New grad - ? re: resumes. Is one cramped page better than 2 pages?

vlomankill · Sep 15, 2010

I was always taught to keep everything to one page, employers only want the highlights. I was also informed to always have a cover page. I've actually witness a employers throw out a two page resume (cover letter not included) stating that they were not going to read the person's entire history. short and to the point, express self in cover letter and interview. good luck.

Pinkie36, LVN · Sep 15, 2010

I would list the education, and the work experience in w/c. Try to keep it short, with single spacing.

chloecatrn · Sep 15, 2010

i was always taught to keep everything to one page, employers only want the highlights. i was also informed to always have a cover page. i've actually witness a employers throw out a two page resume (cover letter not included) stating that they were not going to read the person's entire history. short and to the point, express self in cover letter and interview. good luck.

it's not true that a one page resume is key any longer.

from donna cardillo's website:

[color=#7b1622]q: i've been told my resume should be only one page. is that true?

[color=#7b1622]a: no, not for nurses. by the time you list your experience, your education, your licenses and certifications, you are already on two pages, even with limited experience. two pages is perfectly acceptable. don't go any longer than that, though, unless you have extensive high-level and unusual experience and credentials.

diligent-trooper · Sep 15, 2010

The set margins are usually 1.00" on Top, Bottom, and the two sides. One is allowed to "reduce" this to .65" margins. I actually went with .50". I believe if the material is presented nicely, and provides the needed information...it should not matter. If it does matter to a particular Human Resource individual, I do not wish to work for such a place. Rules are rules, then there is just plain ridiculous! Don't sweat over this! Your resume will be passed up, due to other numerous factors, and it will not be anything to do with quality of your resume. :confused:

Jolie, BSN · Sep 15, 2010

it's not true that a one page resume is key any longer.
from donna cardillo's website:
[color=#7b1622]q: i've been told my resume should be only one page. is that true?
[color=#7b1622]a: no, not for nurses. by the time you list your experience, your education, your licenses and certifications, you are already on two pages, even with limited experience. two pages is perfectly acceptable. don't go any longer than that, though, unless you have extensive high-level and unusual experience and credentials.

i respectfully disagree with ms. cardillo's advice. as a former nurse manager and current business owner, i rarely bother reading past the first page of a resume.

while the op has professional work experience and a prior degree, she is a new grad rn. i doubt that it is truly necessary for her resume to be longer than a page. with a highly experienced rn who has worked in a number of different fields, it may be necessary, but not for a new grad.

i suggest having an impartial person (hr specialist, former instructor, etc.) look over one's resume to suggest ways to shorten it while keeping the "punch." when i get a resume that's longer than a page, i usually see a lot of "fluff" that could be shortened or eliminated. reading a long or disorganized resume leaves a poor impression, and makes me wonder if the candidate is unable to prioritize, unable to communicate effectively, thinks too highly of himself...etc.

i toss most resumes that are over a page long.

diligent-trooper · Sep 15, 2010

I was always taught to keep everything to one page, employers only want the highlights. I was also informed to always have a cover page. I've actually witness a employers throw out a two page resume (cover letter not included) stating that they were not going to read the person's entire history. short and to the point, express self in cover letter and interview. good luck.

This may explain why some Hospital systems can turn into "crap-shoots" in no time. I have had it with Human Resources and their useless 15 minute BS interview sessions. I bet some 10 year-olds would be better in interviewing then some of these Master degree idiots.

Jolie, BSN · Sep 15, 2010

This may explain why some Hospital systems can turn into "crap-shoots" in no time. I have had it with Human Resources and their useless 15 minute BS interview sessions. I bet some 10 year-olds would be better in interviewing then some of these Master degree idiots.

Have you ever had the "pleasure" of sifting thru 75 resumes to hire for a single position?

While setting limitsmay not seem reasonable to a candidate who thinks his/her resume is the cat's meow, it is more than reasonable to the poor sap who has to look at all of those resumes, most of which are loaded with useless information such as "School Clinical Experience" and "My Sorority Volunteer Experience."

CaliLvr000, BSN, RN · Sep 15, 2010

Have you ever had the "pleasure" of sifting thru 75 resumes to hire for a single position?
While setting limitsmay not seem reasonable to a candidate who thinks his/her resume is the cat's meow, it is more than reasonable to the poor sap who has to look at all of those resumes, most of which are loaded with useless information such as "School Clinical Experience" and "My Sorority Volunteer Experience."

