Nursing Leadership & Management Patricia Kelly-Heidenthal 0-7668-2508-6
Nursing Leadership & Management Patricia Kelly-Heidenthal 0-7668-2508-6 Delmar Learning Copyright © 2003 Delmar Learning, a Thomson Learning company Chapter 26 Career Planning Delmar Learning Copyright © 2003 Delmar Learning, a Thomson Learning company Objectives Upon completion of this chapter, the reader should be able to: • • • • Detail the process of a successful nursing job search. Develop a resume and cover letter. Identify appropriate dress for a successful job interview. Discuss potential interview questions and identify acceptable answers. • Address key employment areas necessary to a successful first job. Chapter 26 Copyright © 2003 Delmar Learning, a Thomson Learning company 3 Beginning a Job Search Requires focused effort Requires preparation May take time Dependent on overall market and local conditions Establish clinical area of interest and long-term goals Chapter 26 Copyright © 2003 Delmar Learning, a Thomson Learning company 4 Sources of Job Leads Newspapers Bulletin boards, employment telephone lines Job fairs Electronic media, Internet • • • • Search engines Job boards Agency and corporate sites Media sites Chapter 26 Copyright © 2003 Delmar Learning, a Thomson Learning company 5 Developing a Resume A resume is a brief summary of your background, training, and experience as well as your qualifications for a position. A resume: • Gets the employer’s interest • Identifies critical areas such as education, work experience, and special qualifications • Is tailored to the employer’s needs Chapter 26 Copyright © 2003 Delmar Learning, a Thomson Learning company 6 Developing a Resume • Creates a favorable first impression about you and your abilities • Communicates that you are someone who is a good fit for the position • Is visually appealing • Is generally no longer than one to two pages Chapter 26 Copyright © 2003 Delmar Learning, a Thomson Learning company 7 Elements of a Resume Identifying information/heading Career objective Employment data/professional experience Military experience Formal education and specialized training Professional organizations and memberships held Awards and honors References Chapter 26 Copyright © 2003 Delmar Learning, a Thomson Learning company 8 The Chronological Resume Lists jobs in reverse chronological order Advantages: • Most common type of resume • Good for those with a steady work history, or new graduates without a significant employment history • Easier to write Chapter 26 Copyright © 2003 Delmar Learning, a Thomson Learning company 9 The Chronological Resume Disadvantages: • Can highlight gaps in employment • Harder to spot special qualifications, skills, and talents • When career-switching, may not easily illustrate the fit between careers • If returning to work after several years’ absence, does not readily show applicable experiences Chapter 26 Copyright © 2003 Delmar Learning, a Thomson Learning company 10 The Functional Resume Puts greater emphasis on skills and qualifications than on chronology Advantages: • Good tool to use to deemphasize job titles, or issues with consistent employment • Can be used for people who have multiple careers or who want to dramatically change their career focus • Emphasizes skills and abilities rather than progressive job responsibilities Chapter 26 Copyright © 2003 Delmar Learning, a Thomson Learning company 11 The Functional Resume Disadvantages: • Less familiar to employers • Harder to write Chapter 26 Copyright © 2003 Delmar Learning, a Thomson Learning company 12 Resume Writing Using Action Verbs and Phrases with Meaning You have a very short time to get your message across. Every descriptive phrase should have significant meaning. Use strong action verbs, concrete nouns, and positive modifiers. Chapter 26 Copyright © 2003 Delmar Learning, a Thomson Learning company 13 Resume Writing Using Action Verbs and Phrases with Meaning Use meaningful phrases when one word does not fully express the complete thought. Meaningful phrases are continuations of strong action verbs; e.g., “desire to achieve,” “organizational ability,” “results oriented,” and “attention to detail.” Emphasize your strengths. Chapter 26 Copyright © 2003 Delmar Learning, a Thomson Learning company 14 Writing a Cover Letter The cover letter is a one-page letter that has the purpose of getting the prospective employer to become interested enough to read the resume. It presents highlights and a summary of the critical points found on the resume. Whenever possible, address it to a specific person. Chapter 26 Copyright © 2003 Delmar Learning, a Thomson Learning company 15 Writing a Cover Letter In the first paragraph, state who you are, what position you are applying for, how you found out about the position, and why you are interested in working at this particular place. The second paragraph should summarize your qualifications for the position you are seeking. In the last paragraph, repeat your interest in the job and request an interview. Chapter 26 Copyright © 2003 Delmar Learning, a Thomson Learning company 16 Developing an Electronic Resume Sending a resume via e-mail requires special considerations. Type the resume using word processing software, then save it in one of three formats: • ASCII plain text (.txt) • rich-text (.rft) • hypertext (.html) Chapter 26 Copyright © 2003 Delmar Learning, a Thomson Learning company 17 Developing an Electronic Resume These formats make it easier to e-mail and read, but they do not allow for extensive formatting within the resume. Use keywords when sending an electronic resume, because recruiters search resume databases using keywords. Chapter 26 Copyright © 2003 Delmar Learning, a Thomson Learning company 18 Tracking Job Leads Organization is important component of jobsearching. Track applications and responses. Chapter 26 Copyright © 2003 Delmar Learning, a Thomson Learning company 19 Dressing for a Successful Interview Dress professionally. Makeup, perfume, and jewelry should be minimal. Turn off all cell phones and pagers. Chapter 26 Copyright © 2003 Delmar Learning, a Thomson Learning company 20 Interview Questions Do a self-assessment, and reflect on some questions that you may be asked. Have responses for common questions; e.g., “Tell us about yourself” and “Why did you decide to become a nurse?” Know what clinical areas you are and are not interested in. Find out about the organization. Highlight your strengths. Rehearse with another person, if possible. Chapter 26 Copyright © 2003 Delmar Learning, a Thomson Learning company 21 Writing a Thank-you Letter After the Interview Writing a thank-you letter identifies you as someone who is professional and sincerely interested in joining the organization. Include in the letter your availability either for an additional future interview or employment. Chapter 26 Copyright © 2003 Delmar Learning, a Thomson Learning company 22 Resigning from a Nursing Position A resignation letter should never leave a bad impression on the reader. Chapter 26 Copyright © 2003 Delmar Learning, a Thomson Learning company 23 What to Look for in Your First Position Benefits Shifts, paid time off Orientation and mentorship Evaluation process Professional lifelong learning opportunities and support Chapter 26 Copyright © 2003 Delmar Learning, a Thomson Learning company 24
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