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How To Make Your Nursing Resume Stand Out

by Jim Manierre on December 22, 2008 in Career Advice, Nursing Resumes, Resume Writing, Student Resumes

A good nursing resume is one that meets the job specification for which it is intended. It is one that highlights the important points related to the proposed job application and adds more than what the employer is actually looking for.

Employers and recruiters can get thousands of submitted resumes every day, especially when a job is widely advertised. They go through the pool of resumes that they hold in their databases as well as new resumes that are submitted.

In order for yours to stand out, it has to meet the job requirements as well as to include any other information that would determine that you are an asset to the company. It also has to be otimized for the software that will be scanning it.

Employers look for experience that you have accumulated that will help you to do a good job when hired. Ensure that all your dates are in bold print on your resume. Employers also look for commitment, so if you have a long history with another employer, the better your chance of landing that job and it must stand out in your resume.

Phrases and words that are active and attention-getting are suggested rather than using long statements. Here is some of the important information to include in your resume.

  • Nurse certifications
  • Nursing license
  • The start dates and end dates of your previous jobs
  • Complete start and stop dates
  • Type of nursing job (travel nurse, contract positions, doctor’s office, hospital)
  • Academic Degrees
  • Where you attended school
  • Dates of college attendance including graduation date
  • Your contact information (they have to know how to contact you and that you live in a vicinity that is commutable if you get hired for the job)

Your objectives and goals are very important to make your resume stand out. You must use words that highlight your strengths and that show compatibility to the job description.

If you are a student nurse, this is even more relevant because your lack of experience will not impede you in any way if the employer sees that you want to pursue that career path.

Those goals and objectives will be discussed in your interview so make sure that you are clear about them and that they are your honest intentions. A goal towards pursuing a higher education level within the scope of the job will let the employer know that you are serious and committed and in this for the long haul.

To stand out from the other resumes, list your relevant experiences and things that you were involved with in your community and on the previous job, then write a summary statement of what you achieved and how you would bring this same kind of commitment to the new job. For example, if you were seeking a nursing administrative position, your summary statement would probably read, “I have 10 valuable years of experience as an administrative manager in a large hospital and 5 years as the managing director of a small clinic which included hiring, evaluating, budgeting and providing essential assistance with nursing practices as it is needed.”
Notice that the use of words valuable, administrative, managing and essential would stand out in your summary statement as being proactive and very involved with that particular job. The employer would also assume that you would bring the same kind of attitude to the new job if they hired you.

If you are still not fully confident that you can, or should, try to write or improve your own nursing resume, you can find a professional that can at NursingResumePros. We specialize in Nursing Resumes and can give you as much or as little help you think you need.

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What Every Student Nurse Should Include in Her Resume

by Jim Manierre on December 22, 2008 in Career Advice, Nursing Resumes, Resume Writing, Student Resumes, Tips and Advice

Learn all you can about the company you’re applying to, then try to make your resume the answer to their need. Make sure you go to the company’s website first and get a feel for the company. The “Frequently Asked Questions” link will provide answers to questions that can help you with both your resume and the interview.  Try not to make your resume more than one page.

Here are a few tips on how to put together a resume that will land that coveted job:

1. Pay attention to the appearance and presentation of your resume. Make sure it looks professional.

2. Include your objective and goals that are important to you that you will bring to the company. The job description will give you some indication of what the company is looking for and if you ensure that you are on the same page with the company’s goal, you can include that in your resume.

3. Indicate which nursing school you attended and what programs you were involved with. Identify when you will graduate or the date when you did graduate. Put down your school experiences that relate to the job.

4. Include any work experience as well as learning experiences while in nursing school that would be an asset to the job position.

5. Include your summary of qualifications. Mention your people skills and how self directed you are. For example, if you want to work in a children’s hospital, you should indicate what kind of experience and qualifications you have working with children.

6. Indicate any high level of achievement or leadership skills in your employment background. This information can include scholarships, academic awards and special program participation. You can mention any active affiliation with school or community organizations. Include your hobbies or sports involvement to highlight any above average developmental skills and dedication.

Most employers look for things such as your long term commitment to a career in a hospital or doctor’s office. They don’t want to train you and then have you leave in a few months. They want to know if they will have a good return on any investment they put into you. So in your resume, make mention of dates when you have been involved and committed.

Never try to get too cute or overly creative. Instead maintain a professionally formatted and straightforward resume. Never try to pad your resume with exaggerations. If the employer discovers this, they may view you as an untrustworthy person especially if it comes out in the interview.

Ensure that the experiences you had as a student nurse is clearly identifiable as such. If the employer is unclear about this, it may look like you are trying to be deceptive.

Don’t lengthen your resume with unimportant things. You don’t want to over do it or waste the employer’s time reading things that are unrelated.

Only refer to information that is useful and relevant to the particular job description. This will make you stand out from other nursing students. If they assume that you think all the information provided is useful, they will realize that you don’t know much about nursing and it makes you appear incapable of assuming the position.

If you are not sure what is useful and what is not useful for a student nursing resume to land you that coveted job, then ask someone else who does. We do. NursingResumePros is the only full-service resume writing company that specializes in resumes for nurses at all levels of experience.

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