Nursing Cover Letter
How to Write a Nursing Cover Letter
An average of one minute is spent by a recruiter reading one
resume. If in that one minute, the recruiter cannot locate the
information required to consider you for an interview, your resume
will be discarded. Follow the following tips to avoid this from this
happening!
- Never send a resume without a cover letter! See cover letter
section for more information on how to compose a letter.
- Use action verbs (i.e., analyzed, created, managed, trained,
etc.)
- Be consistent in form throughout the resume.
- If your education is your strongest selling point, place it
first. If you have more relevant job experience, place that first.
- Use present tense verbs for a current job, and past tense for
previous jobs.
- Convert information to numbers where possible: number of
people, quantity of projects, dollars budgeted, etc.
- If most of your experience is related to the military, try to
think about your duties in civilian terms.
- Do not list sex, weight, height, age, marital status, children,
etc.
- Proof your resume and then have someone else proof it!
- Be consistent in how you spell out acronyms, use of bullets, and
font.
- Keep your resume to one page.
- All information should be truthful!
- Avoid columns and tables in your resume. Some companies use
computer scanners, which may interpret the columns/tables into
unreadable text.
Get to the Point
In addition to customizing your letter to the specific job for which
you're applying, keep the letter to one page and no more than three or
four short paragraphs:
- Paragraph 1: Express interest in both the company and the
specific job for which you're applying.
- Paragraph 2: In two or three sentences, describe the single most
important skill you bring to the job (i.e., why you're uniquely
qualified for the position).
- Paragraph 3: In two or three sentences, describe the second most
important skill you bring to the job.
- Paragraph 4: Invite the reader to contact you and thank him or
her for considering your resume.
Nursing Resume
- Heading
- Name
- Current address - include permanent address as well if needed
to ensure you can be contacted
- Telephone - record a professional-sounding message for
employers
- email address - if you include one, be sure to check it often
- Optional Sections
The following options would be at the top of your resumes if
used. Additional optional sections that would be listed near the end
of the resume are given below.
- Objective - An objective states your current goal in specific
terms. It should be succinct and match the type of position you
are applying for. It is possible to create different versions of
resumes for various objectives.
- Summary of Skills - A summary may be used to create interest
by flagging critical areas of expertise near the opening of your
resume. Use specific, accomplishment-oriented language.
- Certifications - Important credentials that are useful or
required may be highlighted here. You may also choose to give
certifications in the Education section of your resume with the
institution where you earned it.
- Education
- List the name of the University/university most recently
attended first. Include the city and state. List the degree earned
i.e., B.S. in Elementary Education and Human Development, and the
year of completion. If you have not graduated, it is best to state
"Candidate for B.S. in Elementary Education and Human Development,
May 2001."
- Include highlights such as study abroad, honors or student
activities. If it is a lengthy list, you may create a separate
section.
- It is not recommended that you include high school or other
educational experiences here.
- Education may come near the top of the resume if you are still
in school or a recent graduate. An experienced professional may
put Education near the end of the resume in order to present
recent work near the top.
- Experience
- Label the organizations where you have worked clearly with
city and state. Include your title and the dates of the experience
beginning with the most recent and working back in reverse
chronological order.
- Write about accomplishments and skills utilized in the work in
the active voice using verb phrases. Utilize the language of your
profession, and be specific. List the most relevant information
first.
- Additional Experience
- If you have other types of experience you may classify it
together in a separate section that comes after the primary
Experience section. It may be labeled, "Business Experience,"
"Arts Experience," or whatever best describes it.
- Other Optional Sections
- Professional Development - includes workshops, conferences or
relevant courses outside of degree programs
- Professional Associations
- Language Skills - state level of written and spoken
proficiency
- Computer Skills - state software you are competent in using
- Interests - list two or three that would be distinct and
perhaps useful
Be sure your resume is well-organized and error-free! Print it on a
letter-quality printer on business stationery paper. Use the same
paper for cover letters and matching envelopes.
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