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As a newcomer to the Island and a past writer on the forum, I would like to say that everyone was 100% correct about not moving to Hawaii. We decided to move here for my husband's health concerns, thinking that the weather and the ability to swim would be good for him. As a nurse of 28 years, I have NEVER encountered any kind of problem locating a job within a week of moving. Locals assured me not to worry about it because there was such a nursing shortage here. Although uneasy, we moved on faith that history would repeat itself and I would find work somewhere. We had cushion money which quickly got ate up with unexpected expenses. MANY businesses actually HAVE job openings but almost smugely state...we have other obligations right now so we won't be even looking at applications for 2 - 3 weeks and THEN we will start interviewing for the job. I've even discussed this with locals who are very upset over needing to work and companies dragging their heels to fill an open position. Even though I have 4 years of college, I can't even get a minimum wage job right now! The two Life Care facilities apparently only hire at intervals which means that they leave their employees working short handed until they want to do another new employee hiring and orientation. Apparently both facilities hired about 12 nurses the week before my arrival, even though I've been in contact with them frequently for the past 6 months. They knew my arrival date and knew that I actually purchased a home here but would not give me any information about openings or even schedule an interview after my arrival. Hawaii needs to hugely get out of the rut that it's in and welcome the infusion of experience into the workplace and quite delaying on getting people to work. There aren't that many jobs available so I'm assuming that no one is hurting that much for workers so therefore it is not important to those that do the hiring. I have been job hunting every day for almost 3 weeks now and have some POTENTIAL jobs lined up but who knows when they will actually start. No one calls you back and they actually act put out when you check back with them weekly. In driving around our area, I have never seen so many NO TRESPASSING signs up in my life on homes. Where is the ohana I hear everyone talk about?? We didn't move here because of the "glamour" of the Island. I thought I could help out with my nursing experience and my future Nurse Practitioner's degree and I thought the weather would benefit my husband. Right now, I'm feeling that I'm stuck in a nightmare that I can't escape. We have a house now that we won't be able to sell and don't have the money even to fly back to the Mainland and try to rent out our place. With all the homes for rent, it's unlikely we could find a reliable renter anyway. We had the right motives for moving but now see that Hawaii actually is a place just to visit and not to move. I should have listened to those who responded to me earlier in the year and now it's too late. Hopefully others considering a move here will read this and reconsider their decision. My only hope is to get an agency job working back on the Mainland and sending money to my husband here until the market turns around and we can sell the home we just bought. Welcome to paradise!! Linda Bowman, RN
Posts: 1,051
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Linda:
I'm truly sorry that you and your husband are going through this stress at this time. I encourage you to not lose heart and to keep trying to find a place where you can earn your daily bread. I wish there was something constructive I could do besides offer encouragement.
Here are some words from Winston Churchill when England was going through it's blackest hours during WWII: "Never give in. Never give in. Never. Never. Never."
For what it's worth. Tenacity will probably at least meet your needs in the end.
Wishing you the very best,
Andrew
___________________________
Chinese curse "May you live in interesting times".
Posts: 34
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My question is...when there ARE jobs available...why are the employers so laid back on processing applications?? I could have been working two weeks ago if the employers would have gotten busy processing applications for jobs they had open??? From what I here, it's not just those from the Mainland but locals, too who are suffering. What's the deal with this? Linda Bowman
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I just got off the phone with Altres which is a staffing agency. They didn't have any nursing contracts for my area of speciality but then went on to tell me that, "I can't sound desperate when I call employers or it will scare them off, I can't call them every week to check on positions or they will scratch my name off of their lists, even if it's been weeks since a position has been open, I can't tell them how to run their business when they delay in setting up interviews, etc." I asked what people were then supposed to do? I was told to just "wait until they recognize your experience and they call you and make the best of it". What is this all about??? You're not going to have money to pay your bills, buy food or gas but you're supposed to make the best of it while employers ..."get around to it"? Linda Bowman
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Welcome to Hawaii - things just don't happen in a hurry here. Thinking you'd get a job within weeks of arriving is a tad optimistic. Keep at it, and good luck!
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Joined: Jun 2005
Sweetwater, 3 words say it all: network, network, network!
Posting on Punaweb is a great start. I'll mention your situation to some folks I know in the health-care business. (It won't happen right away as I'm off island for the next 2 weeks.) My leads will probably yield nothing, but if everyone else who reads this does the same, then your chances of landing a job improve.
You can only control your outlook, choices and actions
tay positive and keep trying. Hopefully someone else on Punaweb can help. Good luck!
Tim
A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions--Confucius
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quote:
Originally posted by sweetwater
My question is...when there ARE jobs available...why are the employers so laid back on processing applications??
If they are private employers, they have absolutely no requirement to process any applications. So long as they are not discriminating against you because of a protected class, they can flip that app in the trash before you even complete the form. It's their business, it's their call.
Posts: 31
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Joined: May 2008
Aloha Sweetwater. My husband and I are also in a similar situation. We moved here a year ago and have not been able to get work either. He is a Chef and I used to work in the nursing homes as a Med-Aid/Caregiver. I applied to Big Island Candies for work and it has now been 3 weeks. I did recceive a call back and was told that they are sending it into Big Island Candies since you have to apply through a Temp Agency. As far as my husband it seems as though many of the restraunts are closing and chances of finding a job are not looking so good. We live in Mountain View and he has even applied on the Kona Side in the hope that we can starting getting some income in.
Good Luck!
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Have you tried the other Nurses Registries ex, Health Resources 933-2889 Nursefinders of Hawaii Home Care 969-9622, Care Resource Hawaii 935-2718, Kokua Nurses 935-2691. If you have not contacted them yet, set up an appointment, talk to them in person, first impressions are important, you cannot do this over the phone! What about an ad in the paper, available for private nursing, run it island wide covering Kona and Waimea area. Contact the Waikoloa Hotels in case they have positions in your field. Try the University in case there is opening for instructors in their nursing program. what about the new Veterans Home in Hilo putting an application in there. Also I contacted a couple of friends who work in your field, question asked, do you have experience in infant care or just LTC? If I hear anything positive from them will e-mail you. Just read ForrUtocry post, Full Life non profit agency in Puna and Easter Seals in Hilo constantly looking for help with their disabled clients, pay is good, usually includes health benefits and gas allowance try put an application on file with them. Another idea, what would it take for a small group to open your own Home Health Care Service, there must be a need for this in the Puna area. Our daughters friend in Kona did that, started small, and is now very successful. Good Luck!
