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Nursing CV’s Do's and Don’ts

Nursing may be all about caring for people, but good CV writing skills can boost your career

Although a good CV can’t get you a job, a poor CV will keep you from getting one.

A CV is a professional marketing tool, a written record of your accomplishments and professional credentials.

Because it usually represents the first impression a prospective employer will have of you, your CV must be top-notch in format, content, and appearance.

Follow these simple guidelines to improve the impression your CV makes:

What to do

DO use a chronological format. Start by listing your current or most recent job and work back from there. This is the format most employers are looking for, and anything else makes them suspicious and impatient. Although every rule has exceptions, stick to this format to be safe.

DO focus on your accomplishments and more interesting or marketable skills and experiences. Your CV should highlight the best that you have to offer, not read like a job description. If you’re a staff nurse, the interviewer will expect you to have provided patient care and administered medications. Instead, include special activities such as conducting patient and family teaching, making presentations to outside groups, sitting on interdisciplinary committees, and budgeting and scheduling responsibility. If your experience is limited, focus on the more significant clinical skills, such as ventilator care, chemotherapy administration, and attaining I.V. certification.

DO print your CV on good quality paper and with good quality print. Most laser printers will do the job. If you don’t have a good printer, put your CV on a disk and bring it to a local printer or office services company that has a letter-quality printer. Ask to see samples of good-quality CV paper. Pick one that is either white or off-white. Never use coloured paper or paper with designs or borders. Make sure the print on your CV is crisp, dark, sharp and clear.

What NOT to do

DON’T list personal information about your health, height and weight, marital status, and so on. This information shouldn’t be part of a job search process. In fact, asking about such matters in an interview is illegal, so don’t offer this information. You want the interviewer to focus on your job-related experience, not your personal attributes.

DON’T list hobbies and personal activities such as reading, skiing, and sewing. Discussing these in an interview is fine if you’re asked—they can even help establish rapport with a prospective employer. But this information, just like your height and weight, doesn’t belong on your CV.

DON’T list references with names and addresses. In fact, you don’t even need to say “References Available upon Request.” If employers want references, they’ll ask for them. Keep your CV free of unnecessary information. A winning CV will you get noticed for the best positions and can facilitate a promotion from your current position. A strong CV can also help you command and negotiate a higher salary. Always put your best foot forward on your CV to attract the most desirable job offers. Follow these tips to make your nursing CV shine and review this sample CV for a newly qualified nurse.