How to create a nursing resume to get you hired

You’ve got it all. Stellar grades, certificates to match, and a degree you’ve worked hard for. What you don’t know is the hard part has only just begun. How to create a nursing resume to get you hired is no easy task. Every employer looks for something different in job applicants. 

The correct resume can be a make or break. It can show the best of you or gloss over your capabilities. No need to worry! To create a foolproof resume, follow these five steps and write the nursing resume that will get you places.

Summarize yourself into one or two pages

List everything you can think of that will help you. This will include your biodata, educational history, certifications, achievements, and extracurricular activities related to nursing. 

Write down all of these before looking over them. Once you have everything, you can now start to cherry-pick what you would want to put on your resume. Choose achievements that directly correlate with nursing. This can include certifications in CPR or interning at a hospital. 

Highlight the skills that connect to the hospital position you are applying for. Experience and skill are precious in nursing. Make sure that it is short. No employer wants to leaf through a brochure to see if you’re the right fit. 

Long resumes tend to disqualify applicants in cases of automated resume parsers. It should ideally be one page, with the maximum being two pages.

Look for templates online 

Once you have all the necessary information, it’s time to arrange it properly. There are a lot of resources online you can utilize for this purpose. 

Choose a template that’s neat, professional, and minimalistic. There is no need for frills and extra decor in your resume. It is the content of the resume that employers will focus on. 

You can copy the template directly or be creative and make your own. Ensure the font is readable and there are no extraordinarily bright or polarizing colors. Keep in mind that the information found in the resume should be the highlight, not the resume design itself. 

Ask for insight from mentors or fellow nurses

If you’re unsure about your resume, you can ask the opinions of mentors or fellow nurses that have already been hired. Creating a nursing resume to get you hired involves seeking advice from others to help you get started.

This gives you valuable insight into what the hospitals are looking for. Their firsthand experience will help give you an advantage, mainly if you apply to the same hospital they work in. 

These professionals already know the ins and outs of hospital recruitment. Listen to their tips and apply that to the making of your resume. Try to model your resume after theirs while also adding your flair. 

Don’t be afraid to approach them and ask for help. More often than not, they are willing and even eager to help you.

You can also research what should best be put in a nursing resume.

Get someone to proofread your resume

Look over your resume and proofread it. Be on the lookout for spelling mistakes or grammatical errors that might be present. Go over what you’ve created and compare it to templates and other nursing resumes. 

Analyze it and see if it paints you in the best possible light and shows your abilities and education. After proofreading it yourself, you can get someone else to proofread it. It can be a trusted classmate, colleague, mentor, or guide. 

Having others review your resume is essential in creating a nursing resume to get you hired. They will give you an objective and unbiased third-person point of view. Listen to what they have to say and take it as constructive criticism.

External proofreaders will help spot any mistakes you need to be made aware of and give suggestions on improving your nursing resume. 

Write the cover letter

The last step of how to create a nursing resume to get you hired is relatively simple and easier than making the resume itself. 

Make the cover letter for the resume. This will serve as a greeting or introductory spiel to hiring managers and help introduce you and your personality more. 

Like the resume, the cover letter should be simple and short. More than flowery words will only deter hiring managers. Be respectful, professional, and straightforward in your tone while also being sincere. 

The cover letter should fill in the gaps of the resume and give context and any explanations needed.

Get hired by creating an awesome resume

Getting a job is more than just being the best in school or excelling in the field. It’s also about how you market yourself to employers. How to create a nursing resume to get you hired can be pretty challenging. Making the perfect nursing resume isn’t easy, but with enough effort, you can make one that will surely get you employed.


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