New Grad Needs Resume and Cover Letter Critique

[coughdrop.2.go]

I don't have any hospital experience except for a volunteer position which I was actually paid workstudy for because my university is part of the hospital. I have revised my resume and cover letter countless times in the last 8 months and I decided to post it here to see how else I can sharpen it up. Right now my resume is at 2 pages (my clinical rotation part is in a table). I also have further employment positions but they are extensive (about 7 jobs) and only consist of clerical and tutoring jobs and I don't know if I should add them.

Name, BSN, RN,
Address
[email protected]
123-456-7890

OBJECTIVE:

Obtain a RN I position with Hospital to fully utilize my nursing education, skills and knowledge to give the highest level of comfort and care to my patients.

EDUCATION:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, April 2012
University 2, City, CA

Pre-Nursing Certificate, May 2009
University 1, City, CA

CLINICAL ROTATIONS:

Preceptorship: NICU
Hospital, City, CA
Jan-Apr 2012 224 hours 4 Simulation hours

Community Health:
County Program, County, CA
Jan-Apr 2012 144 hours

ICU/ Telemetry/ Special Care Unit
Hospital, City, CA
Nov-Dec 2011 144 hours

Pediatrics Med-Surg/ PICU/ NICU:
Hospital, City, CA
Oct-Nov 2011 144 hours 6 Simulation hours

Labor and Delivery/ Postpartum Care/ NICU:
Hospital, City, CA
Sept-Oct 2011 144 hours 6 Simulation hours

Medical-Surgical:
Hospital, City, CA
Jan-Apr 2011 288 hours 10 Simulation hours

Mental Health:
Hospital, City, CA
Sep-Dec 2010 144 hours 4 Simulation hours

EXPERIENCE:

Student Volunteer, July 2011 to April 2012, 340 hours
Hospital, City, CA
➡️ Greeted and provided services to customers in the Gift Shop and visitors in the Family Resource Center at the Summit Campus
➡️ Gift Shop duties included ringing up sales, arranging store displays, stocking store items, housekeeping duties, inventory and handling store returns
➡️ Family Resource duties included assisting physicians in contacting family members, escorting patients to CPU, restocking hospitality items, and setting up heart video for Pre-Op patients

Professional Student Worker, November 2009 to April 2012
California Department of Public Health, Vaccines for Children Program, City, CA
➡️ Arranged and filed VFC Program forms and maintained current files to assigned counties
➡️ Entered and updated provider information, vaccine orders and losses in the program's online Vaccine Management System and VACMAN computer system
➡️ Received and made calls to VFC enrolled providers and answered calls within the H1N1 call center
➡️ Contributed to special projects and assignments as needed, such as research for the TDAP Expansion Program

LICENSURE/CERTIFICATIONS:

➡️ California RN License #
➡️ Basic Life Support for the Health Care Provider
➡️ Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support
➡️ Pediatric Advanced Life Support
➡️ Neonatal Resuscitation Program
➡️ 12-Lead EKG

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE:

➡️ FACES: Bridging the Gap: Student Panel and Simulation Instructor (March 2012)
➡️ Samuel Merritt University: Patho-flow sheet Instructor (Fall 2011 and Spring 2012)
➡️ Samuel Merritt University Student Flu Clinic: Injections (Fall 2011)

SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS:

➡️ Sinkler Miller Medical Foundation Auxiliary Scholarship
➡️ William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship
➡️ Bachelors of Science in Nursing Health Professions Education Foundation Scholarship
➡️ Samuel Merritt Scholars in Service Scholarship
➡️ Samuel Merritt Institutional Scholarship

**************
Name, BSN, RN,
Address
[email protected]
123-456-7890

Date, 2012

Hospital
Address

Attn: Nursing Recruitment

My name is NAME and I am a graduate of University's Bachelor of Science Nursing Program. I am eager to be a part of Hospital's [RN New Graduate Training Program/nursing community]. With their emphasis in quality care and their commitment to the community, Hospital will be the perfect first step for me to begin my career as a nurse.

As a nurse in your [program/hospital] I will bring my experience in working with diverse communities, a strong passion for evidence based practice, and my education that is rooted in patient-centered care to Hospital. I completed my preceptorship in the NICU at Hospital in City, CA where I gained critical care skills while learning how to be part of a team of care-givers whose goal is to provide quality patient care. I have taken advantage of several opportunities throughout my clinical rotations which allowed me to utilize my leadership skills. During my preceptorship in the NICU, I created my own flow sheet to organize my notes during report which resulted in several nurses whom I worked with adapting my flow sheet methods as part of their work regime.

