developing your résumé
DESCRIPTION
You have 15 second to convince a nurse recruiter that he or she should spend more time reviewing your résumé. In this session, find out how to sell yourself quickly and succinctly. Learn about options for organizing your résumé so that it tells your story effectively, helps you stand out from others and convinces recruiters to take the next step.TRANSCRIPT
•Describe the purpose of a working resume•Write an objective for sending a resume•Create a current resume
WORK
MacNeal Hospital CCU/ICU (Sept. 2005)
JCAHO compliance committee 2006, 2008, 2009
Selected to present unit training on new computer charting system July 2007
Helped out in NICU during crunch summer 2008
Asked to represent unit in nursing committee meetings March 2008
Preceptor Sept. 2008-
Non-English speaking pnt on unit; worked w/interpreter when available; found online resources Sept 2008
Fill-in charge nurse duties Sept. 2008
Helped implement self-scheduling system Dec. 2008
Promoted to charge nurse June 2009
EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION
ADN 2005
PICC certified 2006
BSN 2007
Joined AACCN 2007
BCLS 2007
ACLS instructor certification 2008
A private document
Career planning
Used to create a customized resume
Helps you remember dates
Interview preparation
The average employer spends only 10 seconds looking at a resume. Yet it is the only contact you have with the potential employer.
Most employers are actually looking for a reason NOT to interview you.
There is no room for anything but a flawless, compelling document that reflects who you are and what you've accomplished in the most beneficial light.
--NRCPlacement.com
Name and credentials
Contact information
Introductory statement◦ Objective
◦ Qualifications
◦ Professional Summary
Concise sentence stating the reason for sending the resume
◦ Avoid: To obtain a challenging position in healthcare.
◦ Targeted: To obtain a supervisory position in an acute care setting where I can use my clinical and leadership experience to enhance the care of patients.
Objective
Qualifications◦ List of measurable relevant skills
Professional Summary◦ Several sentences consolidating experiences from a
long-term career
Chronological◦ Lists your experiences in reverse chronological
order
◦ Shows the path of your career
◦ Best for those who have followed a traditional career path
Functional◦ Arranges your work history by skill
◦ Best for those with 10+ years of experience
◦ Best for those with varied experiences
Sandy Smith, BSN, RN
446 Lark Dr., Bolling, IL 60440
(630) 732-1189 [email protected]
EXPERIENCE
Teaching: Taught first and second year nursing students in community college and university level. Earned certification as diabetes educator.
Project Management: Designed, developed and implemented an evidence-based model of quality care for outpatient setting. Selected Internet patient education tool and initiated 10-person staff to using with patients.
Clinical: More than 20 years of experience in a variety of settings, including acute care, outpatient, emergency department, OR and physician office.
POSITIONS HELD
June 2008-present McNeal Health System, Chicago, IL
Charge Nurse, CCU/ICU
Sept. 2005-June 2008 Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL
Staff Nurse, med/surg
Education◦ Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, BSN, May 2009
◦ Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, BSN, 2007
◦ Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, BSN, anticipated graduation May 2010
Certification/License
Related Experience
Clinical Experience (up to first year)
Relevant Coursework (up to first year)
Other Experiences (up to first year)
Work History
Education
Certification/License
Related Experience
Continuing Education
Additional Skills◦ Languages
◦ Software
Don’t include◦ Hobbies
◦ Personal information
Don’t tell readers what they already know
List your most impressive/relevant accomplishments first
Start with action words, and vary them
Write in present tense
Write in phrases
Use acronyms & abbreviations only if used industry wide
Use a consistent style◦ Spell out or abbreviate months
◦ Use numbers only, or words and numbers
Include month and year in work history◦ July 2006-present
◦ 7/2005-9/2007
Use headings and spacing to guide the reader
Use bold for important details
Use ALL CAPS sparingly; avoid italics
Use a simple typeface; font size not smaller than 10 point
Leave side margins for notes
WORK EXPERIENCE
June 2008-present MacNeal Health System, Chicago, IL
Charge Nursse, CCU/ICU
Supervise 6 full-time RNs and support staff; preceptor since 2000; assist in implantation of self-scheduling for CCU/ICU all shifts; provide training to unit staff; enforce JCAHO compliance as part of committee.
January 2007-June 2008 Health Agency, Chicago, IL
Staff RN
Demonstrate adaptability and use wide range of skill sets in assignments ranging from per diem to 3 months.
