Is my stated interest ruining my chances??

jamie.glaze · Jun 13, 2012

Now if only I could get one of those residencies =) I missed out on all of the June cycle residencies for L&D - there won't be anymore until January.In the meantime, I need to feed my kids so it looks like off to any RN job I can get. For the time being and lots of lying about how I want to work med-surg

macgirl · Jun 14, 2012

Remove your areas of interests, that's what the cover letter is for.

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · Jun 14, 2012

A few things about your resume:

1. Remove the Objective section. I can't stand the objective in resumes. Everyone reading your resume knows that you're applying because you want a job. Instead, use that section to write a nice paragraph which details your skills and qualifications- make it clear that you're a great candidate. A winning resume has to be specific to you and stand out from the crowd. A generic objective gets your resume off to a lackluster start.

2. Being a student nurse should go under your education, not your experience. You are not employed as a student nurse and it does not count as work experience. You want to highlight your mother/baby and L&D experience if those are the jobs you're applying for.

3. You should get NRP certified and take a fetal monitoring course. These are required for almost every L&D job and as a new grad they will give you a better chance of being noticed.

4. I don't think the interest section is needed at all. It's not common to include it on resumes, and it really doesn't add too much to the quality of your resume. If you're concerned about listing midwifery, then you can leave the mother/baby, peds, and women's health interests and midwifery is still included in those. But I'd rather see you express an interest in these things in your intro paragraph, rather than in a separate section. Of course, you should only include these if you are applying to positions in these fields.

5. Is there a career counselor or a college professor that could help you with your resume? Having someone experienced go over your resume and suggest changes in wording, format, etc. can be really helpful when you're trying to create a resume that will get you noticed.

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Jun 14, 2012

I would revamp the resume with a shorter objective, than list your nursing education and diploma, date of graduation, GPA if good. Then I would list certifications including that you passed boards. Then work experience. I think you should shorten that up as it's not directly relevant to RN job, though I understand you are showing transferable skills.

In a short cover letter you can describe your nursing clinical experience and how it relates to the job at hand. I wouldn't mention "interests" unless you are applying for that particular job ie mom/baby, pediatrics then highlight how your clinical sparked your interest in working in that field of nursing. Don't mention your future plans because they want to hire you as an RN not as a nurse/midwife. After you are working somewhere and things are going well and after you get your BSN and starting your masters program then would be the time to put out feelers of your ultimate goal. Stay on good terms with everyone as networking is important.

Take the time to research the hospital you are applying to and the manager of that unit you are applying to. Google the hospital, mananger and check out linked in. Consider personally contacting the hiring manager, call the hospital and ask for person, great if you too have someone in common, check linked in network.

tigerlogic · Jun 14, 2012

There's a different between an RN-CNM who works in a hospital and a non-RN midwife who works in a birthing center who is really into the spirituality of mothers and babies. Maybe just clarify how much of a hippie you are --at least in that particularly judgemental manager's eyes

edmia, BSN, RN · Jun 14, 2012

There's a different between an RN-CNM who works in a hospital and a non-RN midwife who works in a birthing center who is really into the spirituality of mothers and babies. Maybe just clarify how much of a hippie you are --at least in that particularly judgemental manager's eyes

The difference just has to do with state regulations as some states recognize non RN CNMs and others don't, but that doesn't mean that RN CNMs only work in hospitals and non RN CNMs don't and vice versa.

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Jun 14, 2012

LearnLesson never told new grads to pack it in and that they're worthless. You asked for advice/thoughts regarding your resume and you got hers. You've taken constructive comments and turned it into a "nurses eat their young" cliche!!

jamie.glaze · Jun 14, 2012

ColleenRN2B - there is nothing constructive about telling someone you don't know personally that they don't know anything and that you would never hire a new grad without experience (that last one is an opinion, not ConCrit). Just what exact experience should a new grad have other than their education? I think it should speak volumes that I did as well as I did, have as many recommendations as I have, and was the ONLY student in my class willing to take on all of my preceptor's patients in a day by the end of senior semester - managing their care with only the preceptor accompanying me to watch me work and to bounce questions off of (thank you Brandy for letting me spread my wings) - all without a stitch of medical experience other than my education and skills based training.