In addition to my nursing skills, I will bring customer service and teaching skills to Hospital. My two 1/2 years at the California Department of Public Health has taught me how to provide excellent customer service to patients. In addition, my position at CDPH allowed me to access various resources throughout California in which I learned how to research comprehensive services to specifically fit the needs of patients. Moreover, I gained valuable training experience by teaching new Student Workers at CDPH and student volunteers at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center.

I look forward to meeting you in person and discussing the multitude of nursing skills that I can contribute to your [program/hospital]. If there is anything else I can offer about my qualifications, my phone number or email listed above is the best way to contact me. Thank you for your time and consideration as I look forward to the opportunity to relocate to City in Month 2013.

Sincerely,

Name, BSN, RN

**************

Any help appreciated!

[SCSTxRN]

I don't know how to say this more strongly - I strongly feel that you are making a job costing mistake by putting your certifications after your lack of experience, I seriously doubt that anyone is going to look that far. Seeing ACLS tells them that you can read a basic heart rhythm - not necessarily a guaranteed skill in a new grad. The EKG certification would get you a job in tele here, almost no questions asked... but you're hiding it behind the "I have no experience" listing.

JMO - take it for what it's worth.

[GGirll22]

California isn't hiring too many New Grads try some temp companies they can help you build your resume while looking for a job of your choice.

[2mint]

Female Ken, I said what I said based solely based on my impression of your original post.

I'll share some pointers that I still retained from those 3 how-to books.

1) HR spends roughly 10-20 sec looking at each resume. Since you're in CA, i.e. tons of other highly candidates, this should be your guiding philosophy in constructing/formatting your resume.

2) Your resume is your self portrait, so improve the white space. Use your own daily makeup (I know nothing of this) application techniques as your guiding philosophy. Don't want to improve your white space? Please refer to #1.

Easy improvement: under Experience, you have 2 (3 originally) bullet points vs. 4 bullet pts. Why not either keep it at two each or drop down to one each so you could further elaborate during the interview (if the interviewer should bring it up)?

3) Resume gets the interview. Interview gets the job. Resumes rarely get the job for the 99 percent-ers.

One more point: Why care about consensus?

2-page resume success rate: 1 out of 100+ (allegedly).

1-page resume success rate: 0 out of 0 (allegedly).

[nurseladybug12]

All I am going to say is, I wish I could have learned from other people's mistakes when I was younger. Now that I am at that ripe old age of 26, I tend to listen to people's advice. I got a job a week after getting my license after 1 interview. I didnt like that job after a couple months, looked around and got another job the day after I applied to another hospital and was hired on the spot. I used the same resume and cover letter. You have people who have Nursing Jobs giving you advice on what worked for them and you dont want it , fine , goodluck.

[coughdrop.2.go, BSN, RN]

All I am going to say is, I wish I could have learned from other people's mistakes when I was younger. Now that I am at that ripe old age of 26, I tend to listen to people's advice. I got a job a week after getting my license after 1 interview. I didnt like that job after a couple months, looked around and got another job the day after I applied to another hospital and was hired on the spot. I used the same resume and cover letter. You have people who have nursing jobs giving you advice on what worked for them and you dont want it , fine , goodluck.

I'm sorry if I seemed to have offended you by not saying I don't think putting clinical skills and removing my work experience is something I want to implement. As you can tell from the advice there's no way I can put everyone's suggestions in to my resume especially since some of that advice contradicts with each other. You stated that you didn't put your work expereince because it didn't seem relevant to you. For me, my work experience is relevant and I elaborated on that in the cover letter. Also, I've been told by nurse recruiters not to put skills since we all have the same nursing skills. I have been taking advice if you looked at my updated resume on the 2nd page, but like I said I can't take everyone's advice.

Now that I'm at the young age of 23 I've learned that all advice is not always the right advice for me. Thank you for your input and I've tailored my cover letter to your suggestion as well.

[coughdrop.2.go, BSN, RN]

Female Ken, I said what I said based solely based on my impression of your original post.

I'll share some pointers that I still retained from those 3 how-to books.

1) HR spends roughly 10-20 sec looking at each resume. Since you're in CA, i.e. tons of other highly candidates, this should be your guiding philosophy in constructing/formatting your resume.

2) Your resume is your self portrait, so improve the white space. Use your own daily makeup (I know nothing of this) application techniques as your guiding philosophy. Don't want to improve your white space? Please refer to #1.

Easy improvement: under Experience, you have 2 (3 originally) bullet points vs. 4 bullet pts. Why not either keep it at two each or drop down to one each so you could further elaborate during the interview (if the interviewer should bring it up)?

