PCTs, Can I see your resume?

Students Technicians

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I'm a CNA in a subacute rehab unit that's attached to a LTC facility, I've been there for about 6 months. I'm trying to get to a hospital as PCT to broaden my scope and also because I'd like to work 12s to make my school schedule work better for me. I'm having trouble getting any recruiters to contact me, I constantly get rejection emails telling me they chose someone with more experience. Would any of you be so kind to share your resume me with me? I feel like I've highlighted all my skills in a way that would appeal to a hospital, but maybe I'm wrong. I would appreciate any help! :)

crystalwojno

2 Posts

ah, I feel your pain! if any one would like to share theirs with me... i'd greatly appreciate it. **same boat, oceanmama**:confused:

doink

21 Posts

You need more experience. Employers especially hospitals don't like to hire anyone that barely stay at on job for 6 months. It cost $$ to train and orient a new person. Need at least 1 yr at your workplace before job hunting.

My resume?

5 yrs as medic in military, 2 yrs as ER tech.

Hospitals love people with job stability.

STCC2013

10 Posts

I agree with Doink--experience is the key! Give yourself another 6 months and try again.

LifesAJourney

196 Posts

Specializes in Med/Surg, Float Pool, MICU, CTICU.

I guess I am the exception to the rule lol. I had about 4 months of experience as a cna in a nursing home before I got a job at a hospital. It can be done! Try applying in May or December. That is when the aides that are nursing student graduate and take the exam to get their license and can no longer work as an aide on their floor.

Usually employers love nursing students, so emphasis that factor. Have a strong list of references that can verify your performance. Are you involved in school or in the community? Talk about your involvement and your leadership roles. That also helped me get the job. I took leadership roles in my student activities council and volunteer at a hospital. Dress to impress and have a positive attitude. Express your reasons why you want to work at that particular hospital. Be passionate and ambitious with a driven attitude.

Having experience in some sort of customer service setting is essential as well. I use to work retail for almost 5 years. As a cna, you need to understand how to communicate with your patients and their needs to make their stay as comfortable as possible.

My resume consist of the usual:

Objective

Work History

Volunteer/Leadership Exp

Achievements

Key skills

Education

Sometimes even the layout of your resume will catch the attention of a future employer. Microsoft has plenty of modernized templates to help make your resume stand out from the others.

Hope this helps and good luck!

b0rea1is

47 Posts

Specializes in LTC.

Good luck trying to get into the hospital. 6 months of experience is laughable to the HR in the hospital. They will immediately throw your resume away. Your best chance is to avoid HR completely and talk directly with a unit manager. If you're willing enough, try volunteering at the hospital before applying there. You'll get to know the different units and the people who work there. I'm sure they could benefit from someone who has your experience as a CNA. Contrary to popular belief, hospitals don't really like students. They'll say they do, but they really could care less. A nursing student is going to have a complex schedule for managers to work around. They would much prefer the dedicated PCA/PCT with no future to the aspiring nursing student.

just3ofus

82 Posts

I was interviewing with HR for a position last week and she was a bit rude if you ask me, but she flat out told me they don't like to hire nursing students. that's ok, I'll go around her... :) That's the attitude, never give up and give yourself more time!

sophie<3

307 Posts

I must also be an exception because I had no hospital experience other than nursing school clinicals...I was hired in a large hospital and float to ICUs, med/surg floors and tele floors. I am considered a SNA (student nursing assistant) but have the same duties and job description as a PCT or CNA...I make my own schedule and love it. Don't get discourged I applied for tech positions for a year with no luck...look for student positions or even call recruiters if you are in nursing school and have had clinical rotations. In your resume include past work experience, college info (gpa, expected grad date), clinical rotations and skills performed (med admin, charting, bathing, linens-every little thing counts!), choose good references and apply to everything you can! Get your foot in the door and then try to transfer to a floor you want after you have been there 6 months) good luck :)

b0rea1is

47 Posts

Specializes in LTC.

Nursing clinicals are good experience for a prospective PCA/PCT. Biggest determining factor is probably what part of the country you live in. I live in central Ohio, and the local market is saturated with nurses and nursing assistants. There are over 20 nursing schools in the central Ohio area alone! A lot of those students are begging to get a full or part time job in the hospital, because they know it leads to bigger opportunities.

I have been trying to get a job in the hospital for almost two years. I have almost two years of experience as an STNA, and I volunteer at the hospital two days a week. I train all the new volunteers at the hospital. I currently have a 3.9 GPA and loads of good references to put on a resume. I'm taking an EMT course to boost my skills and chances of getting in somewhere. I know how to do EKG's, draw blood, insert catheters, etc. However, with 400-500 people applying for a single position, your chances of getting a job are very slim. And even if you do look good on paper, you're at the mercy of the HR recruiter. If you remind them of someone they didn't like or don't have the right chemistry, then you're basically screwed. So, there are lots of reasons people get hired or not.

EmBeMap

112 Posts

Wow this is a tough group...your resume is probably fine, however pct/pca is entry-level..keep it simple, make a list of key reasons, Why I would be a good pca for your unit ...print staple to resume, apply for position you want online , go to unit, make contact with nursing manager , say something like , just wanted to stop by so you could put a face to the resume, most managers will speak to you if they aren't in a meeting , let them know you really want to be on their unit and would be willing to grow into rn there. This my recipe and has worked for both ER and now pre-op and recovery for heart and vascular institute ...both specialty units - not just medsurg... good luck.. also go and meet these HR reps at the hospitals as well it has happened that if you make a good impression as a new job that fits you they will call you even.

Baubo516, RN

405 Posts

Specializes in Skilled Nursing/Rehab.

Just wanted to comment so I can find this thread later... I am applying for CNA jobs, but I have not experience yet. I need to work as close to full time as possible while attending school, so 12 hour shifts sound great to me, but I know I may not get hired at a hospital without experience! Thanks for the tips on how to follow up on an online application - those things just seem so impersonal!

BlazerGuy

12 Posts

My resume:

various high-school type jobs, nothing medical related

4 years active duty Marine infantryman; no medical training other than basic first aid stuff

I paid for a CNA class myself(~$400 and 6 weeks long)

I also took a phlebotomy (~$65 and two days long)

Then I applied for a job at a hospital(medsurg unit at a level 1 teaching hospital; about 400 beds) and got it.

Some thoughts:

Managers - Find out a way to contact the NMs on the floors you're interested in. Send them a copy of your resume and cover letter directly. Forget HR, at my hospital it's just a bunch of red tape for applicants and even employees. Even if there's no jobs posted, get the managers familiar with your name. They're the ones doing the hiring. Try to target the medsurg units as they tend to hire people with no experience. The ICU/ED/Surg etc usually require their techs to have hospital experience.

Volunteer - the volunteers we have do a lot of stuff for not getting paid. They pass out trays, get ice and water, transport pts for procedures, stock supplies, even help clean up pts. People get to know them and it provides a gateway to getting a job.

Students - At my hospital at least, they look for students to hire as techs. I don't know the official policy but it seems that the student techs are much more motivated than the "career" techs. Remember once you're hired as a tech, you're constantly building your resume to get hired on as an RN at that facility.

Sitting - Some patients require constant monitoring. So "sitters" just sit with the pt and make sure they don't pull out IVs, feeding tubes, get out of bed etc etc. It's a good way to get your face and name out there although not as well as volunteering since you're stuck in one room all shift but you're getting paid.

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