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