Passing your Nurse Practitioner certification exam is a huge accomplishment, and you deserve a rest after all that hard work. But there is one more major responsibility before you can relax: getting your first Nurse Practitioner job. In this article, we’ll give you some resume and interview tips and questions to ask yourself to ensure your future position is a good fit.
Related: Employment Search & Interview Strategies
How to write a good resume and cover letter for a Nurse Practitioner job
The most important thing to do in a resume and cover letter is to proofread your work. Having errors in these documents can prevent you from getting an interview as attention to detail is an important skill for Nurse Practitioners.
Future employers also want to see that Nurse Practitioners know how to follow directions. Sometimes a job posting will request cover letters address a particular topic or answer a specific question. It is essential that you read the job description thoroughly and make sure your resume and cover letter include everything asked of you.
Finally, a great way to ensure your resume will fit the job is to read through the job description and pull out key phrases that match your skills and work experience. You can highlight these topics in your resume to show future employers that you are qualified for the job.
Tips for Nurse Practitioner job interviews
Job interviews are stressful for everyone, but with the right preparation and a good night’s sleep, you can set yourself up for success. You should prepare for a job interview by learning a little about the company’s history and the person you are interviewing with. Be sure to read through the job description to understand the day-to-day responsibilities and what skills the employer is looking for.
The most important thing to do in any job interview is to remain present, listen, and ask questions. You can ask “What does success in this position look like?” or “What growth opportunities are there?” to get a better understanding of how you might thrive as a Nurse Practitioner with that company. Remember, the interview goes both ways: you are also interviewing them to see if you want to work there. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about a supervisor’s management style or office culture to see if they are a good fit for you.
In the interview, Nurse Practitioners should highlight their credentials and previous work experience. Don’t forget to discuss soft skills like communication strengths, ability to work under pressure, and time management. Your future employer will want to know about your career goals and long-term hopes, so be sure to consider these ahead of time. Finally, write a thank you email after your interview and be gracious no matter the outcome.
Related: Optimizing Your NP Career
Is this Nurse Practitioner role right for me?
There is a serious shortage of healthcare professionals, especially Nurse Practitioners. As a certified Nurse Practitioner, you may find yourself getting all sorts of offers. It’s important to take a moment and consider your personal and professional goals before accepting the first job that comes your way. Here are some considerations for ensuring your new job is a good fit.
Patient population and clinical setting
As a certified Nurse Practitioner, there are plenty of clinical settings you are qualified to work in and any number of patient populations you could treat. With ample opportunities, you have the freedom to consider where you would be happiest. Do you thrive in fast-paced environments like hospitals and urgent care settings? Are you a night owl who might prefer to work a late shift? Do you love working with children and would thrive in, say, a pediatric primary care setting?
Areas of interest
Although Nurse Practitioners are qualified to handle all varieties of cases across body systems, it’s okay to still have a particular passion or interest area. Working in a specialist office will give you more exposure to one disease or another. If you are hoping to build expertise in any field, try to find a clinical setting that matches your professional interests.
Career goals
When looking for your first Nurse Practitioner job, you may not be thinking twenty years into the future. That’s understandable. But considering your ideal career path can be helpful for ensuring your first job is a step in the right direction. For example, if you are hoping to one day open a private practice, working in someone else’s can be a great way to learn the business side of medicine. Or say you want to become a supervisor in the future. In this case, you may choose an entry position in a large company that prioritizes in-house promotions and talent development so you can look forward to upward career development.
Geographic location
Staying at one company and showing loyalty is a great way to work your way up. Remaining in one geographical area has similar benefits. Healthcare is often about name recognition, and moving across the country mid-career can make it hard to re-establish a reputation and patient base. It certainly is possible, but it would be best to pick a first job somewhere that you could reasonably see yourself staying. Or, if you love to travel, you could look at travel Nurse Practitioner positions or consider opening a private telehealth practice.
Personal goals
Finally, don’t forget to consider your personal expectations and desires outside of work. What sort of work/life balance would you like to have? How long of a commute is too long? Would you prefer a small office where you can make close connections to your coworkers? If you plan to get involved with a professional association, will your future employer give you time off for conferences and other leadership opportunities? If you hope to have a family one day, does your future employer offer childcare benefits?
It may be hard to answer some of these questions, as such details don’t normally appear on a job posting. You will need to talk to your potential employer about work culture and do the research. These are all important considerations that don’t have anything to do with your day-to-day responsibilities at work but contribute just as much to your overall life satisfaction. It’s okay to not take the first job you are offered as a Nurse Practitioner: another one will surely come along, and waiting for the right fit will be worth it.
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