New Grad trying to stand out

Specialties LTC Directors

Published

Hello,

I am a new grad RN in So cal trying to stand out in LTC. I am passionate about elder care and have over 5 years experience as a CNA in LTC. I feel when my application and resume come across LTC HR i get lumped in with other new grads looking and willing to take anything. I want to keep working with elderly, how do i make myself stand out?

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

Try sending your resume' directly to the DNS. We don't have an HR department, but we do get at least 20 applications a month. It's impossible to hire everyone or to even interview everyone. The people who get a call for an interview are the best...not necessarily those with the most experience, but the ones whose resume' was the most eye catching. For me that means absolutely no spelling or grammatical errors; concise,clearly defined goals ( more than "I want to work with the elderly") and a cover letter that has something in it which makes the person reading it pay attention. Do you speak more than one language? Put that in.

Find a way to describe your 5 years as a CNA. Did you have a special talent for handling residents with dementia? Were your customer services skills so good that the residents either asked for you by name or mentioned you in a thank you note? Toot your own horn if you truly were great at something.

The last nurse I hired was a brand new grad. No experience at all...not even as a CNA. I hired her over 3 or 4 others who had years of experience. Why? She was professional when she came for an interview...on time, well dressed, had an extra copy of her resume', had all her license information ready. She was well spoken and very genuine. Sometimes it's all those things that count more than experience.

I hired her for Per Diem because I had no staff positions. We gave her a longer than average orientation and she is great. We just had a staff position open up and she was the first person I offered it to.

You have to be persistent especially in this job market. Good luck.

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Yup. I called and asked the receptionist if they were hring. When she asked, "What are you looking for?" I answered, "I need a job." Showed up in a skirt and hose, low heeled pumps, resume and license, and the DNS walked me around the facility and then told me what she had open. Nights. I took it. A month later a day management spot opened and I got it.

Good luck!

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Thank you CapecodRN, i will working on revamping my cover letter and making my resume more eye catching.

What state are you in suesquatch RN?

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NY, way upstate. Nearer to Canada than ALbany. :)

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Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU, Psych, Med-surg...etc....

Ever been to Schroon Lake Sasquatch?

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Try sending your resume' directly to the DNS. We don't have an HR department, but we do get at least 20 applications a month. It's impossible to hire everyone or to even interview everyone. The people who get a call for an interview are the best...not necessarily those with the most experience, but the ones whose resume' was the most eye catching. For me that means absolutely no spelling or grammatical errors; concise,clearly defined goals ( more than "I want to work with the elderly") and a cover letter that has something in it which makes the person reading it pay attention. Do you speak more than one language? Put that in.

Find a way to describe your 5 years as a CNA. Did you have a special talent for handling residents with dementia? Were your customer services skills so good that the residents either asked for you by name or mentioned you in a thank you note? Toot your own horn if you truly were great at something.

The last nurse I hired was a brand new grad. No experience at all...not even as a CNA. I hired her over 3 or 4 others who had years of experience. Why? She was professional when she came for an interview...on time, well dressed, had an extra copy of her resume', had all her license information ready. She was well spoken and very genuine. Sometimes it's all those things that count more than experience.

I hired her for Per Diem because I had no staff positions. We gave her a longer than average orientation and she is great. We just had a staff position open up and she was the first person I offered it to.

You have to be persistent especially in this job market. Good luck.

That was a very good post!

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Specializes in Foot care.
The last nurse I hired was a brand new grad. No experience at all...not even as a CNA. I hired her over 3 or 4 others who had years of experience. Why? She was professional when she came for an interview...on time, well dressed, had an extra copy of her resume', had all her license information ready. She was well spoken and very genuine. Sometimes it's all those things that count more than experience.

I hired her for Per Diem because I had no staff positions. We gave her a longer than average orientation and she is great. We just had a staff position open up and she was the first person I offered it to.

Gee, wish I'd walked into your place!

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Specializes in acute care and geriatric.

How is it going? Did you find what you were looking for?

I have always added to my resume my emphasis on providing holistic care to my patients, being a team member and flexibility in work hours.

These are 3 qualities I still look for in my employees

Good luck!

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