Writing a Nursing Resume that Earns You the Interview
Date: June 17, 2022
Congratulations, you have successfully furthered your education! (Pat self on back.) Perhaps after this milestone, you imagined you would be on a post-commencement, celebratory cruise, slathering yourself in yet another round of sunscreen. Instead, you must make money, and NOW! And that is a bold, uppercased NOW, which necessitates the job hunt.
Yet, securing said job means you need a killer, knock-it-out-of-the-park interview with a healthcare hiring manager, proffering your abilities and showcasing your new educational wheelhouse. But, far from taking your professional elevator speech up a notch (pun intended), your resume has not seen the light of a hiring manager’s desk. Much less, it hasn’t garnered the coveted 45-minute interview.
The good news is that earning an interview is not a mystical, mythical experience, nor is it classified information. It is merely the product of a well-focused and finely-targeted resume. Much like the laws of science or chemistry (which you just mastered), there are things within your power that you can control—even command. These skills increase the likelihood of your resume earning its place on the short stack—and ultimately scoring that coveted interview.
Writing the Nursing Resume
A well-tailored resume should include these staples: a professional summary; relevant skills; and work history, including clinical training or externships. It should also list formal education, certifications, and any additional relevant skills. All segments should reflect Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which “act as an electronic gatekeeper for an employer. The ATS parses a resume’s content into categories and then scans it for specific keywords. This determines if the job application should reach the recruiter’s desk.”1
Accepted resume formats generally include chronological, reverse-chronological, and functional or skills-based templates. See resume examples and templates here or download these here.2 The chronological resume is ideal when one has a stable work history, is seeking employment similar to a current role, or has no employment gaps. This format is the most straightforward for automated machines to “read.” For this reason, this is often the recommended format in today’s professional healthcare job-seeking climate.
Writing Your Nursing Resume For Machines
Once you have employed a format reflecting your professional narrative, add a summary statement. It was common practice in yesteryear to add an objective at the top of a resume. Today, these are highly discouraged, as objectives tell the recruiter what you want. While a summary statement explains what values you will bring to the role. For example, “I am an Emergency Department nurse. I bring ten years of experience in triage and familiarity with EPIC in ER management.” Re-read the given job description and core requirements. Ensure your summary statement is 100 percent aligned with the job’s core functions. If you cannot align your summary statement, ask whether it makes sense to continue applying for the role.
If you still feel the role is a good match, authentically sprinkle as many keywords as possible from the job profile into your resume. These are usually listed as the core requirements within the formal job description. Because an ATS will likely screen your resume, try to use the word marks that the device is likely programmed to search out.
Itemize your skills as and only as they relate to the job description. You may believe there are better ways to showcase your skill set. Or you may feel that you have more skills than the employer is requesting. However, failure to reprise the industrial keywords listed may mean you may perfectly fit a role, but no human will ever know that. For many job seekers, the trick is to think in terms of raw simplicity.
Another mistake job seekers tend to make is attempting to use unfamiliar language. Think outside the box. Is this the same skill you are competent in but worded differently? Be careful to write naturally for yourself and not vainly attempt to impress.
Writing Your Nursing Resume For Humans
Break down your acumen into topics covered per item. For instance, is management a necessary mention? Include managerial experience you have that supports that requirement—including volunteer work. Mentally check each corresponding line with the value you bring, as if it is “graded.” Because, in reality, the ATS system is doing just that.3
Wherever possible, quantify, make tangible, or bullet your accomplishments. I.e., “I completed 25 blood-pressure screenings daily.” Or state, “I helped oversee 300 inoculations at three Flu clinics.” Numbers help convey mastery through experience at a certain level of skill.
If you cannot quantify accomplishments numerically, do so concerning the role you seek in other honest ways, such as, “I have enjoyed classes on this topic.” Or, if they align with the job’s core functions, provide anecdotal examples, such as “morale went up at the Flu clinics I organized.” Or state, “There were no turnovers in staff once I suggested a rotation schedule.”
The resume is much like a race-car driver seeking to QUALIFY for the race. Or it is like an Olympian athlete training for the CHANCE to compete. This is because your resume’s sole purpose is pursuing the OPPORTUNITY to interview. Therefore, focus on the skills and attributes that qualify you to compete—and your resume’s exit from machine to human.
Connecting Your Nursing Resume to the Interview
To have a stab at the interview, focus only on what allows you to qualify. Then, fingers crossed, by this time next year, your well-written and finely tuned resume will have granted you the interview for a great career. Who knows? You may finally be able to take yourself on that celebratory cruise!
Further, Help to Assist Students and Job Seekers
We offer students access to Gurnick Edge, a career and employment services-based platform. Gurnick Edge provides training modules, resume writing guides, e-portfolio help, interviewing practice, jobseeker profiles, and access to many job listings. Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts also offers multiple advanced nursing programs.
Contact us today to learn how you can start the application process or speak with someone on our career services team.~
Article written by Cindy R. Chamberlin.
Citations:
1 Augustine, Amanda. “What’s an ATS? How to Write a Resume to Beat the Applicant Tracking System.” TopResume.com, Top Resume. (Accessed December 14, 2020.)
2 Doyle, Alison. 2020. “Free Professional Resume Examples and Writing Tip.” The Balance Careers. The Balance Careers. September 17, 2020. (Accessed June 9, 2021.)
3 Shields, Jon. 2019. “8 Things You Need to Know About Applicant Tracking Systems.” Jobscan Blog. May 27, 2019. (Accessed June 9, 2021.)
