Welcome to our blog! Keith Carlson has worked as a nurse since 1996. He received an Associate Degree in Nursing from Greenfield Community College in 1996, and a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 2001.
Brushing Up Your Resume
If you’re thinking of looking for a new job, or simply want to be ready when you decide to do so, brushing up your resume is a great way to have this most important career advancement tool polished and ready at a moment’s notice.
When you’re at a job for a relatively long time, you may simply let your resume sit and gather virtual dust on your computer hard drive. But in this uncertain economic climate, one should always be prepared for any eventuality when it comes to career and the workplace, so having your resume consistently up to date is a very good idea.
Keep It Up To Date
Even when I’m at a job I love, I always update my resume with my current position, and I occasionally will read through my resume to see if an older job can be deleted or my credentials need to be updated or changed. And if I gain a new skill, certification or interest that is relevant to this crucial professional document, I add it in due course.
Make it Free of Errors
A strong resume—and also any cover letters that you write—should be 100% free of errors. Spelling should be impeccable, punctuation should be perfect, and the format should be clean, concise, easy to read, and uniform. If you use “bullets” or other formatting tools, make sure they all match and look professional and crisp. Have someone proof-read your resume and cover letters to make sure that they’re picture perfect, since some potential employers will simply shred any resumes and cover letters that have glaring errors and omissions.
Make it Relevant
Resumes should always be relevant, so if you have had a very varied career, sometimes you will need to cut down on the amount of information that you include. Some professionals have several versions of their resumes for different types of jobs, and while this may not be appropriate for all nurses, sometimes a resume will need tweaking if you are applying for a different type of position than you normally would.
Getting Help
If writing a resume isn’t your strong suit, it’s easy to find a professional resume writer or coach who can help you polish yours to a brilliant shine. With many resume services currently online, you don’t even have to leave home or meet face to face with a resume writer to get the job done. You may also have friends or colleagues that are savvy and willing to help, and there are even nurse coaches out there who specialize in helping nurses navigate the world of job searches and career development.
Make It Count
Resumes and job applicants are a dime a dozen, so make sure your resume counts by keeping it relevant, accurate, up to date, and well-written. And even if you’re not thinking of looking for a job now, having your resume ready will prevent a panic when the perfect job comes along and you want to apply in a timely manner.
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