Timing
A common question students ask is when to start searching for a job. It is easy to assume it's best to wait until graduation. However, most employers advise students begin their search at least three months before graduation.
Internship, and summer and part-time positions to support you through school can be posted at any time. Monitor job boards and use the tips below to ensure your search is effective.
Searching strategically
Preparing your reference list:
Don't include references on your resume. When they are requested during the application process, attach or provide them at that time.
Keep your reference list consistent with your resume by using the same paper, font and heading format.
List your references in the order in which you want them to be contacted. Prioritize professional and academic references.
A cover letter is not intended to merely repeat information from your resume
Consider using the same heading as your resume (and reference list) to keep formatting similar
Do your research about the organization and the position
Use concrete examples of skills and experiences rather than simply stating them and connect your experience directly to the position you are applying for
Avoid gender-specific honorifics in the greeting, instead opt to address the person by their full name
Getting started
Begin bullet points with a verb (refer to the verb bank on page 2 of the Google Doc linked below for examples)
Familiarize yourself with jargon and word choice commonly used in nursing job descriptions in order to craft your experiences to reflect these qualifications and descriptions
Your nursing resume must include:
CONTACT INFORMATION: Include a phone number and email address that you can be reached at consistently. Additionally, OSCAS recommends an email username that is simple and clear. For example, Nurse Jackie (see adjacent resume) would want to think "nursejackie" as opposed to "nurseZZjackieZZthebestZZ."
This tutorial was created to assist you in your move from a regular resume to a tabular resume.* In total, switching formats for this resume this took about one hour - including completely retyping and reformatting everything. Keep in mind, this content was finished, the format was just changed. If you are starting from scratch, this will take longer.
Why Tables?
Formatting do's:
Use reverse chronological order (from most to least recent) when listing employment and education history.
Be consistent with font/typeface, spacing, grammar, and punctuation.
Leave room for the eye to “breathe” when scanning the resume by balancing content with white space. Margins can be as narrow as 0.5" on all sides.
The truth about resumes:
Most recruiters do one of two things when looking at resumes:
Scan the resume into a computer program and do a keyword search in order to find specific words or phrases
Scan the resume visually, spending about 15 seconds
What can OSCAS help me with?
OSCAS offers a range of career services depending on the time of year.
During the bi-annual Career Week, you can attend workshops and meet with the OSCAS team for the following:
Resume and cover letter review
Interview preparation
Job search strategies
Networking and community building
OSCAS created this resource to aid nursing students in crafting high-quality application materials such as resumes, cover letters, and reference lists. You will also find information about interviewing, networking, and job searching on this website. No matter where you are in the process, this site is designed for you.