I have been working on my resume and is it bad to include school experience? I have listed the hours and locations of our rotations, because I do not have prior hospital experience. My resume is looking a little slim, but what can I do its all the truth!

Jolie, BSN · Sep 15, 2010

I have been working on my resume and is it bad to include school experience? I have listed the hours and locations of our rotations, because I do not have prior hospital experience. My resume is looking a little slim, but what can I do its all the truth!

It's not "bad" to list it, especially if you have nothing else to list, but it's not usually helpful either.

As a graduate of a state-approved school of nursing, it is expected that you will have had clinicals in the basic areas of geriatrics, adult health, peds, OB, and possibly some other areas such as ICU, ER, OR, psych, community health, etc. By listing this on your resume, you are using valuable space to tell me something that I already know and something that does not set you apart from any other candidate.

I would much rather learn about other relevant experience, school, work or volunteer, such as your previous education and profession, your entry-level jobs (include babysitting, fast food, yard work, etc.) and your relevant volunteer experience (homeless shelter, crisis hot-line, after-school program, etc.) Do not include "frivolous" volunteer experience like, "Organized all-night party on campus to raise money for XYZ."

These items help me to see that you are committed to a job/cause, that you have held a job or volunteer position for a period of time, that you have learned to work well with others, that you take direction and initiative, that you have critical thinking skills, etc. This information is far more useful to me than to know that you spent 6 weeks at the rest home learning to do vital signs and bed baths. Basic clinical experience should be a "given" for any nursing graduate. Work ethic, professionalism, and other important traits unfortunately, are not.

The one big exception to this is: go ahead and list a clinical experience if it is unique and if it relates to a specific job that you desire. For example, if you want to work in the NICU and you had a 6 week rotation in the NICU as a student, by all means list it, but don't overstate what you did!

diligent-trooper · Sep 15, 2010

Have you ever had the "pleasure" of sifting thru 75 resumes to hire for a single position?
While setting limitsmay not seem reasonable to a candidate who thinks his/her resume is the cat's meow, it is more than reasonable to the poor sap who has to look at all of those resumes, most of which are loaded with useless information such as "School Clinical Experience" and "My Sorority Volunteer Experience."

This is what you signed up to do...this is your job. So, don't give excuses for doing a bad job!

llg, PhD, RN · Sep 15, 2010

I used to tell students to omit most of their school experiences -- and to include only those that were "special," "unusual," and/or related directly to the position they were applying for. I used to believe that most schools provided similar clinical experience -- and that therefore it was a waste of time for me as someone who hired new grads to read through those basic experiences on every resume submitted.

However, in recent years, a lot of new RN programs have opened up that are "accelerated" -- which in some cases (but not all) means that the school provides less experience than one would expect. In my area of the country, there are some really lousy schools who do a very poor job of preparing their students clinically. Even some school of traditional length are doing a pretty poor job these days. It therefore becomes crucial for us as employers to evaluate the quality of an application's education -- and we need some additional information to do that.

"What's the quality of the school this applicant went to?" is now one of our most important criteria for moving a new grad into the "interview" pile. Adding evidence that you went to a really good program is a good thing. (e.g. in-depth clinicals, preceptorships, special projects, etc.)

I therefore now recommend that new grads include information on their school clinicals -- BUT - do it on a separate page that is clearly labeled as school experiences so that there is no possibility that it looks like you are trying to pad your resume. On the front page of your resume, you can list your school and then say something like "See attached sheet for a summary of student experiences." That allows the reader to look at those things if they care, but keeps the basic resume clear and uncluttered.

With so many people competing for jobs, it is important for my hospital to receive enough information to be able to distinguish one applicant from another. So, we like a resume that is approximately 2 pages in length. Too brief, and there is not enough "meat" there to make distinctions between applicants. Too long, and it is probably too cluttered and hard to plow through.

I recommend that an inexperienced nurse submit a 1-2 page resume with the initial application (with student clinicals as a separte sheet of paper). If appropriate, bring a longer version to the interview -- along with examples of your work, etc. That's the time to go into more detail.