"career change" resume...suggestions needed!

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Jun 13, 2008

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/TC063694541033.aspx?pid=CT101449251033&WT.mc_id=42

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/TC011152901033.aspx?pid=CT101449251033&WT.mc_id=42

Here are a couple resume templates. I've used both, but I like the first one best. It allows you to summarize your extensive experience, and then list everything else.

Good luck in your job search!

santhony44, MSN, RN, NP · Jun 13, 2008

You want a format that allows you to emphasize your accomplishments, not just your various jobs. For example, if you led a team that redesigned a work process which saved your employer X amount of man hours and X amount of $$ per year, then you want that on your resume.

The nice thing about that format is that it can also be used to include non-paying, volunteer "jobs" as well.

llg, PhD, RN · Jun 13, 2008

There is no need to list all your nursing school experiences on your resume. Simply include any that relate directly to the job for which you are applying. Generally, there is rarely justification for listing more than 2 or 3 student experiences on your resume. People reading resumes know that every nursing does a med/surg rotation, a maternity rotation, psych, peds, etc. So, unless there is something really special to say that is unique from what other nursing students do, leave it off your resume itself.

If you would like to include a more comprehensive list of clinical sites, students projects, etc. ... the best way to handle that is to make a separate list on a separate page. Attach it to your resume. On your resume, say something like "See attached list of student experiences" in your entry about your nursing education. The resume reader won't get bogged down in a big list of fairly routine student activities ... but can look at it if he/she would like to. Also, that helps the special student experiences that you do put in your resume will stand out because they are not buried in a big list of less important student experiences.

As for your previous jobs ... you could say something "20 years of experience in the XYZ field, including experience with ...." Then, I would probably list your employers, your length of service (to show stability) and perhaps a 1 or 2 line phrase saying the emphasis of each job.

I wouldn't be afraid of a 2-page resume ... but if it gets to 3 or 4 pages, then you need to cut it down more. Once again, you could write your little summary paragraph of "20 years experience in XYZ field, including experience with ..." and then say "See the attach list for a complete employment history" and attach the list of all employers with the brief statement of what each job emphasized.

By using attachments in that way, you can still have a brief resume in which the highlights will catch the reviewer's eye ... but have more comprehensive information available for those who want to see it.

Spacklehead, MSN, NP · Jun 16, 2008

I also just wanted to add that it might be a little difficult as a new RN grad (assuming the only nursing experience you have is from nursing school) to land a per diem RN position. Reason being, many places don't like to have to invest a lot of time orienting a nurse who is only going to be working a few shifts per schedule (unless you plan to work often); hence the reason why per diem positions usually get filled by RNs who already have at least 6 mos to one year of experience. This is just going by my previous experience - when I was hired per diem, the requirements for the position included at least one year of experience in the nursing specialty I was applying for, and I was only given four shifts of orientation. Now, this could be much different at other facilities, but I just wanted to put it out there.

Don't let this discourage you, but just keep it in mind if it takes a little while for you to find a per diem position. Best of luck! :)

allnurses Guide · Jun 16, 2008

Thanks...I though that might be an issue, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. I do have the entire month of August off, so I would be available to train full time. I'm hoping to get hired at the hospital where I did my OB rotation and my 6 week synthesis in OB-they seemed to like me and enocuraged me to apply for a position. So we'll see. Thanks for giving me your perspective.