Q -resume how much past work exp if this is 2nd career

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Specializes in hospice, ortho,clinical review.

Right now my resume is 2 pages. I know the ideal is just one but I've only been a practicing RN for just under 6 mos.

My previous job I was at for 9 years. Prior to that though, from 1993 to 1998 I was at 3 different places, one of which I went back to after leaving once. This is common in the industry I came from. Places would go out of business, contracts lost etc. But I don't think I should necessarily include all of them because it has nothing to do with nursing.

However the one in the middle from 1994 to 1997 I think I should leave on because it shows I have management experience. I'm not sure how gaps in employment look though. Prior to the 1993 switch I was at that previous place for 10 years. With just a couple year gap from high school grad to more serious employment.

If I try to cut this down and start from the place that I had management exp I would have a 15 year gap between that and high school. Will they wonder what I was doing or does that only apply to younger RN's starting out (not to show gaps)?

Perhaps I should leave the 1st place b/c it shows stability and just cut out the place I went back to twice? Not sure that would shorten the resume, plus I'd show a gap when there really was none and nothing to hide!

And an important note: the place where I had management is in the middle of the one place I went back and forth to. That was a 5 year total between the 2 but again, it would show a gap between management place and where I left to go to nursing school.

Ack. How much do they care/want to read?

What has anyone else done that is a 2nd career nurse? Thx

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Specializes in hospice, ortho,clinical review.

Sorry, I confused myself reading that so I'll just give an example of what I mean:

SNF- currently at for almost 6mos.

Last job-July 1998-Jul 2007

Company X- Apr 1997-Jul 1998 and Oct 1993 to Jun 1994

Company Y- Sept 1994- Apr 1997

Company Z- Apr 1984-Oct 1993

Graduated high school in 1982. Had jobs at 2 other places prior to Company Z that were in the same field, but I think that's getting ridiculous to include. Like I said job changing was normal in this area. Had a retail job between trade school graduation and job in chosen field, but I'm trying to drop off that trade school info b/c I don't see it as relevant am I correct?

Hopefully this outline makes it clear...thx again

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Last job is plenty. 10 years.

Just relevant education and any degrees.

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Specializes in hospice, ortho,clinical review.
Last job is plenty. 10 years.

Just relevant education and any degrees.

Thank you! So I would just include management experience under skills and leave the actual job off? That's great if I can leave all that other stuff off! thx.

It's funny b/c my NI's proofed our resumes our last semester, and they all said to leave on all my things including certifications I had in previous fields! Didn't make sense to me, but I think they thought I'd look like a slacker or something if I didn't put it all!

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I've always been told a resume should be *a* page in length.

Dunno smiley.

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a resume should only be 1 page in length and should go back about 10 years.

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Since you have shifted careers, add the term "relevant" to your list.

Obviously you should list all education but under work experience simply list "Relevant Work Experience" and then enumerate your nursing experience. Underneath that state your previous job in the previous career and add a note beneath that stating "Further unrelated work experience will be provided upon request." This will simply allow the person evaluating your resume to know that you have more experience and he/she will obviously understand that you have shifted careers.

In the USA, Resume's should never be more than one page.

I regularly got resume's that were 3-4 pages in length and I got tired of reading them so I just tore off the first page and threw the rest in the garbage; later I discovered that practically all people in management or HR do the same thing.

The rules are different for other countries, however. In the UK I have been informed that professionals (like nurses) are expected to have more than one page and in countries like the Philippines where so much tertiary information is required the minimum length for a resume is two pages for anyone; a professional tends to run 4-5 pages.

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Specializes in home health, dialysis, others.

Hahahaha. One page!!! I have been a nurse 35 years, in 5 states and a foreign country. Even if I limited myself to one specialty it would be more than one page. Hahahahaha!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Cardiology, Geriatrics.

I have read that 10 years is all you need to show. Leave off irrelevant experience. Management experience at this point in your nursing career wouldn't really be necessary to show. You definitely won't be managing anyone in nursing anytime soon! You have way too much to learn right now to worry about management! :)

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Cardiology, Geriatrics.

Oh, one other thing. You don't want to reveal your age! Do not list your HS graduation date or any job experience longer than 10 years ago! In this economy, ageism is rampant! Don't put a bullseye on your back for discrimination. It does happen, even in nursing! Never give them any age-revealing information whatsoever until after the interview. Legally, they cannot even ask you questions that would reveal your age until you are hired! This includes HS graduation dates.

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Specializes in Home Care.

I keep my resume to one page and only list my last job. I do not list high school graduation date, its irrelevant since I have college education.

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Specializes in CVIC, ortho surgery.

How about stating how many years at a position rather than listing the dates?

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