Bad resumes/good resumes *rant*

[mclennan]

I'm assisting with hiring a new case manager RN and would like to vent about the HORRIBLE quality resumes I am seeing in the mile high stack we're reading through.

#1 problem: basic spelling, grammar, punctuation and command of the English language. I don't really care if it's your first, second or ninth language. You will need to communicate with and document about our patients in clear, concise, correct and understandable English. Period. Yes, we toss resumes with ONE TYPO in the trash. That typo represents a typo you'd miss on a med list or MD order that could mean life or death.

#2 problem: length! My goodness, people. We don't need a novel. Even RNs with 10+ years of experience should be able to sum it up in 2 pages or less. We're not interested in reading your past job descriptions. Just hit the highlights that pertain to the position you're applying for, and an accomplishment or two that will get our attention (chaired a committee, piloted a program, won an award). Also, as much as I admire family parenting/elder care, it's not job experience that belongs on a resume, no matter how "special needs" your family members were. (Honestly, I see so much of this on resumes. Inappropriate space filler). Talk about it in the interview!

#3 problem: listing an "objective." We KNOW what you're applying for and why. The "objective" on a resume died a decade ago, please stop using it! And leave off your high school diploma, no one cares.

Things we like to see right off the bat:

Immediate list of 3 or 4 strengths specific to the position

Bulleted list of licenses, certifications, with issue/expiration month/year

Any significant continuing education accomplished or in progress (as in, a certification or degree)

Any languages spoken fluently

And please. Use a common font like Times New Roman in 12 point, through the WHOLE document. Keep bold/italics/underlining to a minimum. No color. No curlicues. No pictures. No logos. Send it as a PDF *and* Word attachment, embed it in the email AND send or fax a hard copy, that kind of effort gets our attention. So does following up with a thank you.

Simple stuff. I can't believe the whining I hear from unemployed nurses, then see the back end of things where the majority of the job seekers reflect such poor attention to detail and minimal effort.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

I helped the inservice coordinator review applications for our CNA class one time. She would immediately toss any applications filled out online. She said "they were too lazy to come in and fill it out in person". I was appalled and did not help her ever again. That's what we have the online application for! To drum up more of an applicant pool. I feel that one should save the judgement until I see and speak with an applicant. LPN and RN associate degree programs do not go into depth teaching good writing skills, and I feel experience and professionalism count. I've worked with too many educated jerks to think that perfect grammar will make a good nurse.

Perfect grammar doesn't guarantee a good nurse, but it will help with finding that job and charting in a readable manner. I've seen some notes charted by nurses that, due to spelling and grammatical errors, would not hold up in court.

[sweetpeamax1206]

Thank you all for the updates on the resumes. I am a recent graduate from a ADN program and I am currently working in a non-medical field and have manager experience, however, I have not taken my NCLEX yet as I am waiting for my school to finalize the paperwork to do so. I have applied for a couple of jobs at the hospital that I did most of my rotations at and I was rejected right away online. I am not sure how to make myself more presentable. I have a Bachelors in communication and now a ADN, but I feel lost in this process and discouraged. I really want to work at the hospital where I did my clinicals, but not sure what is appropriate to get noticed. I even emailed my old instructor who is a manager on the floor I would like to work. Any suggestions from those who read resumes, what are you looking for if I do not have experience per se. Thank you

[Orion81RN]

You don't have to look too far around AN to see illiteracy, misspelling, and horrible usage. It makes my eyes cross. Good luck, though.

I don't mind misspelling on AN. To me, it is an informal mode of communication. As for myself, I type it on my phone which is DIFFICULT. However, I believe I can think of those who you are referring. I sometimes too shake my head, wondering about some people posting. But as long as you are not in a professional environment or professional correspondence, I don't not pick at typos.

