What is wrong with people ?

[ewrn]

I am a new grad who has had trouble finding a job so my husband said he would talk to a friend of his that has connections to see if he could get me a job. I was optimistic about the idea and emailed the man my resume to pass along. Today he sends me an email back about how I need to tweak my resume to get better results so I made changes but I didn't agree with listing all the skills I performed during clinicals because I have not performed them enough to be proficient which is understandable as a new grad. He sends me another email back saying ...

This resume is not different than the one you sent me. I have a question: how has this resume been working successfully for you? How many jobs and interviews has it gotten you?

Okay I can understand what he means but then he sends this to me ...

I sent out again without finishing and editing. Oh well, remember the resume is only a ticket to entice the employer to give you an interview. Once we tweak your resume, my nursing friend and I will give you a mock interview.

- on your objective: "Seeking RN position, preferably nights and weekends. Willing to work flexible hours and overtime as needed by my employer. My husband and I are childless, supportive of each others career, and he will be dependent on my income for several years so he may start his own mechanic business."

That will definitely put you in the interview pile. At the interview, tell them you cannot have children and you are not looking to adopt or explore alternatives. Remember, you can always change your mind. Maternity is always a concern with younger workers. They cannot ask, but you can tell them.

If you do not drink alcohol, put it down. If you do not smoke, only put it down if you also do not drink alcohol. Otherwise, never mention it.

I thought this was inappropriate and I was upset that he thought it okay to put my personal business out there like that. My husband must have told him a have a condition that can cause infertility but I would never tell an employer that. Do you think I'm overreacting?

[tech1000]

WHAT?! I would never ever ever put all that stuff down! Keep your personal business out of your resume and out of the interview! Was that the objective you wrote or did he write that? Either way, that's a completely inappropriate objective. The objective should mention your objective for a job. Seeking RN position, blah blah. NOTHING about a husband or child. Crazy. I had a few professionals look over my resume and took all their advice for the most part.

[hiddenheart]

That guy is insane, I used to work in the human resource field prior to becoming a nurse and if you told me that information in an interview, I would have thought you were a nutcase and not hired you, and on the resume, what does the fact that your husband wants to open a business have to do with you?? NOTHING, it does not belong on a resume, nor does that fact that you don't want children or have trouble conceiving--it sounds like he wants to use the "Pity party ticket" to get you a job. Blow him off, he is an idiot.

p.s. send him a copy of all these responses, maybe he will wake up and see reality.

[carolmaccas66, BSN, RN]

That guy is a moron, I worked in nursing HR for 3 years and I would never tell you to put any of this in.

And I couldn't care less if someone smoked/didn't smoke or drink or whatever. As long as it doesn't affect their work performance.

What a loser.

[wildboo]

I don't this this person was really offering serious advice. I think he was tired of being bothered and was being a rude idiot. That being said, some real advice: it's OK to use an objective as a new grad, but I would ditch it altogether. Everyone knows you are looking for a job, and by your application, they know what level. It's a waste of valuable space. Use that space for any extra skills, volunteer work etc that you did while in school or clincals. HR understands as a new grad your clinical experience is limited. That's a given. I wouldn't waste space telling them about shift preference. You answer that in an application and interview. Your resume is an 81/2x11 in snapshot of yourself, and the one shot you have to grab someone's attention. Don't crowd it with useless crap. You can do a Google search for resume' examples for nurses and they have dozens of different formats, including many for new grads and students.

You have have just learned a lesson they don't teach you in nursing school: member' come in all shapes and sizes-curved, straight and walking. Congratulations, you're one of us!

[ShariDCST]

Everything this clown boy has put in your "objective" - except "Seeking RN position" - is patently illegal for an employer to ask about. Therefore NO employer has any expectation of seeking it out or being privvy to any of it. Do not put it out there if it's nobody's business to know. But definitely put out there what an employer could legally expect to know about your skills and abilities as a Registered Nurse, because THAT is what identifies you as potentially a good employee.

Your best bet is to get some professional resume reviews done, and consult with your college/nursing school's placement office on whether or not they provide resume writing assistance. Compare notes with your nursing professors if they are available.

