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Preparing World Class Résumés and Cover Letters

Preparing World Class Résumés and Cover Letters. School of Nursing. This Is Your Ad For An INTERVIEW !. Make It Effective!. Please Hire Me!. Good Resumes Market you to a targeted reader. The Job You Want. Show Your Current Skills. Matches Required Job Skills.

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Preparing World Class Résumés and Cover Letters

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  1. Preparing World Class Résumés and Cover Letters School of Nursing

  2. This Is Your Ad For An INTERVIEW! Make It Effective! Please Hire Me!

  3. Good Resumes Market you to a targeted reader. • The JobYou Want Show Your Current Skills Matches Required Job Skills Show Skills You Are Developing

  4. A resume is not… • Personal autobiography • An exhaustive list of experiences (exclude irrelevant details) • Designed to be “read”… it is scanned • A place for mistakes, unusual formatting, poor grammar or rambling prose

  5. A resume is … • Proof you can do the job • Evidence you love the work • Your value proposal • Basic chronology of related experience • Powerful tool for shaping interview! • Your interview “Cheat sheet” • Demonstration of your fit with the employer’s culture/team

  6. Cover Letter Sample ImaGreat Student 800 North University Avenue #22220 Provo, Utah 84601 801 555-5555 imgs@byu.edu February 1, 2013 Jane Q. Recruiter, Employment Manager AAA Clinic 123 Broad Street Pleasant City, NY 10000-0001 Dear Jane (Ms. Recruiter): Re: Nurse Practitioner Job Opening No. 1 After meeting you at our recent Career Fair I have taken the opportunity to learn much more about AAA Clinic. I am delighted to accept your offer to consider me as a candidate for your nurse development program and have enclosed my resume for your review. I believe I bring skills and experience that will benefit the clinic and add to its already successful record. Some of my specific abilities related to your job opening are: Valuing teamwork synergy and leadership through practical experience and group projects. Solving complex problems using applied analytical techniques and practices. Thinking critically to determine needs in serious settings and thoroughly develop efficient recommendations, practical solutions, and effective procedures. Please review my resume for more details about my experience and qualifications. For the past year I have worked at BBB Clinic and know the high regard given your organization at one of its major competitors. I look forward to discussing my background with your recruiting team when you come to interview this month. It is easiest to contact me via email or at the number listed above. I am in class Monday through Thursday from 10 am until 2 pm each day. If I am unable to answer please feel free to leave a message and I will return your call as quickly as possible. Thank you for considering me for this opportunity at AAA Clinic. I will contact you early next week to determine how we should proceed. Sincerely, ImaGreat Student Your Contact Info Date Contact Info Greeting Introduction With Job Reference What you offer them What happens now/next Close

  7. Email Cover Letter Sample Contact Info and Date From:ImaGreat Student imgs@byu.edu Sent:Friday, February 1, 2013 11:01 AMTo:Jane Recruiter jqrecruiter@asupemp.comSubject:Job Opening No 123 for Talented Graduate Dear Jane (Ms. Recruiter): After meeting you at our recent Career Fair I have taken the opportunity to learn much more about ASuper Employer. I am delighted to accept your offer to consider me as a candidate for your internship program and have enclosed my resume for your review. I believe I bring skills and experience that will benefit the company and add to its already successful record. Some of my specific abilities related to your job opening are: Valuing teamwork synergy and leadership through employment and class team projects. Solving complex problems using applied analytical techniques and research. Thinking critically to determine needs in ambiguous settings and thoroughly developing efficient recommendations and solutions. Please review my resume for more details about my experience and qualifications. For the past year I have worked at ALessSuper Employer and know the high regard given your organization by its major competition. I look forward to discussing my background with your recruiting team when you come to interview this month. It is easiest to contact me via email or at the number listed above. I am in class Monday through Friday from 10 am until 2 pm each day. If I am unable to answer please feel free to leave a message and I will return your call as quickly as possible. Thank you for considering me for an internship at A Super Employer. I will contact you early next week to determine how we should proceed. Sincerely, Ima Great Student 800 North University Avenue #22220 Provo, Utah 84601 801 555-5555 Greeting Introduction What you offer them What happens now/next Close and Your Contact Info

  8. Avoid Canned Letters They smell (sound) fishy!*$%#@

  9. Résumé Writing is an Art not a Science Brady’s Résumé Guides

  10. 1 Provide a WOW Factor

  11. Focus On Results • Show them what you have achieved • Results are far more impactful than responsibilities • Use numbers and comparisons to provide context • Demonstrate what sets you apart from other candidates • Prove you have job passion • drive, creativity, and energy

  12. Practice Exercise • Make this an A grade statement • I scooped ice cream – C • Served ice cream to 200-250 customers each shift and suggested method for reducing wait time by 50% - B • Improved purchases 25% by up-selling products raising revenue $100 on shift, decreased wait time 50%, and developed the store’s highest loyal customer return rate - A (E – used first person)

  13. The Concise A+ Version • Increased shift revenue 25% by up-selling products, shifted register positions decreasing customer wait time by 50%, and achieved store’s highest loyalty return rate.

