The struggle is real! It is becoming more apparent that the market for new graduate RNs is competitive and saturated. If you have been submitting hundreds of applications with not so much as an automated email response, you may want to consider revising your resume. Try implementing these eight ideas when building your resume.
License and certs: Your RN license should be one of the first things on your resume! You worked hard for that license; let employers know you have it!
Education: Remember to list the college you attended, start date, graduation date, and your degree.
Computer charting system: Have you been introduced to a computer charting system? If your answer is yes, then put it on your resume! With nearly every hospital being converted to computer charting, listing your experience may put you at an advantage.
Clinical rotations: As a new graduate nurse, your clinical rotations are the closest thing you have to RN experience. When listing your clinical rotations be sure to include the following: hospital name, specialty, dates, and hours. There is no need to spend time typing a paragraph description for each clinical rotation. Remember, the people reading your resume are healthcare professionals; most healthcare professionals know what nursing students do during clinical rotations.
Related and unrelated work history: If you don’t have related health care experience, don’t worry! Experience in customer service is just as important. With patient satisfaction being a top priority in the healthcare industry, hospitals are looking for nurses who are going to ensure that each patient has a positive experience.
Involvement: All nurses complete clinical rotations, pass the NCLEX, and obtain a degree. Your involvement is going to be what makes you stand out on paper. The types of organizations and activities you are involved in show personality.
Listing job duties: If you decide to list job duties there are a few things to keep in mind. (1) Consider using 3-4 short bullet point descriptions. (2) Begin each bullet point with a strong action verb. (3) Descriptions should be measurable. (4) Use the correct tense (past, present, future).
Honors and awards: If you decide to include an honors and awards section, don’t forget to include scholarships you have earned. Being awarded a scholarship should not only be seen as an accomplishment but as a compliment. It shows that a company or organization feels you are worth investing in.
If you find yourself struggling to secure an interview after implementing the tips above, I encourage you to get in touch with our Nursing Student Outreach Team. Sometimes all it takes is a second set of eyes and a little support to create the perfect resume.
