Standing Out with My Resume - HELP!

["Just" a nurse]

So I read an article on here that was dated a few years ago, and it said not to include pics with resumes. But, being 2015, and being that many employers - even in healthcare - routinely check social media to see what kind of person they are potentially hiring - is it still frowned upon to include a picture with my resume?

I ask because I want to stand out. My pic is the one I took when I graduated nursing school. Very professional, whites, hat, pin, and all, and only a few years old, so it still looks like me. I'm going for my first in-person interview tomorrow after being in the same LTC position for 3 years. The new position is in a hospital. I'm very nervous. I haven't interviewed with anyone as a nurse except for the LTC where I work - they were the only ones that even gave me an interview, and it was very informal and I was hired before I left the building.

I'm sure you all can understand, then, why I'm so very nervous. They already have my resume through their online system, but I've been reading about leaving a "love book" - a folder with a copy of my resume and a letter of reference or two. I was thinking about attaching a paper copy of my above-mentioned picture. What advice do ya'll have for me? Please help, I'm afraid I'm going to bomb this great opportunity!

And, thanks in advance!

[Jolie, BSN]

I interview and hire for our business (not healthcare related). If I received a resume or packet that included a photograph of a candidate, especially one that was a few years old, frankly, I would find that strange.

When I read resumes and applications, I am impressed by sound, coherent written work, interesting job histories, educational experiences, volunteer work, life stories, etc. When I interview, I am impressed by enthusiasm, preparedness, good manners, thoughtful consideration, intelligent questions. I expect a candidate to be well groomed and appropriately dressed.

After the interview, I can recall candidates based upon notes of our conversations. I don't need a photograph to remember people I've interviewed, and might wonder why you've gone to the trouble to include one, when it is not typically requested. I don't think that is the best way to "stand out."

Good luck to you.

["Just" a nurse]

Thanks, Jolie - that's kind of what I was thinking, but someone else almost had me convinced otherwise.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

Do not add a picture to your resume. It is a little odd. As is a "love folder"--where nurses are a dime a dozen, professionalism is key.

Do make sure you go through your social media, have your privacy settings where the whole world can't see everything.

I would make it a point going forward that if you are interviewing for jobs that you have a professional job coach look at your resume, and do mock interviews with you.

Also, be sure you go on the hospital website and look at their mission statement. You could reference same when speaking about your nursing skill. Also their survey scores. "I understand that you are in the 98th percentile in the "nurses care about me" section of your patient surveys. That is important to me because........."

Best wishes, and let us know how it goes!

[K+MgSO4, BSN]

Follow the normalized format for your region. I have read CV of international applicants that appear to all follow a similar format.

I was assisting one of the staff I inherited with her CV for a new job. My red pen was all over - colour text, multiple fonts, boarders, silly tables.

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

Thread moved to Resume forum.

[scaredsilly, BSN, RN]

The PPs on here are correct, never include a photo. No one wants to be accused of discrimination, and if resumes all had photos they would be subject to those accusations.

As for social media, scrub yours, or make it totally private. Those pictures with you and your classmates all drunk celebrating graduation day, or the "sexy" selfies need to go! That's the sort of thing you do NOT want a prospective employer to see. Unless you are sexless, 100% sober and have no friends that would be seen as in the least bit racous, make them completely private!

["Just" a nurse]

Thanks everyone!

I don't have anything on social media to worry about anyway - I keep most of my social media presence private already. I only referenced that as far as seeing what we look like, but I definitely appreciate the concern. I also didn't leave a love book, but I did take a sort of portfolio, with letters of reference from former instructors, managers, and colleagues. I left a copy with the interviewer of some of the letters, but took the originals with me. I did not attach a photo, either - I never thought it was a good idea, but this person was one I really trusted, and they were certain that it would help. I decided not to, for many reasons.

As far as the interview went, I did my research beforehand and found out some pretty neat stuff about the place. It made me want to be involved even more. I referenced it during the interview, and my interviewer and I got a good dialog going.

I always hate the waiting game after the interview, but it was worth it - I got the job! I'm so very excited, and fairly nervous as well. There must be something about me that they liked, however, to decide to take a chance on me. Thanks for the good thoughts/good wishes/prayers! :)

[Lev, MSN, RN, NP]

Congrats! What types of patients will you be working with?