There are so many ways you can organize your resume nowadays. Creating a resume is now easier and faster just as long as you know the concept. There are numerous programs out there that can help you make your resume stand out from the rest, but what is really important is what information you put into your resume. This article aims to help you build your own resume with a variety of free programs.

NOTE: A piece of paper will not amount to your actual interview. This article serves as a guide for you to use when making your resume, but it is important to practice your interview skills at the same time.

Pin this pic to use as a reference for the future!

Start Building Your Resume!

Personal Statement

Give a brief statement that shows how qualified you are for the job. This is the time to state your strength while reasoning what you are looking for from an employer. Please be mindful to stay away from making bold statements such as,

“I am a new graduate nurse who is looking for a full-time job, day shift only, and no weekends.”

Bold statements like that will get your resume on the do not call file. Not to sound harsh, preferences should really be discussed during the interview… not on your resume. Instead, statements should be like this…

“I am a strong, dependable, new graduate nurse who is interested in building a strong nursing foundation.”

Licenses and Certification

As a new graduate nurse, you may be looking for a job even before you take your NCLEX exam. Therefore, it is important to list the date in your resume when you are taking your exam. Talent Acquisitions (Recruiters) are looking into when you are taking your exam so that they can dictate when to set-up your interview and when your potential start date is.

Here’s the reality… different departments are relying on these dates for multiple reasons. When you are applying for a job before your NCLEX exam, being transparent about your dates will play a factor into your hire/interview date.

Work Experience

A lot of us may have worked in different place so don’t be ashamed of listing out your non-healthcare working experience. Work is work! When I applied for a LPN job, I listed out my experience as a Sales Associate at Dunkin Donuts. And yes… I got the job! Being a Sales Associate at Dunkin Donuts is nothing to be ashamed of. Being a sales associate gives me experience in customer service, service recovery, time management, and so much more. It’s all about how you sell yourself during your interview!

Clinical Experience

As stated previously, some new grads may not have any healthcare experience so it is okay to list out your clinical experience in your resume. Listing out the hospitals are helpful so that the employer can get a gist of what type of hospital environment you’ve been exposed to.

I mentioned in my other articles that building your experiences through your clinicals are important. During your interview, some employers will try to pull some of your experiences from clinicals to measure how you will react to a variety of situations. Make your clinicals count!

Education

As you list out your education, it is important to also list out your awards and extra-curricular activities such as being a part of an Honor Society, being a tutor, etc. If you have a good GPA, be proud of it and make sure to include it too!

Contact and References

Companies are requiring that you have references listed and that they are available to be contacted at anytime. Do not use a reference that have no idea that you are looking for another job such as your current employer or an employee that you only worked with for 1-2 months. This serves no value into your application and lowers the likelihood of being employed. Seems basic enough, but you’ll be surprised at how many new grads list out references that may actually not want to partake in serving as a reference. Your references should be individuals who have played in a positive influence in your career, whether it is a professor, a colleague, or a mentor.

Using Canva to Build Your Resume

Unfortunately, I am not affiliated with Canva. But boy do I wish I was a part of their team. If you’re blogger, you’ve probably heard of using Canva for so many things. It just makes every post look inviting. But little did you know, it can be used for other projects as well!

Canva is one of the easiest programs to use when creating beautiful and elaborate graphic designs. You can create different documents, posters, and presentations with pre-made, ready-to-use templates in a matter of minutes. Just like the resume sample above, you can easily type in a resume in your Canva app on your phone or computer and start personalizing the template to fit your own.