I asked for advice on my resume, not for someone's opinion on the perils of hiring new grads.

caliotter3 · Jun 14, 2012

I have read resume advice that suggests not listing an objective. I follow this advice since it also allows me more room on the page. I think that keeping your resume more generic might help in showing that you are open to positions that might not fit with your long term objectives. If you don't want to engage in a generic resume, you might want to work more on trying to tailor it to the specific position you are seeking with that job application.

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Jun 15, 2012

Lots of new grads took on a ton of volunteering to have something of substance NOT considered as education.

I stand by my statement that she never told you to give up or that new grads are worthless. You seem to have a huge chip on your shoulder for some reason. Which I'm sure you'll have no problem telling me otherwise in an upcoming response.

jamie.glaze · Jun 15, 2012

Lots of new grads took on a ton of volunteering to have something of substance NOT considered as education.
I stand by my statement that she never told you to give up or that new grads are worthless. You seem to have a huge chip on your shoulder for some reason. Which I'm sure you'll have no problem telling me otherwise in an upcoming response.

Actually, that is where you are wrong. I do have a huge chip on my shoulder, I can admit my shortcomings. I am apalled at the number of people who recommend that I volunteer like it costs me nothing but my time, as if it us acceptable to have my children removed from me by ex-husband because I can no longer afford to care for them, but sure - I can afford to drive myself to my volunteer site and pay for child care while I am at it. He legally can, and I assure you, he is in the process. Those who assume I have a family or friends who can afford to help me pay my bills or help me at all. You see, the biggest problem is assumption - a dangerous practice of jumping to conclusions before first having all the facts.

While you may read this as me sitting on my phone vehemently typing this stating each word dripping with attitude and a neck roll, it is merely me typing and responding thoughtfully with real world issues. In an ideal world, I could, and most definitely would, volunteer. However, volunteering is just not a realistic option for me at this time. When I asked "just where does on get this mythical 1 to 2 years" and "on what floor should that be" they were honest inquiries, intended to provoke thought (not argument) of those who make and support these requirements - if everyone requires experience where do you expect candidates to gain it? Should only people who are rich be allowed in the nursing field, since we should apparently all pay to go to school and then pay again to volunteer for a year or two. It's just not realistic and honestly prevents those attempting to improve their lives (and in my case, my children's as well) from moving upwards.

edmia, BSN, RN · Jun 15, 2012

Actually, that is where you are wrong. I do have a huge chip on my shoulder, I can admit my shortcomings. I am apalled at the number of people who recommend that I volunteer like it costs me nothing but my time, as if it us acceptable to have my children removed from me by ex-husband because I can no longer afford to care for them, but sure - I can afford to drive myself to my volunteer site and pay for child care while I am at it. He legally can, and I assure you, he is in the process. Those who assume I have a family or friends who can afford to help me pay my bills or help me at all. You see, the biggest problem is assumption - a dangerous practice of jumping to conclusions before first having all the facts.
While you may read this as me sitting on my phone vehemently typing this stating each word dripping with attitude and a neck roll, it is merely me typing and responding thoughtfully with real world issues. In an ideal world, I could, and most definitely would, volunteer. However, volunteering is just not a realistic option for me at this time. When I asked "just where does on get this mythical 1 to 2 years" and "on what floor should that be" they were honest inquiries, intended to provoke thought (not argument) of those who make and support these requirements - if everyone requires experience where do you expect candidates to gain it? Should only people who are rich be allowed in the nursing field, since we should apparently all pay to go to school and then pay again to volunteer for a year or two. It's just not realistic and honestly prevents those attempting to improve their lives (and in my case, my children's as well) from moving upwards.

It's also Not True! Don't be discouraged by this attitude as it is old-fashioned. Today, managers prefer (most) to hire a new grad and train them to their specific needs without having to correct years of often incorrect practices.

And besides, volunteering looks good on paper but it gives you no real life experience applicable to nursing practice. And this I say from experience. It's a valuable thing to do for other reasons, but not to gain experience.

I did want to say that I agree with a poster above who suggested you edit out some of the details on your non-nursing work experience. I would keep that to a simple place, time employed, name of position. That way you'll have valuable page space to expand on your nursing specific training, such as listing every clinical rotation you had. That counts for this first job.

Good luck!