Supercharge Your Nursing Job Prospects with These Tips!

[Wendy Dessler]

Have you been applying for different nursing jobs for a while but you're not getting the response you expected? Maybe you're fresh out of your educational program or you're looking to change job environments. No matter why you're applying, it can be competitive out there depending on where you're applying! Are you looking to supercharge your job potential? These tips will help you rev up your resume, your experience, and beyond so you can land the job of your dreams! Ready to get serious about your career? Let's get started!

Take a New Course

If you've been out of work for a while now or you're looking to gain an edge on the competition, it might help to take a refresher course. This is especially useful if you have any gaps in employment history that might be holding you back. If you have a lot of gaps in your resume, these might lead employers to question how fresh your skills are as a nurse.

A refresher course will reinforce your current skills and also might teach you new skills you can put towards your career change. While a course might cost some money upfront, the payoff is usually worth it! For the biggest benefit, search for courses that provide a balance between classroom time and clinical, hands-on practice. Look for courses in your area specifically for nurses to get started!

Complete an Internship

While it is not necessary to complete an internship in order to become a successful nurse, it's a great way to gain real-world experience. When you've first completed your education in nursing, you might have the classroom and textbook skills without the real-world practice. Employers value real-world skills that show you understand how to handle different patients in practice.

By working alongside experienced nurses, you'll learn how day-to-day life as a nurse really is. You might even get a closer look at a unique specialty! If you're lacking in experience on your resume, search for local internships. Not only can you put this added experience on your resume, you might even land a full-time job out of it! Experience really is the best teacher, especially when working with people. A great place to look for internships is at local hospitals, nursing homes, or even through your educational program.

Volunteer

Volunteering might not pay the bills, but it will help put you on the path to career success! The future of nursing is leaning towards things like outpatient services, so it's worth looking into volunteer work in these fields. It isn't a huge commitment to spend a couple hours a week as a volunteer, but it will supercharge your resume. Not only will your skills be kept fresh with the practice, but you'll learn more about your industry. As a volunteer, you'll also be able to network with existing doctors and nurses to keep aware of the most recent openings and potential references.

Networking

While volunteering is a powerful networking tool for nurses, it isn't the only networking tool. When you're struggling to find work, it's difficult to stay in touch with the industry. You'll need to practice strong networking skills to ensure you stay in the loop in such a changing career marketing.

One great way to network is by becoming involved with your state nursing association. They'll likely be hosting regular local meetings for medical professionals to get together and build connections. These are valuable contacts for future employment! Staying involved is the best way to learn about new openings and advance in the world of nursing.

Update Your Resume

How long has it been since you've taken a close look at your resume? If you're still using a resume from a few years ago, it's time to make a change. Your resume is the first thing potential employers see when you submit an application, so it needs to be impressive! Not only should your resume highlight your most recent experience, but it should be crafted specifically for the nursing industry.

An accurate and clear resume can help you land the best job possible! When crafting your resume, be clear about your licenses, certifications, achievements, and technical skills. You should feel free to include additional education and volunteer experience as well! This is where your internship and volunteer experience can really shine, even if you don't have a lot of professional work experience.

Source the Best Job Listings

Once you've supercharged your application potential, it's time to find the right job listings. While popular websites like Monster and Indeed might list openings in the medical field, these websites are overwhelming and unreliable. Instead, look for web directories that specialize in nursing jobs. This is where you'll be able to find a curated list of potential employers to submit your application to.

Achieving Your Nursing Career Goals

As a nurse, you might encounter a lot of competition in the professional space. It's becoming more challenging to stand out when you apply for new jobs today! That's why it's essential you supercharge your application with the tips above. How can your skills and personality stand out in a changing industry?

[vegaJ]

Do u know any internship in California because employers said is no such thing. Please guides me thanks

VegaJ

[vegaJ]

Any one knows about nursing internships, please let me know. Looking one in Bakersfield California tank you

[vegaJ]

Hi ms Wendy,

can a marketing company could negotiate a RN job to clear probation. This probation be clear only working as a RN under other RN umbrella. Please guide me about it any advise is welcome. Really appreciated

vegaJ