[NRSKarenRN]

Look at your RESUME!!!


I've been reviewing resume's for open positions in my department and can't believe the resumes I've received: misspelling, words crossed off, no cover letter, including personal information about family life. Please don't send a resume if you have NONE of the job qualifications, unless your cover letter has explanation eg enrolled in education program etc.


I was taught in LPN and BSN program how to prepare a resume. Is this a lost art being skipped??

Also agree with our bb members that calling facility and finding out who is department manager, then forwarding your resume to them along with HR is great idea.

I work in smaller organization than hospital but has taken me over two months to get open positions advertised and three weeks to get resume's sent to me...those that sent to me directly have interview same week.


Check out:

Resume Writing and Interview Tips for Nurses from Univ. of Pennsylvania: updated 8/28/06
Job Search Prep: Resumes, Cover Letters & Interviews

Sample Resumes

The Nursing Job Search Handbook | Dunne, Genny added 8/28/2006


Resume Writing by Donna Cardillo RN--lots of advice:
http://www.dcardillo.com/articles.html

Resume versus CV - what’s the difference?

Resume versus CV: Which Is Right for You?


Research Before Your Interview - Boston College

Types Of Interviews - Boston College
Information on different types of interviews

Questions Interviewers Ask - Boston College
Interview tips - typical questions interviewers ask and a few good responses

Difficult Interview Questions + a few answers

Dealing With Interview Anxiety - Boston College
Information on dealing with interview anxiety



YOU are interviewing the hospital too:
From Hospitalsoup.com:
Questions for Management Positions

Questions to ask the Employer

AACN: Hallmarks of the Professional Nursing Practice Setting
Where is the top nursing voice in the organization? Are nurses represented in key committees and in governance? Request organizational chart
http://www.aacn.nche.edu/pnn/hallmarksbrochure.htm


Healthcare Resume and Interview Tips ... Polish your interviewing skills with our Virtual Interview, which contains common healthcare interview questions

** Healthcare Resume Readiness Quiz
Are you confident your resume will make it to the yes pile? Take our Resume Readiness Quiz for healthcare pros, and see if your resume passes the test.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The following Cover Letters submitted by Siri
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


COVER LETTERS FOR THE RESUME'

The Basics of the Cover Letter: Vault Sample Cover Letters - a step-by-step guide of what goes on a cover letter done in the format of how the letter should appear.

Cover Letters That Sell - Resume Writing Services & Free Resume Advice from Monster.com - This article contains an outline and guideline of what each paragraph of a cover letter should contain

Ten Cover Letter Don'ts

Sample Cover Letters: First Impressions Count - Avoid Common Cover Letter Mistakes

Cover Letters: More Helpful Hints


Added 1/17/08 per llg advice:

Book: Building and Managing a Career in Nursing: Strategies for Advancing Your Career

A separate unit on reclaiming one's career includes three unique chapters on the stalled career, the impaired career, and overcoming damage and building new credibility. The final two chapters address the importance of building support networks and mentoring. There are also discussions on inquiry letters, resumes, CVs and how to complete a successful interview, with examples of each.

[VickyRN]

Thanks, Karen! Excellent resources!
We have one faculty member (not a part of our nursing school, but a part of our community college faculty) whose specialty is writing resumes and cover letters, and any other qualifications that students need on interviews to get the job! She even has a nice little notebook she has prepared that goes over all aspects of job hunting (how to dress, what questions to anticipate on an interview, etc.). The mission statement for our community college is - equipping local residents (who are unemployed or underemployed) with marketable job skills so they can go to work!

[Jolie]

Karen,

Could you make a "sticky" of your resume and cover letter sources? Thanks!

[LPNtoBSNstudent]

Great post! Thank you Karen.

I also had resume writing in LPN (14 years ago) and BSN school. In fact, it was a required assignment to hand in a completed one, just last semester in my 'professional leadership in nursing' class.

Good advice about finding out who the manager is and forwarding the resume directly to them.

[codebluechic]

And it never hurts to send a thank you note after the interview.

[TriageRN_34]

Yes! The thank you letter seems to be a dying art as well, but my bosses admitted to me that it was the cover letter, resume, additional contact list (separate), letters of recomendation, and thank you letter that got me the job! I was worried that I was sending in TOO much info, but no I was sending in a very good reflection of myself!

I bring that thank you card with me to my interviews, make sure I get the names correctly, and put it in the mailbox on my way home from the interview! Nothing fancy...I just got those nice white with gold letter thank you cards from an Office supply store. They are simple and classy! I always bring up one thing positive said to remind them it was a positive interview (or at least leave with that note ).

[kona2]

Thanks Karen-
I had a class on resume writing and interviews in college also. However, it always helps to brush up. I'm interviewing for two positions this week. I appreciate the interview tips & links. I haven't interviewed in a few years, so this post is very timely!

[Jami RN]

As a hospital nurse recruiter, I couldn't agree with you more, Karen! I would also add:

Follow all of the instructions and fill out your application completely. If a company instructs you to fill out an electronic application, please do so -- many hospitals have moved to a paperless hiring system. If you insist on filling out a paper application, you will be seriously disadvantaged.

Do not let the first questions you ask be: "How much is your sign on, relocation, hourly wage, differentials, etc." The nursing shortage is not as severe in some parts of the country as others. If money is the only reason you are considering a position, some hospitals won't want you. Hiring and retaining the right employees is becoming more important than just hiring as many nurses as possible. The same goes for a generally entitled attitude -- you will make yourself look bad if you make multiple demands early in the hiring process. Save these questions for after you have interviewed or at least until you've been offered an interview.

Be polite to everyone that you come into contact with. I've tossed applications because the applicant was rude to our HR receptionist!

Do not show up to talk to a recruiter or for your interview in sweats, jeans, halter tops, with dirty hair, with 4 kids in tow, accompanied by your mom and boyfriend, etc.

You would think all of these things would be common sense -- but they're not! I see them all every day. Many nurses have developed a very entitled, rude, and demanding attitude because of the nursing shortage. I never cease to be amazed at the way some people go about their job search!

[llg]

As someone who has read a lot lot of resumes, applications, etc. and done lots of interviews ... I wholeheartedly agree with the previous posts in this thread. In fact, as coordinator of a nursing student extern program, I have decided to emphasize job hunting, career planning, and employee skills in our extern classes as opposed to offering a lot of physiology and nursing care classes. The applicants who "do it right" really stand out from those who don't know how to make a positive impression on a potential employer.

Here is another tip for resumes:

Do NOT pad your resume or try to make school experiences look like employee experiences. I've seen a lot of that -- and it makes a very bad impression. It makes me think the applicant is sneaky, someone I can't completely trust. No one wants to hire a person they can't trust.

llg

[Quickbeam]

WORD to all those looking for professional resumes. I did hire/fire as an RN case management supervisor for years and the resumes I'd get, Oy! Juvenile fonts, duckies, pictures of their kids and kittens....that stuff has no place on a professional resume. Save it for the Christmas letter. Really.