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.

[TheBlackDogWaits]

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!

Nicely put; er, well done; er, nicely said? I can't decide now! Should it be hyphenated? Nonetheless.... great approach.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

But I guarantee you, each and every post here so far probably has some minor error in syntax, etc.

Acceptable in something that's casually written. But I hope most people put more thought into their resume, since it's the first impression a potential employer will have, than into a quickly prepared post on the internet. If they're only willing to put in minimal effort to get the job, there's plenty of people who are willing to work harder (and proofread) to get most jobs.

[FlorenceNtheMachine]

Agreed, but I didn't come to the defense of those who put forth minimal effort. But those resumes with very minimal errors/typos, maybe look past them and see the big picture, you know?

Will this person bring 15+ years of relevant experience to our workplace? Are they strongly involved in the community and get along with the pt population?

Am I willing to meet them and see how we get along in person?

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

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

I'm going to venture a guess in that the MOST LIKELY reason for all the automatic rejects is that you are applying for a licensed nursing position and you are not able to complete the field with a current, active nursing license as you have not yet taken the NCLEX. In searching some of the major medical centers websites in my area it clearly states that applications without the minimum requirements (i.e. an active nursing license) will be automatically rejected and that only online applications are accepted per current policy.

First, stop applying (online) for now so that you aren't prevented from reapplying for positions once you get your license (some systems prevent duplicate applications). If an application can be submitted via fax, in person, or via email whereby you can submit a resume stating license pending with the state of X and you can emphasize your clinical rotations at the facility then by all means apply.

Work on preparing your resume and studying for the NCLEX. Hopefully you are in a state that passing the NCLEX is the last step in licensing and your license will be posted shortly after you pass the NCLEX.

Good luck.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

Ironic:) (support post errors)

I wrote most of my friend's resumes for them, along with several others who got wind I could compose them well. I doubt your even getting "that" person's work.

I agree with, and applaud you for your time and consideration to help AN members with your pearls of wisdom- but the admitted reactions are what I find shocking.

Your friend wrote more than one resume? And your friend has a multiple personality disorder?

(That would be "...my friends' resumes for them..." or "..my friend's resumes (or resume, if you only did one) for him..."

Also, one does not properly capitalize "high school diploma" or "resume" (an earlier post).

::sigh::

[nurseprnRN, BSN, 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.

In US punctuation, the period is enclosed in the quotation marks. "... fill out in person."

"To drum up" is a reference to the time when drums sounding on the town green brought out the militia. One can therefore drum up more applicants, but cannot drum up a pool.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

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.

"... these applicants ... the resumes they send .... "

However, if you have meant to write "this applicant," you must correct the rest of your sentence to read, "this applicant, because if he is not careful about the resume he sends, how can he be careful about ..."

Plural : plural; singular : singular.

[llg, PhD, RN]

I'm in the "middle of the road" on this one. I can understand the ocassional typo, grammar error, etc. ... and think it foolish to not consider an otherwise strong candidate who made 1 or 2 little mistakes in writing. BUT, I feel strongly that the people whose resumes demonstrate that they are either careless or lack the ability to comminicate in written English are giving a bad impression of themselves -- and I don't want to hire them. We need to set and maintain higher standards for the nursing profession.

When you are getting dozens (in some cases, hundreds) of applications for each open position, there is no way that each applicant can be interviewed. You have to have some criteria to do that initial screening to get the applicant pool down to a managable size. People who can't take the time or make the effort to write a decent resume make easy targets.

I don't understand why a job seeker would NOT want to use their resume to make a positive impression. If your writing skills are weak, get some help. It's a reasonable expectation that everyone should be able to meet. Those who don't bother to meet it are "asking" to be eliminated early in the competition for the job. I don't want to hire anyone who doesn't have enough common sense to realize that.

[BostonTerrierLover, BSN, RN]

@GrnTea, I would cry at my grammatical failures, but I'm already in an emotional drought, I love you all, and hope you meet your hiring needs!

I'm off to remedial English training secondary to poorly paid "Southern US Rural School Teachers(with too many students)" (I didn't even proofread this post by the way. So rip it apart, just don't expect me to hurt- you can't can't get blood from a turnip:))*

I think I am the only one in the whole thread who admitted being imperfect, especially now. I am just glad I didn't have MORE errors!!!

Actually, I did have to do more than one resume for the friend in question (friend's), because she wasn't willing to work Sundays. Her husband was a Minister, and I was just the resume slave. The rest of the grammar I butchered, Lol!!

*(hukt en foniks pheld mee!!) ...and so did Apple's spell and grammar check!!!!

[Orion81RN]

In US punctuation, the period is enclosed in the quotation marks. "... fill out in person." "To drum up" is a reference to the time when drums sounding on the town green brought out the militia. One can therefore drum up more applicants, but cannot drum up a pool.

The period does NOT always fall within the quotation marks. So if you are going to judge, get your facts straight. Sheesh, who the heck cares about little grammar and spelling mistakes on an online forum?! Enough with the nonsense. Again, multiple mistakes on a resume = forget about it. ONE minor error, I will give you a chance if the quality is great. The OP stated "one typo". Ridiculous. Note the period correctly placed AFTER the quotation mark.

[Orion81RN]

Your friend wrote more than one resume? And your friend has a multiple personality disorder?(That would be "...my friends' resumes for them..." or "..my friend's resumes (or resume, if you only did one) for him..."Also, one does not properly capitalize "high school diploma" or "resume" (an earlier post). ::sigh::

OK, I admit. This DID make me giggle.

[elkpark]

I agree completely with llg (as usual :)). While I wouldn't drop someone otherwise well-qualified from consideration because of one typo on a resume', if it is a more significant problem than that I have to wonder about the individual's general judgment and work ethic.