Interview/Resume Review service

[Nascar nurse]

I am a Director of Nursing in LTC. I have been hiring staff for 15 years or so in various roles. It is appalling to me at times the types of applications/resumes I receive. I have been shocked during many interviews as well. Even tho I feel very confident being the interviewer, I detest being the interviewee - seems I always stumble over the hard questions and wish I had someone to practice with. We all know from reading this forum that jobs are very competitive in the nursing market as well as all other careers.

I am thinking of starting a local side business and I want your opinions.

What if I had people email me their resume. I read it over and then call them to meet me in a public place for a mock interview (somewhere like a starbucks). After the mock interview meeting was over I would email them a summary of my opinions on their current resume and interview skills and offer them tips to make them more marketable (ie: spit out the gum, don't wear holey jeans, cover up that awful tattoo, sit up straight, etc). For those of you involved in the hiring process, isn't it amazing what some people think are acceptable behavior during a job interview? Don't they get that there are at least 3-4 others wanting the same position?

For all of you new grads out there that can't find a job, is this a service that you could see yourself using. What would you pay for a service like this?

Anyone else with opinions - what would help it succeed, how much to charge, is it even a worthwhile idea?

Thanks. Just trying to make an extra buck to put my kid thru college soon. :)

[Nascar nurse, ASN, RN]

Nascar nurse

I pay nothing :)

there is many site for resume criticism and your business it's not first:)

I ll found someone who help me seriously,

But, at first time wouldn't you tray it free? for your business experience?

Thank you

I just have a feeling you wouldn't like my advice if I gave it to you.

[Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN]

Nascar nurse

I pay nothing :)

there is many site for resume criticism and your business it's not first:)

I ll found someone who help me seriously,

But, at first time wouldn't you tray it free? for your business experience?

Thank you

Are you trying to be funny? Nascar asked a serious question. Personally, I think it's a great idea. Many new grads have had very little working experience. I used to have a friend who did resume help (w/o the mock interview). That girl could make a burger flipping job @ Mickey D's sound like middle management.

I think it's great Nascar is willing to share her professional skills w/ people and if she can make a buck, that's even better. Isn't that what America is all about?

[Nascar nurse, ASN, RN]

Thank you Hospice Nurse LPN. Maybe the business will go big and and I can franchise out to your neck of the woods.

[malikalom]

Hospice Nurse LPN

I m very serious

look this please

http://www.theresumebuilder.com

there is many site free and they don't charge, also there is valuable site about 50$ 75 $ But I can't pay...

I write my resume myself from those site but I need help because of my English only grammatical correction,

I speak Russian, French, and my own languages only English is problem because never learnt it.

Onaclearday

I didn't insult nobody, I asked only help and I don't need your advice for change attitude because I have everywhere good relation that is principal in my life.........

I think that I have bad place to post here I ll find someone to help me..

and don't worry where I m going. I was very successful In my country and I will be here too:)

Nascar nurse

thank you and good luck :)

good bay

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Hospice Nurse LPN

I m very serious

look this please

www.theresumebuilder.com

there is many site free and they don't charge, also there is valuable site about 50$ 75 $ But I can't pay...

I write my resume myself from those site but I need help because of my English only grammatical correction,

I speak Russian, French, and my own languages only English is problem because never learnt it.

Onaclearday

I didn't insult nobody, I asked only help and I don't need your advice for change attitude because I have everywhere good relation that is principal in my life.........

I think that I have bad place to post here I ll find someone to help me..

and don't worry where I m going. I was very successful In my country and I will be here too:)

Nascar nurse

thank you and good luck :)

good bay

The site you posted is NOT the same service NascarNurse is proposing. Those sites (and many career sites) offer templates to create a resume. A professionally created resume can cost $100 or more.

