By Kora Behrens, Clinical Nurse Manager, Medical Solutions
Each interaction you have with others around you — whether social or professional — shapes the impression they have of you. A positive first impression typically leads to a better relationship, more opportunities, and better long-term outcomes. For obvious reasons, first impressions are extremely important when applying for a job or meeting someone for the first time. Translated into the Travel Nursing world, a positive first impression comes in the form of a well-structured, accomplished resume. A winning resume will get you noticed first for the best positions and can facilitate further development for your career and future.
So, how do you build a winning resume? The first step in becoming a champion resume builder is to present your value in terms of the objective. Paint a personalized picture of what you can offer and contribute. Include a narrative statement that outlines your goals, specialty area, level of experience, and expertise. Present a clear illustration of what you can contribute and why you would be the best fit for the position. Once you have put together your objective, you are ready to continue with the body of the resume.
There are several templates available to build a resume, but the secret is finding one that’s organized, clean, and detailed. Once you’ve chosen a template you are ready to continue with the other highlights of your resume. Adding in an expertise section will capture a brief account of your skills and it will make it easier for hiring managers to know what areas you’re an expert in. It may be helpful to include your certifications and qualifications in nursing in this section as well. Overall, this part of the resume should be a representation of your nursing skills and the diseases/illnesses that you are competent in.
To further highlight your competency in your resume, you should include a detailed description of your nursing experience. This should include what type of facilities you have worked at (acute, outpatient, long-term care), how long you worked there, the nurse to patient caseload, and the area or unit you specialized in. Additionally, while listing your past experiences, it is essential to list out patients that you cared for, the skills that you have performed, and the tasks that you were responsible for. The more details, the easier it is for employers to get an exact idea of your skill level and experience. It would also be relevant to provide information about your experience with electronic computer documentation, education, state licensure, etc. in this section to establish your qualifications.
The most important thing to feature in this section is a demonstration of your top performance. With each job that you present in the resume, make sure you include a narrative about how you went above and beyond your job duties including serving on committees, boards, and/or task forces. Listing out any accomplishments that you had on the job would also be important including any initiatives you were a part of, any health promotion campaigns or accreditation assistance, etc. The focus here is your confidence, competency, and contributions. It’s important to convey these qualities and to show what you can provide. By doing this, you will be able to make yourself more marketable in the Travel Nursing world, which gets increasingly competitive every day.
Upon completion of your flawless resume, you will be ready to apply for several nursing positions. Many nurses will be submitting resumes for various travel positions and the market is very competitive. Nonetheless, there is no cause for concern because you have set yourself apart from the rest. Your high-quality resume and the marketing approach you used in your resume will speak for itself. Before you know it, you will be on your way to an interview and job offer!