CAREER GUIDE
FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
Preparation
◦ Think about what makes you special, take an inventory of your
strengths and skills, use your time developing your current abilities
and work on your weaker areas
◦ Get involved in professional organizations and student chapters
◦ Seek out volunteer opportunities during summer breaks by
directly contacting hospitals that interest you
◦ Visit Career Services during the year you plan to graduate
◦ Create a professional resume or cv
◦ Attend the LinkedIn, Getting Started with Career Services,
Bootcamp for Healthcare Professionals and Interview Workshops
◦ Develop professional contacts and conduct informational
interviews
◦ Stay engaged with Career Services into you land a job
Make the Most of Your Clinicals
◦ When you start your clinical rotations and your preceptorship,
make sure your are making the best impression possible, take
notes and ask questions
◦ Remember that many students are hired by theses sites after
graduation, so think of it as a semester-long interview and followup about opportunities
◦ Even if you do not work at the site, you might want to ask your
supervisors for advice or a reference
◦ Keep in mind that other students and anyone from the
healthcare team could become a colleague in the future and
will remember you
◦ Send thank yous to appropriate instructors/staff
◦ Be your most professional self
◦ Try to ask for recommendations or advice while
you are still at the site, the more time passes, the
less access you will have
Letters of Recommendation
◦ Letters of recommendation should be requested well before your
job search
◦ Ask faculty, clinical instructors, former employers and other
professionals to write you references letters
◦ We suggest 3-5 five letters. Plan ahead and allow plenty of time
for them to write them
Feedback from Faculty:
As adjunct clinical faculty, I have been asked to write several
letters of recommendation for undergraduates applying to
internship programs as well as new graduates trying to get that first
professional nursing interview…It does make a difference if the
student mentions why they chose to ask me.
A few examples:
"Thanks to you aiding in my learning experience at Pace University,
I have officially obtained my RN license for New York…”
“… as for the application process, they require letters of
recommendation from clinical instructors and I immediately
thought of you."
“…I decided that I should pick a professor who helped me realize
my passion, to learn to be a leader to my colleagues as a future
professional and who has been an advocate for the nursing class
while they master a challenging curriculum.”
Letters of Recommendation
◦ Let your references know about the type of position for which you
are applying or preferably a detailed description
◦ Make sure you are clear about when you will need the reference
and if it is mailed, provide them with an addressed stamped
envelope
◦ After receiving a reference/recommendation, make sure to send
a thank you note expressing your appreciation
◦ Make sure that you give the recommender enough information, it
helps to provide them with a resume/cv, paper from a class they
taught, or a statement of purpose to remind them of your skills,
experience and goals
Creating Your Resume
◦ Depending on your experience, your resume can be 1-2 pages
long, however, the goal is to make a succinct marketing piece,
so edit and tailor it to be desirable to your target employers
◦ If your experience or career goals require a Curriculum Vitae, visit
https://www.quintcareers.com/curriculum-vitae/ for outlines and
resources
◦ Modify your resume to highlight your transferable skills from
activities or employment
◦ Use action verbs and make sure to include accomplishments
◦ Always proofread your document being aware that it should be
consistent with an attractive layout
◦ Include your clinical experiences as a list and preceptorship with
bulleted detail
◦ List most recent and relevant experience, not necessarily your
entire employment history
◦ Be cognizant of Applicant Tracking Systems, when the computer
is searching your resume, make it easier, avoid tables/header
footers/special characters, use key words, well known fonts and
use date ranges for anything other than RN Clinical Rotations
RESUME FORMATS
HEADING: Name, address, phone, e-mail. You can consider including
ePortfolio &/or LinkedIn.
PROFILE: (OPTIONAL) A profile is a statement summarizing your
experience, areas of strengths, focus or goal.
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS: (OPTIONAL) This is a section where you
can bullet areas you would like to highlight. They can change
depending on the position. This can include particular strengths like
being bilingual or experience working with a particular population.
EDUCATION: For new grads, put before work experience. Include
honors/awards, coursework if unique and applicable, scholarships, GPA
over 3.30, and Evidence-Based Practice as sub-sections.
LICENSURE/CERTIFICATIONS: You will have many, make sure to include
ones that are pending.
PRECEPTORSHIP: Discuss your experience in detail highlighting
accomplishments and special exposure.
CLINICAL ROTATIONS: For new grads, list where you were placed, how
many hours and what units.
CLINICAL PRACTICUMS: This section is for CSD majors with fieldwork.
EXPERIENCE: You may have two sections, one for Related or Healthcare
Experience and the other called Work History or Employment detailing
your experience highlighting transferable skills. The Related or Healthcare
section goes first.
