[GUEST BLOG] 5 Ways to Make Your Travel Nursing Resume Stand Out
Including a resume on top of your application and skills checklist is a good way to improve your chances of being hired. But writing a travel nursing resume is a bit different from other nursing positions. Follow these five tips to make your resume stand out.
- Master the applicant tracking system
Your resume will likely be processed by an applicant tracking system (ATS) in conjunction with being viewed by a travel nursing recruiter. Some companies parse resumes through their ATS, but others (like Cirrus) take a more personal approach to help you include the most pertinent information for each job application. Because of this, it is important that your resume mirrors the job description in some key sections. Focus your resume on relevant experience, and highlight it in your summary or headline. - Include the proper facility information
When it comes to your work history, including facility information is very important. Use the facility’s full official name. State what your travel nursing job title was, the exact days you started and departed from that facility.Include what type of facility it was. Was it a teaching hospital? Children’s Hospital? Long-term care facility? If you worked at a trauma hospital, include what trauma level it was. State what unit you worked in and the number of beds in your unit, and the total amount of beds in the facility. Talk about the caseload or patient ratio, and what your specific duties were. Describe the kinds of computer and charting systems that were in use. Don’t forget reference names, job titles, and contact information. - List any licenses and certifications
Include all relevant licenses and certifications, using their complete titles. Include the full names of certifying organizations, and when it is possible, license or certification number. Put down the date when you acquired the license or certification. Ensure that you use the correct significations, and mention if it is a compact nursing license. - Use the right words
Switching out certain words for others can make all the difference in your resume. Using action words is the key to your success. These words can make an impact to your resume and help a hiring manager envision you in action. Instead of using “Was the leader of a team,” say “Supervised a team.” Words such as “supervised,” “spearheaded,” and “managed,” create strong feelings in the person reading them. - Be consistent
Follow a consistent pattern for the work history you list on your resume. Pay attention to details like the order of bullet points and the nature of the information you include. Be consistent even down to comma placement and font use. Pro tip: format one example of work history, then copy and paste this template for all your other previous employers – just don’t forget to replace the information on each!
Writing doesn’t come easily to everyone, so don’t be afraid to get some help from the professionals. Work with your travel nursing recruiter, who will proofread and help perfect your resume so you get an offer from the travel nursing job you want!
About the author: Grace Carter is a business writer at OX Essays and Elite Assignment Help services. She manages business communications, email submissions and helps at HR department. Also, Grace is a tutor at Big Assignments educational website.