THE GOAL OF THIS CONTINUING EDUCATION PRO- GRAM is to update nurses’ expertise in formulating professional résumés and cover letters. After studying the information present- ed here, you will be able to:


Prepare an effective résumé and cover letter or up- date an existing one By Sheila Leis, MS, RN-BC


1 2 3


Theresa has worked as a med/surg nurse at her hospital for the past six years. At a staff meeting yesterday, a supervisor informed her and her coworkers that their unit would be merging with one of the other med/surg units. Because no transfer opportunities are available, many nurses will lose their jobs, including Theresa.


Today, Theresa scans Nurse.com and finds a few positions that she is both interested in and qualified for, but all of the ads say one thing: “Send résumé to…”


T


oday’s economy and the ongoing nursing shortage have created an extraordinary opportunity for nurses seeking jobs. But one element remains a constant — nurses must have a well-stocked toolbox to secure the best jobs. Tools such as clinical experience, interpersonal skills and a current, well-developed résumé are essential in building a successful career. Together, these comprise a nurse’s career profile and enhance the nurse’s marketability. The first step in applying for any job is introducing oneself via


a résumé. A good résumé can make the difference between getting an interview and being passed over for another applicant. Yet even with all the emphasis placed on this document, some nurses feel uncomfortable and unprepared when asked to produce one. Traditionally, nurses have not been taught the importance


of an effective résumé, but with recent mergers, downsizing of facilities and the impact of new healthcare initiatives, the concise, comprehensive résumé has become a critical element in finding a position. Typically, a staff nurse only needed to complete an application and briefly meet with a recruiter to land a position in any healthcare setting. However, as employment conditions shift, nurses must be prepared to change with them. A recent survey completed by the job site Monster found that greater than 40% of workers 55 years and older did not have a current résumé.


What’s a résumé? A résumé is a self-portrait. It portrays professional achievements, specialized skills, advanced certifications, educational background and personal accomplishments in one concise format. Used appropriately, this document becomes a key marketing tool for getting noticed by a prospective employer. Employers, as consumers, shop for the best quality product.


In this case, the nurse is the product and the résumé is the ad- vertisement. In advertising, a product should quickly stand apart from the others to impress the target audience. The advertisement should reflect the product’s uniqueness and exceptional quality. So, too, must a résumé and cover letter stand apart from the others and capture the recruiter’s attention in as little as three seconds. However, even the best developed, attention-grabbing résumé is not sufficient for every situation. For example, poster presenters


Identify the importance of the résumé and cover letter to the employment process


Describe content appropriate for a nurse’s résumé


and professional speakers should develop a curriculum vitae as well as a résumé. Many nurses aren’t aware of the differences between the two.


Résumés versus curricula vitae A résumé summarizes a person’s professional accomplishments and should be limited to two or three pages. When trying to attract and hold a recruiter’s attention, a résumé is best; if your résumé becomes longer than three pages, pare down the information. A curriculum vitae includes a summary of educational and academic backgrounds as well as teaching and research experience, publica- tions, presentations, awards, honors, affiliations and certifications and may be several pages in length. If you are unsure about which tool to use, keep in mind that


many employers and organizations will state their preference. But, be aware that the terms résumé and CV are often used in- terchangeably, which leads to confusion for the applicant. A CV is commonly used when seeking a position in education, pursuing an upper management position, applying for admission to graduate school, applying for grants or securing speaking engagements. A résumé, though, remains the primary tool in the employment process. When in doubt, ask the prospective employer if they prefer a summary or detailed account of your background.


Styles and types Résumés can either be organized chronologically or functionally. Most recruiters prefer the chronological style because it’s easy to follow. And by listing the most recent experience first, this résumé works well for nurses with good, solid work histories who are seeking positions similar to the jobs they are leaving. A résumé should also be tailored to address the job you are seeking — the days of one-size-fits-all résumés are gone. The emphasis in a functional résumé shifts from dates of em-


ployment to categories of competency, such as managerial ability, technical knowledge and interpersonal skills. To determine if a func- tional résumé is more appropriate, answer the following questions: • Do you wish to highlight certain skills or abilities? • Do you have a history of job-hopping? • Do you have gaps in your employment history? If your answer to any of these questions is yes, consider using


the functional format. A functional résumé is useful in several special situations. For


example, frequent job changes can appear suspicious to recruiters and a functional style, which focuses on professional strengths, may lessen the possibility of a negative reaction from the recruiter. In addition, gaps in employment history may not seem as noticeable or significant if the recruiter encounters them later in the résumé. Functional résumés can also highlight transferable skills when you are attempting to switch specialties, change your career path, or when your current job doesn’t match well with the one you want. To develop a functional résumé, first assess your skills to identify


your strengths. After matching these strengths to the position you seek, group them into specific categories that can lay the groundwork for the résumé. With this style, a job history is listed in an abbreviated format, but on the second page. As you build your experience and skill base, you may switch


from a chronological style to a functional style and back again 2016 • Visit us at NURSE.com 31


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48