ONS Career Guide ONS CAREER GUIDE 2018.web | Page 5
Learn to Write Effective Resumes and CVs
W
riting resumes and curriculum
vitae (CVs) can seem like an easy
task at first but can quickly become
overwhelming and cumbersome; even small
mistakes on your resume or CV can hurt
your chances at getting hired. Heather Costa,
SHRM-CP, a recruiter for the Ohio State Uni-
versity Wexner Medical Center-the James, in
Columbus, presented tips and tricks that on-
cology nurses can use to make their resumes
and CVs effective, clean, and concise.
What to Do—and Not Do
Getting a resume started the right way can be
confusing, and “a lot of nurses have questions
on how to set up their resume or add to it,”
Costa said. The objective of a resume is to get
an interview, so making sure a resume or CV
looks appropriate is essential in this process.
The main focus when writing a resume, she
said, is to keep it clean and concise—extra frills
or wordy explanations won’t help. Costa noted
that a heavier paper stock could be used if you
want to stand out, but avoid nonstandard fonts
or colors: keeping it professional is key.
When putting a resume together, don’t
forgot to add a phone number so possible
employers can contact you, but omit marital
status, birthdays, or headshots.
“We aren’t hiring based on what you look
like, so just keep it off there,” Costa said.
One size resume does not fit all, she add-
ed, so a resume should be revamped depend-
ing on the position that you are applying for.
Resumes usually follow one of three
formats:
• Chronologic: Start by listing your work
history, with the most recent position
listed first. In this format, you want to list
the most important information, be spe-
cific in your skills and your daily tasks,
and use numbers, figures, and facts to get
your point across.
• Functional: Focus on skills and expe-
rience first, not necessarily your jobs in
chronologic order.
• Combination: List your skills and
experience first, followed by employment
history. This type of resume highlights
the skills you have that are related to the
job and uses chronologic work history.
Costa said that this type of resume is
great for entry-level applicants or senior
executives.
Costa cited that the functional resume is becom-
ing less used and that “it’s not something, as a
recruiter, I would suggest.” However, no matter
what resume format you decide is best for you,
avoid using long paragraphs when describing
daily tasks and responsibilities—bullets are best.
Essential Resume Components
Focus your resume’s components to keep it
clear and easy to understand. Section head-
ings (e.g., experience, education, additional
skills) help keep pertinent information
in order, and “headings make it easier to
glance at your resume,” Costa said.
When listing work experience, make
sure that the skills you highlight are target-
ed to the position that you are applying for.
Providing education can also be beneficial,
especially if you have training or certifica-
tions that are related to the job.
Some applicants still use an objective
header at the beginning of their resume.
Costa personally leans away from listing an
objective because you need to ensure that the
objective is in line with what you are apply-
ing for, and many people forget to update it.
“If you don’t change it, it can be a detri-
ment to yourself,” she said.
However, if you do decide to use an
objective on your resume, be sure to focus
the objective on how you would benefit the
possible employer, explain your passion for
the field, be clear in your explanation, and
be concise and to the point.
“We don’t need to know your nursing
skills because we know what a nurse does,”
but be sure to mention things that set you
apart from other applicants, Costa said.
The CV-Versus-Resume Debate:
Which Is Better for You?
CVs and resumes are both important, but
they do have some differences.
CVs are best for:
• Academic
• Education
• Scientific
• Medical
• Research
• Fellowship/grants
Resumes are best for:
• Job applications
• Employment purposes
Additional Tips for Your
Resume and CV
• Don’t forget to list your achievements as
part of your resume.
• List dates carefully and make sure they are
accurate.
• Do not put any personal information in your
resume (with the exception of your phone
number).
• Do not use fancy paper or language (unless
it’s important for the position), and avoid using
abbreviations, pictures, and personal data.
• Try not to leave any gaps in your experience
and professional background. If there are
gaps, be ready to explain what you did
during those gaps during an interview.
• Always keep your resume updated and continue
to update it as you go through your career.
CVs should be more than two or three pages,
and the details of the CV should include your ac-
ademic background, teaching opportunities, de-
grees, awards, publications that you have worked
on, and presentations that you have done.
“It’s not a typical job resume,” Costa added.
Traditional resumes, on the other hand,
should be at least one page and should
include your objective (if you decide to list
one), education details, your work history,
any credentials you have, and any accom-
plishments or skills you’d like to share.
Although paper resumes and CVs are
still used frequently, electronic resumes
have started to become more common.
Costa noted that the nursing popula-
tion isn’t using LinkedIn as heavily as other
industries, but that it’s also growing in popu-
larity. With LinkedIn, users can enter settings
and request to receive notifications, receive
endorsements from friends and colleagues,
and open your profile to recruiters or job
opportunities (this can also be turned off if
you are not looking for employment). n
Costa, H. (2018). Tips for writing effective resumes and CVs.
Session presented at the ONS 43rd Annual Congress,
Washington, DC, May 17, 2018. Retrieved from https://ons.confex.
com/ons/2018/meetingapp.cgi/Session/1617
ONS 2018–2019 CAREER GUIDE
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