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS: Join clubs & professional orgs as a
student member. It is great for networking. Make sure to list them and
include if you held an office.
AFFILIATIONS & VOLUNTEER: Show healthcare related affiliations or ones
that highlight transferable skills.
SKILLS: Include foreign language, computer, EMR etc.
Current Student Sample
NAME
Address
Phone Number
Email
Optional: LinkedIn or ePortfolio
PROFILE
Energetic self-starter, ready to utilize excellent communication skills and a positive work ethic
EDUCATION
Pace University, Lienhard School of Nursing, Pleasantville, NY
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
GPA: 3.43
Expected May 20xx
Relevant Coursework: Professional & Therapeutic Communication, Anatomy & Physiology I & II, Pathophysiology I &
II, Pharmacology, Introductory Statistics for the Life Sciences, Microbiology, and Psychology
Evidence-Based Practice Research: “Bathing patients in 4% Chlorohexidine to reduce central line associated blood
stream infections”
CERTIFICATIONS
CPR and AED certified-BLS for Healthcare Providers though the American Heart Association
Pediatric Child Abuse Identification
FEMA- Fundamentals of Risk Management
CLINICAL ROTATIONS
Medical Surgical I (75 hrs)
Obstetrics (60 hrs)
Gerontological (60 hrs)
Psychiatric (60 hrs)
June 20xx-Present
Issued March 20xx
Issued April 20xx
NewYork-Presbyterian/Hudson Valley Hospital, Med-Surg/OR/PACU
White Plains Hospital, Labor & Delivery and Post-Partum
Bethel Nursing and Rehabilitation Ossining
NewYork-Presbyterian-Westchester Division
Fall 20xx
Fall 20xx
Spring 20xx
Spring 20xx
EXPERIENCE
Sales Associate, Walgreen’s, Poughkeepsie, NY
August 20xx – Present
• Provide first-rate service and build an excellent rapport with customers which encourages repeat business
• Process sales transactions with efficiency and accuracy
• Consistently meet monthly sales goals including surpassing overall district goals by 22%
• Take daily inventory, produce inventory reports for management and replenish shelves
• Assist in Pharmacy Department during peak times when additional sales support is needed
Lifeguard, Great Wolf Lodge Resort, Hartford, CT
• Created a safe environment by following corporate policies and procedures
• Maintained awareness and readiness to respond in case of an emergency
• Built an excellent rapport with patrons
• Checked pool chemical levels on a regular basis to ensure water quality and safety
ACTIVITIES
Vice-President, Future Health Care Leaders-Pace University
Volunteer, Pace Makes a Difference Day at Maria Fareri Children's Hospital
Patient Transport Volunteer, White Plains Hospital
SKILLS
Conversational Spanish
Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
Type 45 wpm
June 20xx-September 20xx
January 20xx – May 20xx
October 20xx
June 20xx-August 20xx
Soon to Graduate Sample
Name
Address │ Phone Number │ Email Address
PROFILE
A few words about your strengths and goals
EDUCATION
Pace University, Lienhard School of Nursing, Pleasantville, NY
Bachelor of Science, Nursing
GPA: x.xx
Expected May 20xx
HONORS
xxx Honor Society of Nursing │ xxx National Honor Society for First Year Students │Dean’s List (2012-2015)
EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE RESEARCH
“Nursing Education xxx Prevalence”
“The Use of Vitamin C Supplementation to xxx in Geriatric Populations”
CERTIFICATIONS & LICENSURE
National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses
American Red Cross CPR & AED for the Healthcare Providers
FEMA-Fundamentals of Risk Management
Pediatric Child Abuse Identification
HEALTHCARE EXPERIENCE
Nurse Intern, xxx Hospital, Mt. Vernon, NY
 Description with action verbs
 Description with action verbs
 Description with action verbs
Patient Technician, xxx Hospital, Yonkers, NY
 Description with action verbs
 Description with action verbs
 Description with action verbs
Expected July 20xx
July 20xx-Present
Issued March 20xx
Issued Spring 20xx
June 20xx-August 20xx
February 20xx-August 20xx
PRECEPTORSHIP
Memorial Hospital Center, Acorn, NY
xxx Unit (150 hrs)
 Description with action verbs
 Description with action verbs
 Description with action verbs
CLINICAL ROTATIONS
Community Health (60 hrs)
Critical Care (90 hrs)
Leadership and Management (60 hrs)
Advanced Nursing Care (75 hrs)
Pediatrics (60 hrs)
Medical Surgical (75 hrs)
Obstetrics (60 hrs)
Psychiatric and Mental Health (60 hrs)
Gerontological (60 hrs)
Spring 20xx
Henry Street Settlement
Westchester Medical Center (ICU/OR)
Marymount Hospital (Neurosurgery Step-down)
St. Mary’s Hospital (ICU Step-down)
Blythedale Children's Hospital (Oncology)
St. Paul’s Hospital (Cardio-Thoracic Medical Surgical)
White Plains Hospital (L&D and Post-Partum)
