I need some help with my resume

[minkydog]

I'm a nurse of 32 years experience. Let me correct that: I'm a burnt out nurse of 32 years experience. I have been on short term disability for the past 6 months due to suffering a nervous breakdown. With great therapy and medications and a lot of hard work on my part, I am finally in a good place, stable and reasonably satisfied with my life, and some days I'm actually happy! So I think I'm ready to work again, just not in the nursing field.

The one BIG THING I have learned this year is that in order for me to keep my health stable I need to work at something less stressful, and I cannot work full-time. I actually have 2 degrees, nursing and elementary ed, although I only have about 3 yrs experience there. I have put in about 10 applications for different jobs, mostly retail, with very little response. I think my resume might be what's holding things up. I'm afraid potential employers are looking at my resume, stuffed with nursing experience, and tossing it. Like they think "oh, she's a nurse, she'll go work at a hospital first chance she gets." Um, no I won't. I'm retiring from the field. I want to work part-time in a less stressful environment and I don't need benefits. I know that I will not make the money that I once made working as a nurse, but that's okay. I just want to have something to keep me busy a few days a week and put a few dollars in my pocket.

So, should I doctor my resume a little but leave out portions? Do you think it would look better if I dropped off some of the latest nursing jobs and just put "retired for the past 5 years"? Is it my resume?

 

[npmommie]

well as a nurse you have some great job skills, organization skills, attention to detail, etc etc..........
i would highlight these skills.........and you could put a goal or objective section on your resume worded in such a way to let them know you are retired from nursing.

 

[jaminmd]

First, I'm glad you're better!

Are you swearing off of nursing altogether or are you willing to try a different type of nursing? If so, how about school nursing or UR, CM, or something like that? Some of those can be done part time, especially substitute school nursing. But you know all of that already.

Also, our local community college hires nurses as their nursing lab "techs" (I forget the actual title), to help with students.

ETA: I just re-read your post that you're retiring from nsg period. I'd still leave all your recent jobs on there to show that you've been employed. Just let them know you're pursuing new interests now.

 

[Traveliz]

I wouldn't leave out recent positions for sure - that seems deceiving - but rather I would make sure my mission or cover letter states that I am permanently leaving the nursing area and am changing directions.

Although have you considered school nursr or substituting as a school nurse...I know it has its stressful moments but its also alot of routine stuff.

Liz

 

[minkydog]

Actually,I have been a school nurse for the past two years. It's every bit as busy in a school as it ever is in a hospital. And you do it all without back-up,too.
I really think I just want to go work in a grocery store or something. You know, somewhere that the fish sticks don't threaten to sue you every day, the lettuces don't beat up the cabbages in PE, and the Coke man sets up his own shelves AND cleans up behind himself. Yeah, yeah, I know, those jobs are stressful too. But if I make a mistake in canned goods I doubt anyone is gonna die, ya know?

I think I just need something other than caregiving. Between my special needs teenager and my disabled husband, my whole life is caregiving 24/7.

 

[lspst8]

It sounds like you just want a part time job as a cashier, stocker, etc .... at a normal retail store like Target, a grocery store, or the mall, right? Something where you get your schedule, go in, and do what you are told. I don't think you even need a resume for jobs like that. Sending a resume and cover letter sounds like overkill to me.

I don't know about your area of the country, but around here a lot of the bigger retail stores like Target and Lowes are hiring. My husband just worked for Lowes for 6 months, and he certainly didn't send them a resume. He just went to stores that had "help wanted" signs and asked for an application. Maybe that way you could talk to a manager in person and explain that you have retired from nursing and are just looking for a nice part-time job.

 

[hanutedmansionmomma]

OP - what do you love doing? being around? environment you want to work in? indoors/ outdoors? places you love to go?

Maybe if you narrow that down, you'll be able to tailor your resume to that type of work. Oprah had a cool thing on in the spring about loving what you do, and really coming up with your strengths as a working person. Sorry I don't recall the exact stuff, but there were worksheets and activities to get to to figure that out. Maybe still on her site? I dunno.

Anyway, it sounds exciting to pick (again) whatever you like to do! I hope to be in that situation someday soon

 

[KirstenB]

What about adding a cover letter that details the fact that you've had a long, full-time career in nursing (man, there's a lot of skills in that job: ability to think on your feet, deal with management and patients (ie customers), work in a hectic environment, etc,), and are ready to try something new in a part-time capacity.

Believe me, I worked retail for many years, and a lot of companies would be thrilled to have someone with your experience.

 

[Disney Doll]

What about adding a cover letter that details the fact that you've had a long, full-time career in nursing (man, there's a lot of skills in that job: ability to think on your feet, deal with management and patients (ie customers), work in a hectic environment, etc,), and are ready to try something new in a part-time capacity.

Believe me, I worked retail for many years, and a lot of companies would be thrilled to have someone with your experience.