[Orion81RN]

No problem there, your certainly entitled to your opinion. I want a strong team, not necessarily strong "resume writers." I wish your team the best as it's the patient that matters, not our ego. May the New Year bring you wonderfully written, correctly spelled, and "Objective" free applicant's resumes. I will keep interviewing the qualified, not the ones with "perfect" resume(but judged by what standard I have no idea)- a nurse with 3 years experience in my field will get priority over a perfectly written applicant with no field experience. (regardless of resume perfection)I am also very proud of my second language nurses, who do struggle sometimes with English, as I struggle with the Native American and Hispanic patients that are so proud to have them in the Emergency Department. The best English wouldn't help in multi-cultural emergency situations. English is not the official language of the United States, and few people know that. Again, I hire proficient and skilled nurses, not authors. Your needs may be totally different than mine:)I guess I do choose to remain part of "the problem" with Nursing.

Boston, as always, I love your post. Also, you did use the word "principle" correctly. I could nit pick and point out a few grammatical errors in OPs post, BUT, I'm not that petty and frankly do not have the time.

[Orion81RN]

Come on people. We're not talking about the resume riddled with errors. That is just careless, and yes, would make me question the care they would give a patient. What I take issue with is the tossing of a resume for "ONE" typo. Otherwise, the rest of the original post, I found to be common sense. I guess not, though :/ I read, and re-read my latest resume only to find a few months later that (horror :0) there was indeed a typo. I must be a terrible nurse and get out of the profession now.

[phuretrotr]

I'm not a nurse... YET! Also, I have not majored in resumé writing yet. Although, I felt like this post was a prime example of how not to treat people. I always read about nurses and student nurses here on AN, venting about how badly their supervisor, clinical instructor, or whoever, belittle them for one mistake they made. No second chances, no re-do's, no rewinds. One blimp on the screen and you're out... Really? No wonder nurses feel under appreciated.

[amygarside]

It can really be frustrating to see that resumes are done haphazardly. It can make you think twice about hiring this applicants because if they are not careful about the resume they send, how can they be careful about taking care of the patients.

[TheBlackDogWaits]

LOVE you. I was beginning to lose faith in the profession before seeing this...

[theantichick]

I'm a new GN and have only had a couple of interviews so far. However, I've been in Corporate America for a good many years, and I've been on hiring committees many times.

I applaud people who set a higher requirement for resumes. I *do* think that throwing out a resume with a single typo is a bit excessive, depending on the typo. Some typos should be glaring to anyone with a command of the language. Some are subtle and harder to ferret out.

Bottom line, if you're preparing a resume, have it looked at by as many people as possible - preferably people who can tell if the content appropriate, and also be nit-picky about spelling and grammar. I'm affectionately known among my friends as a grammar geek and have cheerfully spent evenings debating the worth of the Oxford Comma. Typos and errors STILL slip by me when I've been looking at a document forever. That's why I have friends who are ALSO grammar geeks - well, that and to have someone to debate the Oxford Comma with!! :)

[Calabria, BSN, RN]

If we want to gain more respect as a profession, we need to appear as professionals in all aspects. Kudos to you for taking this approach!

[FlorenceNtheMachine]

I'm in the team where ONE typo does not = ONE patient demise/mistake. I've met some honest to goodness GENIUS people in my life and they had poor spelling and grammar. Did they proofread emails and important paperwork? Oh yes, they did. And the very, very cautious ones knew to get more than one person to do it. But I guarantee you, each and every post here so far probably has some minor error in syntax, etc.

Nowe if theRE resumay lookz like this:

F, Machine RN

[email protected]

Pass! But one typo may be precluding an excellent candidate!

[wooh, BSN, RN]

Is it really so much to expect someone to proofread their resume? Then proofread it again. And perhaps get someone else to look it over. While perfect grammar might be a bit high of an expectation for someone not applying to be an editor or proofreader, typos shouldn't be on a resume. You're applying for a job. No, you don't have to be perfect. But be careful with how you present yourself, especially when you have plenty of time to prepare that presentation.