resume with personal information?

[newnurse52008]

If I am applying at a hospital that has a lot of meaning to me--saved my father's life after his car accident a few years ago. That's seriously the reason I want to work there--should I put that into my resume's cover letter in some way? If I should, how do I do it...?

i'm having such a hard time figuring out how to do a cover letter...

[llg, PhD, RN]

I recommend mentioning it briefly in the cover letter, not in your resume.

In your letter, you don't want to get too emotional and "sappy" about it -- as you don't want anyone to get the impression that you might be so emotional about the environment that your professional judgment will be impaired in some way. In other words, you don't want to appear "flakey" or anything.

On the other hand ... by saying a few things how your previous experience there as patient's family member made a positive impression on you ... how much you appreciated and respected the hospital and the staff based on your previous experience there ... that you were so positively impressed that it seemed like the type of place you wanted to work in .... etc. you can show that you will bring an extra level of committment to providing great care for their patients. That's what most hiring managers are looking for. They are looking for someone who have a deep committment to providing great patient care and who are looking to put some roots down there and stay a while.

Good luck.

[Jules A, MSN]

I wouldn't. If you have a great interview and want to slip it in if you can do it without getting emotional that might be ok but while it is very a big compliment to the facility I don't think it is something that belongs in a professional interaction. Just my two cents though. :)

[elkpark]

I agree with llg (as usual! :))

[ZooMommyRN, ADN, RN]

We were taught to make a "mission statement" at the begining of our resumes and that is where alot of people put that type of information, it's most likely why you went into nursing and lead you down the path to be giving them your resume in the first place, short and sweet is always good, Best of luck!

[WDWpixieRN, RN]

I agree with llg (as usual! :))

Ditto!!!

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

me. Too...agree with llg

[NeoNurseTX, RN]

I'd slip it in the cover letter but not the resume...and mention it only briefly in the cover letter.

[caliotter3]

I agree with both opinions. If you want to mention it, then do so briefly in the cover letter. Don't go into too much detail though because that could be viewed in a negative manner (there are always people who do this) and you don't know how this will be perceived. If it were me, I would be more inclined to wait until the interview, provided the interview were going in a positive direction.