Page 238 - Essentials of Nursing Leadership and Management, 5th Edition

CikguOnline
2208_Ch14_217-238.qxd 11/9/09 5:24 PM Page 225
chapter 14 | Your Nursing Careerr 225 CikguOnline
college career office, women’s center, or professional Job Search Letters
résumé service can offer you assistance with analyz-
ing the skills and talents you shared with your The most common job search letters are the cover
family and community. A student who lacks work letter, thank-you letter, and acceptance letter. Job
experience has options as well. Examples of non- search letters should be linked to you SWOT analy-
work experiences that show marketable skills sis. Regardless of their specific purpose, letters
include (Eubanks, 1991; Parker, 1989): should follow basic writing principles (Banis,1994):
■ Working on the school paper or yearbook ■ State the purpose of your letter.
■ Serving in the student government ■ State the most important items first, and
■ Leadership positions in clubs, bands, church support them with facts.
activities ■ Keep the letter organized.
■ Community volunteer ■ Group similar items together in a paragraph, and
■ Coaching sports or tutoring children in academic then organize the paragraphs to flow logically.
areas
Business letters are formal, but they can also be
After you have jotted down everything relevant personal and warm but professional.
about yourself, develop the highlights of your ■ Avoid sending an identical form letter to every-
qualifications. This area could also be called the one. Instead, personalize each letter to fit each
summary of qualifications or just summary. These individual situation.
are immodest one-liners designed to let your ■ As you write the letter, keep it work-centered
prospective employer know that you are qualified and employment-centered, not self-centered.
and talented and the best choice for the position. ■ Be direct and brief. Keep your letter to one page.
A typical group of highlights might include ■ Use the active voice and action verbs and have a
(Parker, 1989): positive, optimistic tone.
■ If possible, address your letters to a specific
■ Relevant experience
individual, using the correct title and business
■ Formal training and credentials, if relevant
address. Letters addressed to “To Whom It May
■ Significant accomplishments, very briefly stated
Concern” do not indicate much research or
■ One or two outstanding skills or abilities
interest in your prospective employer.
■ A reference to your values, commitment, or
■ A timely (rapid) response demonstrates your
philosophy, if appropriate
knowledge of how to do business.
A new graduate’s highlights could read: ■ Be honest. Use specific examples and evidence
from your experience to support your claims.
■ 5 years of experience as a licensed practical
nurse in a large nursing home Cover Letter
■ Excellent patient/family relationship skills
You have spent time carefully preparing the résumé
■ Experience with chronic psychiatric patients
that best sells you to your prospective employer.
■ Strong teamwork and communication skills
The cover letter will be your introduction. If it is
■ Special certification in rehabilitation and ream-
true that first impressions are lasting ones, the
bulation strategies
cover letter will have a significant impact on your
Tailor the résumé to the job you are seeking. prospective employer. The purposes of the cover
Include only relevant information, such as intern- letter include (Beatty, 1989):
ships, summer jobs, inter-semester experiences, and
■ Acting as a transmittal letter for your résumé
volunteer work. Even if your previous experience is
■ Presenting you and your credentials to the
not directly related to nursing, your previous work
prospective employer
experience can show transferable skills, motivation,
■ Generating interest in interviewing you
and your potential to be a great employee.
Regardless of how wonderful you sound on Regardless of whether your cover letter will be read
paper, if the résumé itself is not high quality, it may first by human resources personnel or by the individ-
end up in a trash can. As well, let your prospective ual nurse manager, the effectiveness of your cover
employer know whether you have an answering letter cannot be overemphasized. A poor cover letter
machine or fax for leaving messages. can eliminate you from the selection process before