Now that you are approaching graduation….. Advancing Your Career

Differentiating a Job from a Career  Job  Specific task or work that one has agreed to do for pay  May need no formal education  Can support self and family  No lifetime commitment or involvement

Differentiating a Job from a Career (cont’d)  A career is:  “An occupation or profession, especially one requiring special training, followed as one’s lifework”

Differentiating a Job from a Career  Nursing  Viewed as a profession and is pursued as one’s lifework  Allows us to fulfill personal goals  Requires several years of formal education o Theoretical o Practical

Career Mapping  Self-analysis and self-assessment  Examining your own values and beliefs and your philosophy of nursing  Examine your own skills and abilities  Set your goals  Visioning  Short-term  Long-term

Career Mapping (cont’d)  Seek a mentor or career counselor  Mentor: a more experienced nurse who is willing to provide time, advice, and assistance to one with lesser experience o Straightforward in giving you both positive and negative feedback o Helps you build self-confidence o Can empower you

Establishing a Plan for Employment  Preparing a resume  Appearance  Organization o Personal data o Personal objectives

Establishing a Plan for Employment Professional Objective Educational preparation Employment experience Other items to include

Establishing a Plan for Employment (cont’d)  References  Typed on a separate sheet of paper  Given to the prospective employer  Include: o Names o Addresses o Telephone numbers

Question  Is the following statement true or false? A resume is written on off-white, good-quality paper, and should not be longer than two standard-sized (8.5 by 11 inches) pages.

Answer True. Rationale: a resume should not be longer than two standard-sized (8.5 by 11 inches) white or off- white pages on good-quality paper; one page is better for most beginners. The resume should be in typed format and easy to read.

Establishing a Plan for Employment (cont’d)  Selecting a prospective employer  Learn everything you can  Recruitment

Establishing a Plan for Employment (cont’d)  Questions to ask  What is the focus of the care provided at this facility?  What type of clients does it serve?  What types of services are offered at the facility?  Is there an internship or residency for new graduates?  If so, how long does it last?

Obtaining a Nursing Position  Cover letter  Completing an application  Participating in an interview  Accepting a job offer

Resigning from a Position  Leaving a position is as important as starting a new position  Process should always be professional and well thought out  Check on the policies of the organization

Advancing Your Career  Clinical career ladder  Continuing education  Formal education  Promotion