentEgg
Jaclyn asks:
“I’m trying to decide if I should go into nursing. I know there are jobs in the field but I want to know what my prospects are for career growth. Can you offer some advice?”
Comment From Shannon Rodrigues- Recruiter- Northern Health
Nursing is a wonderful career option Jaclyn. The sky is the limit on where you want your career in nursing to go. Your bachelor’s degree in nursing will provide you with the skills and knowledge to be a general duty nurse. Once you have completed your degree there are a variety for post grad programs and certification then enable you to specialize your skills in an area of your choosing (ER, ICU, Acute Care, etc. ). Specialty nurses are in high demand all over Canada right now, so you have an opportunity to really map out where you see your career going.
TalentEgg
Alissa, a student at the University of Alberta asks:
“Do you offer any benefits for employees who relocate to BC to work at Northern Health?”
Comment From Shannon Rodrigues- Recruiter- Northern Health
Hi Alissa! Northern Health does have a relocation reimbursement program. Packages are available for positions that are considered difficult to fill. These packages will be discussed with you at the time of hire, and the amount one will be reimbursed in calculated on the distance the new employee had to travel to fill the position.
Comment From Jenny
Thanks for answering our questions today! I was hoping you could talk about the work environment at your company
Comment From Shannon Rodrigues- Recruiter- Northern Health
Hey Jenny, no problem! Thanks for having me here! I love answering your questions! The work environment at Northern Health is fantastic and one of the many reasons I choose to work here! It is always upbeat a positive and people at all levels of the organizations truly care about what they do. We are encouraged to put our full hearts and minds into what we do. NH also prides itself on providing a great work life balance for all employees! I can’t imagine working anywhere else!
TalentEgg
Kaley, a Nursing grad from George Brown College asks:
“I graduated from my nursing program last year. Do I need any additional qualifications to be hired at Northern Health?”
Comment From Shannon Rodrigues- Recruiter- Northern Health
Congrats on graduating Kaley! It is so very exciting being a new grad and looking for work, the opportunities are endless. You can start by looking at our current job postings and seeing which one work for you and match your qualifications. If you are not already certified as an RN in BC that would also be something to start as well. You can do this by contacting the College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia (CRNBC). They will be able to guide you through the steps you will need to take.
TalentEgg
Jennifer asks:
“How can I make sure my application gets noticed?”
Comment From Shannon Rodrigues- Recruiter- Northern Health
Good question Jennifer! Make sure you state or provided evidence that you meet those qualifications in your resume and cover letter. Even something as basic as stating you have a valid driver’s license, if the job requires a valid license. It shows us and hiring managers you took the time to thoroughly read the job posting and matched your qualifications with the requirements of the job. Also including, in your cover letter why you would like to relocate to the community you are applying for, is always impressive! Taking the time to get to know about Northern Health, who we serve, and where we are located is always a good thing!
TalentEgg
Logan asks:
“Is it stressful working in healthcare?”
Comment From Shannon Rodrigues- Recruiter- Northern Health
Very thoughtful questions Logan.. I like it! Any job can be stressful, and healthcare is no expectation. Northern Health does pride itself on providing some of the best work life balance out there! This means you work hard and play hard! So you will have time to de-stress on your time off, and our communities provide you with ample amount of activities to do so!
TalentEgg
Mandeep asks:
“How many applicants do you consider for each position at your organization?”
Comment From Shannon Rodrigues- Recruiter- Northern Health
Nice question Mandeep! This would depend on the job. If we are looking to fill a full time position, we are looking for one successful applicant, and would interview 3 or 4 individuals for this job. The only positions that we would consider all interviewed applicants would be for a casual line.
TalentEgg
We have time for a few more questions!
Buela asks:
“What is the training like for nurses? Do they expect you to know how to do everything right away if you went to school for it?”
Comment From Shannon Rodrigues- Recruiter- Northern Health
Hey Buela! Thanks for taking time out of your day to be here with me! We have an extensive orientation program that all Northern Health employees go through. There would be no expectation that you would be working on your own! No fears we offer buddy system, where until you are comfortable working alone, you will be partnered up with an experienced staff member.
TalentEgg
Charlie asks:
“Are there any extra programs/extracurriculars that can benefit my resume? I want to go into pharmacy.”
Comment From Shannon Rodrigues- Recruiter- Northern Health
Hey Charlie! A good thing to have, outside of your schooling, could be doing some job shadowing or working in an entry level pharmacy job. These both show that you are keen are learning how pharmacies work and have taken the steps outside of your education to learn more about the field!
Comment From James F
How often do you hire?
Comment From Shannon Rodrigues- Recruiter- Northern Health
Hey James! We are hiring all time!! Stay up to date on our job posting right here on TalentEgg or on the Northern Health’s Careers page!
TalentEgg
That’s all the time we have, everyone. Fantastic questions!
A very special thank you to Shannon! That hour just flew by – anything to say before we wrap up?
Comment From Shannon Rodrigues- Recruiter- Northern Health
Thank you for being here with me today and letting me chat with you about Northern Health! If you would like to learn more about our organization be sure to check out our TalentEgg page, or check out the Northern Health website: NorthernHealth.ca . You can also connect with a recruiter by email at hr@northernhealth.ca . Thanks again and have a wonderful day!
TalentEgg
If you’re interested in learning more about Northern Health, you can check out their Employer Page on TalentEgg.
They will also be hosting another Office Hours event in February, so stay tuned to this page for that!
Thanks again for joining us. Have an egg-ceptional day!