Your resume should be a presentation of the most marketable facts
about your accomplishments, and a clear and concise statement
about your credentials and your experience. Describe your
part-time jobs, community volunteering, and professional awards.
Use action verbs such as "coordinated" or "established" and avoid
the use of abbreviations.
Your resume should not exceed one page, and should be typed on
white or off-white bond paper. Neatness and accuracy count! Make
sure to double check every part of your resume for spelling and
grammar, including your name and address. Have someone you trust
give you a second opinion—they may pick up mistakes that you
haven't noticed.
Section 1
of your resume is a statement of your professional objectives.
State a realistic career goal and indicate in one or two
sentences the type of position you want to obtain.
Section 2
contains your work experience. List your jobs starting with the
most recent, including the dates of employment, title, and name
and address of your employer. Include a concise job description
and a description of your typical duties and
responsibilities.
Section 3
of a resume concerns your education. List your degrees and
diplomas starting with the highest degree earned. Include the
dates you received them and names and addresses of all schools.
Include internships and clinical rotations, and all honors and
awards received.
Section 4
of a resume regards your licensure. Give your nursing license
number, state(s) of licensure, and expiration dates. Include any
certifications. If you are a student, document the month and year
you will take the NCLEX licensing exam.
Section 5
of the resume includes affiliations, committees, and leadership
positions you held. List all organizations you are a member of
and describe the function of the group. Include any honors you
have received, and offices held.
Section 6
of the resume is for any special skills you may possess. This
would include computer, work processing knowledge, experience
with health care equipment, or fluency with foreign language.
Section 7
of the resume is for community service. Note any extracurricular
activities including dates, names of organizations, activities,
and the nature of your services. These represent a
socially-conscious and well-rounded professional image. Next
include a record of your participation in continuing education.
Remember to add these to your resume throughout your career.
Section 8
of the resume is for your references. Don't include their names
and addresses. State "Available upon request."
There are a few don'ts about compiling a resume: Don't include
your age, marital status, race, financial status, health,
religion, or information about your spouse or your children.
Don't send a picture of yourself. Proofread all written materials
for typing errors and misspellings. Keep a copy of your resume
for your records and update it periodically, not just when you
are job hunting.
A Word on References
Most potential employers request recommendations before they hire
you. Don't get caught off-guard—prepare a list of recommenders
beforehand. Choose three people who are willing to provide you
with good recommendations. They should be people who know you
well and have observed your nursing clinical ability.
Ask each person, in person or in writing, if they would be
willing to provide you with a reference. If you request a
recommendation in writing, include a recent picture of yourself
and some basic information that will help identify you. Draft
your own sample letter of recommendation, in case any of your
recommenders requests one.
Prepare a separate sheet to be given to potential employers at
the interview, including the references' names, addresses, phone
numbers, job titles, and employers. Call your references a week
before the deadline for the recommendations. Ask if they need any
additional information to complete the recommendation. This will
jog their memory and prevent missed deadlines. Send a thank-you
note to the people who supplied your recommendations.
This article was adapted from:
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