  14. Use Key Words • Especially when resume is scanned or electronically read • Today’s systems are sophisticated weave words throughout the resume • Sample: Nursing Key Words Registered Nurse (RN), long-term care, managed care, healthcare, case management, prognosis, admissions and discharge, treatment plans, care plan, clinical intervention, MDS, RAI, diagnostic models, problem solving, rehabilitation, life support monitoring

  15. Provide Enough Detail, But …

  16. This is the way to present far too much and to over load the recruiter with more than needed in the resume. Long paragraphs and lengthy information discussions will over whelm the reader’s ability to absorb all that the writer wants to convey. As the reader attempts to understand everything that is written, discouragement sets in and the reader tires and quits reading. The details tend to become a negative and the reader, in trying to interpret the underlying message, assumes that there is a certain irresponsibility in that the writer is unable to write concise and brief descriptions of performed activities. The more likely direct answer or quick provision of information is diluted by the failure to be precise and exacting in the presentation. Further the reader is confused by the pontification involved and might assume that the writer is less talented and more prone to puffery than to directing with simple and easy to understand language. The ultimate result is that the candidate is not looked at with more than a quickly assumed and potentially incorrect assumption of incompetence. This is of course not the impression that any good writer wishes to convey. Eventually there will be considerable frustration and the result will be that neither the writer or reader will achieve what they are seeking, primarily that another interview takes place or ultimately that there will be a job offer extended. We hope that the lesson learned here is that too much writing and too many details will interrupt the legitimate job seeker and may reflect poorly on the other graduates of the Marriott School. We want to avoid this potential disaster by having you all write more easily and precisely to the point without overly exhausting the recruiter or the HR staff with the enormous detail that you would like them to know. Save it for the twenty interviews you will get from a well written resume and for the technical assessment that may come. It is then that you will have to produce the details that you feel are so important to write about, but that are just exercises in jargon and excess verbiage. If you do not follow this wise advice you may never get a chance to tell all of these things because the interviewer and resume reviewer have already discarded your wonderful treatise. When you feel that you just need to get something off your chest use it to impress your professors and hope that they grade by volume and not by content. Excess in almost anything is very annoying and will again possibly result in a negative reaction. Save yourself some grief and considerable pain by making a smart and short duty of writing for the points in your resume. There is even very little opportunity to be verbose in scanned and computer written resumes. While having more key words in the resume is an attempt to have the scanner read something that it is searching, at some point someone will have to read the resume and the end result will likely be the same disappointed turndown and rejection. Write well. Don’t Language Bloat!!

  17. 2 Remember the Reader

  18. You Must Get Attention In 15 - 30 Seconds (Try the friend test. See what is read in 20 seconds.)

  19. Recruiter Eye Scan Name Current Employer Current Title Past Employer Past Titles Dates Education (BusinessInsider.com April 9, 2012)

  20. What Makes The Reader Want To See More?

  21. Target Reader’s Needs! KeyWords Key Knowledge Key Skills

  22. Lead With What Appeals To Them • Write From the Employer’s Perspective • Reflect the job posting • Show Experience Benefits for Them • Help Them Want Your Brand

  23. Build Your Resume Help Matrix

  24. 3 The Appearance Attracts The Content Holds

  25. A Good Resume • Has some white space • Is readable (12-11 font size) This is just too small to read. • Avoids unusual or exotic fonts (use standard font) • Targets the reader • Communicates Concisely & Clearly

  26. Three Things to Remember • Be consistent • Same abbreviations, same formatting • Exercise restraint • Avoid multiple fonts, heavy italics, all capital letters, bright colored paper • Use high-quality wording more than creative design. Great design is still important! • Limit the length • One page most of the time

  27. My Resume Anywhere, State 88888-8888 222-222-2222 me@topdog.com • Education • BYU School of Nursing • MS - Family Nurse Practitioner Apr 2013 • BS - Nursing Apr 2012 • 4.0 major GPA/3.93 cumulative GPA • Great Classes and Scholarships; Italian • BAP, Finance Club • Experience • Super Employer Orem, UT RN Jan 2012-Present • Good stuff about this experience • Major accomplishment One; Major accomplishment Two; Major result • Super Employer Phoenix, AZ Clerk Sep 2009-Dec 2011 • More good stuff about the experience • Skills gained from job • $000,000 generated from special effort • Other • Mission, Italy Missionary May 2006- Jan 2008 • Clinic volunteer, teacher, trainer • Ski, Volleyball, Read, Study Hard Format Consistency Style Consistency Abbreviation Consistency

