Having a professional resume in nursing is no different than having one for any other profession that you might want to break into. The well tailored resume that speaks of exactly what you need to convey to prospective employers without anything wasted and nothing unimportant added is important. After the rigors of taking all the examinations necessary and passing them to get your accreditation, it would be a shame to go into the professional world with anything less than a professional document.
That said, it’s a general axiom that you should not get fancy with the fonts that you use. Typically there are the two major ones that we see in most documents on the Internet and in print and they are New Times Roman and Ariel. As well, the sizes that are most recognized are 11 or 12 point. Make sure that you don’t use fancy or bold fonts and use other effects like italics sparingly. Remember that it’s about the substance of your message and not as much the way that it’s presented.
Make sure to pay close attention to any special instructions given by prospective employers who plan to scan the resume or save it into their computers. Because some computers cannot accurately scan every type of font or italic that you use, putting these in your resume could result in your elimination from consideration from the process. Generally, this can also be the case for resumes that are submitted online.
It’s a good idea to keep the length of the resume down to one to two pages. Usually one is preferable but two is the limit. Make sure that the margins are set so that there is enough white space left on either side of the paper to make for easy reading. Absence of white paper indicates the attempt to cram too much material into a small space and when the resume is just even a little difficult to read, the chances of giving a good impression to a prospective employers go way down. Consider that first impression are what can make or break you in the job hunting process and that’s just not about the way you act or dress either. Often a first impression is made long before you even meet a prospective employer when they look over your resume.
You should keep mind that there really isn’t an easy way to write a resume. After following a set of generally accepted guidelines, it really becomes a matter of personal choice. Remember that when you’ve decided to send the resume by snail mail, it’s perfectly acceptable to include a hand written address on the envelope. However, don’t make the mistake that a lot of others make when it comes to resumes. Take yours seriously. There’s a real need for a good one to advance your career and having a good resume is a good way to fast tracking a career in the right direction.
