Please critique my resume

avaloncar, BSN, RN · May 24, 2013

To me your resume looks good. The summary could use some work, but I am pretty bad in doing summaries, so google some examples. You should separate education and achievements/awards. I placed my preceptorship experience right under my nursing education as a bullet "-Medical oncology xxx hours". So when recruiters look they see that immediately. You can leave out the description of what you did during your preceptorship just get straight to the point. Place achievement/awards before volunteer work.

These are just my opinions, see what others say and tweak your resume accordingly.

silkysteph · May 25, 2013

yeah, I agree the summary needs work. I will list the preceptor hours, but clinical rotations should stay out since it's required for everyone anyway.

thanks so much for your help.

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · May 25, 2013

On my new grad resume I put how many hours my senior practium involved. If you did some sort of unusual clinical experience that's relevant to the position you're applying for, I actually would include that. (My peds rotation was in a Level III NICU. I've been an RN for six years but I'm applying to the Air Force's NICU program, and I mentioned my prior experience as recommended by my chief nurse.)

Education/Certs/Awards needs to be broken up. Take out 'myself' - there should be no first person references in a resume.

"Handled large groups with ease, maintained calm in stressful situations" (my only question - HOW? Tell them HOW or a specific incidence WHEN this was shown - did you once handle 14 tables in one night? I've known that sort of stuff to occur in restaurants!)

"Completed 12 to 14 hour shifts; assisted customers in choices through rapid recall of complex daily specials and menu additions; complemented by managers and clients alike in superb service skills" or something similar, to me, sounds better. Wave your own flag here. No one else will.

'Frequently' is very subjective. To some people that sort of shift twice a week is too frequently, if you get what I mean.

You still acted under a preceptor in your preceptorship. They know that. Acknowledge it, or at least I would. Someone still checked your work.

"Apply strong work ethic, exemplary time-management and prioritization skills, and *insert adjective my mind is blank* academic background in entry-level Clinical Nursing position in X Unit" or, if a generic resume to a hiring committee/HR - "at Blank Hospital". Make this stand out. IMHO, everyone better be bringing their life experience to my floor, or we're all in trouble. To me, that's a given. You were a waitress/server. What qualities in that make you a good RN? Time management and prioritization - otherwise your tip income would've seriously sucked!

Tailor your resume to EVERY position you apply for if the resume is going to one hiring manager.

Just a start. I love to edit - and I'm a danged good writer (I write military performance reviews!) - so sorry if I overstepped.

Last piece of advice. In writing Enlisted and Officer Performance Reviews, we talk about action/impact: what did you do, how did you do it, and how did it benefit the Air Force. I think that's a good place to start when writing a resume - except think along the lines of how will what I did and what I'm good at benefit THIS unit. You'd be amazed at what you come up with.

silkysteph · May 25, 2013

thanks for all your advice. I will be making a lot of changes. I'm actually applying to the Air Force new grad program. My application is almost done. I'm just waiting for my instructors to send back my evaluation forms.

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · May 27, 2013

Then sell yourself like no one's business and get over here into the Blue. :)

What did you do - how did you do it - how will/does that benefit my Air Force? :)

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · May 27, 2013

If you are applying for nursing work, lose the parts of the resume that have nothing to do with nursing. Nobody cares if you worked in a cafe or as a nanny. When you interview, you can mention those if you seriously believe that they illustrate skills that would be of interest to a nursing employer...but I'm guessing not.

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · May 29, 2013

I disagree. There are plenty of skills that serve me well now that I developed long before I became an RN. I think it depends on the strength of the resume you're sending.

Bayat · May 29, 2013

Haven't done a federal resume format yet, but from what I researched on the web it's very different than one for a private-sector resume. For openers, a new-grad nurse federal resume is about three pages minimum. Also, more specific information is required for a federal resume; for example, you will need to add in salary information (especially for your most recent position) and will indicate whether or not you are eligible for Veteran's Preference. In addition, you are expected to include more detail on job responsibilities and accomplishments, especially those that are relevant to the position for which the application is being prepared. Therefore, a federal resume can be much longer than a traditional resume.

