looking for a new job and working on resume

LaughingRN · Oct 26, 2011

Wow. You have a very sweet background, nice!

However.

My advice is short and sweet.

Take out EVERYthing that isn't nursing/healthcare related.

Everything.

Use the extra space to elaborate everything you have left over.

Absolutely include your preceptorship (much more relevant that Econo Lube N

Tube)

Your resume isn't suppose to be a list, it's suppose to tell a story of you, and why you are qualified for a certain job.

TNgirl2010 · Oct 26, 2011

I agree with the above poster, I would take out everything not healthcare related. Maybe I would leave the military experience since that always shows dedication and hard work. :) Otherwise I think it is great, good luck to you! May you find your dream job soon!

Gonzo13 · Oct 26, 2011

Thanks LaughingRN. I get the taking everything out that isn't nursing/healthcare. I think that working as a tech diagnosing problems with cars is a little relevant just like the bartending is similar to administering medications (and I have had multiple people comment on working in a bar called the Emergency Room). Managing and the customer service come in to play being a nurse as well. It might just be me but if I say that I have 9 years of customer service and 3 years of management without something showing it then it could easily be fluff. I do agree with leaving in the preceptorship but I'm still not that sure about the info about my clinical rotations. What do you think.

LaughingRN · Oct 26, 2011

I agree that it is a little relevant.

But "little" isn't what your goal should be.

I am a mother and care for another, clean his wounds, multitask (meals sports work) I administer meds so on so forth........ but this isn't something that I would put on a professional resume.

Life provides us tons of experience that is applicable in everything we do, but when you are restricted to 1-2 pages, you need to prioritize.

If you feel your prior management and customer service experience is something that sells you, write a paragraph or two about it and why it makes you a strong candidate in- your cover letter....not the resume.

Clinical experience is more relevant than a Zamboni job, no matter how you spin in. If you only have a brief nursing work history....you should consider leaving it.

Preceptorship...definitely should stay

This is all just my opinion, which I hope you don't take the wrong way :)

Good luck:)

MrChicagoRN, RN · Oct 26, 2011

Thanks LaughingRN. I get the taking everything out that isn't nursing/healthcare. I think that working as a tech diagnosing problems with cars is a little relevant just like the bartending is similar to administering medications (and I have had multiple people comment on working in a bar called the Emergency Room). Managing and the customer service come in to play being a nurse as well. It might just be me but if I say that I have 9 years of customer service and 3 years of management without something showing it then it could easily be fluff. I do agree with leaving in the preceptorship but I'm still not that sure about the info about my clinical rotations. What do you think.

No, tending bar isn't the same as administering medications that can cure, or kill. Comparing nursing to bar tending is not a good thing. Listing 12 jobs is way too much, and will work against you.

OK, leave the management stuff, leave the relevant military experience. Car Valet or fence installer? Not relevant.

But combine things to improve flow. Everything is way too fragmented. Don't list employment hx, titles, and duties in 3 separate places. Succinct & cohesive is needed to have your resume read.

Gonzo13 · Oct 26, 2011

MrChicagoRN

Thanks for your insight. I didn't say bartending is the same thing as administering medications I said it's similar. Word docs sometimes don't paste well into dialogue boxes and this is one of those cases. The work history has a very defined section on the resume and it is three columns. It starts with the dates then the job title then where the work was done so each position is in one line which makes it easy to read and it takes up less room than the skills list takes up which is in 2 columns. Curiously how many jobs do you think is too many? I do appreciate the comments, thanks.

LaughingRN

I am a Father and I'm not putting any of the things that I do for my daughter on my resume. I'm also not putting any of the wound care stuff that I have performed on my self. I get that.

My resume when in Microsoft Word or printed is a little less than 2 pages. I was putting the job history in here because it shows only one gap and I was attending nursing school at the time. From what I have always been told having gaps in a work history on a resume is a bad thing. I might be wrong, the people that told me this might be wrong. I do know that when I would look at resumes when I was involved in hiring processes people with big or multiple gaps in work history were not usually hired.

I was actually thinking of putting stuff from clinical rotations in the cover letter if I had done rotations at that hospital.

Again thanks for your insight and I'm not taking anything the wrong way we are just people talking.