RN Resume and Job Application Advice

Once nursing school is complete and the graduate has passed the NCLEX-RN exam he or she will receive a nursing license issued by the State. This makes the graduate eligible for employment in that state. So, now the fun really begins by building an amazing resume and a focused and purposeful job search.

The graduate can work on dazzling the interviewer in-person, during the RN interview, but first, he or she needs to get noticed by submitting an exceptional resume and perhaps recommendation letters.

Basics of a Resume

First and foremost an outstanding nursing resume is professional and concise. These are required and absolutely mandatory to apply for any nursing position, even though filling out an online application is also required. The key to a successful resume is to keep it simple yet persuasive while always remembering to create the best possible image of oneself on paper.

Many graduates choose to browse images of resumes online before committing to a resume style. The style will affect which sections and words are bolded, centered, underlined, and other formatting variations. Choosing a format that makes a strong impression is a good place to start.

Here are a few guidelines to follow, whichever format is chosen:

• Make your name stand out
  • The top of the resume states name and contact information, this should be either bold, have a big font size, be underlined, or all three and if your middle name is unique it may be wise to add it as this may catch the attention of the HR Representative
• Be sure to list an email address as well as phone number, address, and name
  • Avoid listing any social media links for a nursing position
• It must be free of grammatical and spelling errors
• Have a friend proofread the resume and read it out loud more than once to yourself
• Hire a professional to proofread, usually for a nominal fee
• Keep it simple and concise
  • Unless there are a lot of extras to list a new graduate nurse should not need more than one page
• Stick to basic fonts
  • The preferred font is Times New Roman because it is easy to read and fits well on a page

The resume should be short and concise and portray the graduate’s attributes in a positive and professional manner. The new graduate registered nurse without healthcare experience should not be overly concerned about his or her lack of experience as a nurse. Employers are expecting this and look forward to teaching the new graduate nurse the policies and procedures of the organization. Many employers embrace new graduates and appreciate the opportunity to mentor.

The image portrayed should be that of an eager and humble new nurse who wants to learn from experienced nurses who are smarter and better at nursing he or she is. The arrogant new graduate does not get very far in nursing either during the resume and interview process nor on the job.