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The ability to convey your professional qualifications, capabilities, and achievements clearly and concisely is essential when seeking to change your position or advance your career. The quality and clarity of your resume could make the critical difference in whether you progress to the interview stage in your job search.
A resume also may be needed when applying for advanced education, submitting your credentials to a professional organization or honor society, or speaking at conferences and workshops.
A resume-a brief summary of your educational and professional accomplishments-should highlight your professional experiences and expertise, demonstrating your suitability for the position you are seeking. The term curriculum vitae, or CV, is sometimes used interchangeably with resume. However, the resume is generally a synopsis of professional accomplishments, whereas a CV is usually a longer, more detailed description of professional activities and accomplishments, and tends to be used more frequently by nurses with advanced degrees and nurses in an academic setting. In the business and industry sector, resumes do not exceed three pages; in nursing, however, there are no definite rules for length. More experienced nurses may have longer resumes or CVs because of the length and scope of their experience. Because nurses are more likely to use a resume than a CV, this article focuses on guidelines for developing an effective resume.
Strategies
Resumes can be written in a chronological or functional format, or a combination of the two.
The chronological resume (Figure 1), the most commonly used style, is recommended for the entry level nurse and for nurses with a steady work history that relates to the position sought. The information is presented with the most recent activity or experience listed first.1 The functional resume (Figure 2) is appropriate for nurses with gaps in their work history, nurses seeking a position that does not relate well to past experiences, or seasoned professionals with a wide variety of experience. The functional resume places less emphasis on dates. Information is organized by functional categories such as manager, educator, author, or consultant.2
Inventory
The first step in developing a resume is to do an inventory of professional activities and accomplishments. Writing style, grammar, and order should not be considered at this point; instead, brainstorm about your professional life. Using the...