"Selling Myself"

nowplayingEDRN · Jan 18, 2004

Miss JKm,

Basically all a cover letter and resume are is a sale flyer for the person looking for a job. The cover letter contains just enough bait so that the prospective employer wants to know more and there for goes to read the sale flyer (aka resume) The resume emphasizes your strengths and good qualities with out going into overkill and blatant lies. The key thing is that you have to make it abundantly clear what your objective is (ie what position/job you are looking to obtain) and then back it with what qualities, experience and qualifications you have that make you the RIGHt person for the job. You are the saleswoman thowing a sales pitch on YOU. NYSNA.org has tips on cover letter/resume writing, if I remember correctly and it might be of benefit to you to check it out. Hope that this helps.

Christie

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Jan 18, 2004

When I was younger and hungrier and more aggressive. I used to sell my services as an RN, with a varied background of experience with QA, process Improvement. Teaching and management skills. and Committee skills. etc.

Now I have eased up, I dont want all that extra work that back then made me more money than other nurses around me. Now I just like pt care, as few as possible meetings,,,

I decided it just not what I wanted to do. It interfered with mt GOLF.

But if thats what you want, then yes you are going to have to aggressively market yourself. And a cover letter to a resume, is good. List all the things you can do for their organization to help them out. They love it and still are willing to eat it up.

Agnus · Jan 18, 2004

What have you done to find a job.

The customary first step IS to send a cover letter and resume.

You should ALWAYS ask for an interview.

So many cover letters NEVER do this and the person wonders why they do not get offered an interview.

The purpose of a resume is to get an interview period. It seldom get you the job.

The purpose of the cover letter is to present what your interest is in this particular position or employer, to present what you offer the employer, and to SPECIFICALLY state that your are asking for a interview.

You will not get hired without an interview and these two things are only used to get interviews.

Do not for one second think that listing all your wonderful qualities and skills will made you seem indespensible.

You need meat to back up your statements. If you say you have great communications skills yet cannot communicate effectively on your resume or in your letter they will know you are full of hot air, or cannot see your own short falls.

Avoid over use of adjatives. Instead give specific and measurable examples of what you do.

List specific skills that you are very strong in. Do not lie do not exagerate. This will 1. cause you to seem phoney or 2. backfire if they don't spot it and hire you.

Better to promise little and deliver a lot. This by the way is a maxim in the world of sales.

Make sure your letter and resume are maticulous. Get someone who does not have a reason to stroke you to evaluate them.

Ask for an interview.

fab4fan · Jan 18, 2004

ITA with Angus.

You will need to have a plan for how to deal with satisfactorily explaining what happened with your previous jobs, too. It could be that propective employers have already gotten wind of your job history. This could be why your job search seems to be going nowhere.

Are you following up on your resumes with a phone call? If not, this is another way to keep your name fresh in the mind of the intervewer. If you do get an interview, make sure you follow up with a "thank you" letter that summarizes what you discussed, what sets you apart from other applicants, and what you can do for the organization.

Proofread, proofread, spell-check, spell-check. Make sure you have someone else read over your letter even if you've used spell-check. Have that person look for grammatical gaffes, lack of focus, etc. Tell him/her not to spare your feelings.

Good luck.

ava'smomRN · Jan 19, 2004

"You will need to have a plan for how to deal with satisfactorily explaining what happened with your previous jobs, too. It could be that propective employers have already gotten wind of your job history. This could be why your job search seems to be going nowhere"

i have thought of this and i made two resumes. i think they are both good my school's career service center approved both of them and i have gotten various opinions and they were all good. on one resume i speak only about my training/ skills, i did this because of my horrible job history. but then i decided that my experiences are valuble even though i messed up i have decided to handle that issue when it is reached. i would love everyones opinion on my resumes so i have decided to post it. i am still working on my letter. please help me decide which resume to use. i have beeen using the one with the job history. i have also been trying to fit my phlebotomy training in, but i havent worked it out yet. here goes:

Tiffany

ObjectiveSeeking entry level position to utilize skills and education.

Work experience

August 2003 ¡V October 2003

September 2002- January 2003Fairview Care Center Philadelphia, PAPhiladelphia, PA

Certified Nursing Assistant

„X Measured and recorded resident¡¦s vital signs, temperature, height, and weight

„XAssisted and/or provided complete bathing and feeding

„XMaintained residents confidentiality as according to HIPPA

„XMaintained accurate records of resident¡¦s health status.

„XSafely transferred immobile residents by use of proper body mechanics

„XRecorded meal consumption, fluid intake, and urinary output

Burger King Restaurant Philadelphia, PA

Cashier

„XGreeted Customers

„X Accurately performed cash transactions using a cash register

„XTook and served food orders

„X Completed light stocking and inventory duties

EducationCommunity College of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA

Major: Culture, Science, and Technology

„XGraduation Date: June 2004

Certifications Clinical Pathway Educators Philadelphia, PA

Certified Nursing Assistant

„XValid dates: May 2003-May 2005

American Heart Association Philadelphia, PA

CPR

„XValid dates: March 2003-March 2004

References Available upon request

OBJECTIVE

Seeking employment as a Certified Nursing Assistant in a healthcare environment to utilize skills and training.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

Nursing Assistant skills

Completed Nursing Assistant training course approved by the Pennsylvania Nurse Aide Registry. Training included classroom education and hands on experience functioning as a student nursing assistant at a Long Term Care Facility caring for elderly and disabled individuals.

Laboratory Assistant Skills

Completed a NACCLS approved phlebotomy course which provided classroom and clinical education. Clinical education consisted of performing laboratory assistant skills in a hospital environment which included performing venipunctures and a variety of laboratory testing on patients of all ages.

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

Venipunctures, bleeding time tests, capillary puncture, logging in specimens, centrifuging, data entry, intra-muscular injections, experience with children and geriatrics, skilled care, measuring and recording weight and height, vital signs, and urinary output, EKG recording, universal precautions, personal care assistance, proper body mechanics, and meal and diet planning .

CERTIFICATIONS/ TRAINING

Clinical Pathway Educators Inc Certified Nursing Assistant

Valid Dates May 2003-May 2005

American Heart Association CPR

Valid Dates March 2003-March 2004

EDUCATION

2002-Present Community College of Philadelphia

Associate of Science Degree

Graduation Date: June 2004

ok my forma is all screwed up b/c its not in word if anyone cares to view the word file pm me. thanks

suzanne4, RN · Jan 19, 2004

you are listing an associate degree that you do not have yet, I would list degree you will be specifically receiving, such as enrolled in "Associate degree in ---------------------- program, will receive degree in -----------2004. To get a degree you have to have a specific program that you are enrolled in.

For the area of work experience you have a gap of about 9 months, you do need to be complete if you are listing your work history. As example, you have Burger King listed but no dates.

I would just list 'Certified Nursing Asistant

When we list ourselves as RNs our license is only granted for two years but we never put that.. If you want to stay in that line of work then you will usually keep your certifications up, just like CPR, etc.

Good luck...................................