new grad nursing resume critique

scaredsilly, BSN, RN · Nov 28, 2014

A large hospital grou where I am responded to new grad applications with a letter about revising resumes. They specifically stated NOT to have an objective because it was obvious that the objective is to get a job. Instead, lead with a very short personal statement like "newly graduated, compassionate, registered nurse with good time management and communications skilles anxious to begin nursing career" or something like that.

I would leave off the grocery store. As another poster said, you did a great job associating those skills with nursing, but when I saw grocery store, I stopped reading and missed the correlation until I read her post. HR probably wont read it either.

As other posters said, list your clinicals and most important, list your skill sets! They want to see that you excel in communication skills (or whatever).

No need to say anything about references, they will ask for them if they interview you.

blah_blah_blah · Nov 29, 2014

@scaredsilly after doing research on constructing a resume, I saw that many sites also advised against an objective. I'll be sure to edit that out :)

as for my grocery store job, do you think it's okay to not list it? It's the only job I've had and I've been there since I was 15 years old (I am now 22). I don't know how turning in a resume with absolutely no work experience looks to HR even if it doesn't apply to nursing. think its beneficial to my resume because it shows loyalty and longevity. So many people my age (especially in high school) quit jobs and get new jobs every couple months and I feel that working since I was 15 and actually keeping that job speaks to my work ethic and what I value as an employee as well.

In addition to that, I work at a very well known grocery store chain on the east coast. This will give my employer away, but we are in fortunes top 15 companies to work for (we were number 12 for 2014) and for the past 15 years we were in the top 10, but 2014 unfortunately broke that streak. Whenever I tell people where I work the first thing they say is "I hear that's a great place to work". Even though it's just a grocery store they have a great reputation in the community. thanks for your input!

RunBabyRN · Nov 30, 2014

@scaredsilly after doing research on constructing a resume, I saw that many sites also advised against an objective. I'll be sure to edit that out :)
as for my grocery store job, do you think it's okay to not list it? It's the only job I've had and I've been there since I was 15 years old (I am now 22). I don't know how turning in a resume with absolutely no work experience looks to HR even if it doesn't apply to nursing. think its beneficial to my resume because it shows loyalty and longevity. So many people my age (especially in high school) quit jobs and get new jobs every couple months and I feel that working since I was 15 and actually keeping that job speaks to my work ethic and what I value as an employee as well.
In addition to that, I work at a very well known grocery store chain on the east coast. This will give my employer away, but we are in fortunes top 15 companies to work for (we were number 12 for 2014) and for the past 15 years we were in the top 10, but 2014 unfortunately broke that streak. Whenever I tell people where I work the first thing they say is "I hear that's a great place to work". Even though it's just a grocery store they have a great reputation in the community. thanks for your input!

The bolded and underlined section is why I say to keep it on. Showing zero work experience will count against you. Showing longevity will help, even if it was at a grocery store. HR departments will expect that new grads have experience outside of nursing. That's reality. Keep it on there.

RunBabyRN · Nov 30, 2014

Also, I agree that ditching the objective is a good idea. I only have it on the resumes for very specific departments (I have a few resumes).