Found one Registered Nurse federal resume example starting on page 9 at http://www.nps.gov/training/tel/Guides/Federal_Resume_pg_20060407.pdf . Also one among several examples at Download Free Federal Resume Samples Here . A template for a federal resume found at at http://images.military.com/ContentFiles/FedResHandbook.pdf . Haven't found one for a new-grad showing clinical rotation details but, based on what's seen with the other federal resumes, expect that to get as detailed as a job position. Same rules apply: List your clinical experiences just after your education, but with more details (feds love details):

Another thing: Seperate out you liciences and certifications from your education section into its own section just under your profile. You want to make it easy for your employer to find your qualifications. And list your coursework:

LICENSES & CERTIFICATIONS

Registered Nurse - Maryland Board of Nursing, Baltimore, MD 3/20xx, License number

Basic Life Support (BLS) certified - Rescue One Training for Life Inc. Gaithersburg, MD 4/20xx

E.M.T. certified - San Jose City College, San Jose, CA 7/20xx

SKILL HIGHLIGHTS

[just to show where this would fit between your licenses and education sections]

EDUCATION & TRAINING

Bachelor of Science: San Jose State University - Nursing . . . x/20xx

San Jose, CA

. . . * President's List, 2/20xx

. . . * Coursework in []

Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Training: Crisis Prevention Institute Inc. . . . 9/20xx

Santa Clara, CA

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

specific subcategory (e.g. Medical Surgical ) in bold 11pt, and hours in subctegory in regular 11pt, then below it -

Title of Hospital or Facility, Location, Dates (right or left depending on preference)

. . . * Use action verbs to begin sentences

. . . * Focus on the populations you have treated and include the diagnosis

. . . * Be specific regarding treatments and give examples when applicable

. . . * Show rather than tell your experience

. . . * What did you learn, develop, or teach to patients and their families?

another specific subcategory (e.g. Pediatrics ), hours in subcategory

Title of Hospital or Facility, Location, Dates (right or left depending on preference)

. . . * See above

Where ". . . * " means indent the bullet point and " . . . " means right-justified the date.

Don't be shy in singing your own praises to the feds, your competitors are!

Bayat · May 30, 2013

Just on a lark, decided to work this one up into a federal resume format just to see how big these things can get. Did put a lot of fluff in to show the structure. Assumed silkysteph wasn't hired through a agency but was an independent contractor as a Nanny while attending school in CA and waited tables during the summer break while back home.

Remember to go though the vacancy announcement and identify the buzzwords they're looking for to put in your "Special Skills Highlights". And, yes redundancy is permitted in a federal resume, so the same buzzwords can appear in both the "Skills Highlights" and "Clinical Experience" and/or "Work Experience"

So I picked a form found on the web and used it as a template to build this, enjoy:

Silky Steph,RN

5555 Here Avenue • San Jose, CA 20901 • (559) XXX-XXXX • [email protected]

________________________________________________________________________

OBJECTIVE

Vacancy Announcement # 000000000 POSITON APPLIED FOR: Clinical Nurse Specialist I (GS-?)

_______________________________________________________________________

PROFILE

Social Security Number: 000-00-0000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.S. Citizen

Federal Civilian Status: N/A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Veteran’s Preference: N/A

Federal Civilian Employee: N/A. . Availability: Full-Time, Permanent, Term, Recent Graduate

Desired Locations: United States: Washington, DC, Cleveland, OH, Boston, MA

________________________________________________________________________

QUALIFICATIONS SUMMARY

REGISTRED NURSE: BLS & EMT Certification

. . . • Registered Nurse - Maryland Board of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, License Number , 3/20xx

. . . • Basic Life Support (BLS) certified - Rescue One Training for Life Inc., Gaithersburg, MD, 4/20xx

. . . • Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certified - San Jose City College, San Jose, CA, x/20xx

. . . • Strong work ethic and life skills combined with solid academic training providing excellent care for a diverse patient population.

. . . • Holds a Bachelor in Nursing. Academic goals include the future pursuit of a Master’s Degree.

SPECIAL SKILLS HIGHLIGHTS

. . . • Physical Assessments . . . . . . . . . . • IV Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . • Medical Documentation

. . . • Diagnosis/Treatment Care Planning • Infection Control . . . . . . . . . . . • Patient/Family Communication

. . . • Records Control/Progress Reports . • Direct Patient Care . . . . . . . . . . • Medical clinical procedures comprehension

. . . • Physical Assessments . . . . . . . . . . • Charting/Patient Documentation • Strong medical ethic

. . . • Patient education . . . . . . . . . . . . . • Time management skills . . . . . • Mobility assistance

________________________________________________________________________

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science: SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY - Nursing . . . . . . . . . . . . . x/20xx

San Jose, CA

. . . • President’s List - 2/20xx

. . . • GPA: x.x overall / x.x in major

. . . • Credits earned: xx semester hours

. . . • Relevent coursework: []

High School Diploma: SOME SCHOOL – General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . x/20xx

Baltimore, MD

_________________________________________________________________________

TRAINING

Nonviolent Crisis Intervention: CRISIS PREVENTION INSTITUTE INC. . . . 9/20xx

Santa Clara, CA

________________________________________________________________________

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

Preceptorship Nurse, KAISER HOSPITAL, Santa Clara, CA . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9/20xx -11/20xx

Medical-Surgical Oncology Unit, xx hours

. . . • Performed total patient assessments, administered medication, performed accurate charting procedures with minimum supervision.

