Wondering why you can't get hired or promoted? Resume + Interview hints!
I've been reviewing resumes for open positions in my department and can't believe the resumes I've received: misspelling, words crossed off, no cover letter, including personal information about family life.
Look at your resume! Please don't send a resume if you have none of the job qualifications, unless your cover letter has explanation. eg. enrolled in education program etc.
I was taught in LPN and BSN program how to prepare a resume. Is this a lost art being skipped??
Also agree with our BB members that calling facility and finding out who is department manager, then forwarding your resume to them along with hr is great idea.
I work in smaller organization than hospital but has taken me over two months to get open positions advertised and three weeks to get resumes sent to me...those that sent to me directly have interview same week.
Questions during the job interview should be related to the job you are inquiring about. The following questions is illegal to ask during a job interview here in the U.S.:
Your personal life (married, divorced, children)
Pregnancy
Provision for child care
Religion
Club Memberships
Dependents
Ethnic background
Native Language
Physical Problems
Psychiatric Problems
Spouse's Employment
Credit Rating
Home Ownership
Questions You Should Ask (From Hospital Soup)
How long is the orientation phase and what can I expect?
If for any reason it seems that orientation is just not going well for me what will happen and who should I talk to about it?
Will I work with one preceptor throughout or will I have several different preceptors?
Who will be precepting me? Can you tell me something about them? Will I always have the same preceptor or will there be more than one?
What kind of professional advancement is available to nurses here?
What are some of the attributes of working for your hospital?
If I were to get a job offer from another hospital, why would I want to work for this one?
What is the criterion you will use to select the person you are looking for?
What kind of support can I expect from the nursing educators and preceptors?
What unique challenges has this unit faced over the last year? (I.e. successes, failures, etc.)
How much independence do nurses have in being creative problem-solvers?
Resigning From A Position
Check your facilities policy and procedures--most require that you give notice equal to amount of vacation provided, often 2-3 weeks; long term employed RNs can be 4-5 weeks.
Managers often need 1-3 months notice to be eligible for rehire --don't burn your bridges.
I love this website! There is so much to learn. Ask, and you shall receive! I'm in the process of getting my resume together and thinking about how I will interview. Thank you Karen for all the info and links. My resume is so simple though now that i'm looking back at it...
This has been a big help for me. I am trying to get a resume together for some per diem work and I am having a hard time. Anyone else here with open heart experience care to help me out?
If you have a degree in another industry can you put that on your title? For example, I have a Bachelor of Arts (in film studies) and I just received my LVN license, can I put My Name, LVN., BA. on my resume?
Yes, sometimes I am also confused about that.Waiting on the answers.
I graduated in May and still can't find a job. I've revamped my resume at least 6 times and managed to get it down to one page from three. I had people say to list every job I've had as an LPN or list only the last five years. Still others say that your resume should only be a page or so. Well, I made mine into one page by summarizing thirteen years of LPN experience. This way it downplays the sheer numer of jobs I've had over those thirteen years. Especially as I have to fill out an electroinic application as well and list ALL my jobs there. I'm beginning to think the HR people aren't even looking at my resume/cover letter since my previous job history is being used against me as I look for that first RN job.
I call to follow up. I wish I could send my resume directly to the hiring managers. I've even called a few and was told to contact nurse recruitment. I've exhausted all my ideas. I think my resume looks fine and everything is the truth, gives one the basic information without highlighting my flawed job history.
My nurse friends told me that I should just pay someone to make me a great resume since I'm a professional nurse and not a professional resume writer... hahaha.
My resume looks empty because I just took my nursing course seriously...i had no time to work as cna or lvn or even do volunteerwork because nursing school was monday-sunday. What the heck do I put in there if I have nothing but a diploma?
Can any one please send me a resume for psych nursing that includes psych nurse experience in different units such as child & adolescence, adult, HDU etc?
You might want to get on with a nurse recruiting firm. There are many out there. Also you might want to get on with a travel agency. The pay is good but of course if you have a family it isn't the best choice. I know when I put my resume on to Absolutely Healthcare, I got inundated with solicitations from nurse recruiting firms. Hope this helps.
I'm new here, ive been looking around in this website. it is the first time i write. I'm new Grad (Mai 2008 passed),passed the board, got my lisence but so far i didn't get any job even interview. I'm so frustrated. Idon't have any work experience except as programmer in my country 10 years ago. so my resume is kind of empty. please help with any tips i should do, it is been 1 month I've been applying here in chicago without any luck. any suggestion is very appreciated. thank you
You might try linking up with a nurse recruiter to help you open the door to job openings. You can also put your resumen on Absolutely Healthcare.com and your resume will show up on a large database. While experience is always a great thing on a resume, it should not be a huge problem. Are you willing to relocate? If you live in a small town where there are not many opportunites, you may need to address the "willing to relocate" idea on your cover letter. Usually, hospitals are willing to hire new grads to the med/surg floors and it is a great place to get experience. I am in neonatal nursing and I know that large NICUs are willing to train new nurses to go straight in to that specialty. You have to go through training classes and pass another exam, but then you are ready to be a NICU nurse. Look into some of the training programs like that that hospitals offer to plug you into getting experience in a safe way. Good Luck!
eileeners
28 Posts
This thread is very helpful. Thanks everyone!