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222 unit 3 | Professional Issues CikguOnline
non-nursing personnel. Some beginning helpful lack direct experience related to your objective.
tips include: (Marino, 2000): Figure 14.1 shows a functional résumé that
could be used for seeking initial employment as
■ Keep the résumé to one or two pages. Do not
an RN.
use smaller fonts to cram more information on
■ Combination. The combination résumé is a
the page. Proofread, proofread, proofread.
popular format, listing work experience
Typing errors, misspelled words, and poor
directly related to the position but in a
grammar can damage your chances of obtaining
chronological order.
an interview. Do not substitute quantity of
words for quality. Most professional recruiters and placement servic-
■ Your educational background goes at the end of es agree on the following tips in preparing a résumé
the résumé, unless you are a recent graduate and (Anderson, 1992; Rodriguez & Robertson, 1992):
your degree is stronger than your experience or you
■ Make sure your résumé is readable. Is the type
are applying for a job at an educational institution.
large enough for easy reading? Are paragraphs
■ State your objective. Although you know very
indented or bullets used to set off information,
well what position you are seeking, the recep-
or does the entire page look like a gray blur?
tionist doing the initial screening does not want
Using bold headings and appropriate spacing
to take the time to determine this. Tailor your
can offer relief from lines of gray type, but be
resume to the insitution and position to which
careful not to get so carried away with graphics
you are applying.
that your résumé becomes a new art form. The
■ Employers care about what you can do for them
latest trends with résumé writing are using fonts
and your potential future success with their com-
such as Ariel or Century New Gothic over the
pany. Your résumé must answer that question.
standard Times New Roman (James, 2003). The
paper should be an appropriate color such as
Essentials of a Résumé cream, white, or off-white. Use easily readable
Résumés most frequently follow one of four formats: fonts and a laser printer. If a good computer and
standard,chronological,functional,or a combination. printer are not available, most printing services
Regardless of the type of résumé, basic elements of prepare résumés at a reasonable cost.
personal information, education, work experience, ■ Make sure the important facts are easy to spot.
qualifications for the position, and references should Education, current employment, responsibilities,
be included (Marino, 2000; Zedlitz, 2003): and facts to support the experience you have
gained from previous positions are important.
■ Standard. The standard résumé is organized by Put the strongest statements at the beginning.
categories. By clearly stating your personal Avoid excessive use of the word “I.” If you are a
information, job objective, work experience, edu- new nursing graduate and have little or no job
cation and work skills, memberships, honors, experience, list your educational background
and special skills, the employer can easily have a first. Remember that positions you held before
“snapshot” of the person requesting entrance you entered nursing can frequently support
into the workforce. This is a useful résumé for experience that will be relevant in your nursing
first-time employees or recent graduates. career. Be sure you let your prospective employer
■ Chronological. The chronological résumé lists know how you can be contacted.
work experiences in order of time, with the most ■ Do a spelling and grammar check. Use simple
recent experience listed first. This style is useful terms, action verbs, and descriptive words.
in showing stable employment without gaps or Check your finished résumé for spelling, style,
many job changes. The objective and qualifica- and grammar errors. If you are not sure how
tions are listed at the top. something sounds, get another opinion.
■ Functional. The functional résumé also lists ■ Follow the don’ts. Do not include pictures, fancy
work experience but in order of importance to binders, salary information, or hobbies (unless
your job objective. List the most important they have contributed to your work experience).
work-related experience first. This is a useful Do not include personal information such as
format when you have gaps in employment or weight, marital status, and number of children.