. . . • Educated patients and families about relevant therapy and how to achieve short and long term health goals.

ROTATIONS

Specific subcategory (e.g. Psychiatric) in bold 11pt, TITLE OF HOSPITAL, Location, Dates in regular 11pt, then below it -

Unit or Facility, xx hours

. . . • Use action verbs to begin sentences

. . . • Focus on the populations you have treated and include the diagnosis

. . . • Be specific regarding treatments and give examples when applicable

. . . • Show rather than tell your experience

. . . • What did you learn, develop, or teach to patients and their families?

Another specific subcategory (e.g. Pediatrics) in bold 11pt, TITLE OF HOSPITAL, Location, Dates in regular 11pt, then below it -

Unit or Facility, xx hours

. . . • See above

________________________________________________________________________

WORK EXPERIENCE

Server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/2013 - Current

XX CAFÉ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xx hours per week

999 x Avenue NW, Georgetown, Washington DC 20299 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $xx.xx Hourly

Supervisor: John Doe, 202-555-0000, Permission to contact

Duties:

. . . • Summer position during college recess.

. . . • Provide customer service, take orders and deliver food.

. . . • Meet with kitchen staff daily prior to service to discuss that day’s offerings, including specials, food preparation and ingredients used.

. . . • Additional duties include, but not limited to: Processing payment, greeting customers, cleaning tables and dining area, and setting tables.

Accomplishments:

. . . • Handle large groups with ease while keeping calm in stressful situations, earning distinguished comments by management.

. . . • Complete 12-14 hour shifts frequently without appearing tired.

. . . • Demonstrate excellent memory with ability to quickly learn new specials and menus.

Morning Caretaker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1/2010 -3/2013

X COMPANY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xx hours per week

999 S Here St, Campbell, CA 21020 . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $xx.xx Hourly

Supervisor: Jane Kruger, 202-555-0000, Permission to contact

Duties:

. . . • Provided hygiene care, wound care, range of motion exercises, safe patient transferring from bed to chair, medication administration, bowel and urinary care.

. . . • Assisted registered nurses in performing technical duties and with processing of physician’s orders as appropriate.

. . . •Participates in nursing care planning under the supervision of a Registered Nurse.

Accomplishments:

. . . • Correlated with other members of healthcare team in achieving optimum care of patients.

. . . • Maintained compliance with safe lifting and infection prevention standards.

. . . • Exercised tact and courtesy at all times.

Nanny . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/2003 - Current

WILLARD VAN PRICE [Family house of xx children] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xx hours per week

123 South Bay Avenue, Peninsula, CA 21090 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $xx.xx Hourly

510-555-0000, Permission to contact

FREDDY BATES [Family house of xx children] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xx hours per week

123 North River Street, Peninsula, CA 21090 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $xx.xx Hourly

510-555-0000, Permission to contact

LEON KARLOF. [Family house of xx children] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xx hours per week

123 Cove Circle, Peninsula, CA 21090 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $xx.xx Hourly

510-555-0000, Permission to contact

Duties:

. . . • Independent contractor during college attendance.

. . . • Provide complete care for children under five years old in the employer's home and perform all tasks that correlate to the care of the children.

. . . • Create a safe, nurturing and stimulating environment in which the children can thrive and develop.

. . . • Perform light housework duties during childcare..

Accomplishments:

. . . • Assist children in completing their educational tasks – Supervised homework and monitored other learning activities.

. . . • Plan and prepare healthy meals for children.

. . . • Undertake appropriate creative activities with the children.

________________________________________________________________________

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Volunteer Care Taker, STANFORD HOSPITAL, Stanford, CA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7/2009-2/2010

Volunteered hours at to gain experience in assisting the elderly with basic needs in their homes.

Duties:

. . . •

Accomplishments:

. . . •

_________________________________________________________________________

REFERENCES

Peter Lee, Owner

Accounting Plus

Office: (202) 555-4444 ext. 1333

Email: [email protected]

(former supervisor)

Pamala Hunter

Home: (202) 555-0000

Email: [email protected]

(Personal friend)

Mike Kildare, MD

Beth Care Hospital

Office: (510) 555-1111

Email: [email protected]

(Instructor)

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · May 30, 2013

A Federal resume for GS positions isn't the same resume format as used by the US Armed Forces. Not even close. The resume given to the recruiter was one, perhaps two pages, concise, and very much to the point.

USAJOBS.GOV is for the GS positions - civilians - not active duty folks.

silkysteph · May 30, 2013

wow, thanks, Bayat. This is awesome.