Four Winds Hospital (Schizophrenia)
Ocean Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing
WORK HISTORY
Lifeguard, Riverside Community Pool, Ossining, NY
Childcare Provider, Great Start Children’s Center, Hartsdale, NY
Hostess, Casa Valentina, Valhalla, NY
SKILLS
Fluent in Spanish; Proficient Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel; Meditech PCS
Spring 20xx
Fall 20xx
Fall 20xx
Spring 20xx
Spring 20xx
Fall 20xx
Fall 20xx
Spring 20xx
Spring 20xx
June 20xx - August 20xx
June 20xx - July 20xx
May 20xx –April 20xx
Cover Letter
◦ Every cover letter should be tailored to the particular job and
employer of interest
◦ Keep letters succinct and approximately three paragraphs in
length
◦ Try to address the letter to a person, but in lieu of a name use
“Dear Hiring Manager:”
◦ Make sure that you examine the job description and about us
page of the employer to be able to market your transferable
skills and experience
◦ Remember, it is not a letter about what you want, rather a
letter about what you can do for the employer
◦ Always edit and proofread before sending
◦ All letter correspondence should be saved as a pdf from MS
Word to send unless you are cutting and pasting into an
application portal or otherwise instructed
Cover Letter Format
Your Address
City, State and Zip Code
Date
Recipient’s Name
Title
Employer’s Name
Their Address
City, State, Zip Code
Dear Ms. xxx:
The first paragraph is telling the recruiter which position interests you and a little bit of why you are
drawn to this position. This is when it comes in handle to look into the employer’s mission statement.
You can also mention a little bit of pertinent information about yourself to attract interest. If you did a
clinical rotation there or have some other connection, mention it here. If someone referred you,
mention that they encouraged you to apply or alerted you to the position.
The second paragraph is the most illustrative section. Use your relevant experiences from your academic
program, clinical experiences, preceptorship, internships or work experience here. Use what they are
seeking in a candidate to drive what you focus on in this section. Always tailor this section.
The third paragraph is the closing paragraph. This is where you will express your re-express your interest
and thank them for their time and consideration. Mention that you are eager to discuss the position in
more detail in an interview. Include your contact information: phone number and email.
Sincerely,
Your Signature
Your name typed
Interviewing
 Always be prepared for an interview which means learning the
skill before you have one scheduled, practicing, researching the
employer, and taking an inventory of your skills and experience
 Be ready to use real-world examples of how you positively
handled situations
 Prepare answers that could be used for multiple questions and
that highlight your skills and experience
 Always be ten minutes early, dress in a suit unless instructed
otherwise, and bring multiple copies of your counselor approved
resume
 Do not forget to get the interviewer’s card & send a thank you
email within 24-48 hours
 Attend our Interview Workshop to practice your skills and take on
the tough questions with a trained professional to help you
 Check out the full Interview Guidebook on the Pace University
Career Services web site
Sample Interview Questions
◦ Every cover letter should be tailored to the particular job and
employer of interest
◦ Tell me about yourself?
◦ Why did you choose your course of study?
◦ What is your professional/nursing philosophy?
◦ What do you consider your greatest strength/weakness?
◦ Why do you want to work for us in this role?
◦ Why should we hire you?
◦ What do you know about our organization?
◦ Tell me about a time when a customer/student/patient/co-worker
gave you a hard time? What did you do?
◦ Tell me a time when you took a leadership role?
◦ What does critical thinking mean to you?
◦ Tell me about a time you had to advocate for someone?
◦ Tell me about a time when you disagreed with a supervisor?
◦ What is your knowledge of evidence-based practice research?
Sample Questions for the
Interviewer
◦ In your experience, what qualities make employees successful in this
role?
◦ What are the best parts of working in this department/unit and what
are some of the challenges?
◦ What do you like best abut working for (the employer)?
* Remember, always ask good questions to show your
interest, understanding and engagement. It is perfectly
acceptable to take some notes during the interview so
that you will not forget anything.
Contact Career Services
For NYC and Westchester
Phone: 914.773.3415
Email: [email protected]
Web: pace.edu/careers