VA nurses, help with federal resume please!

Tarabara · Sep 12, 2016

Did you send your resume directly to the recruiter or did you submit it through usajobs? Make sure you submit all job applications through usajobs. All applications go through an automatic filtering process where they see if you have the basic qualifications before HR/managers even see your application. Therefore when you write your resume directly reference things they're asking for in the job posting so that it makes it through that auto process (you can even copy it word for word if it makes sense). I would write simple succinct statements that include numbers/outcomes. They're not looking for "fluff" like the fact that you love working with patients, instead just say simple "care for up to 4 patients on a 14 bed telemetry cardiac focused unit". "Provide pre and post cardiac cath care, assess and work up patients with ACS, prepare patients for LVAD and heart transplants". Certified in BLS, ACLS, PCCN, PICC placement, and moderate sedation. Member of the nursing Professional Standards Board. Keep the resume simple and short, you just want your resume to make it through HR because policy is all qualified applicants get an interview. Then you can explain your accomplishments in more detail in your interview.

Don't be too discouraged yet, things take a long time with the VA, it is government after all í ½í¸›And often job postings are listed for 2+ weeks and they won't even begin to look at them until the posting is closed. Hope this helps, good luck!

msanchezalamo · Jul 24, 2017

Hello, I know its been a few years since u posted this but Im trying to apply for VA as well and like you (at that time) I just graduated, have no experience and have NO CLUE what to put or HOW to write it, on that federal resume! Can you pls, pls, pls help me? I'd greatly appreciate it! (btw, I have no idea how to PM! Sorry) Thank you so much!

Tarabara · Jul 24, 2017

I just googled "federal resume" and looked at templates then chose one that i liked. The biggest difference between federal resumes and regular resumes is that federal resumes are very detailed. You dont have to try to keep it to one page, include all of your experience, but keep your statements succinct. As a new grad, I included my previous work at old navy and H&R block even though its not medical but i only wrote a sentence or 2 on each. Include as many numbers/outcomes as possible, for example under my VALOR nurse extern experience I put, "assisted up to 27 patients with activities of daily living on a med surg/oncology unit." As a new grad I did include my clinical rotations since I didnt have much other medical experience, I had a section titled "clinical experience" with each hospital I went to, their units, and a sentence about it. For example, "Med/Surg Rotation, Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center, 72 hours

I observed and assisted with nursing care of up to 5 patients on a telemetry and PACU unit, including assessment, charting, and medication administration.

The other thing to know is to include as much as you possibly can from the job announcement into your resume. As long as it makes sense and applies you can literally copy and paste sentences from the announcement into your resume. This will help it to get through the auto HR process to be seen by managers.

Good luck!

msanchezalamo · Jul 24, 2017

Great!! Thank you so much! one more question..... I wrote this as my objective: "Newly graduated RN licensed in PR with 3 years of clinical hospital experience. Aiming to expand my knowledge and acquire further experience in a well-recognized health institution in which I can contribute to its development while growing as a Registered Nurse." Is this any good?

msanchezalamo · Jul 24, 2017

And yes, thats what I did, I googled federal resume...the thing is that there's a few different formats and so I wasnt sure which would be the best for a young grad with no experience.