You might be wondering, "What should I include in my resume?" or "What should I omit?" and even "How long should it be?" Don't fret; I've got you covered! Just follow my simple 6-step approach outlined below, along with some key tips, to ensure your resume positions you for the nursing job you desire!
Intro
- Full Name
- Professional Photo (Headshot)
- Desired Job Title Pro Tip: Place a compact professional headshot in the upper left corner of your resume. This lets your prospective employer connect a face to your name and gives you an edge over other candidates.
Contact information
- Email Address
- Phone Number
- Location
- LinkedIn Profile
- Website (Blog) Quick Tip: Hiring managers often run a swift search of your social media profiles using your name as a search term. Prior to this, it's a good idea to personally review them to ensure that no posts or comments you wouldn't want others to see are visible. This makes a crucial initial (and enduring) impact.
Crafting Your Professional Resume Summary / Objectives
A concise 2-4 sentence overview of your professional accomplishments and experiences. Pro Tip: Remember to incorporate essential action words in this section, especially since many employers employ Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software to sift through resumes without predetermined action words. Often, the ATS evaluates the initial 25-50% of your resume, underscoring the significance of this segment. If your resume doesn't meet the software's criteria, it could be automatically rejected without any human review. So, ensure that you include some of the crucial action words provided later in this post.
EXAMPLE #1: Bringing over FOUR years of expertise as an ICU Certified Registered Nurse in adult intensive care. A dedicated and ethical professional, skilled in leadership and teamwork during critical scenarios, such as rapid response calls and code blues. Holder of a Master of Science in Surgical Nursing with a focus on Leadership.
EXAMPLE #2: As a Bachelor of Science in Nursing student prioritizing family-centered care, I possess 3 years of acute healthcare experience. I'm seeking a Nursing Attendant role to collaborate within a team, furthering my knowledge and skills on my path to becoming a pediatric Registered Nurse. Pro Tip: Refer to the list of Key Action Words later in this blog post to help you compose your professional resume summary/objectives.
Professional Work Experience
Commence with your latest job engagement, placing your earliest role at the bottom of this segment.
- Job Title (e.g. Registered Nurse)
- Employer (e.g. Hospital/Organization Name)
- Duration of Employment (Start - End)
- Location (City, State/Province, Country)
- Key Responsibilities & Accomplishments (Highlight distinctive contributions, like policy reforms, experience as a charge nurse, involvement in councils or committees, mentoring preceptor students, cost-saving innovations introduced to management, etc.)
Pro Tip: Avoid outlining the standard RN responsibilities. Hiring managers are well-versed in RN roles as that's why they're recruiting them. Instead, focus on what uniquely sets you apart from other RNs. This segment is your chance to shine brightly!
Educational Background
List your education in reverse chronological sequence, beginning with your most recent attainment.
- Name of University/College
- Degree/Diploma/Certificate Earned
- Commencement and Graduation Dates
- Academic Accomplishments (e.g., Deans List 2017 for achieving a GPA > 3.7 on a 4.0 scale)
Pro Tip: You don't have to enumerate your clinical placements in your resume. Your cover letter is the appropriate avenue to discuss any pertinent clinical experiences from the past that could be advantageous (in terms of skills or knowledge) for the role in question.
Certifications and Licenses
Start by listing your licenses, indicating the issuing state/province, license number, and expiration date.
Following that, include the essential certifications for the role, along with the issuing organization and their expiration dates (e.g., American Heart Association, BLS, expiration date).
Don't forget to include any other certifications you possess. Pro Tip: Each nurse typically holds a BSN when applying for an RN position and either PALS for pediatrics or ACLS for adults. If you possess any additional certificates or completed courses, this presents a distinctive opportunity to distinguish yourself from your colleagues.