This is a good idea.
I think getting in there somewhere that you are retired from nursing may give those employers who may be thinking "She'll leave for the 1st hospital job that comes along" some assurance that you won't be doing that!

 

[minkydog]

Yes, I'm just looking for something part-time working in retail, grocery, etc. Not waiting tables though. I dont think I would be right for that. Most of these stores have online applications. They don't even want to talk to you until you fill out the online app. And all of them ask for previous work experience. So do I have to list ALL of it? Most of the time they ask for the last 3-4 jobs. well, it's all nursing! I don't know how to get them to see that I don't have to get $25+ per hour. I just want something to do with my time.

I love to be around material and crafts, although it's been a long time since I've done them. I would LOVE to work in a state park, but Georgia is cutting SP funding and people are losing those jobs right and left. I like to work with the public. I'm patient, kind, dependable, and consciencious. If they'd give me a chance I think they'd be thrilled to have me! But I can't seem to get a foot in the door, even for seasonal work.

If something doesn't come up next week I think I'm just going to go down the the local food pantry/homeless shelter and do some volunteer work. I'm getting antsy.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

If they have a space on the application asking why you want to work at their place of business, I would in some way indicate that you are switching career fields.

I would also try to turn the application into someone with power to read it and make an interviewing decision if at all possible. Then you have a face to face moment to speak with them. It isn't always possible though.

The problem with these types of jobs is that you turn in an application, not a resume. So it makes it rather difficult.

I worked housekeeper at Disney's Vero Beach Resort and they had a hiring blitz when I got in. I was abandoning a management training program and had a bachelor's and they had no issue hiring me. There were actually quite a few people with similar career abandonment stories. (though we all just loved Disney so much that we were willing to do anything to get in the door would be how we said it to HR. )

One lady, I felt kind of bad for her. I believe she was recovering from a nervous breakdown. And I can't say that the coaches were very nice to her. (they were catty and they weren't nice to me either.)

I did eventually move onto a higher paying office position away from Disney.

But I honestly don't think your are being turned down simply b/c you are a nurse. Any company would be stupid to not read the application and see that you know exactly what you are applying for.

It could be just the overwhelming number of applicants in this economy and I'm sure many employers are just playing eeny meeny miney moe and grabbing a few out of the stack.


One last thought--do you have ANYTHING in your work history that is in similar fields to what you are applying?

For example, I was a cashier for several years in high school and college and also worked a summer in retail and despite it being ages ago, I would still put it on an application for any type of retail work.

I'd also put my sears experience on there--but I'd play down the management training program bit and just focus on the customer service experience.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Yes, I'm just looking for something part-time working in retail, grocery, etc. Not waiting tables though. I dont think I would be right for that. Most of these stores have online applications. They don't even want to talk to you until you fill out the online app. And all of them ask for previous work experience. So do I have to list ALL of it? Most of the time they ask for the last 3-4 jobs. well, it's all nursing! I don't know how to get them to see that I don't have to get $25+ per hour. I just want something to do with my time.

I love to be around material and crafts, although it's been a long time since I've done them. I would LOVE to work in a state park, but Georgia is cutting SP funding and people are losing those jobs right and left. I like to work with the public. I'm patient, kind, dependable, and consciencious. If they'd give me a chance I think they'd be thrilled to have me! But I can't seem to get a foot in the door, even for seasonal work.

If something doesn't come up next week I think I'm just going to go down the the local food pantry/homeless shelter and do some volunteer work. I'm getting antsy.

For your most recent nursing position--could you just say Reason for Leaving: Retired?

It is truthful since you are retiring from nursing and sounds nicer than "quit b/c I'm burnt out or abandoning career b/c it is sucking the life out of me" .


When one is leaving a career, especially one they've done a number of years, you can say that you have retired from it.

This way they can see that you left the field (if they bother to read that far into it.)

 

[Stacerita]

I wouldn't leave out recent positions for sure - that seems deceiving - but rather I would make sure my mission or cover letter states that I am permanently leaving the nursing area and am changing directions.

What about adding a cover letter that details the fact that you've had a long, full-time career in nursing (man, there's a lot of skills in that job: ability to think on your feet, deal with management and patients (ie customers), work in a hectic environment, etc,), and are ready to try something new in a part-time capacity.

I agree with both these posts. I do the hiring for the department, and if I saw someone who was "over skilled" or who's area of expertise was in nursing (we don't do nursing care), I would think they would jump ship as soon as they get a nursing job. If you are up front and put in your objective that you are leaving nursing and moving in other directions, that would help you out a lot.

I would make sure I put in my work history to show my work eithic and that I am dependable.

The biggest thing would be to highlight your skills. Translate the skills you gained as a nurse into whatever field you are applying for. I would really play up the customer service side to nursing. From your post it seems like that is a direction you are going for with retail and such. I would much rather higher someone who can deal with a situation and still give great customer service, than someone who worked in the field.