But in NO case have any further contact with this uninformed, clueless nitwit. And also tell your husband to PLEASE not discuss your medical condition with anyone. It is nobody else's business, especially when it comes to finding employment. Apply HIPPA principles to your own life, and please lovingly educate your husband likewise!

Best wishes on your job search!

[holisticallyminded]

I agree with the other posters. I've never seen a resume with an objective that was anything more than something like: RN residency, etc. And personal information about your current or future family situation is totally inappropriate and will not help you in any way. Wait until they ask you what shifts you prefer, etc.

[holisticallyminded]

Furthermore, as for the smoking: this is personal info again. No!!! If a facility has a policy about smoking, they test for nicotine. Would you write, "I don't smoke crack" on your resume? Leave that for the drug test to decide if you consent to taking it. Sorry but this stuff is REALLY WEIRD.

[GM2RN]

Furthermore, as for the smoking: this is personal info again. No!!! If a facility has a policy about smoking, they test for nicotine. Would you write, "I don't smoke crack" on your resume? Leave that for the drug test to decide if you consent to taking it. Sorry but this stuff is REALLY WEIRD.

It's only considered "personal" information if it's illegal or isn't relevant to getting the job, and it IS relevant for some facilities. I think that the emotion that this evokes is due to the fact that this is a relatively new concept and we aren't used to thinking of it that way. But, if more facilities make it a requirement to be a non-smoker to be considered for employment, like it or not, it will become appropriate to mention it in a cover letter (not a resume) in order to get the interview.

[holisticallyminded]

"But, if more facilities make it a requirement to be a non-smoker to be considered for employment, like it or not, it will become appropriate to mention it in a cover letter (not a resume) in order to get the interview."

While you could be right, I've seen "We are a non-smoking facility and all new employees will be tested for smoking prior to employment. If you consent to this, continue to apply."

So no, I would not add that again to my cover letter or anywhere else. We are not quite there yet. And why push? Why not just continue to apply and leave it there. That's your consent and your acknowledgement.

Again, this is really, really weird. I can't even believe I'm posting......

[GM2RN]

"But, if more facilities make it a requirement to be a non-smoker to be considered for employment, like it or not, it will become appropriate to mention it in a cover letter (not a resume) in order to get the interview."

While you could be right, I've seen "We are a non-smoking facility and all new employees will be tested for smoking prior to employment. If you consent to this, continue to apply."

So no, I would not add that again to my cover letter or anywhere else. We are not quite there yet. And why push? Why not just continue to apply and leave it there. That's your consent and your acknowledgement.

Again, this is really, really weird. I can't even believe I'm posting......

The policy you quoted doesn't make it clear if one would not be hired if nicotine were found. It's almost as if they intentionally did not get specific, wanting to give that impression without directly saying so. In any case, I tend to agree with you at this point in time that it is weird and we are not quite there yet.

I really have no idea if not hiring smokers will become common in the future (I hope not), but even if it doesn't, and even though it's somewhat distasteful to consider, I don't think it would hurt to put it in a cover letter in the event that one could be certain that a facility did have this policy in place. Particularly in an economy as competitive as the one we are currently experiencing.

[holisticallyminded]

I'm apologize for lack of info. They were nicotine-free and stated this. Started this year, drug test for nicotine. I believe that IS the way things are going. So again, no need to state, "I don't smoke." They'll know soon enough and this info would be unnecessary.

[GM2RN]

I'm apologize for lack of info. They were nicotine-free and stated this. Started this year, drug test for nicotine. I believe that IS the way things are going. So again, no need to state, "I don't smoke." They'll know soon enough and this info would be unnecessary.

Yes, they would know eventually. My only point was it could be considered as a way to make one stand out when hiring managers are screening applicants and deciding who to bring in for interviews. If the policy is strictly not to hire any smokers whatsoever, why would HR bother to spend time and resources going through the process to the point where drug testing is done, which is typically not until after a job offer is made? I'm not saying I like it, but I do see this as potentially a competitive edge, particularly in a market when hiring facilities have the upper hand.