Nursing Career Services — Helpful Tips Year-by-Year

First Year—Adapting to Life at U.Va. and the SON

  • Adjust to your new environment. Assess your study skills and habits —improve them if they need work. Check with your Dean, Faculty Advisor, RA or GA for resources.
  • Explore clubs and organizations that interest you. Join at least one extracurricular activity.
  • Start a journal to record you accomplishments, interests, experiences, thoughts and feelings. This information will prove very helpful when you put together your Senior Portfolio!
  • Explore the resources at University Career Services (located at Bryant Hall). Browse the UCS website.
  • Talk with 3rd and 4th year students about clinicals, summer experiences, intern and externships and career related experiences and plans. Update your journal with these findings.
  • When you meet people who are doing work in specific areas that interest you, ask them about their field. Be curious and see which specialties hold interest for you.
  • Consider a summer job or externship (a short term experience in during winter or spring break or over the summer). Spend some time over winter break looking into some possibilities for good summer experiences.
  • Keep your grades up! GPA is considered for many job and internship/externship opportunities.

Second Year—Exploring career possibilities

  • Update your career journal with your academic, work, and extra-curricular accomplishments; regularly review your findings on specific nursing career areas.
  • Are you uncertain about your career interests? Consider talking to the Career Advisor about the following:
    • Myers-Briggs Personality Indicator (MBTI)
    • The Strong Interest Inventory
    • The computer-based FOCUS II
  • Learn how to network and cultivate mentors. Ask the Career Advisor for help. Keep track of your contacts.
  • Attend the various Fairs —Internship Career Day, Nursing Leadership Forum, Nursing Career Fair, etc. Practice your networking skills!
  • Consider an externship during the winter and spring breaks. This might be a one week experience within a hospital in your hometown.
  • Take on a leadership role! This is an important and valuable experience that is vital to your job search upon graduation.

Third Year—Experiencing careers

  • Just as your high school junior year grades were critical to the college admissions process, your third year is critical in your preparation for life after U.Va.
  • Begin to work on preparing a resume as you search for an internship/externship or career related summer employment.
  • Block time in your calendar to regularly update your Journal, conduct research on internships or externships and attend career-related events:
  • Get workplace EXPERIENCE! Talk to alumni, Nurse Recruiters and use University Career Services resources.
  • Assume a leadership role in a school activity.
  • Arrange for a mock interview with the Career Advisor to prepare for future interviews.
  • Shop for a business suit so you can dress for success in your interviews.
  • Use the summer after your third year to strategically beef up your resume.
    • Volunteer
    • Intern
    • Extern
    • Go abroad
    • Work at a job related to your career
  • Begin to write graduate school personal statements, etc.

Fourth Year (and Graduate Students!)—Developing the skills you need to accomplish your goals and thrive in life after U.Va.

  • Keep in mind…It’s NOT always the BEST candidate who gets the job….It’s the candidate that does the best job of networking, writing their resume and interviewing! It’s not fair…but, it’s true!
  • NETWORK! Over 70% of jobs are found through networking. Attend the following events to begin networking your way into your career field:
  • Identify periodicals and journals and read them to understand current issues. These journals often have job openings as well. Having this insight really makes a difference in interviews!
  • Consider targeting your job search geographically and utilize Career Search (available at the UCS office in Bryant Hall) to help identify possible hospitals and employers.
  • Revise your resume for the different types of jobs you many be applying for.
  • Create compelling cover letters (see handouts below).
  • Prepare for interviews and practice! Schedule a one-on-one mock interview with the SON Career Advisor.
  • Observe a mock interview with a Nurse Manager at the SON Leadership Forum.
  • Attend an interviewing workshop offered by University Career Services.
  • If you plan to attend graduate school, obtain all required application forms. Prepare your personal statement and submit all required paperwork. Check with UCS for help in researching schools and preparing winning personal statements.
  • Open a recommendation file at Interfolio.com, with letters from previous or current supervisors and/or professors, if you plan to attend a graduate or professional school or seek academic employment.
  • Identify at least three references and get their permission to use their names. Make sure they are clear about your strengths, accomplishments and goals by giving them a copy of your resume; obtain one glowing recommendation letter that you can copy and take with you to interviews. This can give you some “bonus points” and may be the deciding factor that gets you the job!
  • Start thinking about the practicalities of life after U.Va. Attend workshops and read up on managing your finances, work/life balance, managing stress, office politics, and more. Check with UCS for resources.
  • Analyze job offers based on your goals and values documented in your journal. Check out Evaluating a Job Offer (pdf) and talk to the SON Career Advisor.
  • Complete your studies and enjoy graduation! Congratulations.
  • Remember to thank all the professors, alumni and other references who helped you throughout the years. And, return the favor by becoming an active part of the SON Alumni or UCAN network!