As an international nurse, you know the struggle of looking for better career opportunities. The market’s highly competitive nature and the increased demand for experienced talents make it challenging to stand out and land your dream role. The task may seem intimidating, but with some preparation and the right strategies, you can increase your chances of starting or elevating your nursing career.
To help you get started, we’ve created this guide that explores tips and techniques to help you land a nursing job. Read on to learn about essential strategies to improve your job search, whether you’re a recent graduate or an experienced nurse looking to progress your career.
Update Your Resume and Cover Letter
Having a professional and up-to-date resume and cover letter is paramount to landing any job. By highlighting your educational background, notable skills, and work experience clearly and concisely, hiring managers will have a well-rounded understanding of what you bring to the table. Consider tailoring your curriculum vitae (CV) to the job you’re specifically applying for. As an example, try highlighting your passion for helping children when applying to a pediatric clinic.
Additionally, cite all relevant certifications, training, or achievements in your resume. Doing so demonstrates to potential employers that you have a strong foundation of knowledge, skills, and dedication to fulfill your role.
Utilize Online Resources and Networking
There’s a plethora of resources available online when looking for a job. Be sure to frequent job boards and websites of healthcare institutions to see available roles that match your skill set and experience. Remember to read job descriptions thoroughly to be able to gauge if they align with your goals, skills, and interests.
Aside from searching through job boards, networking with colleagues, friends, and family could be valuable for your search. Not only does this allow you to acquire helpful career advice, but you can also be referred to open positions that may not be advertised online.
Attending networking or job fair events like our Nurse to Meet You program can also connect you to potential employers, apart from being able to connect with your peers in the nursing industry.
Take Required Nursing Examinations
Further enhancing your skills and obtaining official certifications can help improve your nursing job search and broaden your options. For instance, healthcare institutions in the US are looking for National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) passers to join their teams. Consider taking the test to determine your eligibility to work abroad if you already have local nursing experience.
Read through this NCLEX review resource to help you in your preparation.
Another test worth looking into is the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). This assessment goes hand-in-hand with the NCLEX, and US employers require this to gauge your communication skills and English speaking proficiency. Fluency, communication skills, and the ability to converse effectively is the reason why IELTS is important and relevant to improving your nursing career prospects.
Identify Your Alternatives
Working in a hospital is the most common route for nurses, but remember that you have alternatives. Consider other areas of nursing, such as working in clinics, schools, private companies, nursing homes, etc. Doing so will remove the barrier that limits you from moving forward and growing professionally.
Linking back to the last item, you can also look into pursuing a career overseas. Currently, the US has a shortage of local nurses. The country is now hiring international healthcare workers to account for the increased demand. If you’re curious about how to work abroad as a nurse, our GRIT University has all the information you need. Discover how to build a successful career locally and internationally through this comprehensive digital library.
Key Takeaways
The nursing job market might seem saturated, but don’t let this discourage you from taking the necessary steps for career growth. Work on presenting yourself professionally, be proactive in your search through networking and take note of all your options. In doing so, you can increase your chances of finding the perfect opportunity.
globalRN’s mission is to help international nurses upskill and establish a vast professional network. We want to help you improve your job prospects and enhance your quality of life.