New Grad job hunt questions

[Sylvyr]

Hello all -

I just passed my boards a couple of weeks ago and since then have been wrackin my brains trying to make some decisions. Thought you all might be able to help.

My first problem is my resume. I'm 31 years old and have quite a bit of experience in different fields as well as some certifications in computers and networks. Being a new grad and not having ANY work experience in health care, do I just scrap my old resume and start over? What would I put on the new one? Do I include my certifications received in previous jobs?

Also regarding the resume, is it worth the money to have it professionally written? I know Monster.com and well as a few other sites offer resume writing for a couple hundred bucks. Anyone used em before? Good experience or bad? Was it worth the money?

Thanks in advance!

-Sylvyr

[AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

hi,

no it is not worth it to have your resume "professionaly" done since you yourself are very capable of doing it. Interveiwers can defantatly tell when you did not write you own resume once they get to know you alittle.

I too have lots of experience, luckily it is all in the health care field, but I had to many jobs, and most of them I worked as a paramedic and had the same duties, so it would have been really repedative. So instead of listing jobs in chrnological order I made different categories:

-Objective

-Professional abilities

-clinical skills

-work experience (you may want to put clinical practums or soemthing to that effect if you have no other healthcare backround, or you could just talk about some clinical experiences in your cover letter and keep some work experience on the resume, just remember they may just glance at your resume before choosing which pile they put you in, so you may be better off talking about some clinical experience on your resume, just make it pertain to the job you are seeking)

-Education

I would not add certifications that do not pertain to nursing, I would however do alittle bragging in yoru cover letter about your accomplishments, which may include some of these certifications, this shows that you had motivation with other jobs and were willing to increase your knowledge base.

Just keep in mind, when writing your resume and cover letter, you are advertising your abilities, but the purpose of a resume and cover letter is not to get you a job, it is to get you an interview, and the purpose of the interveiw is to get you the job. Also a resume and cover letter may only get a quick glance before the person makes a decision as to whether to put you in the no thanks pile or the call 'em for an interveiw pile so just put down the key points that will make you stand out from the rest of the new grads looking for jobs.

Good Luck!

swtooth

[abundantjoy07, RN]

I just wanted to say don't forget to provide a personalized cover letter telling the employer why you are the best fit. Also 1 or 2 letters of recommendations from professors at your school would be a great idea to give your resume that extra oomph you are looking for.

If I were you, I'd list the last 3 jobs you had and a little bit about your accomplishments and responsibilities. Stress customer service skills and goals you accomplished that helped to boost the company.

I'd also attach references that are specific to nursing.

Good luck!