The BSN Employment Interview

This week’s assignment prepares you for searching for an actual BSN level position. First, locate an advertisement for a BSN level position; either BSN required or preferred is fine. Copy the actual electronic ad text together (limit to 150 words) with the URL source, or scan a printed ad if it is brief, putting this information in the assignment. That ad will be the basis for the employment position for the parts to this assignment, and will be pasted onto the first page of the assignment. There are several parts, to be prepared in the following order ONLY:
• Part 1: Cover Letter
• Part 2: Resume or Curriculum Vitae
• Part 3: Interview questions, both asked by the interviewer and creating questions to ask the interviewer as well as required introduction and conclusion content
All parts to this assignment should be submitted as a single Word document to the assignment dropbox. Do not submit separate documents for the different section of this assignment. Do not submit a resume’/CV or any content in PDF, Adobe, or any other format.
Part 1: The Cover Letter

When we apply for a new job or a new position at a current job, the first thing that prospective employers receive is your cover letter and then a résumé or curriculum vita (CV). If these do not impress the prospective employer, there is little chance that you will get beyond this point. This assignment will help you develop employment seeking skills. You are writing your cover letter as a soon to be graduate of the RN to BSN program using the position from the advertisement you posted at the start of the assignment.
• The cover letter creates a first impression. It is your first chance to catch the attention of a prospective employer and must say a lot in a short space. Here is the cover letter format to follow. Here is a sample nursing employment cover letter to give you ideas related to content ONLY. Please note that this cover letter is not in the format of the list of elements as required for this assignment
Part 2: Résumé or Curriculum Vitae (CV) (Note: you may obtain help with your resume, see instructions below)
A résumé is 1-2 pages long and contains in this order:

1. Name and contact information (at the beginning)
2. 1-2 sentence profile summary about your strengths and key skills.
3. List of your work experience
4. List of education
5. Professional RN licensure information
6. Professional certifications
7. Memberships
8. Awards
9. Reference information (available upon request)
   Key points: The focus on the résumé is on your work experience. Technical points: 11 point font minimum and easy to read. Your name at the top can be at least 14-18 in font size.

A Curriculum Vitae (CV) is done as you progress further, and advance into higher level positions.
The focus of the CV includes all of the résumé plus professional achievements that include:
• publications
• presentations
• research
• grants
References are not supplied on the CV. Most BSN students will prepare a résumé and not a CV.
Obtaining Help with Preparing Your Resume
There is a helpful service available to students available to you through the Career & Transfer Services Department. Optimal Resume is a service to help you prepare professional looking résumés, CVs, and cover letters. You need to submit your work 5 days before the assignment due date to assure enough time for their review, so start planning early during this week. Instructions for creating an account and using Optimal Resume are located HERE. You can also access Optimal Resume directly by going to http://www.delhi.edu/career/
Part 3: The Interview
This portion of the assignment is a paper with thoughtful and comprehensive responses to 5 of the 10 questions provided, followed by 5 questions that you would ask the interviewer. Part 3 should be written in narrative form, using first person, with headings for each section, and double spacing. Only this section of the assignment should incorporate these APA guidelines.
Directions for Interview paper:
• Begin with an introduction on the employment interview and identify the title of the position you are using for this assignment (staff nurse, unit manager, infection control nurse, which unit, etc.). Include a brief discussion on the importance of interview preparation in your own words using first person responses.
• Identify three (3) specific BSN level skills and discuss how those skills would be applied to the identified position in your own words using first person responses.
• Choose five (5) of the 10 questions provided HERE.
o Write comprehensive responses to the five chosen questions, as if you were actually responding to an interview in first person. Include detail and examples in your responses. Each answer to the interview question must be 100-200 words in length to provide a solid, in-depth answer that shows the interviewer your qualities and abilities, but not so long that the interviewer loses interest in your response or so short that you don’t answer the question.
• Next, add five (5) questions that you would ask a perspective employer/interviewer. These are questions only, and do not need answers. The questions should all be position related and be thoughtfully considered questions. Do not ask questions related to salary and benefits, etc.; those questions would come later in the interview.
• The conclusion should discuss what you have learned about the interview process in your own words using first person.
Note: This assignment is an informal APA paper. As such, there should not be:;
• a running head (only include headings for Part 3),
• cover page with your identifying information,
• page numbers,
• abstract, or
• reference page.