She is proposing a professional review service of the client's resume (she is not writing the resume from scratch) then will do a face to face interview and offer the client feedback. She is not considering offering a resume creation service or a proofreading service. Feedback such as "your resume is not clear as to your exact experience and how it is relevant to the position you are applying to" And feedback regarding the interview ("think first before you speak", "if you want a professional position, you need to look and act the part not show up in jeans & flip flops chewing gum") Almost like a job coach for professionals entering/re-entering the professional work force that utilizes her experience as a manager, hiring manager, and professional nurse.

If your English skills are not adequate, it is going to be very difficult for you to be hired in the US especially since there are only a few areas of the country where Russian or French is used (ethnic neighborhoods, just like my grandmother's area speaks Polish & English). If you are not able to articulate your thoughts clearly in English, very few healthcare employers in this economy is going to be willing to take a chance hiring you in a position that involves direct patient contact/care as patient lives are at stake.

I know for an internationally educated nurse in the US (and most of the English speaking countries) the candidate must prove competency in the ability to communicate in English in the health care setting in writing, reading, speaking, and comprehending the English language as compared to a standard.

Perhaps you should investigate local civic centers, libraries, churches, schools, employment centers in your area that offer English classes so that you can learn the language. Some of the employment centers will review your resume and offer grammatical and spelling correction for free as part of the services offered to the community.

[proudauntie415, LPN, RN]

Hello Nascar Nurse;

Yes, actually I think thats great, I think a personalized service would be something very beneficial. I think in today's market job competition is at an all time high. Exactly like you said, we need to make our resume stand out above the rest! I feel I have great experience and skills, but I'm still struggling to make it "stand out". So personally, sure I'd pay for that service of course!

The only thing I would wonder is job 101 nowadays teaches that one resume is not enough, a resume should be job specific...such as applying for Nurse director, nurse coordinator, med/surg vs ER. Maybe allowing for like a flat fee for two resume designs or something.

But generally, great idea!

Sheryl

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

What if I had people email me their resume. I read it over and then call them to meet me in a public place for a mock interview (somewhere like a starbucks). After the mock interview meeting was over I would email them a summary of my opinions on their current resume and interview skills and offer them tips to make them more marketable (ie: spit out the gum, don't wear holey jeans, cover up that awful tattoo, sit up straight, etc).

Instead of Starbucks, could you do it in your home in a simulated office setting? Why not videotape the private interview so people could read your critique & also actually see how they are presenting themselves to others.

That would justify the higher fee that others suggested.

And you might want to consider doing one or two for free or at lower cost first so you could provide a sample of your work, work out any kinks, and develop some word of mouth.

Good Luck

[Nascar nurse, ASN, RN]

Instead of Starbucks, could you do it in your home in a simulated office setting? Why not videotape the private interview so people could read your critique & also actually see how they are presenting themselves to others.

That would justify the higher fee that others suggested.

And you might want to consider doing one or two for free or at lower cost first so you could provide a sample of your work, work out any kinks, and develop some word of mouth.

Good Luck

Thanks but the idea of inviting strangers to my home is not safe for me or my family. We all know their are weirdos in the world and I would hate to bring one home to the kids.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

But if your income permitted as your business expanded you could rent a small office and equip it with a video camera. You could charge an extra fee to video tape the mock interview, then have a second appointment for the client to return to receive not only the written critique but you can show him/her on the video what you are referring to. Sometimes it is easier to understand your critique with "pictures", such as if they suddenly slump in the chair & cross their arms you can show them the transition and how it implies that they are not interested in the interview and likely not be offered the position.

I see the office/video tape more as an expansion of your business idea rather than a start up, this way the cost would be covered by your revenue rather than initial start up costs. Plus it could then be beneficial for tax purposes/deductions. (Very hard to claim home office expenses relative to a separate office, plus having a non-home office you don't have to worry about safety/security of yourself and family.)

(What can I say I had a very entrepreneurial professor in college when I was a rec major. He had a logical but creative way of thinking out business plans and it stuck with me. :)