Whether it’s your very first nursing job or you are applying for yet another travel contract, you’ll need to have a resume that is put together and polished for your potential new employer. While your education, personality, or experience may help you actually land the job, the resume is generally what gets you the interview.
Not all resumes are created equal. These tips will help you elevate your resume to improve your chances of getting your dream job:
1. Keep it short
Arguably, one of the most challenging parts of composing a resume is keeping it from getting too lengthy. Unfortunately, many employers will not even bother to review a resume that is several pages in length. A general rule of thumb is to keep it at about a page, unless you are applying for an academic program or the application requests additional information to be included with the resume.
2. Be clear and specific
Consider the skills needed to perform the particular job you want to apply for. While all nurses do need to come into the field with a variety of generalized skills, there are definitely specialty skills and courses you may have been exposed to along the way. Read through the actual job posting to see what types of skills the employer is looking for.
If you can, try to tailor your resume to show how you are able to fulfill the needs of the role. It may be beneficial to make a list of the experiences you have had (even if they were in clinicals prior to graduation, if you are a new grad) and the populations you have worked with. Then, choose to include the skills/experiences/etc. that are most relevant to the job posting.
3. Review for errors
Everyone makes mistakes here and there, but you want your resume to be completely free of any grammatical or spelling errors. Unfortunately, these types of errors can damage your credibility to the reader, as they come off as unprofessional.
Additionally, ensure that your resume is formatted in a manner that is organized and consistent throughout the document. It can be very helpful to have a friend review your resume before you submit it, as it is often challenging to find your own errors.
If you don’t have anyone who can read it over (or if you’re too short on time to ask for help), try reading your resume aloud. This will make it easier to “hear” anything that sounds “off” within the document and can help you identify errors you may not have noticed while reading silently.
4. Use technology to your advantage
Being able to effectively utilize technology is a major benefit in the medical field, especially if you have had experience with numerous types of electronic health and medical records. Employers will be interested in any extra technological skills you may have that would be useful to the team.
Additionally, keep in mind that some hospitals receive too many resumes to be able to review each of them individually. Including particular keywords in your resume can help it to be found more easily in the electronic submission system. Be sure to read the job description several times, and take note of any words that come up frequently, as these words may be used to search through resumes more quickly.
5. Be mindful of word choice
It’s challenging to avoid repetition when writing a resume. One rule of thumb is to ensure that you utilize your verbs effectively. Try to avoid phrases such as “worked with patients” and exchange them for more specific phrases, such as, “facilitated patient care on cardiac unit.” This rephrasing helps your resume to come across as more polished and sophisticated, and it also provides more specific information without adding too much extra length.
6. Preview the resume submission portal
It is most common for applicants to submit their resumes online, rather than in-person or via mail. Many hospital systems have entire portals dedicated to job openings and the submission of resumes. If possible, try to preview the portal prior to tailoring your resume to the job description.
These portals frequently require you to type in information separately from your resume (in addition to uploading your resume). You may be able to save some space on by incorporating information into the portal responses (rather than having all of it on your resume). While it’s best practice to provide a resume that is comprehensive, but succinct, you may be able to use the portal questions to provide additional information that did not fit onto your resume.
7. Include soft skills
Employers generally want to see both hard skills and soft skills on their potential employees’ resumes. Hard skills are the skills and techniques you picked up while working in previous jobs or throughout your experiences in clinicals. This includes any special training courses you may have taken over the years.
Soft skills refer to characteristics that are not quite as tangible yet are still useful in the work environment, such as being able to communicate effectively across an interdisciplinary team or having the ability to remain calm during intense situations.
8. Draw attention to accomplishments
Be sure to take some time to brainstorm any awards you’ve earned or accomplishments you’ve achieved that could be relevant to the position you desire. This includes any special certifications or even roles you have taken on that go above and beyond what is generally expected. Have you served as a charge nurse? Have you taken on students or helped new employees through their on-boarding? While these may not seem like “achievements” in the traditional sense, they communicate information about your personality and work ethic in a manner that is clear and concise.
Resume writing can be frustrating, as you are expected to provide a ton of information without making it too lengthy. You may find it helpful to journal or create lists that note experiences you’ve had prior to drafting the actual resume. Be sure to search online for sample nursing resumes to help get you started with formatting. Best of luck with your job hunting!