March-June 2008, Loyola University Hospital, CCU
Dec. 2007-March 2008, St. Anthony’s Hospital, float
May-November 2007, Carle Foundation, trauma/ICU
Jan. 2007-May 2007, Memorial General Hospital, ER / ICU
As long as it takes
1-2 pages is best
Use the top half of first page for your best selling points
Typos & misspellings are the No. 1 pet peeve of hiring managers◦ Ask someone else to proof your resume
◦ Ask someone outside your field to proof to spot jargon or confusing acronyms, abbreviations
Other pet peeves◦ Resumes not customized to a particular position
◦ Resumes that include too many insignificant details about each position held
◦ Resumes longer than two pages
Mailing: Use “resume paper,” beige or white; no fancy patterns
Faxing: Allow ample margins
E-mailing: Send as a Word attachment; if sending in the text box, replace tabs with spaces; take out italics, bolds
Using online tools: Cut and paste from a proofed document
Out of state address
Confusing or incongruent objective
Gaps in employment
Several short-stay positions
Sue Smith, BSN, RN3100 Horizon Dr., King of Prussia, PA 19803
(555) 555-5555; [email protected]
OBJECTIVE
To obtain a position as a new nurse on a med/surg unit where I can use my education and clinical experience to care for patients and further my skills and knowledge.
EDUCATION
EDUCATION
Temple University, BSN program, May 2009
GPA: 3.8
Dean’s list junior and senior year
School of Nursing senior class treasurer
CLINICAL EXPERIENCETemple University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, pediatrics March-April 2009
Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ, med/surg January-February 2009
Memorial Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, critical care November-December 2008
RELATED EXPERIENCE
May 2009-July 2009 Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
Externship, med/surg
• Improve clinical skills by providing care on 20-bed unit
• Complete documentation using electronic health records
June 2005-March 2006 Pottstown Memorial Hospital, Pottstown, PA
Nursing Assistant
• Gain knowledge of the nursing field by assisting RNs; provide direct patient care
• Learn about compassion and patient education
OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE
January 2008-present Barnes & Noble, Devon, PA
Bookseller
• Provide customer assistance using active listening
• Accurately shelve merchandise and update inventory database
Summers 2005-2008 Busch’s Seafood Restaurant, Sea Isle City, NJWaitress
• Achieve customer satisfaction by providing good service
• Accurately manage cash receipts
• Learn to stay focused and pleasant in fastpace atmosphere
ADDITIONAL SKILLS, CERTIFICATIONS
Medical Spanish course July 2009
American Sign Language fluent
CPR, active 2009
BLS, active 2009
Sandy Jones, MSN, RN446 Lark Dr., Bolling, IL 60440
(630) 732-1189 [email protected]
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Clinical expert with 25 years of nursing experience in all settings, including ED. Successfully managed staffs of up to 20 FTEs. Implemented self-scheduling and new hand-off procedures in well-established units. Recognized as effective educator, public speaker and published author.
WORK EXPERIENCEJan. 2000-Present MacNeal Hospital, Chicago, ILSept. 2005-present Nurse Supervisor, CCU/ICU
Supervise 20 full-time RNs and support staff;
implement unit-wide self-scheduling; consistently achieve high-satisfaction Press Ganey scores
Sept. 2000-Sept. 2005 Charge Nurse, med/surg
Manage10 nursing FTEs; encourage evidence-based
practice; achieved fewer errors with introduction of
new hand-off procedure
July 1999-Oct. 2000 Oshner Medical, Chicago, ILNurse Manager, ED
Reduce average wait time from 3.5 to 2 hours in 12-month period in; supervise 20 FTEs in department that sees 70,000 patients/year; on-site for triage of 10-car freeway accident; diversion site for 3 area community hospitals
Oct. 1995-Oct. 1999 Memorial Medical Center, Tinley Park, IL
Charge nurse, ICU
Manage staff in 7-bed unit; accepted new grads and began ICU precepetor program for first time in ICU
Feb. 1991-June 1993 Children’s Hospial of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Staff RN, ICU & critical care
1984-1991 Staff nurse in various facilities in Chicago area
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Published clinical article in ADVANCE for
Nurses, May 12, 2008
Presented poster at ENA national meeting, 2007
Served on CE committee for Illinois Nursing Association state meeting 2000-2003
EDUCATION
Loyola University, Chicago, ILMSN, 2008Loyola University, Chicago, ILBSN, 1984
MEMBERSHIPS &
CERTIFICATIONS Trauma Nurse Specialist Certification, current
ACLS instructor certification since1991
Your resume is your first introduction to an employer; make a good impression
Your resume should not reveal everything about you but pique the interest of the employer
Your resume should be an honest reflection of your experiences
Your resume should be targeted to the position you want
Earn contact hours from the convenience of your computer or mobile device. Listen to or download Webinars and podcasts for CE credit. Brought to you by ADVANCE for Nurses. Merion Publications Inc. is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (No. 221-3-O-09), an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
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