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Nursing Students: Build Your Resume with At Home Preferred

by Katie Riggs on September 12, 2016

stock-young-adultsEven though there’s a nursing shortage, competition for great jobs is fierce, particularly for young nurses just starting out. Even those who have flown through nursing school making great grades and acing practicums don’t always win the best positions.

As strange as that may seem, nursing recruiters aren’t just looking at grades. They are also looking for transferable or “soft” skills that speak to the type of person the candidate is.

What do we mean by soft skills? It’s things you learn through other jobs, volunteering, classes, parenting, sports, or other organizations like interpersonal communication, leadership, teamwork, time management, and compassion for others. These are skills that can be transferred to other jobs, regardless of the industry.

To stand out among all the other job seekers, young nurses – and others for that matter – need to focus on accentuating experiences and backgrounds on resumes. A degree from a prestigious university or an impressive roster of past employers can certainly make a good impression on hiring managers, but the real test of a candidate’s fit is how well the person’s skills align with the position in question. Adding transferable skills to a resume gives employers get a better understanding and broader picture of who they are hiring, as well as the interests, values and experiences that the candidate brings to the table.

Which brings us to our point: nursing students can add a tremendous number of transferable skills by working as an in-home caregiver for At Home Preferred that are sure to impress the future recruiters and HR professionals you’ll meet when applying for nursing jobs. Here are some soft skills you’ll learn:

  • Communication skills. You will learn how to effectively communicate with supervisors, clients and patients.
  • Customer service. You will learn how to work with a wide range of people who depend on you for different activities of everyday living, and in the process, learn how to cope with different personalities and be compassionate in the process.
  • You will learn how to be part of a care team, one that involves a supervisory, the patient’s family members and the patient themselves. Your role on the team is critical to the successful care of your patient.
  • Time management. As you implement care plans, you will learn how best to manage your time and accomplish all tasks.
  • You’ll learn how to “read between the lines” as you care for people and gain the knowledge and insight a nurse needs to provide great patient care.

If you want to be more competitive in the job market, a resume-building job with At Home Preferred is a wonderful way to do it. We have full and part-time positions so you can work while going to school. You’ll also make good money. If this sounds interesting to you, contact us. We’d love to hear from you – and start building your resume!