In today’s job market, there is a lot of job competition. Many people today (especially in this economy) are being laid off and the job pool is saturated with unemployed people looking for jobs. Therefore, it is crucial that in order to stand out from the crowd you must have a professional looking resume with information that will grab the employers’ attention. With the availability of technology and the use of graphic design, people are now able to create nice looking resumes within minutes.
In this article, I am going to talk about five ways to make your nursing resume stand out. I will discuss the layout, design, and information you should include to make your resume stand out among the competition.
Tips on How to Make Your Nursing Resume Stand Out
1.) Design! When creating your resume template avoid the old fashion designs. As I said above with the availability of technology and graphic design people are creating bold, eye-catching resume templates. For example, which resume template is more pleasant to look at? The resume template on the bottom of course.
As humans we like to look at colors, and when an employer is looking at the stack of resumes on their desk (now most employers now get your resume via an email attachment) the resume with the colors will be the most memorable.
*Do you want some premium pre-made nursing resume templates with matching cover letters (you just fill in your information)? See “Nursing Resume: A Job Guide for Nurses”.
2.) Information! The thing I use to struggle with when creating my resume was what information I should include. I was always like “Should I include my job experience from high school?” or “Should I include references or write that they are available upon request?”. These are very common questions many people struggle with when creating a resume.
Really, there is no right or wrong answer on what to include on a resume. I say this is because each person is different on where they are in their careers. For instance, if you have been a nurse for 30 years you should not include your job history from high school but rather the past 5-10 years.
Here are the main things you should include in your resume:
Objective-short sentence about why you are seeking the position.
Education-include GPA if you had anything greater that a 3.7 and if you graduated with honors.
Employment History-good rule of thumb is to include the past 5 years but no more than 10 years.
References-Always, list the name, phone number, and email of the person you are using as a reference. Avoid putting “available upon request” because it looks unprofessional. Do not use relatives, church friends, or your pastor. Include previous managers, co-workers, etc.
Certifications & Licenses-When you are trying to get a job in the healthcare setting this is a must-have on your resume. This shows the employer your have the needed certifications and licenses to perform the needed job.
3.) Keep it Short! Your resume is an advertisement not a biography. Think of your resume as a magazine ad trying to lure the customer in to trying your product (hence giving you an interview). Most experts say to keep your resume 1 page and absolutely no more than two pages.
4.) Layout! When I am talking about layout, I am talking about how to organize your contact information with the information to include in your resume. At the top of the resume, your name should be the first thing the employer sees. It is best to make it bigger than rest of the text with a different font or color. Then below your name include your contact information. You can get creative a put this information on the side, top, or bottom.
5.) Include a Cover Letter! This was not stressed to me that much when I was taught how to create a resume. However, when I started applying for jobs I noticed that including a cover letter made me appear more professional. The cover letter allows you to tell the employer why you are applying for the job and why you are qualified. It compliments your resume. The cover letter should match your resume design.
When creating your resume try to make it a reflection of yourself. In addition, have fun with it!