3) Resume gets the interview. Interview gets the job. Resumes rarely get the job for the 99 percent-ers.

One more point: Why care about consensus?

2-page resume success rate: 1 out of 100+ (allegedly).

1-page resume success rate: 0 out of 0 (allegedly).

Thanks! I made it down to one page and I condensed by 2nd job to 2 bullet points as well. I see what you mean by the white space and I'm working on my formatting.

[coughdrop.2.go, BSN, RN]

I don't know how to say this more strongly - I strongly feel that you are making a job costing mistake by putting your certifications after your lack of experience, I seriously doubt that anyone is going to look that far. Seeing ACLS tells them that you can read a basic heart rhythm - not necessarily a guaranteed skill in a new grad. The EKG certification would get you a job in tele here, almost no questions asked... but you're hiding it behind the "I have no experience" listing.

JMO - take it for what it's worth.

I never noticed that before. Thanks for the tip. It makes more sense for me to showcase that first.

California isn't hiring too many New Grads try some temp companies they can help you build your resume while looking for a job of your choice.

I heard most temp agencies won't take you if you have no experience

[2mint]

--deleted for propriety--

[RNfaster]

Good luck. Let us know how it goes. Everyone does have different advice.

Considering today's short attention spans, shorter is usually better. But --remember to put in key words that a database query might use. You might call some recruiters and ask them about what to include. Finally, I would suggest tailoring each cover letter and your resume according to the particular position.

I know someone said to drop your scholarship data. I suggest including it as it is an academic accomplishment. It shows you pursued an objective and achieved it. (You noted your academic grades weren't that hot. --And considering that --be prepared with an answer to showcase how you're addressing that deficiency.)

In your letter or objective statement you might include something stellar about yourself along with your goal... If you got rave reviews from your clinical instructors...or whatever... e.g., "Nursing school scholarship recipient seeks entry-level nursing position on med-surg unit..."

Keep trying... You'll get there.

[dah doh, BSN, RN]

As part of my unit's interview panel, I've looked over quite a few resumes over the last few years. So here are my thoughts...

- I like easy and simple to read (a few bullet points for main ideas) - Keep it short (you are a new grad so we know you have no job experience and all students did clinicals so keep this info brief)

- Work experience even if not medical related can show you are responsible, can manage stress, customer service abilities, or the ability to multi-task, but be selective!

- List things that make you stand out from the other candidates such as awards, scholarships, extracurricular projects that show you off (for example: traveled to Africa on humanitarian mission to provide health care assessments and teaching to village ______)

- Consider taking additional classes on some topic related to the area of nursing you are interested in

- Consider doing volunteer work at the hospital of your choice so the workers and managers get to know you

As for your intro letter, keep it short and succinct otherwise you will lose your readers interest!

Good Luck!

[WildernessMed]

Can someone critique mine???

(Header and Address removed)

Dear Nurse Recruitment,

Please consider my application for XXXXX, as my experience includes 225 hours of senior preceptorship hours in Kaiser Santa Clara's Level I CVICU, years of teaching experience, and strong leadership and communication skills.

As an honors student and member of Sigma Theta Tau International (3.6 GPA), my strong academic achievements provide me great potential to transition from an advanced-beginner nurse to a competent professional nurse. My performance has been rewarded by my preceptorship placement in the Cardiac ICU, the highest acuity critical care units the nursing school offers. During this 225 hour clinical practicum, my role as a student nurse has transitioned into assuming full care for my preceptor's patient including; medication administration, communication with the Intensivist and healthcare specialists, medical record charting, IV drip therapy titration, interpreting invasive hemodynamic monitoring, and implementing care based upon clinical presentation. I also provide for XXXXX, years of leadership and teaching experience in both nursing and non-nursing subjects, from instructing sailing programs for the visually-impaired, to health education and promotion for mental health clients.

From my teaching and leadership experience, I have developed strong therapeutic communication, focused in patient-centered care and advocacy. In Palo Alto, CA at Momentum for Mental Health, I developed and taught the Fall 2012 curriculum for their "Health and Wellness" class. At Momentum, I was both a teacher and accessible nursing-based resource for mental health clients. My goal was to educate and further develop clients' support network through a dynamic and interactive class. The outcome presented a classroom full of enthusiastic clients willing to learn, ask questions and share personal experiences.

From my academic, clinical, teaching and leadership accomplishments, I am excited to strengthen my commitment to nursing and develop myself in the clinical setting, and learn as much as possible. As a BSN candidate from a CCNE accredited nursing program, I am preparing to take my NCLEX June 2014. I strongly believe my abilities and potential as a new graduate nurse will flourish in XXXX community.

Sincerely,