Aside from a diploma, your resume may be the most important document you will need post-graduation. A resume needs to be a lot of things: an introduction, a pitch and a good impression all in one. It’s harder than it sounds, and since your resume may be the only thing an employer sees of you during the hiring process, make sure it’s the best it can be.
As a newly minted nurse practitioner, the challenge can be even greater. You have to package your years of specialized training and work into something concise and intriguing for prospective employers. Here are some tips on how to make sure your resume stands out from the rest.
Now’s the time to build that perfect resume and we’ll help you do it.
First Things First
You’d be surprised by the amount of mistakes one can find on submitted resumes. Sometimes making sure the basics are perfect is one of the best things you can do. When creating a header for your resume, always make sure your information is updated and correct.
If your resume intrigues an employer, make sure they can actually get of hold of you. Remember that you are a fully certified nurse practitioner, so be sure your appropriate title (MSN, APRN, FNP-C) always follows your name.
School Of…
Your school needs to be prominent on your resume along with your degree and when you earned it. List this in descending order from where and when you earned your nurse practitioner degree, nursing degree and undergraduate degree (if you did something else before nursing). Don’t get too carried away, nobody needs to know where you went to high school and which clubs you were in.
Experience Says it All
This section should say the most about you. List the details of your certification, like which states you are certified to practice in, and specialties and the certifying body. When it comes to your experience, you really need to highlight your best work. Make note of any achievements or accolades you’ve collected during each job and highlight them accordingly.
If you’re looking for your first job, then really dig deep when showing your clinical placement by highlighting any specialties you had experience with along with the location and hours spent at each clinic, along with the name of the precepting physician.
You want to show that, despite not having formally worked as a nurse practitioner, your clinical placement still gives you tons of relevant experience. This would also be a good time to note any memberships you have in professional organizations like the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Relevant memberships show that you are dedicated to your craft. Be sure to also maintain a certain professional standard that is attractive to many employers.
Your Career Starts Here
At NP PA Recruiters, we’ll work with you to make sure you find the perfect job for your skill set. Our team of professionals will advocate for you and make sure you present your best self possible. If you’d like to get started, let us know and we’ll get right to work.
