When you’re in the market for a nursing job, a resume is a very important part of your job search toolkit. No matter how many job boards allow you to create a personal profile with your career details, having your own consistently updated document accurately representing your expertise could not be a smarter way to always be ready for the next opportunity.
If you’d like to buff up your resume, here are five steps to make you a stronger contender in a competitive nursing job market.
Step One: A Professional Summary
Many job-seekers often use the old-fashioned objective statement at the top of their resume, which is a weak strategy for letting the reader of your resume know who you are:
“Skilled professional nurse seeking to use skills in a medical oncology unit.”
An objective such as this serves little to no purpose. Your credentials alone communicate that you’re a nurse, and your list of positions and experiences gives the necessary details. Instead, use a cover letter to communicate what you’re after and why you’re the best candidate for the position.
In contrast, a professional summary located at the top of page one tells a compelling story and sums up who you are:
Highly experienced, emotionally intelligent, dependable, mission-driven, baccalaureate-prepared nurse with a significant background spanning multiple areas of specialty nursing practice, including adult medical/surgical, neurology and neurosurgery, pediatrics, cardiac/telemetry, PCU, stepdown, orthopedics, and respiratory. Well-developed powers of critical thinking and situational awareness with the ability to remain calm under stress.Â
Extensive history as a travel nurse lends itself to readily and seamlessly adapting to novel environments, EMRs, teams, and clinical systems. Deeply committed to providing evidence-based, high-quality, compassionate, cost-effective patient care through constructive multidisciplinary collaboration and quality improvement. Expertise in the use of Epic and Cerner EHRs. Enjoys precepting and mentoring interns, students, and externs.Â
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including appropriate delegation of tasks to direct reports. Keenly focused on establishing positive therapeutic relationships with patients and their families to achieve effective patient education, resource allocation, informed consent, discharge planning, and optimal clinical outcomes. Proficiency in conversational French and Spanish.Â
Step Two: Consider a List of Highlighted Skills
Below the narrative professional summary, consider a bulleted list highlighting skills that are related to the position you’re applying for:
- Excellent assessment skills
- Lumbar drains
- ECG and telemetry monitoring
- TEE/cardioversion, ablation recovery
- External ventricular drains
- Insulin, heparin, nitro, and amiodarone drips
- Post-cardiac catheterization, PCI, stents
- Post-open heart surgical care
- Assistance with lumbar punctures
- Tracheostomy care
- Chest tube care
- Wound care and dressing changes
- Ostomy care
- Seizure monitoring and response
- Regional blocks/epidurals
- Care of ventriculoperitoneal shunts
- IV insertion, IVF management
- Blood and component administration
- Chest pain management
- Aortic dissection and valve replacement care
- Post-pacemaker and AICD insertion
- Catheter insertion
- CVADs, portacaths, PICC and central lines
- Neurological assessment
- G-tube management, tube feedings
Step Three: Leave Out the References
Saying “References available upon request” at the bottom of your resume is no longer necessary. Being asked to supply references is a given, and this will generally be requested as part of an online application.
Instead, you can keep a separate document on hand listing your most important references. Be certain to keep in touch with your references, make sure they know when you’re actively job-hunting, and keep their contact information up to date.
Step Four: Don’t Worry About the Number of Pages
There are no rules when it comes to resume length. Many job-seekers do themselves a disservice by keeping their resume to one page. New grads with little previous experience can often get away with a one-pager, but a highly seasoned nurse will almost always need a few pages to communicate the gist of their career journey.
In all reality, your resume should be whatever reasonable length it needs to be in order to tell your story in a complete and compelling way. It’s smart to keep it as concise and well-written as possible, but cutting off your nose to spite your face by keeping it to one page may do you no favors in the end.
Step Five: Focus on Keywords
In these days of AI-powered applicant tracking systems, many resumes are initially read by a bot searching for appropriate keywords.
When applying for a position that requires uploading a resume (a common practice even when completing an online application), keywords are a must. Go through job postings with a fine-toothed comb, pick out the words describing the position’s requirements, and ensure these are reflected on your resume. If a posting mentions physical assessment, supervising aides, PICC lines, venous access, blood transfusions, a BSN, experience with Epic, or any other detail, make sure those terms are on your resume.
A Resume Still Matters
Even in the 21st century, resumes still matter. Despite the bots, the online portals, and the digital interfaces, you’ll find the need for a resume in many situations, including graduate school applications, submitting an abstract to speak at a conference, or applying for a position on a non-profit’s board of directors.
Resumes are an important tool in your career toolbox. Keep them sharp and use them well to advance your career.
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