  28. My Resume Anywhere, State 88888-8888 222-222-2222 me@topdog.com • Education • BYU School of Nursing • MS - Family Nurse Practitioner Apr 2013 • BS - Nursing Apr 2012 • 4.0 major GPA/3.93 cumulative GPA • Great Classes and Scholarships; Italian • BAP, Finance Club • Experience • Super Employer Orem, UT RN Jan 2012-Present • Good stuff about this experience • Major accomplishment One; Major accomplishment Two; Major result • Super Employer Phoenix, AZ Clerk Sep 2009-Dec 2011 • More good stuff about the experience • Skills gained from job • $000,000 generated from special effort • Other • Mission, Italy Missionary May 2006- Jan 2008 • Clinic volunteer, teacher, trainer • Ski, Volleyball, Read, Study Hard • Education • BYU School of Nursing • MS - Family Nurse Practitioner Apr 2013 • BS - Nursing Apr 2012 • 4.0 major GPA/3.93 cumulative GPA • Great Classes and Scholarships; Italian • BAP, Finance Club • Experience • Super Employer Orem, UT RN Jan 2012-Present • Good stuff about this experience • Major accomplishment One; Major accomplishment Two; Major result • Super Employer Phoenix, AZ Clerk Sep 2009-Dec 2011 • More good stuff about the experience • Skills gained from job • $000,000 generated from special effort • Mission, Italy Missionary May 2006- Jan 2008 • Clinic volunteer, teacher, trainer • Other • Ski, Volleyball, Read, Study Hard Missionary Experience Format Change

  29. Working in a Diverse Environment Managing Time and Priorities Acquiring Knowledge Thinking Critically Communicating Effectively Solving Problems Contributing to a Team Navigating Across Boundaries Performing with Integrity Developing Professional Competencies Balancing Work and Life Embracing Change Success Characteristics You Want to Demonstrate MSU 2010 Employer Survey

  30. 4 Objectives are Objectionable Without Meaning

  31. Bad Objective Example Seeking a job that allows me to utilize the knowledge gained in my studies and pays well. Who doesn’t? Tell me something I don’t already know! Get specific! You want to be a “fast match”, not a “Jack of all trades.”

  32. If You Use an ObjectiveFocus on the Employer’s Needs Position on the surgical support team where my knowledge of advanced Perioperative Nursing practices in planning, intervention, and evaluation can improve patient care and surgery outcome success. Use your cover letter to present a better objective.

  33. Skills Summary • Able to work small miracles applying education and experience to problems. • Understand the value of effective and efficient therapy applications. • Can motivate teams and build strong patient rapport. • Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. • More powerful than an Intel Itanium 9000 processor. • Faster than a SR71 Blackbird. Use Summaries Wisely • The summary better sizzle • For low experience candidates, keep short • May be better to link experience and skills together. Include soft skills with the rest of your employment history. • Technical skills may be grouped

  34. Professional Summary • Nursing experience including clinical rotations in episodic areas: maternal and newborn, pediatrics, medical/surgical, psychiatric, community health • Extensive experience with children and adolescents as school teacher and youth group leader • Managerial experience including small business ownership specializing in customer service Sample Summary Statement

  35. 5 Education is What You are Selling

  36. EDUCATION • Normally highest degree first • Bachelor of . . . (no “s”) • Show graduation date, April 2013, don’t need to say “anticipated,” “projected,” “expected” or “planned” “hoped,” “maybe,” “if I’m lucky”

  37. Education Sample Education Brigham Young University School of Nursing Master of Science, Family Nurse Practitioner April 2013 • GPA 4.0 Magna Cum Laude • Nursing Partner’s Scholarship – full academic costs • Student Nursing Association – President Bachelor of Science, Nursing April 2012 • GPA 3.85 Dean’s List 2009-2012 • President, RN Achievers Association Kennedy International Center January – April 2010 • Three Month Study Abroad – Kiev, Ukraine

  38. 6 Experience Sells You

  39. Your Experience Advantage:Who You Worked For What You Accomplished

  40. Let Big Brands Speak for You

  41. Intern Staff Case Mgr Educator Director/CEO Specialist Practitioner Cert. Midwife Clinical Dtr CNO What Was Your Position?

  42. Largest area medical center supporting 55 doctors in 10 practice offices including Family Medicine, OB/GYN, Cardiology, Endocrinology, Oncology, Urology, Laboratory, and Sports Medicine Super Care Clinic, RN/Nursing Director2010-2012 • Developed unique web tool for consolidating nursing staff schedules to accommodate absences and PTO • Awarded Top Staff award over each of past three years • Promoted to Nurses Supervisor, supervising activities and needs of 20 nurses and assistants after six months • Assessed cost factors and identified $80,000 annual saving through inventory process reorganization

  43. 7 Focus On Accomplishments, Results, and Impact

  44. Does the information support your candidacy? If not, eliminate it!

  45. They Should Say, How did you do that?Not, So What?

  46. Use Action to get ACTION

  47. Use An Action Verb List Accomplished Administered Advanced Built Broadened Coached Created Developed Directed Expanded Forecasted Generated Hired Implemented Increased Launched Maintained Negotiated Performed Projected Quantified Resolved Revised Structured Simplified Trained Updated Avoid weak verbs: assisted, helped, participated

  48. Avoid “Responsible For”It’s Your Resume and Responsibility Is Assumed

  49. Avoid Declarative Sentences I developed. . . I led. . . leave out the “I, Me & My”

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