Travel Nurse Résumé: 3 Mistakes to Avoid
Oh hey, bestie! If you’re a registered nurse who’s ready to jump into travel nursing so that you can gain the freedom and pay you deserve… you’re in the right place! And if we haven’t virtually met already, I’m Sarah Gaines AKA the travel nurse bestie you’ve always wanted. You can find the story of how my travel nurse journey started here.
But to make a long story short— I’ve completed more than 20 travel nurse contracts across the US and I’m here to provide you with the insight I wish I knew before I started. Trust me, these travel nurse tips I’m about to share will help you avoid rookie mistakes that could cost you time, money and frustration.
Now, let's talk about your travel nurse résumé.
As a travel nurse expert, I was so excited to partner with Amanda Guarniere, the résumé expert and also known as theresumerx on Instagram. She helps nurses and nurse practitioners find, land & love their dream jobs.
Amanda and I teamed up and created The Ultimate Travel Nurse Resume Kit. We also chatted on episode 7 of Nurse Becoming podcast about how you can leverage travel nursing and use it as a stepping stone to advance your career. If you want to know what takes to become a travel nurse, that episode will give you the insight you need!
In this blog post, I am going to help you avoid being bamboozled when it comes to creating your travel nurse résumé. Unfortunately, many new travel nurses fail from the start because their résumé simply isn’t up to par. But no need to worry, you’re about to learn the top 3 mistakes to avoid when it comes to a travel nurse résumé.
Rookie Mistake #1
Letting Your Recruiter "fill in" Your Application for You
A travel nurse résumé is necessary to help you secure the job you want. You've probably been told that "you don't need a résumé for travel nursing” but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Having a résumé that is optimized for travel nursing will allow you to stand out in dozens of applications.
But here’s the thing, allowing your recruiter to complete your profile FOR you is a rookie mistake that could cost you your job.
Even though your recruiter may have your best interest in mind, they are not a nurse— their knowledge is limited when it comes to the unique qualities that set you apart from the other nurses within your specialty.
Providing your recruiter with an updated résumé is like providing them with a guide to ensure that they complete your profile in the best way possible. Otherwise, you may be missing out on potential job opportunities. Here are some travel nurse recruiter red flags to avoid.
Rookie Mistake #2
Submitting a Travel Nurse Résumé Full of Irrelevant Information
I don’t know if you’re the nurse who needs to hear this but… when it comes to travel nursing, the hiring manager does not care about your G.P.A., the college you went to, or the places you've volunteered. Your resume should focus on your skills along with how you can be an asset to your new hospital.
Here are 5 key points to include in your travel nurse resume:
Your availability date (start date)
Years of experience (and charge nurse experience if applicable)
The max nurse-patient ratio on your current unit
Any units you’ve crossed-trained on or units you can float to
The charting system(s) you’re familiar with
Amanda talks about how to include your travel nurse experience in this blog post.
Rookie Mistake #3
Thinking Your Staff Nurse Résumé is the “same” as Your Travel Nurse Résumé
There are key differences between a staff nurse résumé and a travel nurse résumé, which is important to understand. Adding your most recent job experience to your old resume is not enough for you to land your travel nurse job. When a manager is hiring you as a travel nurse, your résumé is the one thing they are using to make their hiring decision. How will you stand out amongst hundred of applicants competing for the same job? You won't be able to show up at the hospital, show your personality, and land the job like you would for a traditional job interview. As a matter of fact, as a travel nurse— many time your resume is the interview.
This is why it is crucial to create a résumé geared specifically towards your travel nurse career.
If you want to stand out against the competition and increase your chances of landing your dream travel nurse job, having a résumé that is clear and concise while also highlighting your work experience (as it relates to travel nursing) and emphasizing the unique qualities you bring to the table will set you up for success.
If you’re ready to update your travel nurse résumé and want to save some serious time and frustration, Amanda and I created a fill-in-the-blank template paired with a travel nurse résumé training with insider tips you won’t find anywhere else!
Click here to learn more about the Ultimate Travel Nurse Résumé Kit.
I hope these quick tips give you the jump start you need to dive into your travel nurse career and thrive. If you are wanting to start travel nursing, but you're unsure of which travel nurse company to choose or what to look for in a travel nurse recruiter, download your free Travel Nurse Cheat Sheet!
